[Skafsgaard]

Hi,
First of all, let me start by saying that this Open Source project is just pure awesome. Props to you all.

I am not the type to rush something and not do it properly. I followed several guides, such as the one on your wiki and the newbie guide on this forum closely and carefully. Of course, I could still have missed something, but I don't think so.

I have a copy of FS2, which I installed FSO on top of using the online installer for a full, complete install, of everything it had to offer.
I didn't change anything in the launcher, except enabling force feedback and selecting a resolution of 1024x768.

Now, the problem is that whenever I try to actually launch this beauty in fullscreen, I just get a black screen and no response at all. No sounds, no nothing. I can't alt+tab, windows-key or ctrl+alt+del out of it either, so my only option is rebooting. This happens both with and without the mediavps files loaded.
The curious thing is that this only happens when I try to run fullscreen. Running in windowed mode works perfectly, but obviously I'd rather be able to run in fullscreen.

I figured you might want to see my fs2_open.log, so here it is:

Code: [Select]

==========================================================================
DEBUG SPEW: No debug_filter.cfg found, so only general, error, and warning
categories can be shown and no debug_filter.cfg info will be saved.
==========================================================================
FreeSpace version: 3.6.10
Passed cmdline options:
  -spec_exp 8.2
  -spec_static 3.5
  -spec_point 8.6
  -spec_tube 1.0
  -ambient_factor 70
  -mipmap
  -missile_lighting
  -glow
  -spec
  -targetinfo
  -snd_preload
  -mod mediavps
Building file index...
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\mediavps\3610_Patch.vp' with a checksum of 0x07e72699
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\mediavps\MV_Advanced.vp' with a checksum of 0xd06bf123
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\mediavps\MV_Assets.vp' with a checksum of 0xc9e372bb
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\mediavps\MV_Core.vp' with a checksum of 0x0dc7bb8f
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\mediavps\MV_Effects.vp' with a checksum of 0xa3141c30
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\mediavps\MV_Music.vp' with a checksum of 0x4dbbbe96
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\multi-mission-pack.vp' with a checksum of 0x377695e0
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\multi-voice-pack.vp' with a checksum of 0xd50e7442
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\root_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0xce10d76c
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\smarty_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0xddeb3b1e
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\sparky_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0x164fe65a
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\sparky_hi_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0xa11d56f1
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\stu_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0xd77da83a
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\tango1_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0x4c25221e
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\tango2_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0x86920b82
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\tango3_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0x705e8d71
Found root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\warble_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0xd85c305d
Searching root 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\mediavps\' ... 1 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\mediavps\3610_Patch.vp' ... 180 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\mediavps\MV_Advanced.vp' ... 2868 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\mediavps\MV_Assets.vp' ... 1810 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\mediavps\MV_Core.vp' ... 146 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\mediavps\MV_Effects.vp' ... 1046 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\mediavps\MV_Music.vp' ... 32 files
Searching root 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\' ... 40 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\multi-mission-pack.vp' ... 110 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\multi-voice-pack.vp' ... 307 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\root_fs2.vp' ... 157 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\smarty_fs2.vp' ... 10 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\sparky_fs2.vp' ... 3027 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\sparky_hi_fs2.vp' ... 1337 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\stu_fs2.vp' ... 2355 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\tango1_fs2.vp' ... 32 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\tango2_fs2.vp' ... 15 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\tango3_fs2.vp' ... 10 files
Searching root pack 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\warble_fs2.vp' ... 52 files
Found 19 roots and 13535 files.
Setting language to English
TBM  =>  Starting parse of 'mv_strings-lcl.tbm' ...
Initializing OpenAL...
  Using 'Generic Software' as OpenAL sound device...
  OpenAL Vendor     : Creative Labs Inc.
  OpenAL Renderer   : Software
  OpenAL Version    : 1.1

... OpenAL successfully initialized!
Initializing OpenGL graphics device at 1024x768 with 32-bit color...
  Initializing WGL...
  Requested WGL Video values = R: 8, G: 8, B: 8, depth: 32, double-buffer: 1
  Actual WGL Video values    = R: 8, G: 8, B: 8, depth: 32, double-buffer: 1
  OpenGL Vendor     : ATI Technologies Inc.
  OpenGL Renderer   : ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650
  OpenGL Version    : 2.1.7660 Release

