Display too wide for my monitor?

from GalCiv2 Forums
Hi. I am running a p4 1.7Ghz, 512 MB SDRAM and a GeForce FX 5500.

After purchasing the game, I installed it and tried playing it, and strangely, it forced my display to 800x600 from the 1024x768 I usually use, and thus, only the left half of the screen is visible. I see only the left half of the startup logo, and only the left half of the title screen, which sadly, has no buttons for getting at the options or settings to correct it. I tried updating my display drivers, and then tried updating the game. The same thing keeps happening.

Debug Message: Version v1.4x last updated on: Mon Oct 23 17:43:56 2006
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 11/22/2006, 10:16:06
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: EVILNINJASOFEVI
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp1.020828-1920)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: Dimension 4300
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1.70GHz, ~1.7GHz
Physical Memory: 512MB RAM
Page File: 241MB used, 1006MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce FX 5500
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0326&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Dell E771p
Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9147
Driver Date: 8/11/2006 20:42:52
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Santa Cruz(tm)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: TURTLE_BEACH\SANTA_CRUZ_WDM_INTERFACE
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: tbcwdm.sys
Provider: Voyetra Turtle Beach
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.4193
Driver Date: 6/23/2003 11:15:14
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Modem #1 Line Playback (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID:
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 81
Driver Name:
Provider:
Driver Version:
Driver Date:
Type: Emulated
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Santa Cruz Chan 5/6
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: TURTLE_BEACH\SANTA_CRUZ_WDM_INTERFACE
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: tbcwdm.sys
Provider: Voyetra Turtle Beach
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.4193
Driver Date: 6/23/2003 11:15:14
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Santa Cruz Front Wave
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: TURTLE_BEACH\SANTA_CRUZ_WDM_INTERFACE
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: tbcwdm.sys
Provider: Voyetra Turtle Beach
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.4193
Driver Date: 6/23/2003 11:15:14
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Santa Cruz Rear Wave
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: TURTLE_BEACH\SANTA_CRUZ_WDM_INTERFACE
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: tbcwdm.sys
Provider: Voyetra Turtle Beach
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.4193
Driver Date: 6/23/2003 11:15:14
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Santa Cruz Digital Out
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: TURTLE_BEACH\SANTA_CRUZ_WDM_INTERFACE
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: tbcwdm.sys
Provider: Voyetra Turtle Beach
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.4193
Driver Date: 6/23/2003 11:15:14
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0



Debug Message: *********END dxdiag info.*********
Debug Message: Entering WinMain
Debug Message: ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message: Going Fullscreen
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_3_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 60
Debug Message: Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message: *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message: A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
Debug Message: RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 369e99
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
Debug Message: No string tables in C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default/Data/*.str
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Gfx\*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Gfx\Race\*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Event Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: Create setup screens.
Debug Message: Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message: Clear influence.
Debug Message: Clear up laws.
Debug Message: Clear first time events.
Debug Message: Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message: Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message: * Collectors Edition *
Debug Message: Set mouse.
Debug Message: Set update timer.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\*.xml
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Techs\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\ShipComponents\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\ShipDefs\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Nick\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\PlanetImprovements\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\TerrainColorSchemes\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\PlanetDescriptions\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Nick\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Anomalies\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Events\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\UPIssues\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Invasions\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\PoliticalParties\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\StarTypes\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\StarbaseModules\*.xml
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Device lost
10,914 views 26 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Go into:

My document\My games\GalCiv2

open the file prefs.cfg

change

DisplayWidth=x
DisplayHeight=x

to

DisplayWidth=1024
DisplayHeight=768

See if that works.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thank you for the quick reply.

When I opened the prefs.cfg, it already has

DisplayWidth=1024
DisplayHeight=768
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I have the exact same video card and I had an issue with the monitor refresh rate that was being set up by DirectX. A refresh rate issue can appear similar to a resolution issue. This is probably your problem, because it does look like DirectX is setting 1024x768 @ 60 Hz.

In my case my flat panel didn't support 60 Hz but it supported 70 and 72 Hz. You should be able to check your Display Properties to find the refresh rates your monitor supports at the resolution you want to play at (I assume that's 1024x768).

You can then go to your Start button, hit Run and enter "dxdiag". This brings up the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Go to the More Help tab and push the Override button. Click "Override Value" and enter a refresh rate that your monitor supports. This should take care of your problem.


