[Excalibur]

Hi there guys.

I have a problem with selecting my graphics/ 3D renderer device.
I've got a NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 100/200 (Microsoft), but that isn't the problem. (I don't think)
Take a look at the images below.
I go to the retail fs2 launcher and select a 3D renderer, but when I press OK, everything seems to revert
back to how it was before, ie. No 3D Renderer is selected.
Therefore I can't even play FS2 Retail.

When I go to the SCP launcher 5.5, if I select OpenGL as my 'Graphics' option, it comes up with:
1) Failed to set graphic mode.
2) Failed to set Anisotropic Filter Setting.
3) Failed to set Texture Filter setting.

If I select Direct3D8 (my only other option), it comes up with this nice message:

Error (With big Red Cross) - Failed to set an important registry entry. (Press OK or nothing)

This is soooooo anoying.  :mad:I think it has something to do with my 'USER' rights profile. (Yes, I actually have one of those on my home computer!?)

If anyone has any solutions to this problem, this would be greatly appreciated.



NB: If you recommend a password cracker, please make sure it works in a User Profile and that it doesn't permanently change the Admin password.


By the way, was the launcher named "Launcher" because it was for a space game?

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[Charismatic]

By the way, was the launcher named "Launcher" because it was for a space game?

We'll never know. Just accept it.


Oh shiz, random beam malfunction

[vamitul]

first of all.. make sure u got admin rights.
second... UPDATE YOUR DRIVERS. Microsoft's default ones are ... mm.. crappy.. (me so polite)
go here: http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

[jr2]

1) Log in as Admin.
2) Control Panel > Users
3) Click your user / change settings / change account type.
4) Select "Administrator", hit "Apply" or "OK"\
5) Log in as your user.

BTW, do you have XP SP2, or just XP, or XP SP1?

[Excalibur]

ok, checking service pack tonight (I think its 2)

I downloaded 93.71_forceware_winxp2k_english_whql driver  for NVIDIA GeForce 2 (is that the one I should have d/loaded?


The problem with my admin rights is: I'm not supposed to know the password and I don't know what it is, and I'm also not supposed to play games, but no ones going to obey that!
I suppose i will have to find a way - I have Wednesday 10:30am to 1:30pm free, so that will be ample time. Thanks for the advice, BTW.

[jr2]

To check the Service Pack, right-click on "My Computer" and hit Properties.

[vamitul]

cracking the admin pass in XP is quite hard.. actually.. very hard. also your card is quite old, so i don't know if it will work anyway. i'll look at something when i get home, later this evening, maybe there is a way to help you.

[jr2]

Hehe... but if the WinDOwS is not SP2, then it doesn't ask for the "Administrator" account password when Windows is set up.  So, ppl often create their own Administrator-level account, and other limited access accounts, not realizing that there's a hidden Administrator account with no password set existing on their machine.  In XP Home, you must boot to safe mode (tap F8 a few times when booting) , then click the "Administrator" account.  In XP Pro, you can log off all users (restart if necessary), hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete twice, and a username / password box will pop up.  Type Administrator (first letter capitalized, others not) for the user, and leave the password field blank.  Voila!  SP2 at least asks for you to set a password.

[Excalibur]

Hi peoples.

I have service pack 2 XP. (I know how to check what service pack it is)

Wasn't able to 'install' driver - something about another setup running. (May be just User rights)


It says visit www.nvidia.com if there are problems, so I will.

Oh, and I think i have XP Pro, with the choose user with the little picture, not press Ctrl + Alt + Del.

[jr2]

No, you misunderstand me.  If you have XP Pro, you can use Ctrl + Alt + Del.  Normally you choose a picture.  Press Ctrl + Alt + Del 2 times when no one's logged in = you can now type "Administrator" and hope no one has set the password.  (If it was SP2 by default, not much hope... if it was upgraded to SP2, then maybe.  But in any case, it won't hurt to try.  If you need further directions, tell me.  BTW, if you know how to check the service pack, then in the same area, it tells you if it's XP Home or XP Pro.

[Excalibur]

Yes, I got all that - I successfully cracked the admin password!!!

Seems like all my problems were lack of privileges - now everything should work just fine.

Thanks for all the advice though.
The only thing I haven't done is sign up to the GTVA!!!

[vamitul]

congrats!  have fun playing!

[jr2]

The only thing I haven't done is sign up to the GTVA!!!

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[Excalibur]

Looks like I have another question!
Sorry about all the questions - I thought I'd use this thread instead of making a new one.
This is probably a really stupid question, but I have an old graphics card that I think is better than the one that came in the computer I'm using now. Only problem is...(this was really dumb)  :nervous:I switched the power supply input to my old windows98 computer from 240 V to 115 V and of course it blew up the power supply as well as probably the CPU and Hard disk. (Told you! )
I'm wondering if the graphics card is still usable, as I don't want to blow up another computer. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it, but I want to make sure, after all, you never know what goes on inside those chips.
Its just that the game currently runs at 30fps, down to 14 when there's a bit of action, and I would like smother gameplay.

Oh, and thanks in advance - I'm racking up a lot of IOU's

[vamitul]

depending on what kind of power supply you have, you might not have damaged anything. Just in the last 3 months i'we burned 4, so i'm kind of an expert  . just try them on. buy a new power supply. my guess is that the processor might be fired, but the HDD and the rest should be just fine.

[jr2]

Err... there are IIRC usually two fuses in those dual voltage PSU's - one for 115, one for 220.  Set the PSU back to 220, see if it will turn on.  I don't think anything made it past that fuse, if it worked the way it was supposed to.  Your computer components should be fine.  (Should! )  BTW, what make / model graphics card is built into the compy?  What make / model are you thinking of putting in?  How much total system memory for the built in one, and how much on-board memory for the other?  Questions, questions. 

(I used to live in S. Korea, where the voltage is 220 - we had a step down converter, but not that much space on it, so we ran most of the equipment on the stepdown, because it was 110, but the computer was dual, so we ran it off 220... me or my Dad set the switch wrong, and POP!  Replaced the fuse, and all was well.)

[Excalibur]

The computer was a Dell Dimension (? model)
The PSU i think was a 100/200?! I forgot, because it was thrown out.
The computer wouldn't turn on, and any attempts to replace the fuse just got blown again, even with the new PSU.

The graphics card I want to put in is an oldie i think, like a GeForce 3 or something - i can't find a name on it, but the thing is - FS2 ran better on the Dell with a Pentium III and that GPU in high res, but doesn't run as well on the one ive got now, with a Pentium 4 and that crappy GeForce 2.

I don't know if I explained this properly or not before, but I'm trying to replace the GeForcce 2 with the other one - but I don't want to blow up anything. BTW, can a damaged graphics card damage a computer in any way or blow a fuse?

Oh, (another answer to your questions) I saw a spark come out of the area where the CPU was, so I assume that's dead. Something is, as the 2 PSU,s have blown on the 220 V. I haven't bothered to get another PSU, as its not worth it at AUS$40 each.

(Loooooonngg post) There's a really old compy that can hardly handle win 95, I might try it in that (if it fits in the slots), just to see whether it blows anything.

[jr2]

Hnng.  Bad fuse; its supposed to protect your equipment in overload situations, I believe.  Oh well.  Why don't you just buy a new GFX card?  They aren't too expensive nowadays.