STAR WARS™ Knights of the Old Republic™

STAR WARS™ Knights of the Old Republic™

520 ratings
TROUBLESHOOTING K1
By -3xA'Lu©κy the disappearing act
A compiled list of issues and fixes that should help you with any problems you may be experiencing.


* Credit goes to PCGamingWiki ( http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Knights_of_the_Old_Republic ) for most of the info. in this community guide!!
Credit also goes to Steam user funewchie ( http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198025632551 ) for his helpful tips as well as Steam user Derpcrawler ( http://steamcommunity.com/id/Derpcrawler ) and their Steam guide ( http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=576586490 ), for the adaptive vertical sync fix which is another solution to the "I can't move my character after combat/my game stutters usually after combat" issue.
3
4
19
   
Award
Favorite
Favorited
Unfavorite
Issues and Fixes

My game doesn't start-up at all:

Right-click the "swkotor.exe" file (found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\) and select "Properties". From there, click the Compatibility tab and tick the "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" box. From the dropdown bar that sits below this box: choose "Windows XP Service Pack 2". Then tick the "Run this program as an Administrator" box, followed by clicking the "Apply" button.

NOTE: If Windows XP Service Pack 2 doesn't help -- try Windows Vista.



Various start-up crash solutions:

Download this version of DirectX 9 ( http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=8109 ).
Disabling "Steam Community In-game" (the Steam overlay) can sometimes fix this.
Make sure your dedicated graphics card is being used.
If applicable - open the "NVIDIA Control Panel" application and select "Manage 3D settings" in the new window (from the left-hand pane). Next select the "Program Settings" tab, click the "Add button" and then click the "Browse..." button.. Now go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\ and "Open" the "swkotor.exe" file. The game should now be seen in the dropdown bar. From here, go down the list and click on the entry to the right of the "Threaded Optimization" feature and choose "Off". After that, just hit "Apply" at the bottom and you're done!
1. Open the "swkotor.ini" file (found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\).
2. Under [Graphics Options] change "Fullscreen=1" to "Fullscreen=0".
3. After that, add the following line under [Graphics Options]:AllowWindowedMode=1
4. Save and close the file.*

* Running the game from the RunGameID icon or Steam desktop shortcut will undo these changes -- so run the game with the "swkotor.exe" file from now on (found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\).



My game crashes after the intro logos/videos:

1. Go to the "Movies" sub-folder (found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\).
2. Rename, move or remove the following files: "biologo.bik", "leclogo.bik" and "legal.bik."



I can't use my mouse in the main menu:

1. Run the "swconfig.exe" file (found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\).
2. Disable the option "Enable Hardware Mouse".



The main menu is not centered:

Right-click the "swkotor.exe" file (found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\) and select "Properties". From there, click the Compatibility tab and tick the "Disable display scaling on high DPI settings". Then just click the "Apply" button.



Crash after character creation:

In the in-game Options menu --> Graphics --> Advanced Graphics Options, untick "Frame Buffer Effects".
In the in-game Options menu --> Graphics --> Advanced Graphics Options, untick "Soft Shadows".



Random crashing:

In the in-game Options menu --> Graphics --> Advanced Graphics Options, untick "Frame Buffer Effects".
In the in-game Options menu --> Graphics --> Advanced Graphics Options, untick "Soft Shadows".



I can't move my character after combat/my game stutters usually after combat:

Make a quicksave and then quickload.
In the in-game Options Menu --> Graphics --> Advanced Graphics Options, tick "VSync".
If applicable - open the "NVIDIA Control Panel" application and select "Manage 3D settings" in the new window (from the left-hand pane). Next select the "Program Settings" tab, click the "Add button" and then click the "Browse..." button.. Now go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\ and "Open" the "swkotor.exe" file. The game should now be seen in the dropdown bar. From here, go down the list and click on the entry to the right of the "Vertical sync" feature and choose "Adaptive". After that, just hit "Apply" at the bottom and you're done!

NOTE: If you don't have a Nvidia graphics card, there's a similar feature for AMD users called "Dynamic V-sync" which you can find more info. about from here: http://www.radeonpro.info/features/dynamic-vsync-control/ (you'll need to grab RadeonPro to utilize this feature if you haven't got it installed already).



My game crashes/freezes when loading a save file:

In the in-game Options menu --> Graphics --> Advanced Graphics Options, untick "Frame Buffer Effects".
If applicable - open the "NVIDIA Control Panel" application and select "Manage 3D settings" in the new window (from the left-hand pane). Next select the "Program Settings" tab, click the "Add button" and then click the "Browse..." button.. Now go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\ and "Open" the "swkotor.exe" file. The game should now be seen in the dropdown bar. From here, go down the list and click on the entry to the right of the "Threaded Optimization" feature and choose "Off". After that, just hit "Apply" at the bottom and you're done!
Uncheck the "Read-only" property of your game's main folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\).
Right-click on the "swkotor.exe" file (found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\) and select "Create shortcut". Now right-click on the shortcut just created and select "Properties". In its "Target:" box, type in: cmd /C start "SWKOTOR" /D "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamApps\common\swkotor\" /high /affinity 1 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\swkotor.exe"



I have serious texture problems:

In the in-game Options menu --> Graphics, untick "Grass".
Update your Intel/integrated GPU's drivers.



