game windows not being created/deleted well (Full Version)

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Grisha -> game windows not being created/deleted well (10/23/2012 8:37:30 PM)

Hard to describe in a few words, but what's happening in my version of Distant Worlds (1.7.0.16) is that before starting a game, the windows for the galactopedia is not being erased from the background after I hit the close(X) button. There are a few windows this happens to, and some windows that are opened don't show all the buttons on creation. A mouseover does reveal them though.

Once starting a game, this phenomena ends, but is replaced with windows that create slowly in segments. Closing them seems to bring nothing unusual.

If anyone has encountered this or this behavior sounds familiar, please let me know what I can do to rectify. If this sounds highly unusual, though, I can create a video of the phenomena without too much trouble.

I have a more than capable machine (runs games like Mass Effects 2 & 3 fine), but will post machine specs if it proves necessary to go the video route.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.



Grisha -> RE: game windows not being created/deleted well (10/28/2012 12:08:33 AM)

Okay, so I've gone and made a video showing what I'm experiencing with Distant Worlds. Before I post the link there are a few pieces of information that may provide insight or help in solving this. First my system specs, roughly:

CPU: Intel 3.0GHz Core 2 Duo
Drive space: 500 Gb
RAM: 4 Gb
Display: Nvidia GeForce GTS 450
OS: Vista Service Pack 2

Just to reduce the possible of file corruption or missing data, I uninstalled Distant Worlds from my system, then re-installed the following in the order listed:

DistantWorlds-SetupRelease-v1060-DR
DistantWorlds-ReturnoftheShakturi-SetupRelease-PL-v15
DistantWorlds-ReturnoftheShakturi-Update-v1510Beta
DistantWorldsLegends-SetupRelease-v1700
DistantWorlds-Legends-Update-v17016-Beta

Here is the link on youtube to the video I made, displaying what it is that's happening on my system:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKjQfnjmGTE&feature=youtu.be

Any help would be greatly appreciated.



thisisnotanick -> RE: game windows not being created/deleted well (10/28/2012 1:01:44 AM)

My guess would be .NET or DirectX, have you tried reinstalling those? Could also be the driver for your videocard.



Grisha -> RE: game windows not being created/deleted well (10/28/2012 5:44:33 AM)

My version of driver for the GeForce GTS 450 is 306.97. Version of Directx is 11. Version of .NET framework is v4.0.30319.



Grisha -> RE: game windows not being created/deleted well (12/23/2012 5:19:04 PM)

It's funny. I actually deleted this game from my system out of frustration with the screen refresh issue when starting a new game. Bought Endless Space and while fun to a degree, it just wasn't as deep as Distant Worlds. Nothing beats the mass of activity one sees between State and Private vessels as they travel across space. So deep a game yet so manageable as well.

As it turns out, I couldn't help but re-install Distant Worlds: Legends onto my system, in hopes the screen refresh issue was somehow 'cured'. Well, it wasn't but as it turns out, it's not that big a deal. I'm able to update the screen during game set-up with a simple ALT+TAB or two. And, once the game starts the frames refresh fine. So, I'm back and loving it.

Note: what appears to be happening before the games starts is that the directx routine that calls for the screen to be swapped with the video 'pre-screen pad' that holds the most recent video graphic instructions, is getting suppressed somehow (Sorry for the terminology, but the last time I did 3D polygon graphics code in C++ was the late 90s). Once the game started, the calls for the video pre-screen swap with the vid screen are no longer suppressed. That's my impression anyway.



Erik Rutins -> RE: game windows not being created/deleted well (12/24/2012 3:18:42 AM)

Hi Grisha,

I looked over your video and we haven't seen that reported before. It's definitely system-specific, but it could be anything from driver settings to third party software. If I were seeing that, my first steps would be as follows:

1. Restore graphics driver settings to defaults in all cases.
2. If running any third party software or services that could be affecting Windows (including things like GUI utilities, shell replacements, screen savers, etc.) try disabling those entirely.
3. Try a different graphics driver.
4. Keep removing possible variables until I get to as clean a configuration as possible.

My guess would be some third party software interfering with DW, but I can't be sure. A DxDiag may help.

Regards,

- Erik



Buio -> RE: game windows not being created/deleted well (12/24/2012 10:07:59 AM)

If suspecting 3rd party software, you could always try msconfig and do a "clean" boot. It will close down everything except Microsoft software. The guide below suggest using selective method, but you can also choose diagnostic boot and run extremely clean just for testing. Remember that antivirus software is closed during this testboot, so be careful if you need to use a browser. Backing to normal boot is just running msconfig again and set it to normal (described in the KB)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135



Grisha -> RE: game windows not being created/deleted well (12/31/2012 9:58:08 PM)

Not bad suggestions, Erik and Buio, but the truth is this only appears to happen with this game and it only happens when setting up a game of Distant Worlds. When it does happen alt+tab cleans the picture w/o a hitch, and once the game kicks off the problem is gone altogether. I'm fine with it as it is.

It is curious though, and I'm trying to think what I've added since the last time the game didn't have this issue. Skype and Audiobook d/l manager are two that come to mind immediately. Both run 'under the hood' and Skype in particular has been causing me troubles with Chrome. Anyway, thanks and I'm just glad to be playing it once more. A great 4x game.



Buio -> RE: game windows not being created/deleted well (12/31/2012 10:20:29 PM)

Distant Worlds is somewhat different from most other games, it doesn't use a exclusive window (I'm not a programmer so I don't know the specifics). I use 2 screens and run DW on the left, if I move the mouse cursor off to the right, it pops out on the right screen outside the DW window (even though it looks like DW is fullscreen).

Have you tested turning Aero off and see if it makes any difference?
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/disable-aero-on-windows-vista/



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