CMAK Install / Run Problem

[scud24]

Please Help If you can. We had a similar problem once before when installing and running CM2 but I can't remeber what we did to sort it out. I have bought CMAK and installed it as normal. I have and NVidia Graphics card bought at the time I installed CM2. My problem is that, when initially going to play, a pop up box appears stating 'cannot initialzie 3D graphics'. After this, when I have put CD in and double clicked on icon to play the game, NOTHING HAPPENS except for a title and small icon appearing in the start bar at the bottom of the screen. This doesn't respond at all and either floats off or comes back when clicked on! CM2 and other games all play fine on the graphics card and screen resolution we set it up for before, what can I do to get gaming?! :confused:

[Schrullenhaft]

Which version of CMAK is this, the CDV (retail) or BFC (internet) version ?

What Windows version are you running ? What video driver version do you have installed and what DirectX version ? Do you have 'Antialiasing' enabled/forced on ?

The 'cannot initialize 3D graphics' is an error usually seen at the end of the resolution selection process when nothing has been selected. DirectX assumes that none of the modes (down to 640x480 @ 60Hz - even with CMBB and CMAK) displayed properly on the screen and weren't seleted. Depending on what resolution you run your desktop at, it may take awhile to get to this point.

I suggest making sure nothing else is running in the background. Kill all utilities (including antivirus) and programs to make sure nothing is interfering. I doubt it has been created, but delete any Prefs file in the CMAK directory. This should force CMAK to go through the resolution selection process again when you launch it next time.

Regarding Antialiasing - turn it OFF for now (from the Display control panel > Settings tab > Advanced... button > GeForce 'whatever' tab > depending on which driver version you have the menus/buttons/tabs can vary from here). CM can be used with antialiasing (with a few problems, again depending on which driver version you have installed), but there may be a possible problem during the resolution selection process.

It seems strange that CMAK starts off minimized. This would suggest that something is interfering with the startup (software or keyboard keystroke). You may have to endure setting up CMAK again.

[scud24]

Hello Schrullenhaft!
Thanks for trying to help us out a bit!
In answer to your queries I have the following:
The CMAK version is the CDV one, I am running Windows XP Home Edition, Video driver 30.82 (is that the right number? I installed it last time for CM2), for the NVidia GeForce4MX420 Card, with DirectX Version 9 running. I have followed your instructions and turned off the antialiasing, although I have NO idea what it was or what it's for! Desktop is running at 800 x 600 with refresh rate of 60Hz. I tried uninstalling and then reinstalling CMAK to see if it made any difference or to see if it would force the screen resolution choice to come up again, but neither of these happened, no difference has been made - it just minimizes straight away again (and then I can't get rid of that!). Please help, v frustrated, Sam. :(

[Schrullenhaft]

When you're ready to run CMAK, close up all running applications. Then do a Ctrl-Alt-Del and click the 'Task Manager' button. You should have nothing running under the 'Applications' tab. Go to the 'Processes' tab and look for any line that lists your logon name under the 'User Name' column. You'll need to leave 'taskmgr.exe' and 'explorer.exe' loaded (since you're running Task Manager and Explorer in this case is that actual desktop shell). Anything else listed with your user name should be highlighted and then click the 'End Process' button. Hopefully this should get rid of most of the obvious programs that may be interfering with CMAK.

Attempt to run CMAK again and see if it minimizes. I assume that after CMAK minimizes, within a certain amount of time you'll get the "cannot initialize 3D graphics", is that correct ?

800x600 @ 60Hz is the lowest resolution and refresh rate that CMAK actually supports. I'm not sure how many 640x480 resolution/refresh rate combinations CMAK goes through.

I have sent you a Prefs file for CMAK which you can copy to your CMAK directory (where the CMAK executable is at). It's set for 800x600 @ 60Hz, so hopefully it should allow you to run. If it doesn't, then we'll have to check out some other avenues to approach this problem.

[Anthon]

Hi,
I have the same problem with CMAK, CMOO, CMBB,
i.e could not initialise the Direct3d graphics. When trying to skip from 640x450 to next level.

