Dungeon Siege: Known video issues (320019)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Dungeon Siege 1.0
  • Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna
This article was previously published under Q320019

SUMMARY

This article describes known video-related issues that you can experience when you play Microsoft Dungeon Siege. The information in this article is first broken out by general issues and then by issues that have only been known to happen on specific types of video hardware.

MORE INFORMATION

General Video Issues

The following are general video related issues that you may experience when starting or playing Dungeon Siege:

Startup Errors

When you try to start Dungeon Siege, the game does not start and you may receive one of the following errors:
  • The games hangs on a black screen with little white dots in the lower left-hand corner. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    321084 Dungeon Siege: Game stops responding

  • Cannot enumerate any DirectDraw devices installed on this system. To resolve this issue, check or enable Direct3D acceleration:
    1. Click Start, click Run, type dxdiag, and then click OK.
    2. On the Display tab, verify that all DirectX features are enabled. If any are disabled, click Enable next to the feature.

      Note If some DirectX features are not available, verify that your video adapter meets the minimum requirements and that your video hardware acceleration is set to Full. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

      191660 Games: The DirectDraw option or the Direct3D option is unavailable when you start games for Windows

  • Video Initialization Failed. To resolve this issue, check the DDI (DirectDraw Interface) version:
    1. Click Start, click Run, type dxdiag, and then click OK.
    2. Click Save All Information to save a Dxdiag.txt report.
    3. Click Desktop, and then click Save.
    4. Open the DxDiag.txt file on your desktop, and then locate the Display Devices section.
    5. Under this section find the line marked DDI Version.

      This must read 7 (or higher) for Dungeon Siege to function correctly. If it does not, download new drivers for your video card, if possible, or upgrade to new video card hardware.
  • Your video hardware does not have enough memory. To resolve this issue, check the amount of video memory:
    1. Click Start, click Run, type dxdiag, and then click OK.
    2. On the Display tab, verify that the Approx. Total Memory is equal to 8.0 megabytes (MB).

      The video card must have 8.0 MB, or higher, for Dungeon Siege to function correctly. If it does not, upgrade your video card hardware.

      Note Because of video memory that may be in use at the time you run the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (DXDiag), this line may read slightly less than the actual total. For example, 7.5 MB for a 8.0 MB card.
  • Your video chipset has been detected as not supporting the features required by Dungeon Siege. To resolve this issue:
    1. If you are being informed that your video chipset does not support the features required by the game you will need to upgrade your video hardware for the game to work correctly.
    2. Obtain a new video hardware.
  • For all video cards running in 32-bit mode, some effects like smoke and waterfall mist may appear too dark when they are viewed from a distance. Drivers available at the time of the Dungeon Siege release did not solve this problem.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest drivers from the appropriate manufacturer.

Specific Video Issues

The following specific video adapters and chip sets have known video-related issues in Dungeon Siege:

3DFx Velocity 100

  • The character shadows are corrupted when complex shadows are turned on.

    To resolve this issue, turn off complex shadows on the Options/Video menu or download and install the latest drivers from the following Voodoo Files Web site:

    http://www.voodoofiles.com

    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.

3DFx Voodoo 2

  • The gamma adjustment slider is not working and there are slight texture corruptions.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest drivers from the following Voodoo Files Web site:

    http://www.voodoofiles.com

3DFx Voodoo 3

  • The shadow graphics are corrupted.

    To resolve this issue, turn off complex shadows on the Options/Video menu or download and install the latest retail drivers.
  • When you run the game in full screen, there are two black flashes that occur during the "preparing world" screen. The drivers that were available at the time of the Dungeon Siege release did not solve this problem.
  • The mouse pointer does not appear in the game.
  • The lava appears as a grid instead of smooth. The drivers that were available at the time of the Dungeon Siege release did not solve this problem.
  • The effects for the Charmed spell do not render correctly. The drivers that were available at the time of the Dungeon Siege release did not solve this problem. To resolve these issues, download and install the latest drivers from the following Voodoo Files Web site:

    http://www.voodoofiles.com

3DFx Voodoo 3 3000

  • The lava polygon texturing is corrupted or appears blocky. The drivers that were available at the time of the Dungeon Siege release did not solve this problem.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest drivers from the following Voodoo Files Web site:

    http://www.voodoofiles.com

3DFx Voodoo 5 5500 In Windows XP

  • Waterfalls, lava rocks, and fog have graphics corruption. The drivers that were available at the time of the Dungeon Siege release did not solve this problem. The 1.04.00 driver from 3Dfx works the best.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest drivers from the following Voodoo Files Web site:

    http://www.voodoofiles.com

Aopen PA3000

  • When you try to start Dungeon Siege, the game stops responding.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest drivers from Aopen.

