Incorrect Display

[TheDangit]

So, when after downloading the game and clicking on it to play. It pops up with an error message and says that my system can not play in the correct display mode. Please help...

[TheSneak06]

I'm assuming you're using a single monitor, would that be correct?

Have you tried adjusting the display resolution? I'm not positive that that will change things, but it's my first inclination. You can do this by going into your computer's settings (depending on the version of Windows you're using, just search "Display" and you should be able to find them).

You could also try adjusting the game's properties and change the compatibility (change the resolution, disable fullscreen optimization, those settings)--that often makes a difference when it comes to running older games.

[TheDangit]

I have done all of this with no luck.

[TheSneak06]

Within the compatibility settings, did you try changing the version of Windows as well?

[sassy_bread]

properties > compatibility > high dpi settings > check override high dpi scaling behavior

[TheDangit]

I did try changing Windows as well. That brought no success either. I will have to try what sassy suggested.

[daniwantsalibrary]

I managed to fix this after many attempts of the usual things suggested, nothing worked, finally I fixed it with a program called dgvoodoo, just google it and put the DLL files it mentions into your folder and it should run.

[janinichan]

To troubleshoot the display error/crash for any Nancy Drew Game:

1. Go to your Steam library (Or just navigate in your file explorer to: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\<Nancy Drew Game>)
2. If you're going through steam, right-click the Nancy Drew game > 'Manage' > 'Browse Local Files'
3. Right click the 'Game' file (the one with the nancy drew icon)
4. Click 'Troubleshoot compatibility'
5. Click 'Test the program' > let the game crash or fail
6. Open the troubleshoot window again, click 'Next' or 'Troubleshoot program'
7. Check the box that says "The program runs but doesn't display correctly" > Next > Test the program
8. The game should display and work properly
9. Exit the game, click next, and choose "Yes, save these game settings"

[Shadow]

I know this is late, but what worked for me is switching my display mode on my laptop from automatic (integrated graphics) to specifically using my NVIDIA GPU only.

Right click on desktop -> NVIDIA Control Panel -> Manage Display Mode

[iDANICA]

+1 vote on Voodoo but below are more instructions.
Download Voodoo at https://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2/
After downloading, in Steam, go to the game in your Library > Properties > Installed Files > Browse (at top) to get to the folder location.
Open another File Explorer and go to the zip file downloaded for Voodoo.
Open the Zip file and copy and paste dgVoodooCpl.exe into the game folder.
Now go to MS > x86 and copy all the DLL files and paste into the game folder.
In the game folder, launch dgVoodooCpl.exe and make sure under Adapters your graphics card is selected. Also at the top where the path is, click the .\ button so it changes to the current directory. Change appearance to Windowed. Go to the DirectX tab and at the bottom, unmark the Watermark.
Hit Ok and close.
Your game should launch now. All this software does is translates old DirectX commands to use the newer DirectX commands. Hope the game will work for you now!

[Elizura]

Originally posted by iDANICA:

+1 vote on Voodoo but below are more instructions.
Download Voodoo at https://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2/
After downloading, in Steam, go to the game in your Library > Properties > Installed Files > Browse (at top) to get to the folder location.
Open another File Explorer and go to the zip file downloaded for Voodoo.
Open the Zip file and copy and paste dgVoodooCpl.exe into the game folder.
Now go to MS > x86 and copy all the DLL files and paste into the game folder.
In the game folder, launch dgVoodooCpl.exe and make sure under Adapters your graphics card is selected. Also at the top where the path is, click the .\ button so it changes to the current directory. Change appearance to Windowed. Go to the DirectX tab and at the bottom, unmark the Watermark.
Hit Ok and close.
Your game should launch now. All this software does is translates old DirectX commands to use the newer DirectX commands. Hope the game will work for you now!

----------------------------------------
@iDANICA this WORKED - I've been trying everything. Thank you for the step-by-step instructions!

[CoralRecords]

Originally posted by iDANICA:

+1 vote on Voodoo but below are more instructions.
Download Voodoo at https://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2/
After downloading, in Steam, go to the game in your Library > Properties > Installed Files > Browse (at top) to get to the folder location.
Open another File Explorer and go to the zip file downloaded for Voodoo.
Open the Zip file and copy and paste dgVoodooCpl.exe into the game folder.
Now go to MS > x86 and copy all the DLL files and paste into the game folder.
In the game folder, launch dgVoodooCpl.exe and make sure under Adapters your graphics card is selected. Also at the top where the path is, click the .\ button so it changes to the current directory. Change appearance to Windowed. Go to the DirectX tab and at the bottom, unmark the Watermark.
Hit Ok and close.
Your game should launch now. All this software does is translates old DirectX commands to use the newer DirectX commands. Hope the game will work for you now!

I appreciate this so much for some reason I think I am doing something wrong as my display is completely different and I am unable to launch the game. No idea where I am going wrong but I am not getting error messages so that's a plus!