coniston
11-13-2005, 01:04 PM
The game breaks up. Goes white with black images. It can happen in the first couple of minutes of the game or I can play for hours before it happens. It is very frustrating as I have to switch off and re-start again. I am probably about three quarters through the game. I would like to finish, but without all this messing about! Many thanks for your help
Heimdall_G
11-13-2005, 02:53 PM
Ah, but you mustn't think of it as messing about. Rather, think of it as a challenge!!
Does your system meet the minimum EoA requirements? See Myst V: System Requirements and Posting Guidelines (http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3471054943/m/4941067943).
If it does, please post a DxDiag report, so that we can take a look at your system and maybe make recommendations. See Myst V: System Requirements and Posting Guidelines (http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3471054943/m/4941067943) under To post a DxDiag report for a how-to. Run all of the graphics and sound tests you can before saving the report to a file, and post *all* of the file.
Heimdall_G
11-13-2005, 03:34 PM
OK, so your DxDiag report is in Dx.Diag (http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=400102&f=3471054943&m=7251075673&r=6601016673#6601016673). Again, PLEASE don't...!
Yes, it probably is your video card, but in combination with several other problems. You really should install a newer NVIDIA or Radeon video card, or - preferably - put your money into a new PC.
Be that as it may, suggestions:
1. You have only 384 MB of system Random Access Memory (RAM) installed, which is barely sufficient to run Windows adequately by itself. You should *strongly* consider installing at least an additional 128 MB of RAM, for a total of 512 MB. Additional RAM may not solve the EoA problem, but your entire system will run much better! (Refer to your owner's manual for memory installation details. Be certain that the additional RAM is the same type as what you already have installed!)
2. You have only about 5 GB of free space on your hard disk. In today's PC environment, that's almost like having no free space at all. If you do run out of free space, you probably won't be able to access your hard disk, which essentially leaves you with a rather expensive doorstop. You should *strongly* consider installing a larger hard disk.
3. Your virtual memory paging file is not set correctly. Before changing paging file settings, note what you started with, so that you can go back to those settings if desired. Be certain that you're logged on as an Administrator or a member of the Administrators group, then:
-- a. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
-- b. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
-- c. In the Performance pane, click Settings.
-- d. In the Performance Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
-- e. In the Virtual memory pane, click Change.
-- f. Under Drive , click the drive that contains the paging file you want to change.
-- g. Under Paging file size for selected drive, click Custom size.
-- h. Change Initial size and Maximum size to 768, the proper value in megabytes.
-- i. Click Set, and then click OK.
-- j. Click OK to close the Performance Options dialog box, and then click OK to close the System Properties dialog box. Close everything back to the Desktop.
-- k. Reboot
4. Re-install EoA from a clean boot, as detailed under Clean-boot EoA Re-install, Previous Installation in Myst V: Clean Boot Install/Re-install With Win XP (http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3471054943/m/6171031163), one of the stickied topics at the top of this Forum.
5. You currently have NVIDIA's version 78.01 video driver installed. Download and install NVIDIA's latest version 81.85 driver, as detailed in Myst V: Installing Video Drivers With Win XP (http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3471054943/m/9071035163). (Follow the instructions, don't try any shortcuts.) If version 81.85 doesn't help, install version 77.77. And if that doesn't help, install version 52.16. All of these versions are available from the same NVIDIA page.
6. Your current sound driver is dated 8/29/2002, and there ought to be a newer version available from Hewlett-Compaqard. Start looking with the HP Software & Driver downloads page (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/static_software_select?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&).