Microsoft KB Archive/299690

= Train Simulator: Known Video Issues =

Article ID: 299690

Article Last Modified on 8/17/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0

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This article was previously published under Q299690



SUMMARY
This article describes some known video-related issues that you may experience when you use Microsoft Train Simulator.

Some of the issues below can be resolved with updated drivers or by upgrading your hardware. After updating or upgrading it is important that you use the Train Simulator Troubleshooter to reprofile your new hardware and drivers. To do this follow the steps below:
 * 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.
 * 3) Click OK.
 * 4) Click Play Train Simulator.

Install Update

An update has been created to resolve issues with several video cards. To download and install the update, browse to the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/games/pc/trainsim.aspx#downloads



MORE INFORMATION
The following video adapters and chip sets have known video-related issues in Train Simulator.

Known Video Issues
 Although Train Simulator may work correctly with large or custom fonts, depending on monitor, desktop size, and screen resolution, it is recommended that you set your system's display settings to Small Fonts to maximize viewable space in Train Simulator dialog boxes.

 If you have a computer with 64 megabytes (MB) of RAM or less, and are using video cards with 16 MB or less, do not set the World Objects Texture Quality setting (in the Options dialog box) to greater than 2, or the game may stop responding (hang).

 The following resolutions are supported by most video cards and are available for selection (if supported): 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024.

 All resolutions provided by the video card at 640x480 resolution and greater are supported, in 16- and 32-bit color depths.

 Resolutions of 640x480 and less, or color depths other than 16- or 32-bit, are not supported.

 When you try to launch the game, you may receive the following error message:

Unknown is causing an error in unknown. Unknown will now shut down.

</ul>

ATI
Radeon <ul> In the Introductory Train Ride, there are visible seams in the cockpit.

To resolve this issue, download and install the latest video driver from the following ATI Web site:

http://support.atitech.com

</li> Simulation causes the program to stop responding and returns you to the Desktop after displaying a black screen with an hourglass.

To resolve this issue, download and install the latest video driver from the following ATI Web site:

http://support.atitech.com

</li></ul>

Rage Fury Maxx <ul> Disable Dual Chip mode may be required to start the game. This setting can be found by clicking Advanced on the Settings tab under Display in Control Panel.

</li> User interface (UI) flickers. Resolve this issue by selecting the &quot;Disable Dual Chip Mode&quot; option on the card's settings. You can find this setting if you click Advanced on the Settings tab under Display in Control Panel.

</li> Train Simulator stops responding when you restore the simulation by pressing ALT+TAB. To resolve this issue, download and install the latest video driver from the following ATI Web site:

http://support.atitech.com

</li> Some computers don't start new hardware additions to the system unless the Desktop is set to 24-bit. To resolve this issue, download and install the latest video driver from the following ATI Web site:

http://support.atitech.com

</li></ul>

Rage Pro, Rage, Rage II, and so forth <ul> Train Simulator does not run on computers with the ATI Rage Pro card installed. After it begins to start, the program stops responding and you are returned to the desktop. To resolve this issue, download and install the latest video driver from the following ATI Web site:

http://support.atitech.com

</li></ul>

Rage Xpert 128 <ul> Performance runs at two to four frames per second. To resolve this issue, download and install the latest video driver from the following ATI Web site:

http://support.atitech.com

</li></ul>

Creative Labs
To obtain technical support and information, browse to the following Creative Labs Web site:

http://www.americas.creative.com

CT6960 (Annihilator Pro) <ul> The UI quality is poor; the card does not redraw properly. To resolve this issue, download and install the latest video driver from the following Web site:

http://www.americas.creative.com

</li></ul>

3D Blaster PCI (Rendition V1000)
 * Simulation is unable to run on this card. Drivers for this card do not support DirectX 7.0a, which is required to run Train Simulator.

Diamond
Viper330 <ul> UI text is nearly illegible. The game may quit unexpectedly and you may be returned to the Windows Desktop. To resolve this issue, download and install the latest Nvidia 128 video driver from the following Web site:

http://www.nvidia.com

</li></ul>

Diamond Fire GL1
 * Not supported for Train Simulator. To workaround this issue, click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Games, point to Train Simulator, and then click Train Simulator Troubleshooter, then click Troubleshooting. Click to select the Skip Pixel Behavior Test and Skip texture size limit test check boxes and then click OK.

Intel
<ul> Intel i740 video card Causes the program to stop responding. Download and install the latest version of DirectX from the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.mspx

</li> Intel 810/815/820 Chipset

The latest drivers are strongly recommended. To resolve this issue, download and install the latest video driver from the following Intel Web site:

http://www.intel.com

</li></ul>

KYRO
Obtain technical support and information from the following Web site:

http://www.powervr.com

KYRO (32MB AGP) <ul> Simulation stops responding on the load screen in 1600x1200x32 resolution. This issue is resolved when you install the latest drivers:

http://www.powervr.com

</li></ul>

Matrox
Obtain technical support and information from the following Matrox Web site:

http://www.matrox.com

Matrox Millennium G200 <ul> An error occurs and the simulation process does not start. To resolve this issue, download and install the latest video driver from the following Web site:

http://www.matrox.com

</li></ul>

Matrox G100
 * The G100 lacks the needed features used by today's games. It does not have a 3D setup engine like the G200 or G400. The only way you would be able to play today's games is through software mode. This is a hardware limitation. The G100 was designed for office work and not gaming. This is probably why you are seeing these errors.

