[Fjellsveis]

So, I just got around to reinstall Freespace. And, well, to cut to the chase, it doesn't work.

The error message is:

 Unable to get proper pixel format for OpenGL W32!

And taking from your Troubleshooting guide;
    * Make sure that you have (the newest) graphics card drivers and chipset drivers installed.
    * Make sure that you're using 32-bit colours for both your desktop and the game itself (can be changed from the Launcher's Video tab).

Being blunt, neither fix works. I followed the instructions for the Source step-by-step, and with the latest 5.5C Launcher version. Anyone have any explenation of sorts?

[Topgun]

whats your graphics card?

[Fjellsveis]

Nvidia 8800 GT.

[chief1983]

Latest launcher is 5.5d, not 5.5c.  It's linked in the Nightly Build FAQ.  I'd get it anyway, but I don't think it's going to solve your problem.  What instructions did you follow?  Did you use Turey's installer over an existing retail install, or just build the directory yourself by hand, or something else?  Need MOAR info.

[Fjellsveis]

Latest launcher is 5.5d, not 5.5c.  It's linked in the Nightly Build FAQ.  I'd get it anyway, but I don't think it's going to solve your problem.  What instructions did you follow?  Did you use Turey's installer over an existing retail install, or just build the directory yourself by hand, or something else?  Need MOAR info.

What I used is all in this thread; http://hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Installing_fs2_open

As I understand it, the game itself is downloaded by the installer itself. No files were present prior to installation. I did nothing that the walkthrough didn't advise to do. And no, getting 5.5c didn't solve it. Keep asking, I'm here all night.

[chief1983]

Crap I can't believe that wasn't updated yet.  The FSO installer no longer includes retail files since you can now legally acquire FS2 for $6 from GOG.com, and it's not just some used copy like ebay, they're now an official distributor.  I'll have to remember to update that later tonight unless someone beats me to it.  In the mean time you need the FS2 retail data somehow.

[Fjellsveis]

Crap I can't believe that wasn't updated yet.  The FSO installer no longer includes retail files since you can now legally acquire FS2 for $6 from GOG.com, and it's not just some used copy like ebay, they're now an official distributor.  I'll have to remember to update that later tonight unless someone beats me to it.  In the mean time you need the FS2 retail data somehow.

Grand, so it's a file of 2.88GB of nothing but mods?
Sweet. I didn't waste any time at all. Oh wait, it took up most of my day trying to figure this out.

[chief1983]

Well all you need now is the retail data and you can play it.  It wasn't a complete waste.  You might be able to find the discs somewhere without having to pay for them, but no one here can help you out, as we want to see people owning legal copies.  Is that such a bad thing?

[Fjellsveis]

Well all you need now is the retail data and you can play it.  It wasn't a complete waste.  You might be able to find the discs somewhere without having to pay for them, but no one here can help you out, as we want to see people owning legal copies.  Is that such a bad thing?

Yes, for I like conformism, and you've just forced me to physically use my body in order to obtain stimulus.

[chief1983]

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or really angry or what.  I can't tell you to appreciate the work done here by volunteers, but I can say that if you really are upset at the change no one around here will miss you much if you leave, as we all appreciate the work done by :V: and Interplay to pay for their game, and then to spend countless hours making it prettier for those who have done the same.  So if you're looking for sympathy look elsewhere.

[Fjellsveis]

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or really angry or what.  I can't tell you to appreciate the work done here by volunteers, but I can say that if you really are upset at the change no one around here will miss you much if you leave, as we all appreciate the work done by :V: and Interplay to pay for their game, and then to spend countless hours making it prettier for those who have done the same.  So if you're looking for sympathy look elsewhere.

I love people who cannot recognize sarcasm without the use of silly emoticons. I jest, I jest. But I cannot praise you without actually seeing your work. And as many others in this community, FreeSpace was a milestone in my childhood. I have very fond memories of me and my friends batteling for the rights of the joystick, getting out of control and crashing smack-down into the side of a capital ship. '**** was awesome.

[chief1983]

It's hard to detect sarcasm without the associated vocal tones or facial expressions, that's kind of the point of emoticons.  Not everyone reads what you write the same way it sounds in your head, no fault of theirs.  Just something you have to account for.  And if you read some of the threads around here, you'd understand why it was difficult to tell if that was sarcasm, because I guarantee you people have made similar statements and been dead serious.  But yeah, I'm very fond of it too, I played the FS1 demo that came on the PC Gamer disc way back in the day.  Instantly hooked.

[Jeff Vader]

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,47640.0.html
http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,56279.0.html

Your OpenGL error means that your graphics card drivers are too old and/or you haven't installed proper chipset drivers.

[Fjellsveis]

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,47640.0.html
http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,56279.0.html

Your OpenGL error means that your graphics card drivers are too old and/or you haven't installed proper chipset drivers.

Or it's because the game was not included by the installer.

[Jeff Vader]

No. Not having the game gives a "Web cursor bitmap not found" error. But obviously you are not getting long enough to experience it because of driver issues.

[Fjellsveis]

No. Not having the game gives a "Web cursor bitmap not found" error. But obviously you are not getting long enough to experience it because of driver issues.

Alright. Well, I did install the latest drivers from Nvidia, and that didn't solve the issue earlier. And just to be sure, I tried to run it again just now, and I got this error:
Error: Unable to initialize display device!

File:J:\src\cvs\fs2_open_3_6_9.final\code\graphics\gropengl.cpp
Line: 4658
[This filename points to the location of a file on the computer that built this executable]

Call stack:
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------

This error has not been there earlier.
Another symtpom I have failed to mention is that when I do try to run it, the process continues to run, forcing me to end it in Task Manager.

[Fjellsveis]

Alright, I've gotten the retail game from GOG.com. Now what? Uninstall the Source and install it in the GOG.com download folder or..? Because that's going to suck. Really bad. Because it takes hours to reinstall it.

[Jeff Vader]

And waste precious bandwidth. No. Don't remove anything. Just stick the FSO stuff and your GOG FS2 to the same folder.

Edit: ... and you said you've acquired the latest graphics drivers. What about the chipset drivers? They were also mentioned.

[Fjellsveis]

And waste precious bandwidth. No. Don't remove anything. Just stick the FSO stuff and your GOG FS2 to the same folder.

Edit: ... and you said you've acquired the latest graphics drivers. What about the chipset drivers? They were also mentioned.

Having trouble finding MSI's latest drivers. There's nothing listed on their homepage. I'm using the http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K9A2GM-FIH&class=mb Motherboard, or a very close relative to it. Anyone else more adept at searching for chipset drivers? I'd love the help.

[Jeff Vader]

Hmm. Use CPU-Z (link in my signature) to check the model name of your chipset. That might help in searching for the drivers, particularly since the MSI page lists two possible chipset candidates.