I'm sorry, I could put this under "techincal" forum, but I want help sooner so...

Anyways, I have a Pentium 4 1.6 GHz Windows XP machine with a GeForce 4 MX 440 card. I can play The Secret Files, except that the video at the intro (and at the exit screen) is all "messed up" I don't know how else to describe it! It has coloured, horizontal lines on the top half of the screen, the image is sometimes cut into 3 parts, and the image is shaking too. I have this problem with some of my games, so it's hard for me to figure out whether I need new drivers for my video card or a patch for the games.

It's also important that I note that changing the screen resolution and colours doesn't help, and Window's XP's compatibility mode also does nothing. I tried to download the patch from Haze's website, but when I tried to open it, I got an error saying that Windows already has that update. So, how can I get the patch to work and will the patch fix the problem? Does anyone know what I can do?

Thanks so much.

Update your video card drivers to the latest nVidia Detonator release (23.13 I think) at www.nivida.com

XP has extremely bad drivers. I'm surprised you didn't update them in the first place.

Well I just bought a new PC, and so there was no "upgrading" to WinXP, it was professionally installed. I installed all the other drivers and programs for my PC, so I figured "I'm good to go, no new updates are out yet".

Maybe I'll check nVidia's site again. I thought I didn't need an updated driver. Thanks.

Oh no, wait a minute.... The Detonator driver for Win XP is beta! Isn't there a certified driver I can get? I can't find one!

The drivers should be fine, I don't think it'd cause any problems.

XP has atrocious drivers, just so you know.

I had a problem with the latest Detonator drivers with XP, and I'm not sure why. However, there is a recent version (21.83 came out October or so) that is certified, which works fine for me.

Well, I think the drivers already on my PC are newer than the Detonator one that came out in October. My drivers are equivilant to 27.00 so the newest driver is the one that's still beta.

So is it definitely the drivers then? If I already have the most updated, certified drivers I can get, and Jazz 2 TSF (as well as Gex: Enter the Gecko, and The Game Of Life which came free in General Mills cereal) is having video problems, than what can I do about it? There are some games that run perfectly though. So, it's a weird situation for me.

Would the newest patch for The Secret Files solve the problem? I tried to install it, but Windows says I already have that update.

Grr. I just don't get it.

Trust me, the XP drivers are BAD. Update to a later version, even if it says it's 27.0whatever, because the bottom line is they were released with XP, but nVidia hs no doubt enhanced their driver software.

Well Defalcon, it sure sounds like you're pretty confident in what you're saying, so I will not ignore your advice. I just want to be sure I need those drivers. In case the ones I'm downloading aren't newer than the ones I already have, will the installation let me know that I already have those drivers or better and let me stop?

And what about the TSF patch? What does that do? I wasn't able to install it.

The TSF patch is for poeple who can't install TSF< but as you've already installed it you don't need it.

Check your driver properties for the version before you install. THere shouldn't be a problem, but you might want to check that out before you upgrade them.

I checked them all out. I'm already most updated. Okay, so what CAN I do then? I am having video problems - what other factors cause crazy video in the intro of TSF?

If I run compatibility mode, I still have the problem, only TSF limits me to only two choices of resolutions!

The WinXP drivers really suck. For a better gameplay, you perhaps should Install Win98/ME/2000 on a several partition, so you're independent form any drivers...

Originally posted by Nadine
I checked them all out. I'm already most updated. Okay, so what CAN I do then? I am having video problems - what other factors cause crazy video in the intro of TSF?

If I run compatibility mode, I still have the problem, only TSF limits me to only two choices of resolutions!

Mostly up to date? What's the version number? I think your system is using the drivers provided by Windows XP. While they're good enough that you can run your system and such, in terms of performance they bite really hard. My recommendation is to update to the latest nVidia Detonater drivers (I THINK it's version 28.31). However, the nVidia website has drivers for XP/2000 and XP 64-bit or something like that. I'm not sure which one is the right one for you, so you might have to ask some other people as well, or fiond out which driver you need. But I'd say that it's the XP drivers that are the problem.

It's obvious that this is a video driver issue. I've got WinXP and TSF and the video is perfect with my ATI RADEON card (using drivers from ATI of course ). Just do what defalcon suggested and update your drivers, even if they are BETA, from nVidia. You can always roll them back if there is a problem, you know (better from Safe Mode though).

I think you guys are right. But I wonder why Windows Update in Windows XP doesn't detect that I need new video drivers - isn't it supposed to do that for me and download them automatically?