Neomagic
The following chipsets are not capable of Direct 3D hardware acceleration and are therefore incompatible with Microsoft Train Simulator:
 * NeoMagic MagicGraph 128XD
 * NeoMagic MagicGraph 128ZV+
 * NeoMagic MagicMedia 256AV
 * NeoMagic MagicMedia 256XL+

Nvidia
Obtain technical support, information, and updated drivers at the following Nvidia Web site:

http://www.nvidia.com

GeForce 256 (Micron) OEM system
 * Train Simulator starts to a black screen. This issue is resolved when you install the latest drivers (v.375).


 * Viper 770: On Microsoft Windows 2000-based computers, Train Simulator restarts during startup.

GeForce 2
 * Mouse moves slowly when running at resolutions above 1280x1024x16 on a 64M GeForce2 GTS card.

GeForce 2 ASUS V7700 with Detonator 3 (6.5) drivers
 * ASUS V7700 with Detonator 3 (6.5) drivers may experience minor screen flickers on Windows 2000-based computers. This issue is resolved when you install ASUS retail drivers (5.33).

GeForce 256
 * Simulation freezes immediately after Setup finishes and you select Play Now. This issue is resolved when you install the latest drivers.

Riva 128 chipset
 * Fonts corrupted. This issue is resolved when you install the latest reference driver.


 * UI quality is poor. This issue is resolved when you install the latest drivers.


 * UI text is nearly illegible. For some video cards with 4 MB of video RAM, the UI text may be displayed in block form, appear distorted, or not display at all. Try using the Launcher troubleshooter and selecting the Textures are distorted or the Text is distorted or not displayed check box.


 * Train Simulator starts to a black screen and then hangs or you get the error message. This issue resolved by updating video drivers.

TNT2 M64 4x AGP
 * Some of the loading screen text may be missing. This issue is resolved when you install the latest drivers.

TNT, TNT Vanta, TNT2 (Hewlett Packard) OEM System
 * Train Simulator starts to a black screen. This isue may be resolved if you install the latest drivers available from HP for your Pavillion Model Number. If the problem persists, you may want to try the latest chipset reference drivers available from Nvidia.


 * Train simulator starts to a blank screen and then hangs. You can resolve the issue when you install the latest drivers.

S3
Savage 4, ProSavage, SavageMX

When you play Microsoft Train Simulator, you may experience any of the following symptoms:
 * The computer may stop responding (hang).
 * The computer may continuously restart.
 * Game textures may be missing.
 * Texture rendering fails.
 * The game screen does not fill up the whole screen.
 * The content, such as trains and scenery, is missing.

To resolve this issue, install the latest driver or turn off shadows when you use the retail driver. To do so, please visit the following S3graphics Web site:

http://www.s3graphics.com/

Turn off Shadows
 * 1) Start Train Simulator.
 * 2) Click Options.
 * 3) Click Advanced Display.
 * 4) Click to clear the Shadows check box.
 * 5) Click Save.

If the problem continues to occur after you install the latest drivers and turning off shadows, update your video card. Virge PCI 325
 * The most recent drivers for this card do not meet the system requirements for Train Simulator because they only support DirectX 5. But you may have limited functionality in Train Simulator if you open the Troubleshooter, click to place a checkmark in all of the boxes, click OK, and then start Train Simulator. No support for Train Simulator is available from Microsoft for customers who use video cards with the S3 Virge PCI 325 chipset.

Voodoo
Voodoo 3

To obtain technical support and information, browse to the following 3dfx Web site:

http://www.3dfx.com


 * Train Simulator stops responding on the loading screen after you select Drive a Train. This issue is resolved when you install the latest drivers.


 * Problem with textures rendering on buildings and objects with 3Dfx. This issue is resolved when you install the latest drivers.

Voodoo5
 * The mouse pointer is difficult to see when used with online Help.

How To Locate Video Adapter Information and Contact Your Video Adapter Manufacture
To identify the name, manufacturer and model of your video adapter:
 * 1) Click Start, and then click Run.
 * 2) In the Open box, type dxdiag, and then click OK.
 * 3) Click the Display or Display 1 tab.
 * 4) Under Device, note the name of your video card on the Name line and note the manufacture of your video card on the Manufacture line. Under Drivers, note the version number on the Version line.
 * 5) If multiple video adapters are installed in your computer, repeat steps 3-4 to determine the names, manufactures, and version number of the video driver for each additional video adapter installed in your computer.
 * 6) When you have noted the names, manufactures, and version numbers for all of the video drivers installed on your computer, click Exit.

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

190900 DirectX: Description of the DirectX Diagnostic Tool

The DirectX Diagnostic Tool is included in the most recent versions of DirectX. For additional information about installing DirectX, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

179113 How to Download and Install DirectX

Specific Video Adapter Information
ATI Rage Mobility <ul> When you attempt to start Microsoft Train Simulator, the game may stop responding hang or you may receive the following error message:

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

This chip is used in laptop and notebook computers. The Rage Mobility drivers supplied with a given laptop or notebook have been specially modified to work in conjunction with the flat panel display and any other graphics or video options installed in that specific computer. As a result of these modifications, ATI Technical Support is unable to make a &quot;generic&quot; Rage Mobility driver available for download. Please obtain a driver update from the manufacturer of your laptop or notebook computer.

If the manufacturer of your laptop or notebook is unable to provide drivers, download and install Train Simulator update. Please see Summary sections on top of this article.

If the problem continues to occur after installing Train Simulator update, update your video card.</li></ul>

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.

For additional information about how to troubleshoot display-related issues, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

263039 Games: How to Troubleshoot Display Issues

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