Train Simulator: Error Message About Graphics Hardware When You Start Train Simulator or Run the Troubleshooter (325978)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Train Simulator
This article was previously published under Q325978

SYMPTOMS

When you start Train Simulator, you receive an error message similar to the following:

Microsoft Train Simulator has detected that your graphics hardware may be lacking essential features that it needs to run. Please ensure that you have the latest drivers from your graphics card manufacturer's web site.
-or-

When you start the Train Simulator Troubleshooter, you see this message:
Train Simulator requires hardware acceleration.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur when one or more of the following conditions are true:

  • Your video card is not installed properly.
  • Your computer does not meet the minimum three-dimensional (3-D) hardware requirements to run Train Simulator.
  • Microsoft DirectDraw acceleration is turned off (disabled).

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, use the following methods in the order in which they are presented.

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

Method 1: Verify That Your Video Adapter Meets the Minimum Requirements

For additional information about the system requirements to run Train Simulator, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

299762 Train Simulator: Minimum System Requirements

Use the Microsoft DirectX Diagnostic Tool to determine how much video memory is installed on your video adapter. To do this, follow these steps.

NOTE: If your video acceleration is not set to Full, the diagnostic tool may report less memory than is actually present on your video adapter. See the "More Information" section of this article for steps to make sure that your video acceleration is set correctly before you run this test.
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type dxdiag, and then click OK.
  3. Click the Display tab or Display 1 tab.
  4. Under Device, note how much video memory is listed next to Approx. Total Memory.
  5. Click Exit.
If less than 4 megabytes (MB) of video memory is installed on your video adapter, install additional video memory, or install a video adapter with more video memory.

If this does not resolve the problem, go to method 2.

Method 2: Install the Latest Video Driver for Your Video Adapter

Contact your video adapter manufacturer for information about how to obtain and install the latest video driver for your video adapter. For information about how to contact your video adapter 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

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.

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

If this does not resolve the issue, go to method 3.

Method 3: Reprofile Your Hardware and Drivers

After you update your video adapter, run the Train Simulator Troubleshooter to reprofile your hardware and drivers. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Games, point to Train Simulator, and then click Train Simulator Troubleshooter.
  2. Click Change Video Driver, and then click OK.
  3. Click Play Train Simulator.
If this does not resolve the problem, go to method 4.

Method 4: Install the Latest Version of Microsoft DirectX

To download and install the latest version of DirectX, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Microsoft DirectX
http://www.microsoft.com/directx/default.asp

For additional information about how to download and install the latest version of DirectX, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

179113 How to Download and Install DirectX

If this does not resolve the issue, go to method 5.

Method 5: Turn On (Enable) Hardware Acceleration for Microsoft DirectDraw

  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type dxdiag, and then click OK.
  3. Click the Display tab or Display 1 tab.
  4. Under DirectX Features, verify that acceleration is turned on (enabled) next to DirectDraw Acceleration.
  5. If DirectDraw Acceleration is turned off (disabled), click Enable.
  6. Click Exit.

MORE INFORMATION

How to Set Graphics Acceleration to Full Acceleration

NOTE: You must use the Full acceleration setting (or one "notch" lower) when you test video adapter memory.

In Microsoft Windows 98

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click System.
  3. Click the Performance tab, and then click Graphics.
  4. Drag the Hardware Acceleration slider to the far right (Full acceleration).

    NOTE: If full acceleration causes problems on your computer, reduce acceleration by dragging the slider one notch to the left of Full.
  5. Click OK, and then click Close.
  6. Restart your computer if you are prompted to do so.

In Microsoft Windows XP

  1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Display, click Settings, and then click the Advanced tab.
  3. Click the Troubleshoot tab, and then drag the Hardware Acceleration slider to the far right (Full acceleration).

    NOTE: If full acceleration causes problems on your computer, reduce acceleration by dragging the slider one notch to the left of Full.
  4. Click OK, and then click Close.
  5. Restart your computer if you are prompted to do so.

REFERENCES

For more information about 3-D hardware issues, 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

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/9/2006
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB325978
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