It must be the video drivers. You guys must be right. I've tried changing desktop resolution and refresh rates, I've tried making sure no programs are running in the background, I've done everything else I can do. Besides, it's not just TSF that has a problem, so that rules out any possibilities that it's something to do with the game.

Okay, I'll definitely check out those detonator drivers. I'll let you know what happens too.

Syntax,

That driver that you installed, that came out in October or something, where do I download it to? I downloaded it to a folder, but then I moved it to C:\ under no folder, and it disappeared! How do I find it now and where do I extract it? Under Windows folder? I can't find an nVidia folder, so I have no idea where the current drivers are installed!

But I want to get it installed because you said it works and it's certified. And DeFalcon says it doesn't matter that my current drivers are version 2.7.0.0, is that true? If I download that 21.83 driver, than it will fix my video problems? And, I don't uninstall the drivers first, right? They replace the other ones, right?

Please just let me know how to do this properly so I don't ruin my PC! I already lost the file and can't find it, and though I can download it again, I don't want some file floating around that I can't delete. Thanks a lot.

I know the solution to your problem.
Follow these steps:
1) Unplug your computer
2) Throw it out the nearest window
3) Go to a store that sells computers
4) Buy a computer that does NOT contain the word XP in it anywhere
5) Remember that XP is garbage
6) Recall that you remembered that XP is garbage
7) Smile as you play JJ2 on a good OS

8) While you're at it, make sure the computer is the brand "AMD" and not "Intel"

Well, I wouldn't go that far, but you should at least try it under another windows-version...

Oh man that's too funny!

But in all seriousness, I'm sure the problem CAN be solved, and once solved, I can have a powerful PC with an OS that's stable and easy to use (Windows XP), and enjoy all sorts of games - new 3D games, and old 2D games. If other people are playing Jazz2 on Windows XP, why can't I?

Well, I can. I just have a real problem with the intro video looking like that, and plus the sound in the game is a bit scratchy and two other games have similar video problems. But I also have games that are running perfect, so why should I give up on Windows XP?

Is it Direct X? Is it my nVidia drivers? How can Windows XP drivers be crap when XP is supposed to be so great, and besides, don't games have their own drivers built in or it uses the video card and not windows drivers?

Oh yeah, and I've heard some REAL bad things about AMD. Except in some magazines, but alot of times magazines get free PCs with certain chips built in so they have to say it's so great.

And this one guy who clearly knew a lot about PCs and had been around the block a few times said he has had a PC with an AMD chip and a PC with Intel, and he always had problems with the AMD PC and he heard similar stories from other people.

Intel is just too common so games are built around Intel's technology. You can't go wrong with Intel but AMD is a but risky. Or so I've heard.

OH YEAH!!! WOO!!!

I solved the problem! The problem that affected three games - TSF included. I updated the nVidia drivers to Detonator XP version 2.8.00!

I know I must sound like a total PC newbie to say that, but I've been around PCs for years. This is just the first time I own my OWN PC, and am in charge of the settings and configurations, and as far as that is concerned, I am a rookie. So, even with you guys (mostly you Defalcon) saying that Windows XP drivers are total crap and to upgrade my video drivers, I was really, really concerned about downloading beta drivers.

Then I remembered - I've already downloaded fanmade games and programs onto my PC! If I can trust them, than CERTAINLY I can trust a company like nVidia. Maybe Microsoft didn't certify the driver and give it their official "thumbs up", but it's also not like otherwise the program is garbage and has a certified "avoid this crap" warning on it. THIS is why Windows Update didn't download it for me, because it's beta. Maybe Microsoft never signed it because they don't want to admit that the Windows XP drivers are terrible, but they certainly are. And now that I downloaded it, no problems are visible but all three games work fine! That's done, corrected, and if I have problems I'll just go back to the previous driver.

So I thank you for all your help you guys. You understand I didn't want to find out the hard way whether downloading it would be wise or not. But, I've checked all my other drivers, my settings, I tried reloading all those games, disabling unnessary tasks running in the background - everything. I decided I should just download it and stop annoying you! So for all the trouble I've caused you to post and post and scratch your heads over nothing, I sincerely apologize

Now I can just concentrate on playing it and maybe I'll play you guys online too! (I'm a total online-gaming newbie, even a newbie to chatting, but you gotta start somewhere, right?)

Don't sweat it, we all have problems. I've been extremely jittery about some stuff, everyone has. Just enjoy playing JJ2, and if ever facing Bobby, run!

Just wait for a new drivers to come out.

...and enjoy playing DOS games

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