Pandora's Box Error Message: Unable to Create DirectDraw Surface (250527)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Pandora's Box 1.0
This article was previously published under Q250527

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to start Microsoft Pandora's Box, you may receive the following error message:
Unable to create DirectDraw Surface. Make sure that DirectX is installed, and then try again.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if any of the following conditions are true:
  • A Pentium III computer.
  • Your monitor is not configured correctly.
  • The video driver installed on the computer is incompatible with Microsoft DirectX.
  • The video driver installed on the computer does not support a color palette higher than 256 colors.
  • The video adapter installed in the computer does not meet the minimum hardware requirements necessary to run the game.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, download and install the Pandora's Box Update for the game's English or French version (Pandora10a.exe) or for its Japanese version (PandoraJ10a.exe) from the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/games/pandorasbox/downloads.htm

The self-extracting, self-installing files install two modified files: the Pandora.exe file and the Langenu.dll file. The combined size of the downloaded files is approximately one megabyte (MB).

NOTE: if you are using Pandora's Box Trial version it will not work on Pentium III computers. The error message that you will get is
Unable to create DirectDraw Surface. Make sure that DirectX is installed, and then try again.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Microsoft Pandora's Box, version 1.0.

MORE INFORMATION

The following troubleshooting methods may also help resolve this issue. Follow these methods in the order in which they are presented.

Verify That the Video Adapter Meets the Minimum Hardware Requirements

Consult the printed documentation provided with your video adapter to verify that the video adapter supports a screen resolution of at least 800 x 600 pixels at a 16-bit or higher color palette.

Adjust the Microsoft Windows Display Settings

To adjust the Windows display settings, use the appropriate method for your version of Windows.

Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows 98

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Display.
  3. Click the Settings tab.
  4. Move the Desktop Area or Screen Area slider to the 800 x 600 pixels setting.
  5. In the Color Palette or Colors box, click High Color (16 bit).
  6. Click Advanced Properties or Advanced.
  7. On the Monitor tab, make sure that your monitor is selected. If an incorrect monitor is selected, or if a standard or unknown monitor is selected, click Change.
  8. Click the manufacturer and model of your monitor, and then click OK.

    NOTE: If you are using Microsoft Windows 98, click Change, click Next, click Display a list of all drivers in a specific location, so you can select the driver you want, and then click Next. Click the appropriate driver for your monitor, click Next, click Next again, and then click Finish.
  9. Click Close, and then click OK.
  10. Close Control Panel.

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Display.
  3. Click the Settings tab.
  4. Move the Desktop Area slider to the 800 x 600 pixels setting.
  5. In the Color Palette box, click 65536 colors, and then click Test.
  6. Click OK, and then click Yes.
  7. Click OK, and then close Control Panel.

Obtain an Updated Video Driver

If the issue continues to occur, contact the manufacturer of your video adapter for information about how to obtain and install the latest version of the video driver for your video adapter.

For information about how to contact your hardware manufacturer, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/20/2005
Keywords:kbConfig kbdisplay kbenv kberrmsg kbprb KB250527
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