unable to set 2D video mode (640x480) error

[thedocter107653]

this came up when i first tried running the game, then i followed this guide https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=937035975 and i still get the same error message

[Thermal Lance]

https://github.com/narzoul/DDrawCompat/releases/download/experimental/ddraw.zip

Download this and replace the DDRAW.DLL with this one. That fixed the issue for me.

[Slippery_Jim_]

You were probably using dgVoodoo along with Last Resort mod? If you ever get "unable to set 2D video mode" error it usually is because Swat 3 is confused by the dgVoodoo video driver.

I recommend choosing "800x600" resolution in the Last Resort mod the first time you use dgVoodoo. Run the game once and after you arrive at the main menu successfully you can shut down the game. The game now should be "trained" to use the dgVoodoo driver and you should be then able to change to whatever resolution you want to use.

[thedocter107653]

i got the error when i first got the game before getting dgvoodoo, which is what spurred me to follow the linked guide, but i still got the error, and setting the 2d menu resolution to 600x800 didnt do anything, same error appeared.

[Slippery_Jim_]

The Last Resort mod is meant to enhance the game but I always recommend to people to not use it until they are sure Swat 3 is running properly first. Adding the mod will only complicate things while troubleshooting.

I had a problem similar to what you describe on one of my laptops with an onboard video chip. I had to manually go into the video driver and activate 800x600 resolution. Once I did that I stopped getting errors.

The first thing you might want to do is check that your system can change the desktop to 640x480 resolution. The game by default starts in 640x480 for the movies and then switches to 800x600. If your system can handle those resolutions you may want to test out below.

It is possible your system can't play the movies and is hiding the true problem. To confirm this you can try the "-nointro" flag described in the page linked below:

https://www.swat3lastresort.info/index.php/swat-3-video-directx-fix

Another test you can try out is similar to the "-nointro" technique above. Instead of typing the "-nointro" flag type "-window" instead. This will force Swat 3 to run in a window instead. This really is only useful a test to run WITHOUT the Last Resort mod installed.

[Slippery_Jim_]

I may have thrown too many things at you at once in my last post in a disorganized fashion.

* I would first make sure you get your game back to vanilla Swat 3. Remove dgVoodoo and the Last Resort mod. Both of these are enhancements that will only complicate things. We need to get Swat 3 running by itself first. Always the most important tip for anyone trying to get the game running properly is start with vanilla Swat 3!

* After you have cleaned that up do a "verify integrity of game files" in Steam (right click over the game in your library and look in "local files" tab for the button).

* Once that is done see if Swat 3 will run for you.

* Make sure that your computer can even handle 800x600 resolution. It is an old legacy resolution that not many games use any more. If you can't set your desktop to 800x600 then it is possible you can activate it in your video driver (I had this problem on my laptop with onboard video).

[HexeR]

Originally posted by Thermal Lance:

https://github.com/narzoul/DDrawCompat/releases/download/experimental/ddraw.zip

Download this and replace the DDRAW.DLL with this one. That fixed the issue for me.

Dead link. Can you repost it or upload it somewhere?

[HexeR]

Originally posted by Slippery_Jim_:

The Last Resort mod is meant to enhance the game but I always recommend to people to not use it until they are sure Swat 3 is running properly first. Adding the mod will only complicate things while troubleshooting.

I had a problem similar to what you describe on one of my laptops with an onboard video chip. I had to manually go into the video driver and activate 800x600 resolution. Once I did that I stopped getting errors.

The first thing you might want to do is check that your system can change the desktop to 640x480 resolution. The game by default starts in 640x480 for the movies and then switches to 800x600. If your system can handle those resolutions you may want to test out below.

It is possible your system can't play the movies and is hiding the true problem. To confirm this you can try the "-nointro" flag described in the page linked below:

https://www.swat3lastresort.info/index.php/swat-3-video-directx-fix

Another test you can try out is similar to the "-nointro" technique above. Instead of typing the "-nointro" flag type "-window" instead. This will force Swat 3 to run in a window instead. This really is only useful a test to run WITHOUT the Last Resort mod installed.

Funny thing is, I only got those errors after installing Last Resort. Then if I try to use the dgvoodoo 2 wrapper, I also get those too. I think the wrapper is out-of-date.

[Slippery_Jim_]

That is a different error when Swat 3 gets confused about what driver you want to use (dgVoodoo uses it's own unique driver). If you get that error the trick is to first run the Last Resort mod in Swat 3's native 800x600 mode. Once the game gets to the main menu you can shut it down (the game auto saves the modified swat.cfg after you run it).

Now Swat 3 has been properly trained to use the dgVoodoo driver. After this you can choose whatever resolution you want with this Last Resort launcher.

This is why I always recommend to first get Swat 3 running properly on it's own before adding in extras to the mix. It makes it so much easier for troubleshooting. After Swat 3 is running then you can add the dgVoodoo driver. Once all that is working properly the final thing you can add is the Last Resort mod.