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Intel(R) 82852/82855 Graphics Controller
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3582&SUBSYS_205B17C0&REV_02
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Digitaal LCD-scherm (1024x768)
Monitor Max Res:
Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.3691 (English)
DDI Version: 7
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/8/2003 10:12:28, 36927 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n.v.t.
Mini VDD: ialmnt5.sys
Mini VDD Date: 10/8/2003 11:11:20, 93979 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-76C2-11CF-1B7A-5100A3C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x8086
Device ID: 0x3582
SubSys ID: 0x205B17C0
Revision ID: 0x0002
Revision ID: 0x0002
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Disabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

Many Thanks for your help.

[Schrullenhaft]

When you reach 640x480, there is nowhere else to go. Depending on your video driver, CM may try several refresh rates at that resolution. Once you reach 640x480 @ 60Hz, there's no lower resolution to try. The DirectX function that is performing the resolution selection can't loop back to a higher resolution. This is where the error "Cannot initialize 3D graphics" comes from - DirectX assuming that none of the resolutions were displayable on the monitor.

For CMBB & CMAK you can't use 640x480 anyway (even though you're offered the option to select that resolution). If you don't get an error about the 'minimum resolution of 800x600' (which you should), the screen will be cropped in such a manner that most controls will be inaccessible.

CM will start with your current desktop resolution (since the DirectX routine assumes you can't run a higher resolution), but at a possibly higher refresh rate than what you may be running. CM may even try a refresh rate that your monitor may actually be incapable of displaying - these settings are read from the video driver's capability to generate a resolution and refresh rate, not the monitor's capability to actually display them (as far as I know).

In this particular case I would recommend using the default resolution of your laptop, since that will give you the sharpest display (1024x768), though depending on your LCD you may want to try a higher refresh (you current rate is 60Hz, which can be a bit of an eyestraing, depending on the LCD display). If you run at a lower resolution your screen may have a 'strange' look to it as the video card and the display 'scale' the graphics to fit on the LCD's 1024x768 native resolution for the display. However 800x600 may respond quite a bit better in battles and moving around the screen may be slightly smoother.

[scud24]

Hi Schrullenhaft
thanks for your post of 15 December. I have followed your instructions - gone into task manager and ended all the programs with my user name under them apart from the two you mentioned (there were quite a few and I have no idea what they were or do but assume it was okay to end them!).I also copied the pref file you sent into the main Programs/Combat Mission 3 Afrika Korps file, not any of the sub files. Tried to run it again and all it did was minimise once more! To answer your question, most of the time it just minimises straight off and we get no messages at all. The 'cannot initialise 3D graphics' message only comes up after it has been installed and tried to run it the first time after installation. Hope you can come up with another idea?!? :confused:

[Schrullenhaft]

Scud24 increase your desktop resolution to 1024x768 at 60Hz and run Windows at 16-bit color. With all of the programs 'killed' in the manner specified earlier, launch CMAK and see if it still minimizes.

You also need to double-check some settings from the icon/shortcut you launch CM with. Right-click on it and go to the 'Compatiblity' tab. Make sure that nothing is checked. None of the CM series should need any compatibility settings.

[scud24]

Hel-lo again! Happy Xmas! Tried changing the resolutions as suggested and also checked the shortcut icons I was launching the game from to make sure nothing was 'checked' in the compatability tab. Tried running it again and, guess what?, it minimised!! Aaargh! Are you running out of ideas or have you any more suggestions? thanks for your help. Sam.

[Schrullenhaft]

Run the DirectX Diagnostic (from the Start Menu > Run > type in dxdiag). Go to the Display tab and make note of the settings there (they should all be enabled) and run the tests (especially the Direct3D one). If there are problems here, then there's definitely an issue with your system. If they pass, then we at least know that the basics of the system are working.

The last thing I can suggest is to uninstall CMAK, reboot into Safe Mode and reinstall CMAK. Reboot after the installation has finished (which may take quite awhile) and then make sure that all programs/utilities (as mentioned previously) are closed down. Double-check the shortcut to make sure no 'compatibility mode' check-boxes have been selected. Now run CMAK. Hopefully the resolution process should go through without problem. Once you've completed this you will see the splash screens for CMAK (possibly a CDV logo or whatever).

The minimizing is just strange (especially if you can't re-maximize it) and suggests that something is interfering or setup wrong with your computer. Are there any other 3D DirectX games that you play and if so do they have problems ?