Myst V and Vista=Also getting the black screen - Topic Powered by Eve Community

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In general,
-- a. Start Myst V: End of Ages (EoA) from a fresh boot.
----- 1. Reboot, log into Vista with full Administrator privileges, and close all open applications.
----- 2. Disable all tasks running in the background, especially anti-virus/spyware/adware/pop-up programs, task schedulers, remote system control programs (such as Microsoft NetMeeting) or other programs shown on the Windows task bar.
----- 3. If you have only a software firewall, do NOT disable it!
----- 4. Do NOT run any other programs before starting EoA.
-- b. Do NOT boot up with the EoA disc in the drive, or with a disc in any drive.
-- c. If the EoA disc autostarts when you insert it into the drive, cancel back to the Desktop.
-- d. Start the game using the EoA icon on the Desktop, NOT the menu item on the disc.

Suggestions:

1. Your DxDiag report doesn't indicate which Satellite A205 model you have (there are more than 70), so I can't determine if you have the latest video driver from Toshiba. The latest drivers are available starting here. Click on Download on the taskbar > Laptops > Satellite > scroll down the list, click on your exact model > GO. On the Downloads page, select Windows Vista and the Display category. If you don't have the latest driver package, download and install it. Reboot when driver installation is complete.

2. Also check to see whether you have the latest sound driver from Toshiba. Go to the Toshiba website as above, select Windows Vista and the Sound category. If you don't have the latest driver package, download and install it. Reboot when driver installation is complete.

3. Run EoA as an Administrator.
-- a. Click on Start, then type Myst V End of Ages in the Start Search box.
-- b. In the Programs list, right-click on the EoA listing, and click on Run as administrator.
-- c. If you're asked for a password or for confirmation, type in the password or click on Continue.
-- d. Close back to the Desktop and play EoA.

4. With "run as administrator" enabled for EoA, disable the Desktop Window Manager (Aero Glass) when you play EoA.
-- a. Click on Start, then type Myst V End of Ages in the Start Search box.
-- b. In the Programs list, right-click on the EoA listing, and click on Properties.
-- c. On the Compatibility tab, click on the Disable desktop composition check box to select it.
-- d. Close back to the Desktop and play EoA.

This disables Aero Glass only when you play EoA, and Aero Glass is re-enabled when you close EoA.

5. With "run as administrator" enabled for EoA and the Desktop Window Manager disabled as above, run EoA in Compatibility Mode.
-- a. Click on Start, then type Myst V End of Ages in the Start Search box.
-- b. In the Programs list, right-click on the EoA listing, and click on Properties.
-- c. On the Compatibility tab, click on the Run this program in compatibility mode for check box to select it.
-- d. Select an operating system, and click on OK.
-- e. Close back to the Desktop and play EoA.

You may need to try all of the listed operating systems to find a setting that helps. Compatibility Mode stays active for EoA until you unselect the Run this program in compatibility mode for check box.

Heimdall
Semper ubi sub ubi

Posts: 5566 | Registered: Wed June 04 2003

Ignored post by Heimdall G posted

Posted

Good Afternoon. I really appreciate the quick response. First my Toshiba Satellite is model number A205-S5855. I went ahead and downloaded the updated drivers/as well as did steps 3-5 (run as admin, disable Areo Glass. I have tried all compatibility modes and it still seems to get stuck with the statement in regards to the (mainframe at 1:46 pm).

Now, when I run Myst V and the dvd is loading, once I get to the "start game/continue" I will click on that and if I hit "alt,ctrl,del" with in a few seconds of clicking continue the task manager will come up and it will allow me to play But I have to do this process otherwise it still gets stuck.

Is there anymore tweeking I can do? On another note and this may/may not be something you can help with. The first time I loaded this game Vista got very angry with me and now when I start up my system I get the following statement "Smart Failure Predicted on Hard Disk 2. WDC WD1600BEVT-002CT 0 (S1)
Now not even a month ago my HD was replaced. Can a game kill it again?

Thanks for all the help

Posts: 6 | Registered: Fri October 16 2009

Ignored post by brie1770 posted

Heimdall G

Moderator &
Community
Assistant

Posted

Using Task Manager to allow running EoA may or may not be part of the apparent problem with your hard disk. Before you worry about game tweaking, you need to solve the hard disk problem!

S.M.A.R.T. is the acronym for Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology. This system is built into the electronics of some hard disks, and monitors the disk to detect and report numerous reliability indicators. The idea is to predict disk failure and thereby allow the user to take preventive action before failure occurs.

Your disk is having a problem significant enough to give you the S.M.A.R.T. failure prediction message. Myst V (or any other game) is unlikely to have caused whatever the problem is. Rather, installing the game caused the underlying problem to escalate to the point that you get the S.M.A.R.T. error. This could be due to a mechanical or electronic problem with the disk itself, something wrong with your laptop's motherboard electronics, laptop internal cooling problems, or even a malware infestation that's attacking the disk.

Pending the answers to the following questions and before you do anything else, *immediately* copy any data you can't afford to lose from your hard disk to other media!

1. When the hard disk was replaced, was whatever necessitated the replacement diagnosed and repaired? Or was the new disk just installed with no diagnostic work done?

2. When the new hard disk was installed, were Vista and your other software installed "from scratch", or was a backup image of the original disk used (like a Norton Ghost backup set, for example)?

