Desperate software aid required!

[Grumblefish]

I'm afraid I'm having a little trouble getting the game "Rise of Nations" to work. I start the game by clicking on the RoN icon, and it proceeds to load the splash screen. Then it progresses to the introduction video clips, and there are no problems at this point. Once the video clips run their course (or I hit a key to skip them), however, the screen goes completely black. At this point, I can hear the music in the back ground, and when I hit the enter key, or click the mouse, I can hear the game's buttons being pressed. I am assuming the game is running, and the only problem is that I cannot see anything. When I alt-tab to get back to desktop (so as to close the program), the cursor reveals itself before the game minimises (it is a little arrowhead). I have no problem using the task manager to end the program, and apart from the fact I can't see anything, it runs beautifully.

I have followed the steps located at this web address in an attempt to fix the problem:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=813712&product=gms

As a side note, I ran the Age of Mythology demo, and had the exact same problem. I couldn't fix it, so I uninstalled the demo. However, before uninstalling it, I tried the two safe modes supplied with the demo. The "no-sound" run mode did not fix the problem, but there was a "Video safe" mode (or something to that effect) which ran Age of Mythology beautifully. Sadly, it only ran it in a tiny window with no sound. Perhaps that will help explain what is wrong with Rise of Nations?

None of my attempts to fix the problems have worked. I am running a p4 1.6ghz machine, with a geforce 2 MX400 64mb and 256 mb of RDram (Windows Home XP).

Keep up the good work everyone who helps me! I'm going to check and see if that guy I helped with the heat issue has fixed his problem.

[dozer]

sounds like video drivers, have you tried updating them? also will a gf2 cut it on this game?

[Colonel Kurtz]

Update Video drivers
Update Direct X
Game patches also maybe?

[sortius]

I have the same problem with soldat on my PIII with a Viper550 (TNT), I havent had it working properly yet because I cant find updated drivers, but I suspect it's either Dx9 or the lack of proper drivers...

If all else fails, Delete n Reinstall ;P

[Colonel Kurtz]

that's his problem, he just did a clean install. :D

[sagit]

Originally posted by Colonel Kurtz
Update Video drivers
Update Direct X
Game patches also maybe?

highly recommended course of action here. also see if your monitor has updated drivers...

[Grumblefish]

I updated directx, and I updated the video card drivers. If you click the link I posted, you can see all the steps I did. Unfortunately, it did not solve the problem. I will, however, reinstall all the drivers again.

[sagit]

perhaps the monitor isnt exactly liked. i use an lcd monitor, which has problems with some games.

[Asmodeus]

Since the page is taking forever and a fuck to show itself, update your motherboards chipset rivers.

[Colonel Kurtz]

Flash the BIOS, and half way through, pull out the powercord

(well, no, don't)

Game patches...you checked?

Is WinXP fully updated?

Is teh game looking at the right CD-ROM drive for the graphics it can't load properly?

Maybe try a noCD..

[Grumblefish]

Don't think it has any trouble with the cd-rom drive, as the AOM demo I talked about was a download and didn't try and access the cdrom at all, yet had the same trouble.

I was going with Asmo's suggestion after I first posted the thread while I waited for some responses, but you guys have done a great job. I didn't expect to get so many responses, so quickly. I'm upgrading the Mobo drivers, and then work from there from step one again. I know the video card is capable, as the microsoft site itself specifically talks about the video card in relation to the game, and says it works.

[Grumblefish]

Nope, nothing has worked so far. I think there is something you all need to know though. My computer is a piece of shit, the processor area of the Mother board makes a loud grinding sound pretty much daily, the cd-rom drive and harddrive are floating in mid air suspended by wires and make loud unhealthy sounds, the graphics card is living on a wing and prayer, and I have a series of stolichnaya bottles wedged together holding my heatsink tight against the processor because I broke part of the motherboard. I also have to perform the technical equivelant of a doctor massaging a patients heart almost every time I use the PC, having to push the video card into the AGP slot while it is running, etc etc, if I want the PC to work.

Ultimately, the fact the computer hasn't been fixed by any of your suggestions is hardly suprising. If anyone has any more ideas, feel free to state them, but I doubt there is much hope for this POS. I'm just going to ask Microsoft and be a lazy bastard. I've been keeping this computer alive for two years on sheer willpower alone, it was broken from day one as it was made from random bits and pieces, all centred around a shiny new p4 chip.

[Grumblefish]

Fixed it. Small problem that I can't believe I missed. I will hang my head in shame, and keep the secret problem to myself, lest I die of embarassment.

[Asmodeus]

barring you tried running the mac version, spit it out kid, or its noogie time