Also, my specs are:
Intel Duo Core CPU
2GB RAM
ATI Mobility Radeon 3650

I can't overstate enough how happy I'd be for a solution.
So, in advance, thanks for your help and your time. (:

[Jeff Vader]

Code: [Select]

C:\Documents and Settings\Bruger\Skrivebord\thomas\FreeSpace Open\Documents and Settings is a bad place for FreeSpace. Try moving the entire \FreeSpace Open\ directory to C:\Games\FreeSpace Open\ or something like that. No need to uninstall and reinstall; just cut and paste.

If no success, when running in windowed mode, check if anything else is happening in the background. Some firewalls might ask about fs2_open_3_6_10.exe during startup and if they do, the game will appear to freeze while the firewall query is waiting for user input.

[Skafsgaard]

I already made exceptions for all FreeSpace .exe files in the Windows Firewall, which is the only firewall on this pc.
I will try moving my directory as suggested, and will report back in a bit.

Thanks for the quick and constructive response!

EDIT: When I moved the directory it a box popped up with the following messages:
"The launcher must be in the same directory as the binary you are trying to use."
"Using binary in the launcher directory instead."
I imagine that this is just because the path of fs2_open_3_6_10.exe which the launcher referred to, had changed compared to the path entered in the launcher, and is not really important as the launcher corrected the path itself. I thought I'd mention it just for sure though.

Anyway, after changing the the directory to C:\Games\FreeSpace Open, I tried running it again, still to no avail.
Also, I'd like to mention that this didn't happen when I ran the original retail version of FS2. So this has to be an issue with one part of FSO, or something in this computer conflicting with the program.

[The E]

I would recommend getting a recent nightly build and trying to run the game with the "Run in fullscreen window" option.

Nightlies can be found here: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=67865.0

[Skafsgaard]

I see, thanks for the advice.
From what I understand nightly builds, are builds that showcase some new programming, so that players are able to test it, yes?
However, are they generally stable, and do they provide the same features as a regular build?

[Jeff Vader]

From what I understand nightly builds, are builds that showcase some new programming, so that players are able to test it, yes?
However, are they generally stable, and do they provide the same features as a regular build?

During the nightly phase, new builds are released every "night", making it much easier to track down possible bugs presented by the changes made in the game engine code.
Nightly builds have usually been very stable, and they provide more features than the previous official releases. 3.6.11 nightlies should also demonstrate enhanced performance compared to 3.6.10. As far as I've understood it, the nightly phase is now over and 3.6.12 release candidates should appear any day now.

[The E]

Nightly builds, as used around here, are snapshots of the current state of the engine. The 3.6.11 nightlies, as a rule, are incredibly stable, and offer vast improvements in terms of speed and feature sets. Note that the next official release of the engine is coming in the very near future; upgrading to the new build does not carry that much of a risk.

I would also recommend reading the nightly build FAQ found here, for more information and a few useful links.

And yes, what Jeff said is true. The generation of new nightly builds is currently disabled as the SCP is gearing up for the release of the first 3.6.12 Release Candidate.

[Skafsgaard]

I see. I like that developing method.
So, I'd get a 3.6.11 nightly build, yes? There are no nightly 3.6.12 builds available as of yet?

Can you give me advice on which nightly build to get, as well as any extra stuff I might need to get. It appears, there are some shaders that one should get, but on the other hand, as I understand it, there are already shaders included in the mediavps files.
Also, would you recommend Inferno or Regular? I am a bit confused, so please bear with me.
Would it be possible for you to maybe give me one or a couple links to the recommended nightly builds, along with a short description of what the pros and cons are of each?

Also, do these builds work with mods, as I plan to play through The FreeSpace Port?
And what is MD5Sum?

Again, thanks you so much for the help.

[The E]

3.6.12 builds are indeed not available yet. What is currently known as 3.6.11 will be called 3.6.12 once it is finalized.