[edit] You probably should increase your virtual memory to the max (4095 MB) while you're at it. [/edit]
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I went into dxdiag and forced it to 60 hz, still no luck. Also, how would I go about increasing my virtual memory? It's been ages since I've had to fiddle with things like that..
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Try turning off fullscreen in the preferences and see what happens.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I went into dxdiag and forced it to 60 hz, still no luck. Also, how would I go about increasing my virtual memory? It's been ages since I've had to fiddle with things like that..

You don't want to force it to 60 Hz, it's pretty clear your monitor won't support that. You need to set a refresh rate that your monitor will support.

If you right click in your desktop and then select properties, you go to your "Display Properties" window. If you then select the "Settings" tab and then press the "Advanced" button it takes you to your "Monitor and Graphics Card" window. From there select the "Monitor" tab and it will show you the currently selected screen refresh rate. Make sure there's a check in the box that says "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display". There's a pull down tab that will allow you to see all the refresh rates that your monitor will support in the current mode. If 60 Hz is there, then this may not be your problem. If 60 Hz *isn't* listed pick one of the rates that *is* listed and set this in dxdiag.

To set your Virtual Memory, right click on my computer select the advanced tab, press the Setting button under Performance, select the advanced tab and press the change button at the bottom of the window under Virtual Memory. Then select Custom size and enter 4095 in the initial size and 4095 in the maximum size. That's it.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I have never heard of a monitor that didn't support a standard 60Hz refresh rate.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I have never heard of a monitor that didn't support a standard 60Hz refresh rate

Depends on the monitor and the mode. My monitor (Viewsonic VA800 flat panel) supported 60 Hz at 1024x768 but not at 1280x1024 which is the resolution I play the game at. In my case 70 Hz was a rate supported by my monitor at 800x600, 1024x768, 1152x864 and 1280x1024. Since forcing a refresh rate in dxdiag is used by DirectX in all modes I wanted a rate supported by my monitor in all these modes.

Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, I have a Dell CRT monitor, and the default setting is 60hz, so I felt it would be safe. Also, I made sure it would work at different resolutions, even though 1024x768 is what I always use, not having great eyesight, and all.

Anyway, changing the refresh rate didn't help.. so I tried setting

Fullscreen=1
to
Fullscreen=0

And that did the trick. Strangely, it still runs in Fullscreen, but it makes the display fit my monitor. I'm more than illing to keep taking suggestions, to help anyone else with this problem, but you guys will excuse me if I get caught up in the game. I've owned it for almost two weeks, forgot about it for a few days, and am just able to play it now, thanks to all your help!
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
No problem, enjoy your game
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It's probably something funky in your driver code that makes it not work properly in fullscreen.  If you can set your resolution higher, you can also increase the window size of GalCiv2 and get more useable area on the starmap and colony lists, etc.  Your resolution problem might also be related to your anti-aliasing, if you want to try experimenting with going up to 4 or down to 2.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
As Cari said, it probably is something in the driver, because I do have the exact same card and I don't have this issue. I do have two things that are different. One is that I'm using 1280x1024 @ 72 Hz and the other is my driver is *older*. Another possible difference is that I'm using hardware cursor, but I have used the software cursor in fullscreen mode, I just prefer the hardware cursor.

This actually would be a first if an older driver somehow worked better than a newer driver. I bought the card in late July and the driver was the latest at the time. Anyway the appropriate sections from my current debug.err follow.

Actually, I'd be interested if anything comes of this to find out if updating my driver is something I should avoid.


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce FX 5500
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0326&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (72Hz)
Monitor Name: ViewSonic VA800
Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.7777
Driver Date: 7/20/2005 21:07:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Debug Message: *********END dxdiag info.*********
Debug Message: Entering WinMain
Debug Message: ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message: Going Fullscreen
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 72
Debug Message: Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message: *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message: A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
Debug Message: RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I actually had the same exact problem when I first got the game. I was also using an Fx5500 at the time. Thing with mine is F.E.A.R. did the same thing at the same time. I had the june drivers at the time and when all else failed I went back to the march drivers, which fixed the problem. Later I updated to the driver your currently using with no problems. If a driver change don't help though I'm not sure what it could be. I never had the problem thereafter.
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Later I updated to the driver your currently using with no problems. ... I never had the problem thereafter.

