I don't think this game likes me...it doesn't work right

[Anya7]

I've had problems running this game on this computer before, and I gave up after a while but I'll be damned if the game's just going to sit on my shelf and not be played. So:

I've got a Dell laptop running XP Pro.

The game's been installed/uninstalled various times. I do remember it actually running fine at one point. I remember once I installed it and it ran for a while and then ceased to work after a bit. I remember one time I tried to install it and I just couldn't at all. Last night I tried again and everything seemed to go ok. I did the 'full install' so I don't have to keep switching discs - I don't know if that makes any sort of a difference or not.

I was posting this because last night the game wouldn't run, however I just tried it again today to make sure it wouldn't run and it appears that it does, so I don't really know what's going on with it. Yesterday two things happened when I tried to run the game: if I tried to run it with my screen at its normal resolution (1400x1050), I saw the little splash screen pop up, the actual starting screen of the game poped up for half a second, minimized itself, and I went back to the desktop and my computer gave me an error that said something about how the screen resolution shouldn't be changed from its optimal setting. When I set the screen resolution at 800x600, the game started like it should, but the mouse wouldn't move (neither the touchpad nor the normal mouse), and I couldn't do anything except ctrl-alt-delete which sent me back to the desktop again.

I've just downloaded the patch, I never had it before but it doesn't seem like it's going to fix those sorts of problems.

I don't know if this makes a difference or not, but I have noticed that when I put the first disc in, and go to my computer, the icon it shows for the cd in the drive is one of those generic looking ones (instead of one of the logos that it shows for the other 3 discs), and when the myst program is running but minimized it also shows a generic program icon instead of some sort of logo. I also remember that when I was having some problems before, a lot of times I couldn't shut down the game without doing it through the task manager, and I kept having problems with multiple m3.exe's running in the background at the same time and not responding when I tried to get rid of them. I don't see any scratches on the first disc or anything but I still wonder if there might be someting wrong with it. I've seen some people mention something about cleaning discs off with some sort of alchohol...is that a common household item?

[Anya7]

I've had problems running this game on this computer before, and I gave up after a while but I'll be damned if the game's just going to sit on my shelf and not be played. So:

I've got a Dell laptop running XP Pro.

The game's been installed/uninstalled various times. I do remember it actually running fine at one point. I remember once I installed it and it ran for a while and then ceased to work after a bit. I remember one time I tried to install it and I just couldn't at all. Last night I tried again and everything seemed to go ok. I did the 'full install' so I don't have to keep switching discs - I don't know if that makes any sort of a difference or not.

I was posting this because last night the game wouldn't run, however I just tried it again today to make sure it wouldn't run and it appears that it does, so I don't really know what's going on with it. Yesterday two things happened when I tried to run the game: if I tried to run it with my screen at its normal resolution (1400x1050), I saw the little splash screen pop up, the actual starting screen of the game poped up for half a second, minimized itself, and I went back to the desktop and my computer gave me an error that said something about how the screen resolution shouldn't be changed from its optimal setting. When I set the screen resolution at 800x600, the game started like it should, but the mouse wouldn't move (neither the touchpad nor the normal mouse), and I couldn't do anything except ctrl-alt-delete which sent me back to the desktop again.

I've just downloaded the patch, I never had it before but it doesn't seem like it's going to fix those sorts of problems.

I don't know if this makes a difference or not, but I have noticed that when I put the first disc in, and go to my computer, the icon it shows for the cd in the drive is one of those generic looking ones (instead of one of the logos that it shows for the other 3 discs), and when the myst program is running but minimized it also shows a generic program icon instead of some sort of logo. I also remember that when I was having some problems before, a lot of times I couldn't shut down the game without doing it through the task manager, and I kept having problems with multiple m3.exe's running in the background at the same time and not responding when I tried to get rid of them. I don't see any scratches on the first disc or anything but I still wonder if there might be someting wrong with it. I've seen some people mention something about cleaning discs off with some sort of alchohol...is that a common household item?

[XyZspineZyX]

I'm no expert on XP...it's on my back up computer which is currently on holiday for repairs. But I think I spotted a few problems.

Which patch did you download. Last I knew, Ubi lost 1.22 which can be found all over the web if you do an Altavista.com search. It's huge, but I played the game with the earlier patch so had no problem.

XP shouldn't have a problem with DirectX, but there is a more recent version of DirectX 8 available at microsoft.com for XP and that may help.

I'm running 2K and it never auto reset the resolution and size, but I'm told if you right click on the icon you can set it to conform to 98 and that may clear up some of your problems. Your resolution is set way to high for the game.

The newer patch should give you a smoother running game, DiretX ugrade may help, and how on earth can you see the screen at that resolution. I'm one of the vision challenged members around here. http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Patience and a bit of tweaking and a lot of uninstalling and reinstalling should get you there. Good luck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See I've already waited too long
And all my hope is gone

[Chris112652]

buy a xbox and get a exile game for the box. It will solve all you problems

[XyZspineZyX]

Anya7 - Have you been able to set your Exile III for proper running as yet? Have you an earlier version of Quick Time? I had to use an ealier version to get it to run. Try using the Windows compatibility reset for the game program only. The resolution changing throughout your whole computer will screw everything else up! I did not have to reset compatibility for earlier versions of Windows, but some have had to do it. The Exile III patch is important to get it to run properly.

Let us know if you have succeeded in fixing it.
Thanks. Good Luck. I ran it on XP Home without a hitch. I loaded all the discs. Do that for sure, you should have tons of space for it.
http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An island stream forever held
A spirit soul beyond the realm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~DJ

http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/new/bluefish.gif

[wstrohm]

Anya7,

Your screen resolution MUST be set to 640 x 480 and 32-bit color depth to play Exile. On other Operating Systems this is accomplished by the game itself; i.e. when Exile is opened it resets your resolution and depth to the above requirements, then when it quits your computer is returned to its previous settings. I don't know whether XP Pro will allow Exile to do that or not. You might try setting those manually BEFORE opening Exile and seeing if that does the trick.

Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) in either 70% or 91% strength is available at your local drugstore. It will clean off any film deposited from being stored in a vinyl package for a long period of time. Since the CD-ROM version of Exile came out in 2001, you might have a copy that was stored on the shelves for a long time. The laser in your drive may not be able to see through a vinyl solvent film, even though the surface may look clean to your eye. (Of course, that may not be your problem anyway!)