Problems with install/statup of PC demo | Forums

[elby2005]

I've just installed the demo on a WinXP machine (fairly up-to-date, 2.8 GHz, 1G RAM). After the first installation screen (the license agreement), the rest of the dialog screens were garbled (text rendered on top of text, making it unreadable). When I run the program, The language choice screen is OK (first time I run), and then screen that lets me select "Play". I get a very quick small rectangular splash screen (very quick, might say something like "starting myst v demo"?) And that's all. Program never starts up. I don't see any log or error files. Any ideas? Thanks.

[Mr Zebe D]

It might be a bug with Macromedia Shockwave. See if you can get the game to start by double-clicking on eoa.exe.

[elby2005]

Nope. When I double-click on the .exe, I get an hour glass icon briefly, then nothing. Other thoughts?

Thanks,
Elby

[Heimdall_G]

Also try the following, in order:

1. Use Windows Explorer to search all hard disks for \temp, \tmp, and \temporary folders, and delete any files in these folders that aren't currently in use. If Windows complains when you try to delete a file, leave that file alone!
-- a. Click on Tools > Find > Files or Folders.
-- b. Type temp or tmp or temporary in the Named: box.
-- c. Click on the arrow at the right end of the Look in: box and then click on the disk drive to be searched.
-- d. Click on Find Now to start the search.
-- e. Click on the temp (or tmp or temporary) folders found to open them.
-- f. Delete any files in these folders that aren't currently in use.

2. Clear your Internet Explorer caches.
-- a. Close all open applications.
-- b. Open a single Internet Explorer session.
-- c. Click on Tools > Internet Options.
-- d. Click on Delete Cookies > OK.
-- e. Click on Delete Files (check the 'Delete all offline content' box) > OK.
-- f. Click on Clear History > Yes.
-- g. Click on OK to exit.

3. Download DirectX 9.0c, available here. (Don't use a "download accelerator" utility when downloading!) Then:
-- a. After logging into Windows with full Administrator privileges, disable your anti-virus software
-- b. Click on Start > Run.
-- c. Browse to the DirectX 9.0c installer file you downloaded, and double-click on it to put it in the Open: box.
-- d. Click on OK to start the installation process.
-- e. Follow the install Wizard's instructions, and accept the install defaults.
-- f. Reboot when installation is complete, and re-enable your AV software.

4. Uninstall "Macromedia Shockwave Player" using Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs, and reboot. Then, after logging into Windows with full Administrator privileges, disable your anti-virus software and install the latest Shockwave version from here. Click on the Install Now box to begin the installation. Reboot when installation is complete. (Don't forget to re-enable your AV software!)

5. You may have a corrupted demo download, so re-download. A good download site is gamershell.com, or go to Monday 08.22.05 - Community News - Myst V PC Demo Released! for more download links. (Don't use a "download accelerator" utility when downloading!)

6. Install the demo from a clean boot. See Myst V: Clean Boot Install/Re-install With Win XP for details.

If none of the above help, you may have a hardware and/or driver problem. If you'll post a DxDiag report in this Forum, we'll take a look at your system and make recommendations. See Posting Guidelines and Myst V System Requirements under POSTING GUIDELINES, 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. Also, include the exact model number of your Dell, if it doesn't show up in the DxDiag report.

Heimdall