Bioshock Windows 7 FIX (Hopefully)

[Solace]

For all you badinkledonks out there who can't run Bioshock on Windows 7, here's a little guide to make it work.
1. Find the Bioshock.exe
(:C\Program Files(x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Bioshock\Builds\Release\Bioshock.exe)
2. Right-click the .exe, and select Properties.
3. Open Compatability tab, check "Run in compatability mode," and select Windows Vista.
EXPLANATION: Bioshock isn't totally compatible with Windows 7, seeing as it was made in 2007-ish, so this will run the game with the Windows Vista engine.
Now, as for the sound, you have to renable an ancient audio device.
1. Search for "manage audio devices" in the Start Menu
2. Open the Recording tab.
3. Right click and check "Show Disable Devices." This should reveal an audio device called
Stereo Mix.
4. Right click Stereo Mix and enable it.
EXPLANATION: I got nothin'. I guess it's so old it's not compatable with modern audio cards,
either.
Now, the last thing I did was insert some commands so that Bioshock would run in DirectX 9, and not 10, because; you guessed it, IT'S NOT COMPATIBLE.
1. Right click Bioshock in the Steam Library, and select Properties.
2. Search for the "General" tab and click "Edit Launch Options"
3. Insert this command, without the quotes, "-nointro,-dx9" the -nointro command is self explanatory: It skips the intro. -dx9 will make the game run on DirectX 9.
AND THAT'S IT! I hope you badinkledonks follow this guide to play the game, because it is a damn good one, and it's sad seeing people give up on it because of a little compatability issues.
P.S. I suggest you run in windowed mode, because alt-tabbing in fullscreen will give you a white screen. :c

[Trailer Park Jesus]

Only problem, can't find manage audio devices in the start menu. Is it hidden away somewhere?

[mhonzell]

Just some suggestions that seem to be assumed and finally fixed the no sound issue for me:
(I tried them all, as I'm sure you did if you are reading this.)

1. The directions for sound only apply to RealTek HD Audio devices.
2. If you look in Device Manager and see HD Audio Device, then you are likely running the default Microsoft driver for this device and the instructions above will not work as the Stereo Mixer is not part of that driver.
3. So, if note 1 and 2 above apply to you, then step on over to RealTek's website, download the HD Audio Driver, uninstall the MS driver and install the new one. Once the RealTek drivers are installed, the Sound Mixer can be found and the instructions above will likely work.
5. All the directions on -dx9 or -dx10, D3DDrv.D3DAudioDevice, etc. aren't typically needed. The default Default.ini works fine once you have the executable (Bioshock.exe) set to run in compatibility mode with the correct audio driver.

Good luck.

[Solace]

Tinkerbomb, try opening up the Control Panel, then Hardware and Sound. Then there should be a subtitle called Manage Audio Devices under the Sound section. I have an Asus laptop, so it might be different.

[itoogami]

go to steam/steamapps/common/bioshock/builds/release find bioshock.exe
right click property ,tab compatibility execute xp service pack 3 and apply .
work on my pc w7 64.

[frostie]

this game runs fine on my windows 8 64bit notebook
i never had to do anything with the game to make it run...

[Fat Freddy's Cat]

My game was crashing every 15 mins or less under Win 7 64. The thing that fixed it eventually was adding -dx9 into the Target box of the shortcut Properties.

I just played 3 hours straight without a hitch. It's not quite so pretty but I can live with that.

[Keylo415]

dude thx so much I couldn't get the sound to work and that tip fixed my problem.

[Hoju]

Worked fine for over an hour. Now not working. This fix isnt working for me, any others mfloating around? Cheers

[Solace]

If it stopped working once you put the commands and stuff in, maybe you should take it all out.

[sNek]

hi mine was working a few weeks ago running windows 7, and i have no idea what has gone wrong, any suggestions? it just doesnt show the main screen but can get through the logo screens and the sound is still playing

[Solace]

Originally posted by Drego_unus:

hi mine was working a few weeks ago running windows 7, and i have no idea what has gone wrong, any suggestions? it just doesnt show the main screen but can get through the logo screens and the sound is still playing

Have you tried changing adding the -dx9 command.

[sNek]

no (on a side note to that ive no idea how to do that and it would be much appreciated if you could explain process)
but why would that affect it if it was running just fine a few weeks ago?

[Solace]

Well to restate it a little nicer,
-you have to right-click Bioshock in the Steam Library,
-click Properties,
-go to the General Tab.
-select the Set Launch Options button.
-then copy in "dx9" without the quotes, and click OK.
As for your dilema, I have no idea. :c

[r444eet]

It worked thank you very much.

[Snootch]

I have a Windows 7 64-bit laptop. I took the advice and found the game in the proper directory, put it on Compatability Mode for Windows XP (Service Pack 3), and now the game works just fine. That is all that I did. Thanks for the tip and showing us where to look.