Software problems

[mitmaks]

Ok Ive just installed this game demo on laptop with XP O/S
http://www.exactchoice.com/profile_3088.aspx
Now when I tried to play the game message popped up on blank black screen
Initialization failed
Direct3D initialization failed. Possible causes:
Old or corrupted graphics driver
Direct3D improperly installed
hardware acceleration disabled
Starting the application with the workstation locked
OK

well I know that hardware acceleration is enabled to the fullest...
graphics driver is new (the whole laptop is pretty new) been maintainted well, defragmented/virus scan, etc.
I think thats its 3D. Ive tried to find DirectX setup on it but could find it, Ive then downloaded DirectX 9.0c (newest version) and it says its installed but I dont see shortcut etc.
Anyone knows whats wrong with it, its something with 3D, graphics, but not sure what it is. Thank you.

[Chiggles]

What kind of game was it? The title may help in determining whether or not your laptop will support it.

As far as DirectX goes, you won't find an actual shortcut for it cuz DirectX isn't an application; it's more of a collection of individual DLLs and protocols and the collection as a whole is what makes up DirectX, just as T&L and OpenGL are other gaming protocols.

If you wish to tweak around with the DirectX settings, you can try running the Diagnostic tool for it by typing dxdiag in the Run diaglog box. Although, I'm sure everything's fine with your DX settings if you've never messed around with them in the first place.

If I were you, I would go to ATI's website and download the newest Catalyst driver first. The package is meant to be a unified driver, so regardless of what chipset you have, it will be compatible. If after installing that newest driver and it still doesn't solve your problem, I'd say either:

1) the demo is buggy and you should try to find a patch for it
2) the game you want to install is too powerful for the Radeon 9000 chipset you have (unfortunately you can't upgrade video cards on laptops so you're just going to have to play something else)
3) the game you want to install relies too heavily on T&L or OpenGL protocols and you should have gotten a laptop that has at least an intergrated Nvidia chipset instead of an ATI (again, you're just going to have to play something else).

Good luck.

[mitmaks]

the game is age of empires 3 (demo) http://www.ageofempires3.com/
Requirements
Windows Xp
1.4Ghz processor
256 MB of RAM
64 MB Video Card with HW T&L (whatever that means?)
370 MB of Hard disk space
Direct X 9c

[synap]

that game is really cool...
you might want to check this out: http://aoe3.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/for ... ,23521,,10

seems to be an issue with the widescreen displays, such as the one on your laptop.

[Nd4SpdSe]

3) the game you want to install relies too heavily on T&L or OpenGL protocols and you should have gotten a laptop that has at least an intergrated Nvidia chipset instead of an ATI (again, you're just going to have to play something else).

I don't think it's video card specific, it's rare that games are, but this is a demo and may have limited support for certain cards.

The only thing that I can speculate at the moment is DirectX, it may be a possibility that the video card REQUIRED hardware DirectX 9 calls, but the 9000 supports hardware Dirext 8.1 features

If you want to see the DirectX information:
Start -> Run -> dxdiag -> ok
(Check the Dx version, just to make sure)

Here's the lin kfor downloading the lastest drivers from ATi's website
https://support.ati.com/ics/support/def ... lderID=293
Butit doesn't say 9000

Try the Cat 5.5 listed on this website:
http://www.station-drivers.com/page/ati ... bility.htm
They specify Radeon Mobility 9000, I'd try these firce

[Chiggles]

64 MB Video Card with HW T&L (whatever that means?)

HW T&L = hardware Transform & Lighting. Refers to the card having actual T&L supporting abilities built right to the chipset rather than having software drivers that are T&L compatible. Once again, likely it might just be that the AOE3 is a picky game that prefers Nvidia chipsets.

that game is really cool...
you might want to check this out: http://aoe3.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/for ... ,23521,,10

seems to be an issue with the widescreen displays, such as the one on your laptop.

If that is indeed the case where the problem lies within the widescreen aspect ratio, change the resolution of your desktop to reflect traditional resolutions like 1024x768. The display will look kinda skewed and stretched, but it might just get the game to load properly. I wouldn't worry about it too much if that's what the problem is. Being that it's a demo you're trying to play, it stands to reason there should be a fix for the widescreen issue when the full and final version is released.

[mitmaks]

that game is really cool...
you might want to check this out: http://aoe3.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/for ... ,23521,,10

seems to be an issue with the widescreen displays, such as the one on your laptop.

youve made my day man, that mod works, thanks, if youre around my area ill give you ride in mx3 or Charger

[Nd4SpdSe]

that game is really cool...
you might want to check this out: http://aoe3.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/for ... ,23521,,10

seems to be an issue with the widescreen displays, such as the one on your laptop.

If that is indeed the case where the problem lies within the widescreen aspect ratio, change the resolution of your desktop to reflect traditional resolutions like 1024x768. The display will look kinda skewed and stretched, but it might just get the game to load properly. I wouldn't worry about it too much if that's what the problem is. Being that it's a demo you're trying to play, it stands to reason there should be a fix for the widescreen issue when the full and final version is released.

Hmm, I never though that would have caused such an issue, but than again, I hate widescreens for exactly that reason, they don't use standard resolutions