only getting audio

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G

Guest

hi there, when running any games on my pc, I'm only getting audio, and all I
can see is a blank screen. this problem any started a week ago, and I
recently updated, to the latest version of direct x (but I don't know if this
has anything to do with it). Reinstalling the games doesnt work either. Even
with any new games, they install fine, but then, when playing the game, I
only get the audio. The game is actually running, as you can access different
areas/menus (by randomly clicking).
I'm also using windows XP btw.
any help much appreciated
thanks, Chris
 
Hi,

Updating video card drivers can solve most gaming issues. Here's some
simple abc's to always keep in mind. a. Shut off download accelerators,
firewalls and antivirus programs when downloading or installing updates;
b. Check for game patches: www.avault.com/pcrl/patches_list.asp?letter=a
c. Make sure you meet the game's minimum video and system requirements.

Here are the steps I recommend you use to update your driver:

1. To identify the make and model of your card, right click your
Desktop, choose Properties / Settings / Advanced / Adapter.

2. Download the latest video driver for your card online, using
http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits/Video.html#drivers
to find the website to download from. I also have advanced
video driver and direct X troubleshooting steps on that page.

3. Save the .exe driver (or extract the zip file) to a folder
in My Documents named after the driver version number.

4. Restart the computer in Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key
about once every second as it's rebooting to pick Safe Mode.

5. Click Start / (settings) Control Panel / System / Hardware
Device Manager / expand +Display Adapters / right click on
the adapter, pick "Uninstall", and click No if asked to reboot.

6. Use Control Panel / Add-Remove programs to uninstall the
previous driver (exe)software which may have been installed.

7. Restart the computer in Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key
about once every second as it's rebooting to pick Safe Mode.

8. If the driver is NOT a (.exe)program file, GO TO step 11.

9. When Windows prompts you to install the video adapter, click
"Cancel" and Double click the driver program to begin installation.
* Even if not prompted, doubleclick the driver and install it.

10. After you reboot, go to Control Panel / Display / Settings and
choose 32 bit Color Quality, and 800x600 or higher Resolution.
That's it! Scroll down to the Troubleshooter if you have problems.

11. When Windows prompts you to install the video adapter, click
"Install from a list or specific location", click the "Browse" button,
browse to the My documents folder where you saved the driver,
and finally click on one of the driver files to begin installation.

** If you are not prompted, or if the driver was updated automatically:
Click Start / (settings) Control Panel / System / Hardware Device Manager
expand +Display Adapters / right click on the adapter, pick "Update Driver"
to start the Update Wizard, choose the "Install from a list..." option:
Browse to My Documents\ folder with the driver in it
Click OK and click Next to begin the update.

12. After you reboot, go to Control Panel / Display / Settings and
choose 32 bit Color Quality, and 800x600 or higher Resolution.
That's it! Try the advice in the Troubleshooter if you have problems.

TROUBLESHOOTING:

Test your drivers using DXDiag: Click Start / Run / type: DXDIAG
Click the "Test" buttons in the Display, Sound, Music & Network Tabs;
If any of the Display options are Disabled and you cannot Enable them,
your most likely solution would be to update your Chipset Drivers as per
my website: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits/Video.html#v11

Your program might not support dual monitors, or "dual head" video cards
You can disable the extra video output in your display properties control
panel. Click Start>Settings>Control Panel>Display>Settings>Advanced.

Along with your Video card, Sound Cards, Motherboard Chipsets,
and Video Monitors may also require updated drivers. Even your
motherboard's BIOS may need to be updated for compatibility with
your Video card. These steps are listed at: http://NibblesNbitsVideo.tk

Perhaps the old Video drivers did not completely uninstall. If that's the
case, use these utility to completely uninstall the drivers and go to step
7:
nvidia: http://content.guru3d.com/index.php?page=detonatorrip&menu=0
or for all cards including nvidia use: http://www.driverheaven.net/cleaner/

The latest video drivers sometime don't work with a particular game.
(Check the Video suggestions in the readme.txt file in your game folder/CD)
If there's no suggestions, try an older (WHQL) driver, and/or if you still
experience problems try a Beta driver, or even an Omega driver instead:

BETA Drivers: http://download.guru3d.com/
OMEGA Drivers: http://www.omegacorner.com/

There you have it, if you have any questions feel free to post them! :-)

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call /
Contact
MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________
 
ok then, thanks alot for the help so far Jimmy.

