Microsoft KB Archive/284218

Knowledge Base

MechWarrior 4: Troubleshooting video issues

Article ID: 284218

Article Last Modified on 3/29/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Black Knight
• Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries
• Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Vengeance

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This article was previously published under Q284218

SUMMARY

This article explains how to troubleshoot the following video related issues in the Microsoft games listed in the "Applies to" section:

• Poor video performance in the game.
• Poor game performance (choppy game play).
• Graphics in the game are distorted.

MORE INFORMATION

To troubleshoot video related issues, use the following methods in the order that they appear.

Method 1: Verify Video Adapter Memory

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

1. Click Start, click Run, type Dxdiag in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Click the Display tab or click the Display 1 tab.
3. Note how much video memory is on the Approx. Total Memory line under Device, and then click Exit.

For all boxed games, see the System Requirements that are listed on the box. If you have less than the required amount of video memory installed on your video adapter, install additional video memory on your video adapter or install a video adapter that has more video memory.

To view MechWarrior 4 system requirements, see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

279362 MechWarrior 4: Vengeance: Minimum system requirements

310627 MechWarrior 4 Black Knight/Mech Paks: Minimum system requirements

If your video adapter meets the game requirements, reduce graphics settings.

Method 2: Reduce Graphics Settings in AutoConfig utility

1. Quit MechWarrior 4.
2. To open the AutoConfig utility, click Start, point to Programs or All Programs, point to Microsoft Games, point to MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, and then click Autoconfig. For MechWarrior 4: Black Knight, click AutoConfig Black Knight. For MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries, click autoconfig_MERCS.
3. Select the Graphics Setting: Low check box.
4. Click Continue.
5. Start MechWarrior 4.

If adjusting graphics settings in the AutoConfig utility did not resolve the issue, upgrade to the latest video adapter driver that is available for your video adapter.

Method 3: Install an Updated Video Driver

To identify the manufacturer and the 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 or Microsoft Windows XP based computer, click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.

1. Expand the list next to Display adapters to expand the branch.
2. Under the Display adapters branch, note the manufacturer and the model of your video adapter, and then click OK.
3. Close all of the open windows on the desktop.

To identify the driver version of your video adapter, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article: For information about how to contact , 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

Method 4: Add Command Line Parameter -window

You can use -window command line parameter to run the game in Windowed Mode.

To manually add parameter to the command line in the MechWarrior 4 shortcut, follow these steps:

1. Insert the MechWarrior 4 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive. Press and hold down SHIFT as you insert the CD-ROM to prevent the program from starting automatically.
2. Right-click Start, and then click Open or Open All Users.
3. Double-click the Programs folder.
4. Double-click the MechWarrior Vengeance or Black Knight folder.
5. Right-click the MechWarrior icon, and then click Properties.
6. On the Shortcut tab, in the Target box, press END, press the SPACEBAR, and then type the -window parameter. For example:
   
   MechWarrior 4 Vengeance

   drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\MechWarrior Vengeance\MW4.exe
   -window

   Black Knight

   drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\MechWarrior Vengeance\mw4x\MW4x.exe
   -window

   where drive is your hard drive where you have installed MechWarrior 4 Vengeance or Black Knight.
   
   Note Parameters are not case-sensitive.
   
   

7. Click Apply or OK.
8. Double-click the MechWarrior 4 icon to start the game.

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

Method 5: Install the Latest Version of Microsoft DirectX

Download and install the latest version of Microsoft DirectX, click the link below to visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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

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

179113 How to download and install DirectX

Method 6: Change the Refresh Rate Setting in DirectX

To change the default refresh rate setting in Dxdiag, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type dxdiag.exe, and then click OK.
3. On the More Help tab, click Override.
4. Click Override Value, type a refresh rate setting in the Override Value box that is supported by both your video adapter and your monitor, and then click OK. Try one value at a time.
   

Note Typical values are 60, 62, 72, 75.

1. Click Exit.

Note If you change the video refresh rate to a setting that is not supported by your monitor, you can damage your monitor. Check the documentation for your monitor or contact the manufacturer of your monitor to determine compatible refresh rates before you change the default refresh rate setting for your video adapter.

To determine a refresh rate setting that is supported by both your video adapter and your monitor, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Display.
3. On the Settings tab, click Advanced or Advanced Properties.
4. On the Monitor tab, make sure your monitor is selected. If an incorrect monitor is selected, or if a standard or unknown monitor is selected, click Change, click the manufacturer and model of your monitor, and then click OK.
5. On the Adapter tab, click the Refresh Rate box.

Additional query words: msgame video display

Keywords: kbhardware kbenv kbprb KB284218

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