black screen 1900x1080 on a 1900x1200 monitor

[pathuga]

I am new to DW:U. When I run DW:U it starts normally but then I get a black screen 1900x1080 on a 1900x1200 monitor. The game UI is working behind this black screen (that I think the intro movie leaves behind) because I can see the top and bottom of the game UI.
I can click on the link in lower left corner and I can open the galapedia (but not see it).

The only way to exit the game is by opening Windows Task Manager and end process. Once or twice this did not happen and I was able to play the tutorials and start a new game.

Since then I have tried several times to play the game, but always with the above result. My Windows Vista is fully updated, but there is no Internet Explorer 11 for Vista (a recommendation in the troubleshooting notes). I am quite sure that is not it. Graphics card is Nvidia 9600 GT (see a part of DXDIAG report below).

Looking forward to solve this.
Palmi

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 5/26/2014, 02:07:47
Machine name: NOTANDI-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.130707-1535)
Language: Icelandic (Regional Setting: Icelandic)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: P35-DS3R
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz (2 CPUs), ~3.0GHz
Memory: 3582MB RAM
Page File: 2615MB used, 4783MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 7.00.6002.18107 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 9600 GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0622&SUBSYS_34811458&REV_A1
Display Memory: 2032 MB
Dedicated Memory: 497 MB
Shared Memory: 1535 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (59Hz)
Monitor: SyncMaster 2493HM(Digital)
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
Driver Version: 9.18.0013.3523 (English)
DDI Version: 10
BGRA Supported: Yes
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 5/9/2014 05:50:04, 14709720 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4562-11CF-2B7A-8C141CC2C435}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0622
SubSys ID: 0x34811458
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C

[erikr]

Hello,

If you haven't disabled Internet Explorer, you should be fine as far as that goes. Have you also confirmed that Windows Media Player is also installed and working?

You said you were running 1900x1080 on a 1900x1200 monitor. Is it only in that resolution that you get the black screen or do you see it in other resolutions as well (for example if running at the native resolution of 1900x1200)?

Regards,

- Erik

[pathuga]

I am always use native 1900x1200 resolution. After the game finishes the intro movie and the game UI is supposed to show up, there is a black patch over the whole screen except for the top and bottom margins of the screen. I can see the Galawiki in the top left corner, I can click on it, I hear the music. I also was able to play the game a couple of times.

[mrshogi]

I have the same problem with a black screen on Windows Vista...
Still looking for a solution...

[VPaulus]

You could also try disabling display scaling for Distant Worlds.

To do this follow these steps:
- go to the root DW game folder, which is probably C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Distant Worlds Universe\
- right-click DistantWorlds.exe and select Properties
- go to the Compatibility tab
- check 'Disable display scaling on high DPI settings'
- click OK

Restart DW and see how that works

[pathuga]

I had already tried disabling display scaling, after reading a post on this forum. No difference. After I wrote the above post I managed to run the game one more time by skipping mid intro, but the problem persists.

[erikr]

Hi Pathuga,

Just to double-check, is this the only monitor connected or are there multiple monitors?

Do you have any other unique display-related software installed, such as screen savers or desktop/shell replacements, etc.?

[pathuga]

I only have one monitor. I don't have any such software that I know of.

I just tried to run the DW exe file as an administrator as someone mentioned on the forum and it worked first time. After exiting the game and restarting as admin I got the 1900x1080 black area. After exiting through TaskMgr and restarting 3rd time it worked and the game is running now.

[pathuga]

After playing for awhile I exited the game and it takes several restart attempts to get past this problem.

[Beltorion]

Feeling your pain their Pathuga, I have even reduced mine down to a *shudders* 1380 x 920 to remove the BSOD, (Black Screen Of Death). I may get 35-45 minutes play then it goes to ♥♥♥♥♥, graphics flicker, the galaxy map actually homes to the top right hand corner and stays there constantly no matter how many times you click in the bottom left corner, off it goes. I run a nice machine, handles a lot of things but seriously ever since buying this game, the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ of forums to read and try every little trick to keep it running, pfft not worth the efort, oh and yes you will see lots of negative posts from me for this game.

[CrisKrosJumpJump]

Add me to the list of pissed off people experiencing this exact same thing. Except I have booted the game probably a dozen times now after jumping through every kind of "troubleshoot" from clean driver installs to IE from scratch installs. Not once has it loaded with out the black box covering 90% of main menu.

[VPaulus]

Could you guys, please try start the game in a lower resolution?
Open the folder where the game is installed (Steam\SteamApps\common\Distant Worlds Universe) and edit a file named "Startup.ini".

Replace

'screenwidth 1024
'screenheight 768

with for example in case of 16:9 monitors

screenwidth 1366
screenheight 768

or in 16:10

screenwidth 1440
screenheight 900

Don't forget to save the file. Start the game and check if the issue persists.

[pathuga]

I lowered my monitor's resolution to 1600x1024, made those changes to the ini file and started the game 4 times without a problem. It runs in Windowed mode now and this is not the most elegant of solutions, but it seems to work although I haven't played the game with those changes.
I do hope that you will be able patch the game so that I will be able to run it in my native resolution of 1900x1200. Thanks for your efforts.

[VPaulus]

I'm just wondering what will happen if you change the ini file to 1900x1200...
Could you try?

[pathuga]

I tried this suggestion in my native mode of 1900x1200. After 2 startups everything seems ok except that the game window is a bit too big. The Windows Taskbar sits on top over the game. I will try setting the ini file to 1900x1100 and see if the game is playable.

[VPaulus]

You can site the Windows taskbar to auto-hide:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2200-taskbar-auto-hide-turn-off.html