I experience the Dantooine sky bug:

In the in-game Options menu --> Graphics, untick "Grass".
In the in-game Options menu --> Graphics --> Advanced Graphics Options, and untick "Frame Buffer Effects".



My game crashes after the shooting sequence on the Leviathan:

Instead of controlling one of your party members, take control of your main character and go through the door that leads to the hangar.



My game crashes when interacting with the Detention Cells and the Lift:

The game can sometimes crash in two places on the "Prison Block" map (on the Leviathan ship) -- when opening the detention cells AND when activating the lift to go up to the bridge. There are 3 potential fixes:
- restart your PC and relaunch the game.
- go to the in-game Options menu --> Gameplay, untick "Mouse Look".
- change the in-game resolution to 800 X 600.



My game minimizes after escaping Taris and refuses to maximize again:

1. Open the "swkotor.ini" file (found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\swkotor\).
2. Change the line "Fullscreen=1" to "Fullscreen=0".
3. Save the file and continue playing the game.
4. Once you've successfully landed on Dantooine: revert this change.
Continued...

I have a blank screen after cutscenes finish OR cutscenes minimize/crash my game:

> Simply left click to skip these videos (do this when the fade-out occurs -- this signals the cutscene's about to end).
> Alt-tabbing in and out of the game each time can sometimes fix this.
> In the in-game Options menu --> Graphics --> Advanced Graphics Options, untick "Frame Buffer Effects".
> 1. Open the "swkotor.ini" file (found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\).
2. Under [Graphics Options] change "Fullscreen=1" to "Fullscreen=0".
3. After that, add the following line under [Graphics Options]:AllowWindowedMode=1
4. Save and close the file.*
> Right-click the "swkotor.exe" file (found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\) and select "Properties". From there, click the Compatibility tab and tick the following 2 boxes "Disable visual themes" and "Disable desktop composition". Then click the "Apply" button.
> Right-click the "swkotor.exe" file (found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\) and select "Properties". From there, click the Compatibility tab and tick the "Run in 256 colors" box. Then click the "Apply" button. DO NOTE: I haven't tested this method and whilst this compatibility option is only meant for ancient programs, some have reported this fully fixes the behaviour of cutscenes in-game.

* Running the game from the RunGameID icon or Steam desktop shortcut will undo these changes -- so run the game with the "swkotor.exe" file from now on (found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor\).



I have crackling audio:

In the in-game Options menu --> Sound --> Advanced Sound Options, tick "Force Software".



Low performance:

In the in-game Options menu --> Graphics --> Advanced Graphics Options, untick "Frame Buffer Effects".
In the in-game Options Menu --> Graphics --> Advanced Graphics Options, tick "VSync".
In the in-game Options menu --> Graphics, untick "Grass".



I have an issue this guide still hasn't addressed:

Aside from your game having incompatible mods being used... there's always the possibility that in-game cheat codes you have used, have ruined your playthrough. If you have used cheats and are out of solutions to try: go back to an earlier save game where you didn't use any cheats.
707 Comments
Mantis_Toboggin May 29 @ 8:26pm 
My game keeps crashing when i try to use the first workbench in the taris apartment hideout. Anyone else have this issue?
LavaFlow16 Apr 2 @ 4:55am 
Pc gaming is literally spending 2 hours adjusting your settings, downloading mods and or software to try to improve your gaming experience, only to find it is one FREAKING setting you had to untick so the god bless it game runs properly. Thank you so much! I will be coming back to this, for future reference as well
silverfaye Mar 28 @ 4:19pm 
sorry if this has already been posted but tab + alt is my best friend if the screen ever shows up black and then navigating back to the game. sometimes if it starts up with a black screen, blindly loading your game can resolve it too gl everyone <3
kwightman84 Nov 8, 2024 @ 8:31am 
Keyboard control doesn't work and Keymaping doesn't work either.
Nwah Oct 28, 2024 @ 5:34pm 
Thank you for the solution to crash after character creation! My top fav game of all the time and nostalgia.
Aqueox May 1, 2024 @ 10:26pm 
@Pitiful me

If you are talking about the red spider-looking droids, they are supposed to do that. Use the terminals to shut down their generators.
Finn_07 Nov 7, 2023 @ 9:58am 
In my game in one room on the Starforge there seem to be spawning infinite enemys. Idk what's wrong but i survived for like half an hour and they still kept spawning. I had to have killed at least 50 or more, Does anyone know what is happening? am i supposed to do smth in game? Idk pls help
Crushywanna Mar 25, 2023 @ 9:53am 
Not included in the guide, but something I find that helps with all older games: Turning down your monitor's refresh rate to 60hz and changing the actual resolution of your desktop.
Daddy Mar 8, 2023 @ 10:24am 
My game fucking boots me to the menu after landing on Dantooine (after Taris), I've tired so many fixes and fucked with all my files but nothing stops the menu crash.

I have turned off grass, emptied the override folder, uninstalled, verified, turned down graphics, ect. nothings changed, I don't believe my save is corrupted because it still crashes on a different one.

this thread is pretty old but I'm desperate to keep playing. :steamsad:
LaReconquista Jan 31, 2023 @ 7:47am 
i cant go to full screen