Well, it works, but it doesn't quite look right.

Well, here's one that may have have been asked, but was never really answered (the only post I found like my problem was on page 20 or so). So, here's the technical stuff:

Toshiba Satelite Tablet PC (yes it's fun to play using a pen instead of a mouse)
1.7 gh prodessor. (Yeah, I know, it's not 1.8, but the blasted thing plays.
Graphics: Internal graphics that came with the system, non-expandable (as far as I know), with no onboard ram or acceleration that I know of.
1.5 gig onboard ram
70 gig HD (over 40 is used)


Yeah, like I said, it's underpowered for this game, but to my surprise, it bloody well works. The problem is this, after fisrt installing, (I didn't have my own personal copy just yet) it didn't quite run right as I played though the tutorials. I rebooted, and suddenly everything was working right for over an hour, then my computer started screaming about rebooting because of updates. Because I didn't want to be interruptedevery 5 minutes about "rebooting my comp," I saved, and rebooted. Here's where the problem returned.

Even after all reboots have been done, getting my own copy, re-installing the game, registering and getting the update patch, my problem continues. Here it is (sorry, no screen caps at this moment):

When the game opens, and the first menue appears, instead of game graphics surrounding the menu, I get a large white box (the animated scenics are still displaying though). Any menu option chosen winds up as just icons on a white background. It doesn't matter the menu choice, they all act the same. No character graphics, making choosing any a problem. As you go into the game (at least for the single player mode, though I doubt there would be any difference), only the menu options and the three user menues (Diplomatic, Tech tree and Underworld menues) seem to be effected. All other graphics operate normally, but all thouse screens are a few usable icon buttons, on a blank white background.

Does anybody have any idea why, especially with the hour that it have been working ok?
2,946 views 12 replies
Reply #1 Top
Probably has something to do with the windows update. It's not unheard of for Microsoft updates to break things.
Reply #2 Top
Make sure all drivers and anything like that are up to date.
Reply #3 Top
i have a similar problem, only i get graphics glitches every 10 minutes and in order to eliminate them i have to restart my comp. My comp is also WAY underpowered (its about 6 years old). Works okay, laggy, but playable. It may have something to do with the hardware. I also put it into window mode and didnt have any glitches for about 20 minutes. So...i have no idea, either. :|
Reply #5 Top
Make sure all drivers and anything like that are up to date.
End of quote

And what're your specs?
Reply #6 Top
i just recently updated my drivers before i got the game... but here are my specs...

Intel Pentium Processor 3 CPU- M 1200Mhz 795Mhz 256Mb of RAM

thats all i can find. im on an old Sony VAIO laptop PCG-R505GL model.
Reply #7 Top

With hardware like that, sounds to me like your video adapter doesn't have the proper pixel shader support required by SINS. Nothing you can do about that except not playing it on that system.
Reply #8 Top
With hardware like that, sounds to me like your video adapter doesn't have the proper pixel shader support required by SINS. Nothing you can do about that except not playing it on that system.
End of quote


Then why did it work for an hour before it broke?
Reply #9 Top
With hardware like that, sounds to me like your video adapter doesn't have the proper pixel shader support required by SINS. Nothing you can do about that except not playing it on that system.
End of quote


Darn, was afraid of that :(
Reply #10 Top

Then why did it work for an hour before it broke?
End of quote


5i1

I should have specified, my reply was directed at Funjifore.
Reply #11 Top
Well, thanks for the input, guys. I just wish I could figure this out. The latest Drivers for my Tablet's graphics card (can actually handle 64megs, I couldn't believe it)are from '04, and XP can't find anything better.

This only makes me wonder what the update changed that did this, and whether it will fix at all, or if I can force it to fix.
Reply #12 Top
The latest Drivers for my Tablet's graphics card (can actually handle 64megs, I couldn't believe it)are from '04
End of quote


You may want to check Intel's site if you haven't already, then. If they don't have anything, then the hardware probably is simply too old.