Unable to play evochron renegade

Krus6 · Post by **Krus6** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:14 pm

Hello,

I installed evochron renegade in windows 7 ultimate and everytime I try to play, I get a black screen and a message saying that evochron renegade has stopped working.

I thoroughly read and tried all the solution presented in the forum (32 bit color, .ini file, background programs, anti virus, resolution, etc...) but nothing works and the program will just not start.

I would be very grateful if anyone could help!

Thanks,
S

Post by **Vice** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:28 pm

See if it is an account limitation condition on your system. Right click on the game's desktop icon, then left click on 'Run as administrator'. See if anything changes.

Krus6 · Post by **Krus6** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:33 pm

Thank you for the quick response.

I tried to run it as administrator as suggested but nothing changes. Although now sometimes I get a black screen and after a minute or two a message says that the .exe program is not responding which then close the program.

S

Post by **Vice** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:35 pm

Ok, place the attached file in the game's install folder (where the EvochronRenegades.exe file is), then launch the game again. If it still fails, try changing the 'winsizex' and 'winsizey' values in that file to match your desktop.

If it still doesn't work, then right click on the game's desktop icon, then left click on properties, then click on the compatibility tab. Select a Windows XP mode and check the box next to 'run in 640X480', then click on Apply/OK, then launch the game again to test.

If that still doesn't work, complete the steps outlined here:

http://www.starwraith.com/evochronrenegades/faq.htm#8

ZIP the NFO file to make it much smaller for e-mailing.

[Edited on 4-24-2010 by Vice]

Krus6 · Post by **Krus6** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:58 pm

Well it sadly did not work again so I am sending you my NFO file via e-mail.

Tx,
S

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:34 pm

Glad I did not switch to windows 7 yet....LOL...

Post by **Vice** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 9:27 pm

Not really a Windows 7 issue, this happens on XP also. It's often caused by certain anti-virus programs blocking memory, interfering with game operation.

Post by **Vice** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:10 pm

Reply sent Krus with a few more things to try. Not sure yet, but it may be related to having two simultaneous display devices on your system. It's something I'll be doing some research on.

Post by **Vice** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:41 pm

Ok, after researching the problem further, it appears to be a fairly common issue with the Alienware M11x notebook computer (and likely other laptops/notebooks that use multiple display devices in attempts to hold down battery use). What seems to happen is the default Intel display adaptor is used, which results in either really poor performance or crashing/freezing in games. The GeForce 335M needs to be enabled as the standard device. To do that, follow these steps:

- Enter the BIOS (before the logo appears, press the F2 key).
- Enter the 'Advanced' menu.
- Change the 'Switchable Graphics' setting from 'Enabled' to 'Disabled'.
- Save your changes and reboot the system.
- Install/reinstall the display drivers for the GeForce 335M.

This will disable the integrated graphics system, making it invisible to the operating system and allowing the computer to run exclusively on the dedicated graphics adaptor (the GeForce 335M in this case). Once that is enabled, the game should load and run well.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 11:11 pm

Originally posted by Vice
Not really a Windows 7 issue, this happens on XP also. It's often caused by certain anti-virus programs blocking memory, interfering with game operation.

Yes, I know, I'm just kidding, although I'm a little prejudiced
against anything other than WIndows XP, and I do not understand why the heck they want to change a good working operarting system to something else...LOL..

Post by **Marvin** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 11:15 pm

Yeah. Me too. What was wrong with Windows 98 SE?

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 11:24 pm

Windows 98 SE, I had to, and then Windows ME, and now Windows XP but the buck stops here....LOL....

:P:P:P:P

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 11:29 pm

Oh yes and I forgot again, how rude of me, Hi Krus6, welcome to the game and forum, hope to see you out there when you get your game working......

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 11:55 pm

Hello Krus6, welcome to the forum and hopefully the Sim when you get it running.

BraveHart · Post by **BraveHart** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 5:17 pm

"Welcome Aboard Krus6" I hope you get the Game running soon

Krus6 · Post by **Krus6** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 4:58 pm

Hello again,

Thanks for all the Welcoming messages. I still sadly cannot play the game however.

I did all the following steps (coming from Vice) and the game will still not launch:
- Enter the BIOS (before the logo appears, press the F2 key).
- Enter the 'Advanced' menu.
- Change the 'Switchable Graphics' setting from 'Enabled' to 'Disabled'.
- Save your changes and reboot the system.
- Install/reinstall the display drivers for the GeForce 335M.

I also tried to update my display drivers to a more recent version but I guess I have to wait for alienware to release them as my integrated graphic card will not work at all after that when I try switching it back on.

Any more development on a possible solution?

Thanks to all for your patience and help (especially Vice)

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:07 pm

have you looked in your power management settings? its possible that the graphics card is being throttled in order to conserve memory ( idk win 7 , but usually control panel -> power management )

Post by **Vice** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:26 pm

The integrated graphics card should not be enabled after installing the drivers for the GeForce 335M, the GeForce should be the only listed display adaptor. The idea is to try and disable the integrated Intel adaptor entirely so it doesn't interfere with a game. The drivers available at Dell's website for that laptop are newer than the ones you had installed, they are available here:

http://support.dell.com/support/downloa ... id=&impid=

Near the bottom of the list. Did anything change when the GeForce 335M was the only adaptor listed? Different error number or type of hault?

[Edited on 4-30-2010 by Vice]

Krus6 · Post by **Krus6** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 6:40 pm

Yes I did try to update the driver after disabling the integrated card however I received exactly the same errors. I decided to roll back to my original driver after that as there was no way for me to reactivate the integrated card since the original drivers for that card would not work nor reinstall correctly anymore with the new drivers for the discrete card installed. Everything went back to normal with the older driver but I cannot play evochron either way.

Tx

Post by **Vice** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 8:11 pm

Have you tried to shut down all but the essential background tasks? If not, try doing that via the task manager, then if the game runs correctly, start turning them on one at a time to determine which one may be causing the problem. Odds are though, it's probably related to the display adaptor system. There is another player with an Alienware M17x with a similar problem that I am waiting to hear back from regarding some things to try. So hopefully, a solution will be available soon.

Krus6 · Post by **Krus6** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:19 pm

How can I insert the NFO file here?

Tx

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:24 pm

I wouldn't do that, Eclipse should have his email address in his profile ( click the profile button below one of his posts )

edit: its not there, u2u him for it........

[Edited on 4-30-2010 by verbosity]

Krus6 · Post by **Krus6** » Tue May 04, 2010 11:44 pm

Hello,

I, following suggestions from Eclipse, tried to turn off background programs that could possibly interfere but to no avail. The game will still not launch.

Anyone found a solution or has any other suggestions?

Tx

Post by **Vice** » Tue May 04, 2010 11:57 pm

Can you post a screenshot or type a list of the files listed in the \\sw3dg\\EvochronRenegades folder? You can send it to me via e-mail if you like.

Krus6 · Post by **Krus6** » Mon May 24, 2010 3:42 am

Hello,

After lots of trials and errors and after a lot of help from Vice and others on the forum, I must sadly say that I am still unable to play Evochron renegades or legends on my alienware m11x laptop. I guess the problem may be due to the dual graphic cards.

If by any chance anyone manage to resolve that issue, please let me know as I still hope to be able to eventually try the game.