3. Do you regularly scan your hard disk for all of the common types of malware, that is, for viruses, adware, and spyware? And do you have malware prevention measures active in the background?

4. The first time you loaded Myst V, exactly how did Vista get very angry? Error messages, lockups, black screens, etc.?

5. At what point in the system startup process do you get the S.M.A.R.T. error message? Immediately when you start booting up or after Vista starts to load? Or at some other point?

Heimdall
Semper ubi sub ubi

Posts: 5566 | Registered: Wed June 04 2003

Ignored post by Heimdall G posted

Posted

Before anything-Thanks Again for your help.

Yes, I have a back-up through an online service so I have done that.

To answer your questions to the best of my ability:

1)The hard drive was replaced after MicroCenter supposedly did some diagnostic tests on it. I am not going to get into the drama details but it was finally done after contacting someone who could stick up for me and understand what needed to be done. The first time I brought it back to be looked at-they were just going to do a "re-image" which I found out I could by the restore cds from Toshiba and do it myself saving $60. Long story-but in the end they replaced the HD.

2)Vista from scratch? Not sure. I think so because they did tell me that nothing was able to be saved OR maybe they did a re-image on that?

3)I scan once a week with ESET Nod 32 and have a few other spyware/spybot applications but as for malware? Not sure. And I run this scan off the desktop so I am assuming it is covering the HD?

4)Okay the first time I loaded Myst V it got stuck at the "decompressing" something, then a white screen came up and said of bunch of errors repeatably. It was the same statement over and over....After that my system crashed and I had to reboot and that's when the Smart warning comes up.

5)As per above when I turn my system on it will say "Toshiba" and then the Smart warning with appear. I have to then hit F1 to get out of that and Windows loads at that point. Every (I want to say 15/20 min) I get a warning to back up my stuff because Windows has detected a HD issue.

A few details: I bought this system about 1 year ago. Had nothing but issues with it. I bought the restore disks from Toshiba and it seemed to work until it did not. Then I called MicroCenter and they were giving me the run around-so I posted on CL what was going on (I was getting the blue screen of death and could only run in safe mode until THAT did not work) and a very nice man got in contact with me and then he went to corporate. Surprise-they started paying attention. That's how I got my new HD. (Yes I have an extended warranty)

I have read online that the Smart is a warning-but that my hard-drive may not go for another 3 years-even with this warning. I am really at my wits end with this PC. I should of invested in a Mac.

Hope this explains what you were asking. Thanks again for the help.

Posts: 6 | Registered: Fri October 16 2009

Ignored post by brie1770 posted

Heimdall G

Moderator &
Community
Assistant

Posted

Malware is a general term that includes viruses, spyware, adware, trojan horses, rootkit exploits, etc. Some malware attempts to do bad things to your hard disk.

The reason I asked whether a disk image from your hard disk (not from the Toshiba restore disks) was used when the disk was replaced is that a disk image also copies the malware. This means that you don't get rid of viruses, etc., by using a disk image backup set.

The Myst V installer was probably decompressing multiple sound files, and the repeating error may have been due to its not being able to write to the hard disk for each file.

Yes, your hard-drive may go for another 3 years. But it also may not!

Since you have a Western Digital hard disk, you should download and run WD's Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows. This utility will tell you what problems your hard disk is having. Following the Instructions on the download page, unzip WinDLG.zip and run WinDLG.msi. Do the EXTENDED TEST. Post back with the results, so that we can take a look and make recommendations.

Suggestions, to be done after running the Data Lifeguard Diagnostic:

1. Update your NOD32 database, then run an on-demand scan of your hard disk in safe mode. Follow the instructions in How can I be sure that there is no malware on my computer?

2. Check your hard disk for errors using "METHOD ONE: Run Check Disk from within Vista" in How to Run Check Disk at Startup in Vista. Go through the 10 steps, then reboot to do the actual error check. Pay special attention to the WARNING in the pink box about NOT stopping error checking once it has started! When error checking, have your laptop connected to the AC adapter (with the AC power light on the indicator panel glowing blue) instead of running on battery power alone.

Heimdall
Semper ubi sub ubi

Posts: 5566 | Registered: Wed June 04 2003

Ignored post by Heimdall G posted

Posted

Good Afternoon-

Okay I will do this when our internet comes back up. Our modem blew so we are waiting for a new one.

I will post these results asap.

Thank-You for all your help.

Posts: 6 | Registered: Fri October 16 2009

Ignored post by brie1770 posted

Posted

Hello.

Okay so I ran the test and this is the following info I received:

EXTENDED TEST
Model Number: WDC WD1600BEVT-00ZCT0
Unit Serial Number: WD-WX20E59T9104
Firmware Number: 11.01A11
Capacity: 160.04 GB
SMART Status: FAIL
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 08-Error was detected while repairing bad sectors.
Test Time: 22:17:43, October 19, 2009

I am going to re-read the posting to see if I need to do anything else. Thank You Again.

Posts: 6 | Registered: Fri October 16 2009

Ignored post by brie1770 posted

Posted

Part Deux:

So I scheduled the test and am now going to restart my system and will post the results shortly there afterwards.

Posts: 6 | Registered: Fri October 16 2009

Ignored post by brie1770 posted