Microsoft KB Archive/251379

Knowledge Base

Encarta 2000 Err Msg: Encarta Encyclopedia Requires at Least 256 Colors to Run

Article ID: 251379

Article Last Modified on 1/27/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2001 Deluxe Edition
• Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2001 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000 Concise Edition
• Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000 Deluxe Edition

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This article was previously published under Q251379

SYMPTOMS

When you start Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000, you may receive the following error message:

Encarta Encyclopedia requires at least 256 colors to run. To correct this problem, quit Encarta, set the color depth to at least 256 colors and relaunch. See the Encarta 2001 Read Me for more assistance.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the following conditions are true:

• The Microsoft Windows color palette setting is set to 16 colors.
• The video driver for the video adapter installed in your computer is outdated.

RESOLUTION

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

Set the Windows Color Palette to 256 Colors or Higher

To increase the Windows color palette setting to 256 colors or higher:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Display.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. In the Colors box, click 256 Colors.
5. Click OK, and then click OK.
6. Close Control Panel.

Update Your Video Driver

If the 256 colors setting is unavailable in the Windows color palette box, or the Windows color palette box is reset to 16 colors after you restart your computer, the video driver for your video adapter is outdated.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 256-color palette is available for your video adapter. For a list of manufacturers, see the "More Information" section of this article.

Verify That the Correct Monitor Driver Is Installed

An incorrect monitor driver may be installed on your computer. To verify that the correct monitor driver is installed:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Display.

3. Follow the appropriate steps for your version of Windows:

   Microsoft Windows 98:

   1. On the Settings tab, click Advanced.
   2. Click the Monitor tab.
   3. Click to select the Automatically detect Plug and Play monitors check box.
   4. Note the manufacturer and model of your current monitor.
   5. Click Change, and then click Next.
   6. Click Display a list of all the drivers in a specific location, so you can select the driver you want, and then click Next.
   7. Click Show all hardware.
   8. Click Display a list of all the drivers in a specific location, so you can select the driver you want, and then click Next.

   Microsoft Windows 95:

   1. On the Settings tab, click Change Display Type.
   2. Under Monitor Type, note the manufacturer and model of your current video driver.
   3. Click Change, and then click Show All Devices.

   Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2):

   1. On the Settings tab, click Advanced Properties.
   2. On the Monitor tab, note the manufacturer and model of your current video driver.
   3. Click Change, and then click Show All Devices.
4. In the Manufacturers box, click the manufacturer of your monitor.
5. In the Models box, click the model of your monitor.
6. Click OK, click Next, click Next again, and then click Finish.
   
   NOTE: If you are prompted to confirm that you want to change the monitor, click Yes.

MORE INFORMATION

To determine the manufacturer and model of your video adapter:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click System.
3. Click Device Manager.
4. Double-click Display adapters.
   

NOTE: In the branch under Display adapters, the manufacturer and model of your video adapter should be displayed.

1. Close Control Panel.

For information about how to contact the manufacturer of your video adapter, 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

Additional query words: multi multi-media media mm ee2k display card

Keywords: kb3rdparty kbdisplay kberrmsg kbprb KB251379

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