NWN1 Issues

[oldgrayrogue]

OK. Just reinstalled NWN1 on my computer, with all the expansion packs and updated to 1.69. Then I ran worldgate and DLed all the ALFA haks and what not.

But I can't load the game. The loader takes me thru the begininning Atari screens but I never get to the main options screen. Just have a dark screen. However I do have the little "hand" cursor, just nothing else. Anyone know what the problem might be?

Never loaded NWN1 on this computer before. Specs are:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6850
3.00 Ghz
3GB Ram
Nvidia GeForce 8500 GT 512 MB VGA
Windows XP - SP2

Might it be the VGA is not compatible?

Any help would be appreciated, since I am supposed to start a campaign on Northern Cormyr on monday =)

[Zelknolf]

I'd try unique ways of starting the program first, mashing escape when you get to the dark screen, alt-tabing a couple times, running in windowed mode (it's a setting in nwn.ini -- make sure your resolution for the game is lower than your Windows-set resolution if you do that, or you'll end up in fullscreen anyway), and running nwmain.exe directly.

// edit - and make sure your game is set for a resolution your monitor can display. NWN is more than happy to be set to resolutions that newer monitors plain and simple don't like.

While you're in there, check your patch. Should be an xp3.key with your executable and an xp3.bif in your data folder. Plenty of instances of partially-completed upgrades causing a host of curious problems thus far.

And if that's no good, I'd start checking file permissions and access of whatever user setup you're playing from. XP doesn't usually have issues with that the way Vista does, but you're having troubles where permissions usually get people on Linux and Vista machines. Seems worth checking to me.

If you still have problems, I'd say "NVidia drivers tend to be picky like that." There're countless records of people struggling with them. You might try SP3 (I hear that solves some of the issues with newer video cards and performance) and/or looking for older drivers for your card. I'd go on the usual OpenGL rant, but OpenGL isn't really an issue at that point in the process (so I'm gonna guess it's not your card, but it can't hurt to try, right? Worst case scenario, you're reinstalling the newer drivers.)

[oldgrayrogue]

Thanks. I was chatting with Syntaqx and he suggested updating the drivers and a workaround creating a shortcut for the nwn.exe . He gave mwe a link to a bioware forum that has a long discussion of the issue (assuming its the same one) and they say its the drivers. I really don't want to roll back my drivers (fairly new card) bc i don't want to screw anything else up. So I am going to try installing the driver for XP and my card bioware recommends and see if that works. Wish me luck and thanks =)

[White Warlock]

I would recommend a few things. Set the resolution in the nwn ini file to 800x600. As Zelk said, it may be set for a too-high or non-compatible resolution.

More likely though, it is the drivers. Before looking for an older driver, i recommend getting the latest drivers (not the ones on the cd, but the ones on the nvidia website).

Directx can sometimes mess things up, so you can also run diaxdg (just type it in via the run command) and test all the settings.

[fluffmonster]

Its definitely the nvidia drivers, its not any particular setting or configuration. I've found that the most recent drivers bring the screen back for me. Alternatively, there's a trick which changes the command line for the icon to open a phantom mod in toolset...gets you to an options screen from which you can back out .

This thread has the discussion on the matter. Try nvidia drivers above 165.xx. The first post in that thread has the icon target trick. Be warned though, nwn will run like crap even if you get past the black screen.

[oldgrayrogue]

Thanks to all who replied. it was in fact the drivers. I updated to 175.19 from the Nvidia website and now all is well. (going back to an older driver messed things up so anyone with a similar issue be warned)