Microsoft KB Archive/249840

Knowledge Base

Flight Simulator: Error message: Video display must be in 16-bit color mode or higher for Flight Simulator to run

Article ID: 249840

Article Last Modified on 8/18/2005

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator: WWII Europe Series
• Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 Standard Edition
• Microsoft eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0

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This article was previously published under Q249840

SYMPTOMS

When you start one of the programs listed in the "Applies to" section, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Your video display must be in 16-bit color mode or higher for Flight Simulator to run. Flight Simulator will now exit.

Your video display must be in 16-bit color mode or higher for Combat Flight Simulator to run. Flight Simulator will now exit.

Microsoft Train Simulator requires your desktop to be set to either 16 or 32-bit color. Please adjust and try again.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if one of the following conditions is true:

• The Microsoft Windows color palette setting is set to 256 colors.
• The video drivers for your video adapter are outdated.

RESOLUTION

There are three possible resolutions for this issue.

Increase the Windows Color Palette Setting to High Color (16 bit)

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Display.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. In the Color Palette or Colors box, click High Color (16 bit).
5. Click OK, and then click OK again.
6. Close Control Panel.

If the High Color (16-bit) setting is unavailable in the Color Palette box, the video driver for your video adapter is outdated. In this case, contact the manufacturer of your video adapter to find out if an updated video driver that supports a 16-bit color palette is available for your video adapter.

Change the Screen Resolution in Microsoft Windows

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. Click OK, and then click OK again.
6. Click Yes to accept the settings.

Verify Compatibility Mode Settings in Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows 2000

1. On the Windows XP Desktop, right-click the game shortcut, and then click Properties.
2. Under Display Settings, click to clear the Run in 256 colors check box.
3. Click OK, and then test the game.

If the issue continues to occur, continue to the next step.

Switch to Compatibility Mode (Only for Windows XP and Windows 2000)

1. On the Windows XP Desktop, right-click the game shortcut, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Compatibility tab, click to select the Run this program in compatibility mode for check box, click to select Windows 98, and then click OK.
3. Start the game.

For additional information about Windows program compatibility mode, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

292533 HOW TO: Use Windows program compatibility mode in Windows XP

MORE INFORMATION

To identify the manufacturer and model of your video adapter:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click System.
3. If you are using a Microsoft Windows 95-based or a Microsoft Windows 98-based computer, click the Device Manager tab.
   

If you are using a Microsoft Windows 2000-based computer, click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.

1. Click the PLUS SIGN (+) next to Display adapters to expand the branch.
2. Under the Display adapters branch, note the manufacturer and model of your video adapter, and then click OK.
3. Close all of the open windows on the desktop.

Additional query words: flightsim fs2k fltsim mtm 16bit trainsim display video

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb kbdisplay KB249840

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