ASUS V-2470 (Intel i740)

  • The screen is black if you use retail drivers for this video card. Dungeon Siege may stop responding if you toggle (ALT+TAB) out of the game and then toggle back. The drivers available at the time of the Dungeon Siege release did not solve this problem.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest drivers from Intel.

ASUS V-3800 Ultra

  • The game will not start in Microsoft Windows 2000. A fatal exception error is generated.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest retail drivers from ASUS and nVidia.

ASUS V-7700 Geforce2

  • There is slight in-game corruption relating to shadowing effects occurs.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest retail drivers from ASUS or turn off complex shadows on the Options/Video menu.

ATI Rage Pro

  • Some graphics are corrupted and the megamap is black. The chipset on this card is below the minimum specification for Dungeon Siege.

    To resolve this issue, update your video card.

ATI Rage Mobility

  • Some graphics are corrupted and the megamap is black. The chipset on this card is below the minimum specification for Dungeon Siege.

    To resolve this issue, update your video card.

ATI RADEON 8500

  • Corrupt cinematic and in-game textures may occur due to improper blending effects.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest retail drivers from ATI and turn off the SmoothVision feature. To turn off SmoothVision, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
    2. In Control Panel, double-click Display.
    3. On the Settings tab, click Advanced.
    4. On the Direct3D tab, click SmoothVision, and then change the Anti-aliasing option to Application preference or Always off.
  • Corrupt textures may appear when you view the MegaMap.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest retail drivers from ATI.

ATI RADEON VE

  • Waterfall effects do not work. The drivers that were available at the time of the Dungeon Siege release did not solve this problem.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest drivers from ATI.

Creative 3D Blaster Riva TnT 2 Ultra

  • A fatal error occurs and the game will not start.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest drivers from Creative Labs.

Creative Blaster Riva TNT

  • The main menu Option backgrounds become invisible.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest retail drivers from Creative Labs.

Diamond Monster Fusion

  • Trees do not fade away when you run up to them.
  • The game loads slowly and a black screen is rendered (you can hear the game music in the back ground). By pressing ALT+TAB to leave Dungeon Siege and then ALT+TAB to return, the game appears correctly and you can enter the game world.
  • The gamma correction slider does not work. The MegaMap is black. There is a corrupted font in the Options menu. You cannot select complex shadows. The water effects are not correct. The drivers that were available at the time of the Dungeon Siege release resolved all but the water problems.

    This video card is based of the Voodoo Banshee chipset. To resolve these issues, download and install the latest reference drivers from:

    http://www.voodoofiles.com

Diamond Speedstar A90

  • Graphics on the Hero are corrupted if 32-bit display settings are chosen.

    To resolve this issue, set the filtering to bilinear in the Display settings.

Diamond Stealth II G460

  • The game stops responding if you press ALT+TAB to switch to a different program, and then press ALT+TAB again to return to the game.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest reference drivers from S3.

Diamond Viper II Z-200

  • When you run Dungeon Siege, your computer may restart.

    If you have a VIA motherboard, download and install the latest '4in1' AGP drivers for that motherboard. You should also download and install the latest retail drivers from S3 (Sonicblue).

Diamond Viper V550

  • When you start the game, the screen turns black, which forces you to restart the computer.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest retail or reference drivers from S3.

Diamond Viper V770 TNT2

  • The game stops responding or exits when it is running in full screen.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest retail or reference drivers from S3.

ELSA Erazor III

  • A fatal error occurs and the game will not start.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest retail drivers from ELSA.

ELSA Erazor X

  • The graphics of your hero character lose textures.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest retail drivers from ELSA.

ELSA Gladiac, GLoria II-64, Erazor X2

  • The viewable area of the MegaMap appears black.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest reference drivers from ELSA.

ELSA Gladiac

  • The top HUD is projected as a shadow around the main character when complex shadows are turned on.
  • The game stops responding if you switch to complex shadows and then try to quit the game.

    To resolve these issues, download and install the latest retail drivers from ELSA.

GeForce 256

  • The MegaMap textures do not display.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest reference drivers from nVidia.

GeForce 3

  • If you have Quincunx anti-aliasing enabled, there is a blurry square around the pointer. The drivers that were available at the time of the Dungeon Siege release did not solve this problem.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest drivers from nVidia.

Hercules 3D Prophet

  • The game world does not load properly (screen may be black).
  • The game generates a fatal exception error when you start it.
  • Fog dissipates completely in the MegaMap view. Some areas of the fog flash in and out even after you have crossed over the area. In other places (especially around the water and lava) the fog never disappears.

    To resolve these issues, download and install the latest retail drivers from Hercules or the latest reference drivers from nVidia.

Intel 82815 Graphics Controller

  • An Ice Warrior's shadows are partially blocked when your Hero overlaps him. The drivers available at the time of the Dungeon Siege release did not solve this problem.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest drivers from Intel.

Kyro II chipset (3D Prophet 4500)

  • The game area is displayed as gray.