The build I linked to is the last one released, the next builds released by the SCP team will be the 3.6.12 Release Candidates.

This: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=67865.0 is the latest build. That's the one you should use. It is currently the most stable version of the engine, with the most features.
The shaders mentioned in the nightly FAQ are completely different from the mediavps shader set. They enable the use of post-processing effects in the engine (like bloom). Instructions on how to enable them can be found in the Nightly FAQ.

As for regular vs Inferno, I would recommend using Inferno builds. While the increased limits in those builds are currently no utilized by many mods or TCs, it is planned to ditch the regular builds in favour of the Inferno versions rather soon. Making the transition now and getting used to it is certainly a good idea.

[Skafsgaard]

Thank you for the help, it's all becoming much clearer now. And the inferno builds sure sound pretty sassy.
Though, do you know a way to determine wether your CPU supports SSE and/or SSE2?

Also, I wasn't sure where to put the extra shader files, so I put the .sdr files four different data folders, and the .tbl files in the same four different data folders, namely:

C:\Games\FreeSpace Open\data
C:\Games\FreeSpace Open\mediavps\data
C:\Games\FreeSpace Open\fsport-mediavps\data
C:\Games\FreeSpace Open\fsport\data

I suppose at least two of these places are superfluous, but they won't do any harm, right? But if you can correct me on the correct and the wrong folders, so I can clear up the clutter, I'd be pleased.

Also, what is MD5Sum? Some kind of hash check? How does it work, and is it important and/or neccesary?

EDIT: Figured out how to check wether my CPU supports SSE and SSE2. I does as I expected, which I believe most more or less modern (read: not ancient) CPUs do.

[The E]

AAAAAAAAAARGH


You only need the shader files in ONE place. I recommend mediavps\data. Delete all others.


If your CPU is a Pentium 4 or better, it can run SSE2. If you are unsure, google for CPU-Z.

MD5sum is indeed a hash checking program. Use this if you are unsure whether or not something got corrupted in transit.

Note that you should download the Non-SSE/SSE2 package as well, as it is the only ione that includes a debug build for that version.

Also, you may want to join the #hard-light IRC channel. It's easier (and less aggravating for me) to answer questions like these (which have been answered in several FAQs on this site) there. Link can be found in my sig, or at the top of the page.

[Skafsgaard]

I'm sorry if I am causing you frustration, that's not my intention.
When I installed FSO and when I first ran into problems, I read available guides, FAQs as well as searched the Support forum for help before asking, but I did not find any solutions to my problem, which is why I started this thread.

Thanks for clearing that up on the shader location.

Yep, I checked, and my CPU supports SSE2.

Hm, I got everything in place for the latest SSE2 Inferno build, but I still face the same problem; a black freezing screen, forcing me to reboot.

I'll come on IRC.

[Jeff Vader]

When I installed FSO and when I first ran into problems, I read available guides, FAQs as well as searched the Support forum for help before asking, but I did not find any solutions to my problem, which is why I started this thread.

And that is exactly what you should have done. There are a lot of people who barge in here and ask about something that was explained in a sticky thread, thereby frustrating us when we have to tell him what he could have read from the sticky. You read the stickies and even provided us with your fs2_open.log without us having to ask you for it. The E's just probably a bit edgy because of having to explain the things in the nightly build FAQ again. But don't take it personally.

Back to the issue. I noticed that your log ends at

Code: [Select]

  OpenGL Vendor     : ATI Technologies Inc.
  OpenGL Renderer   : ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650
  OpenGL Version    : 2.1.7660 Release
As far as I've understood, the game should then enter fullscreen mode, but apparently it hangs at that point. I am at a loss here, but you could probably try uninstalling your current GPU drivers and installing the latest drivers. Or if you already have the latest drivers, uninstall and reinstall them.

[Skafsgaard]

Thanks for the encouraging words Jeff Vader (:

And, yes, oh yes, I got it working! Turns out it was old drivers after all.
Thank you many times Jeff Vader, thank you many times The E.

F*****' A!