I looked into this a bit and I'm not sure exactly what's going on. There are actually different manufacturer's of this card. NVidia just makes the chip. Mine is a BFG and IIRC I got my driver directly from them. At this point anyway BFG is pointing to the NVidia site for drivers. I'm pretty sure this wasn't the case 4 months ago.

Anyway NVidia pretty much has a new driver for every other month for the last two years. What I thought was the newest driver as of July this year is actually 10 versions behind. I think I'll try the latest at some point. These are unified drivers that cover a number of products, but it's still not very comforting that they change their drivers almost as frequently as I change my underwear (just kidding) probably for the same reason (again with the kidding).

Anyway You can go here for the latest driver.

Current NVidia GeForce XP Driver">Link

Or you can go here for 20 older versions if you like. Good luck.

[link="http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp-2k_archive.html"]NVidia GeForce XP Driver Archive
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Mine is a BFG and IIRC I got my driver directly from them.


Which they got directly from Nvidia

Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Which they got directly from Nvidia

Of course they got it from NVidia, what they failed to do was give me any of the, at the time, 7 more recents versions of the driver.

Anyway, I had been trying to edit my post to fix the automatic screw up of the second link in a post. So here's the rest of it.

Or you can go here for 20 older versions if you like. Good luck.

NVidia GeForce XP Driver Archive
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
For historical reference the last ten versions of this driver.

Version: 93.71 Release Date: November 2, 2006
Version: 91.47 Release Date: September 14, 2006
Version: 91.31 Release Date: June 23, 2006
Version: 84.21 Release Date: March 17, 2006
Version: 81.98 Release Date: February 7, 2006
Version: 81.95 Release Date: December 9, 2005
Version: 81.94 Release Date: November 14, 2005
Version: 81.85 Release Date: October 20, 2005
Version: 78.01 Release Date: September 2, 2005
Version: 77.77 Release Date: August 11, 2005
(This is the version that I have but mine is signed 7/20/2005)
Reply #18 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Mine was an EVGA and I always have gotten my drivers from Nvidia. I have had a couple problems over the years from them, but nothing I couldn't fix.

Btw I'm on a BFG card now(6800), a friend of mine swears by them and always has to have the newest, so I buy the next to the top of the line from him cheap.  
Reply #19 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There's really not much difference, because of course it's the same chip, but I think BFG does a better job thermally, which has become a very important part of video card design. There's also a third manufacturer of NVidia GeForce cards but I don't recall the name.
Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think BFG does a better job thermally


I definately agree the EVGA had a small heatsink/single fan. The BFG has a much larger heatsink/air funnel like system with two fans. As an added bonus the fans glow blue which match the blue and red leds on my other fans.
Reply #21 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I definately agree the EVGA had a small heatsink/single fan. The BFG has a much larger heatsink/air funnel like system with two fans.

Of course you're comparing a BFG 6800 with a EVGA 5500. The BFG 5500 has a heatsink fan that's a little bigger than the EVGA 5500 but not by that much.

I installed the Nov 2, 2006 driver and it at least displays the opening screen of the game correctly in fullscreen mode. I didn't actually load a game and play, but the opening screen should be sufficient.
Reply #22 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Of course they got it from NVidia, what they failed to do was give me any of the, at the time, 7 more recents versions of the driver.


It was probably the most recent available when the disc was pressed and packaged into the box. But a GeForceFX is by no means a new card--it may have been sitting in the warehouse for a year
Reply #23 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I never install the packaged drivers when I buy hardware, always go online for the latest.
Reply #24 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It was probably the most recent available when the disc was pressed and packaged into the box.

When I read this I was slightly insulted.    Of course I would always go to the web site to pick up the latest driver. Who wouldn't. I checked before firing back some snot answer, and to my chagrin, damned if Kryo wasn't right.   

So I apparently denigrated BFG for no reason. Sorry BFG.   
Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top
I had problem with stretchy screen. Tried fullscreen to "0" - did not work; changing refresh rate and screen resolutions also did not work. solved problem when I turned off anti-aliasing - it was set to "1". I have a NVidia GForve MX 4000 64Mb card with updated drivers. Hope this helps. Reckless007