    To resolve this issue download the latest drivers for your video card or set the game to use simple shadows. To set simple shadows:
    1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Dungeon Siege, point to Troubleshooting, and then click Dungeon Siege Video Configuration Tool.
    2. Under Shadows, select Simple Shadows, and then click OK.

Matrox Marvel G-400

  • A portion of the rock wall looks like the lava.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest retail drivers from Matrox.

Matrox Millennium G200

  • The mist from the waterfalls looks like smoke.
  • The graphics are corrupted around the character in the Choose Hero screen and around the Character Portrait during game play.

    To resolve these issues, download and install the latest retail drivers from Matrox.

Matrox Millennium G450

  • The game stops responding or quits. When DualHead is enabled and Dungeon Siege is running in windowed mode, the desktop resolution must be set to at least 800 x 600.

    To resolve this issue, run in full screen mode or set the Windows desktop resolution to 800 x 600 or higher. If you are attempting to run in a window, make sure your desktop is set to a bit depth supported by this video card.

Number Nine SR9 Pro

  • The mouse pointer does not appear in the game.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest reference drivers from Number Nine Visual Technology.
  • You can not enter a name in the Hero Name field.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest drivers from Number Nine Visual Technology.

Number Nine Revolution 3D

  • Shadows and the green locater ring are rendered multiple times.
  • Flowing river and lava textures do not appear.
  • Flashing triangles appear as your character moves through the world.

    The drivers that were available at the time of the Dungeon Siege release did not solve these problems. To resolve these issues, download and install the latest drivers from Number Nine Visual Technology.

nVidia (various)

  • When you try to log in to a password-protected screensaver that is running at the same time as Dungeon Siege or try to return to the game from the Windows Security dialog box in Microsoft Windows 2000 or in Microsoft Windows XP, the game may stop responding or quit. At the time of the Dungeon Siege release there was no known resolution for this issue.

    To work around this issue, turn off your screensaver and do not use the Windows Security dialog box while you play Dungeon Siege.
  • Text or dialog boxes flicker.

    To resolve this issue download the latest drivers for your video card, disable Hardware TnL or set the game to use blit mode.

    To disable Hardware TnL:
    1. Click Start, click Programs, click Dungeon Siege, click Troubleshooting, and then click Dungeon Siege Video Configuration Tool.
    2. In the Video Driver drop down list, select "Primary Display Driver - Hardware"
    3. Click OK.
    To use blit mode:
    1. Create a shortcut to the DungeonSiege.exe file.
    2. Right-click the shortcut, and then click Properties.
    3. In the Target field on the Shortcut tab, add the following at the end of the line: bltonly=true. The entire Target line would then read:

      "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Dungeon Siege\DungeonSiege.exe" bltonly=true

  • The mini-map is black.

    To resolve this issue download the latest drivers for your video card.

nVidia RIVA TNT2 (all)

  • When you are running the game in full screen there are two black flashes that occur during the "preparing world" screen. The drivers that were available at the time of the Dungeon Siege release did not solve this problem.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest drivers from nVidia.

nVidia RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro

  • A fatal exception occurs during the credits. The drivers that were available at the time of the Dungeon Siege release did not solve this problem.

    To resolve this issue, reduce the display settings to 16-bit in the Display options or download and install the latest drivers from nVidia.

STB Velocity 4400

  • When you force 32-bit settings on this card, the graphics are corrupted. This card only supports 16-bit settings.

    To resolve this issue, use only 16-bit settings in the Display options.

STB nVidia ZX 8MB

  • Some graphics are corrupted. The memory on this card is below the minimum configuration for Dungeon Siege.

    To resolve this issue, update your video card.

ST Kyro

  • A Critical Error or Fatal Error occurs when you change the game resolution.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest retail drivers from ST.

Trident Blade XP

  • No waterfall effects are visible.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest drivers from Trident Microsystems.

VIA motherboard chipset

  • Instability problems may occur when playing any 3-D game at full screen.

    To resolve this issue, download and install the latest motherboard drivers, or visit www.viatech.com for the latest 4-1 drivers specific for your motherboard chipset. You can also visit the Windows Update page for drivers and compatibility.
NOTES Reference drivers are drivers that are released by the manufacturers of specific video chip sets.

Retail drivers are drivers that are released by the manufacturer of a video adapter or sound card that use a specific chip set.

If you experience issues when you use the most recent retail drivers supplied by the manufacturer of your video adapter, use the latest reference driver from the manufacturer of your video adapter chip set.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

263039 Games: How to troubleshoot display issues

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

REFERENCES

Contact the manufacturer of your video hardware for information about how to obtain and install the latest version of the video driver for your video hardware. To see if 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


To identify the name and manufacturer of your video hardware, 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.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/23/2006
Keywords:kbdisplay kbHardware kbinfo KB320019
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.