Error messages when you start a Microsoft game: "Signal out of range" or "Out of scan range" (315614)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Flight Simulator X Deluxe
  • Flight Simulator X Standard
  • Links 2003 Championship Edtn EN
  • Microsoft Age of Empires III
  • Microsoft Age of Empires III Expansion: The War Chiefs
  • Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator: WWII Europe Series 1.0
  • Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater
  • Microsoft Fable: The Lost Chapters PC
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 - Century of Flight
  • Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition 1.0
  • Microsoft Halo: Combat Evolved
  • Microsoft Links 2003
  • Microsoft Midtown Madness 2 2.0
  • Microsoft Rise of Nations
  • Microsoft Rise of Nations: Gold Edition
  • Microsoft Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends
  • Microsoft Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots
  • Microsoft Train Simulator
  • Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2
  • Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure
  • Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: Dino Danger
  • Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species
  • Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania
This article was previously published under Q315614

SYMPTOMS

When you start a Microsoft game, you may receive an error message on the display's On Screen Display that resembles one of the following:
Signal out of Range.
Out Of Scan Range
Horizontal frequency is out of range.
Cannot Display This Video Mode Out of Sync

CAUSE

This issue may occur if the signal from the video adapter exceeds the scan range of the monitor. The video adapter setting for updating the screen (the refresh rate) is incompatible with the monitor.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, follow these steps in the order that they appear in.

Reduce display settings

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Display.
  3. Click the Settings tab, and then note the settings for Colors and Screen area.
  4. In the Colors or Color Palette box, click High Color (16 bit).
  5. Move the Screen area or Desktop area slider to 800 by 600 pixels, and then click OK.
  6. If you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.
Test the game again. If the issue is not resolved, continue with the next section.

Change the refresh rate for the video adapter

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Display.
  3. On the Settings tab, click Advanced.
  4. On the Adapter tab, click Adapter default under Refresh rate, and then click OK.

    Note If there is no Adapter tab, you cannot change the refresh rate for your video adapter.
  5. If you are prompted to test the setting, click OK.

Change the refresh rate setting in DirectX

  1. Click Start, click Run, type dxdiag.exe in the Open box, and then click OK.
  2. On the More Help tab, click Override.
  3. Click Override Value, type a refresh rate setting in the Override Value box that is supported by both your video adapter and the monitor, and then click OK. Try one value at a time.

    Note Typical values are 60, 62, 72, and 75.
  4. Click Exit.

    Note If you change the video refresh rate to a setting that is not supported by the monitor, you can damage the monitor. Check the documentation for the monitor or contact the manufacturer of the monitor to determine compatible refresh rates before you change the default refresh rate setting for your video adapter.

    To determine a refresh rate setting that is supported by both your video adapter and the monitor, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
    2. Double-click Display.
    3. On the Settings tab, click Advanced or Advanced Properties.
    4. On the Monitor tab, make sure that the monitor is selected. If an incorrect monitor is selected, or if a standard or unknown monitor is selected, click Change, click the manufacturer and model of the monitor, and then click OK.
    5. On the Adapter tab, click the Refresh Rate box.

Obtain the latest video card drivers

Contact your video hardware manufacturer to obtain and install the latest version of the driver for your video adapter. For information about how to contact the manufacturer of your video adapter, see the "More Information" section. To see whether applicable driver updates are available, visit the following Microsoft Windows Update Web site:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

To identify the name and manufacturer of your video adapter, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type dxdiag in the Open box, and then click OK.
  2. Click the Display tab.
  3. Under Device, look for Name and Manufacturer.
  4. Click Exit.

MORE INFORMATION

To see whether applicable driver updates are available, visit the following Microsoft Windows Update Web site:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

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

65416 Hardware and software vendor contact information, A-K

60781 Hardware and software vendor contact information, L-P

60782 Hardware and software vendor contact information, Q-Z

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/10/2006
Keywords:kberrmsg kbdisplay kbprb KB315614
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