Topic: Descent 3 + Windows 7 64 bit

[drahazar]

Hey folks,
A few years back I played here with a machine running XP now I've got my laptop, running Windows 7 64 Bit and I want in again.
Problems so far:
1. Links to the patches don't work, can anyone get me a known, working link to the 1.4 patch please.
1.(b) (can you tell me what to do with said patch once I've got it, I can't remember what I did last time!)

2.) The game runs fine in single player except that it only occupies about 1/4 of the screen in a square box, this is annoying and makes things difficult. Changing resolution in the "in-game" settings doesn't help what else should I try.

I'm reasonably computer literate but by no means a techy ie: please speak slowly and in little words at least to start with

Thanks
Drahazar

[-<WillyP>-]

Thomas has a patch which some have used:
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?topic=428.msg5076#msg5076

I'm on XP myself so I can't say about W7, but it worked well for me.

[Foil]

Note: The link WillyP gave is to a thread about Thomas' entire D3 Installer.  I don't think there's a need for that.

In my experience, Descent3 works perfectly on Win7/Vista x64; I've been playing it on both for about 3 years now without any issues.

You can find the appropriate patch at SectorGame.

Regarding the '1/4-screen' issue, that's a common video driver issue, particularly with ATI and Intel on-board video.  Once you apply the 1.4 patch and install new video drivers, it should work.  [If you don't know how, post your laptop specs here; we should be able to find a link for you.]

[drahazar]

Hmmm okay, progresss and also, no progress.

Got the patch, copied directly into the Descent 3 folder, ran in it said it was patching stuff, believed it. Job done.
The game still runs at mini-size.

Current Laptop Spec is as follows but I'm not sure what it is that you guys actually need so forgive if none of this is the right stuff.

Display Devices
---------------
          Card name: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family
       Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
          Chip type: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family
           DAC type: Internal
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2A42&SUBSYS_04061028&REV_07
     Display Memory: 1695 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 32 MB
      Shared Memory: 1663 MB
       Current Mode: 1600 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: unknown
         Monitor Id: LGD021D
        Native Mode: 1600 x 900(p) (60.080Hz)
        Output Type: Internal
        Driver Name: igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumdx32,igd10umd32
Driver File Version: 8.15.0010.1872 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.15.10.1872
        DDI Version: 10
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 8/13/2009 21:53:46, 5616640 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: n/a
    WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
  Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-6902-11CF-C874-0C24A7C2C535}
          Vendor ID: 0x8086
          Device ID: 0x2A42
          SubSys ID: 0x04061028
        Revision ID: 0x0007
 Driver Strong Name: oem65.inf:Intel.Mfg.NTamd64:iCNT0:8.15.10.1872:pci\ven_8086&dev_2a42
     Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
        Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_C ModeVC1_B ModeVC1_C

that help at all?

[Foil]

Looks like you have relatively recent video drivers.  First thing to try is to add the following to your command-line options (in the "Misc" tab in the D3 Launcher that comes up when you first run it):

-width 1600 -height 900 -aspect 1.78

If that doesn't work, let us know.

[Foil]

FYI, the newest video drivers for your system can be found at:

Mobile Intel Series 4 Graphics Drivers

Edit:  Are you running the game in Direct3D or OpenGL?  If one isn't working, you might try the other.

[drahazar]

Okay so here are the latest developments.

Screen Size

1. Code did not help. Screen is still small.
2. Downloaded and installed latest drivers from the link (thanks). No affect.  (
3. I switched between OpenGL and Direct3D, the only noticeable difference is that in Direct3D the whole screen flickers about once per second. No flicker in GL.

Online Play

1. Got and installed patch 1.4 by downloading copying into the Descent 3 folder (not any subfolder) double clicking and letting it run.

2. Got Vortex, messed randomly with settings until it allowed me to download the appropriate missions (Ascent) then tried to join a game, 5 players, all BOZ.

3. On attempting to join the game, D3 loaded, allowed to me select a pilot, then attempted to join the game before hitting error message: "unable to load game module"

Any ideas.

D3 single player runs fine (but small)

[(LL)Atan]

try the keys of your keyboard to change the d3 screen.
If you hit F1 inside the game you'll get a list of the keystrokes.

From the readme:

-              Shrink screen (speeds up game)
+              Enlarge screen

(maybe you have to search for the correct keys on you keyboard!)


and / or
entering this inside your D3 setup:

 -width <width>     Sets the screen resolution to the specified width,   if possible.

 -height <height>   Sets the screen resolution to the specified

You may try something like this inside your D3-setup-misc: -width 1920 -height 1200 -aspect 1.6

This is just an example, you must adjust the values to your native screen size.

Hope this helps.

[drahazar]

Adding text to the Command Line doesn't seem to make a difference, unless anyone think that the numbers that we put in were wrong?

The + - thing works a bit, in that if I press - then the screen desceases and + the screen increases again but only back to it's original size, it won't go larger than it starts. I can only assume from this that it thinks its running at the highest resolution already
(

any ideas about the online "cannot load game module" thing?

[VANGUARD]

the one thing I could think of is the resolution change in the game, but it sounds like you've done that. I am sure you selected "full screen" if that option is in D3. been forever now it seems since the last time I played it.
the only other thing I can think of, and it may just be a linux thing, is your resolution on the desktop set to a lower than what you want in the game?
I guess it's worth a try unless you have already.

[Foil]

drhazar, try this: Run D3 "as administrator".  I think there's probably a permission issue preventing you from using the command-line options.

Regarding the 1/4 screen issue, is it running in a window?

[drahazar]

Run as admin didn't seem to make a difference.

Nope normal screen res. is set to 1600x900 which is way higher than I need for the game.

The game is not running in a window as such, as in, I can't minimise the game or see anything "behind" in, it takes up the entire screen, just three quarters is blackness!! Best to describe it is like this. If you can the resolution setting on the desktop to a low resolution then you get the normal desktop, but small and surrounded by black space. That's what it looks like.

[Foil]

any ideas about the online "cannot load game module" thing?

Missed this, sorry.

It just means you don't have the gametype for the game the server is running.  All you need to do is download the correct .d3m file (e.g. Hyperanarchy.d3m) and put it in your Descent3/netgames folder.

Try running as administrator with the command-line options I gave you before.

[drahazar]

Run as admin didn't seem to make a difference.

will try the game file thing

[drahazar]

okay so this is strange. I don't have the correct .d3m files like you said, but neither will it allow me to download the files. As in the "anarchy tab" is not highlighted red, it thinks it has anarchy, right click shows the greyed out option to download the files. Looks like I need an external like to these things but I can't find one. They claim to be downloading from such sources as:

www.dfiles.de/downloads/d3/missions/halycon.zip

thats obviously a mission not a mod BUT that link returns no webpage. Any ideas, the "files" tab here seems not to have the mod files. where can I get them
??