I think the problem is with Direct X. I tried updating the video card
drivers, with no change to the situation. I ran "DXDIAG" (direct x diagnostic
tool), and in the "directx files" tab, it listed no problems, so then, under
the "display" tab, I carried out the 2 tests, and NONE of the Direct 3D test
were succesful, and the last test within "test direct draw", also failed.

Display Tab 1: No problems found.
DirectDraw test results: Failure at step 7 (User verification of fullscreen
bouncing): HRESULT = 0x00000000 (error code)
Direct3D 7 test results: Failure at step 32 (User verification of Direct3D
rendering): HRESULT = 0x00000000 (error code)
Direct3D 8 test results: Failure at step 32 (User verification of Direct3D
rendering): HRESULT = 0x00000000 (error code)
Direct3D 9 test results: Failure at step 32 (User verification of Direct3D
rendering): HRESULT = 0x00000000 (error code)

So anyway, it doesn't say how these problems can be resovled, which means
I'm not sure what to do next. One thought I had, was to uninstall Direct x,
then download a new version, but In "Add/remove programs", I cant find Direct
x, so I cant actually remove it. :(
 
Hi Travelzoo,

In that case, I recommend you try the troubleshooting steps I posted
with the video driver update instructions, specifically the instructions
on how to update your chipset drivers.

You can't uninstall DirectX, however you might consider installing
Windows XP Service Pack 2 which will update DirectX and drivers.

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
MS Assisted Support: http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=assistance
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________
 
I went back through you troubleshooting advice, and I think I've made some
progress. The problem is with the resolution 800x600. I'm using 1024x768
normally, but I've heard that most games run at 800x600, thus leading to the
blank screen. I have installed windows service pack 2, so I assume direct x
is up to date. I took your advice with using the program "Driver Cleaner 3",
which I ran, after removing "Nvidia Driver", with Add/remove programs (which
successfuly completely removed the drivers), but after Rebooting, windows
would be in 800x600. So that was good, because 800x600 now seemed to be
working, but as soon as I changed the resolution to 1024x768, 800x600 would
stop working again. Also, (after rebooting) if I installed a new Nvidia
driver, it would also automatically change the resolution to 1024x768, and
800x600 would no longer work again.
Sorry for the long post, hope you understand what I mean. I'm on the verge
of taking my pc to a store to get fixed, which I'd prefer not to have to do.
any more help, would be really great.
thanks, Chris
 
Hi Travelzoo,

Prior to the changes, you were unable to successfully complete
the DXDIAGnostic tests. Are you able to complete them now?

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
MS Assisted Support: http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=assistance
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

| I went back through you troubleshooting advice, and I think I've made some
| progress. The problem is with the resolution 800x600. I'm using 1024x768
| normally, but I've heard that most games run at 800x600, thus leading to the
| blank screen. I have installed windows service pack 2, so I assume direct x
| is up to date. I took your advice with using the program "Driver Cleaner 3",
| which I ran, after removing "Nvidia Driver", with Add/remove programs (which
| successfuly completely removed the drivers), but after Rebooting, windows
| would be in 800x600. So that was good, because 800x600 now seemed to be
| working, but as soon as I changed the resolution to 1024x768, 800x600 would
| stop working again. Also, (after rebooting) if I installed a new Nvidia
| driver, it would also automatically change the resolution to 1024x768, and
| 800x600 would no longer work again.
| Sorry for the long post, hope you understand what I mean. I'm on the verge
| of taking my pc to a store to get fixed, which I'd prefer not to have to do.
| any more help, would be really great.
| thanks, Chris
 
the tests still fail. but as I said earlier, I can only actually run 800x600
once I have unsinstalled the drivers, and as soon as I install the drivers
again, I get the blank screen at the 800x600 setting.
 
Hi,

Resolution settings are a secondary issue since the tests fail.

Try updating your chipset drivers
Try reinstalling your video drivers
Try cleaning your video card contacts

If the above doesn't resolve the issue, test your AGP slot
with another video card. If that still doesn't work, before
throwing in the towel and taking the PC to the shop, try to
repair windows. How To Repair Windows:
Unplug from your Internet connection, and then repair Windows:
using this method: http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Afterwards, boot up your system, turn on your XP Internet Firewall,
plug back into your Internet connection and install all Critical and
Recommended updates from: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com


--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
MS Assisted Support: http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=assistance
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

| the tests still fail. but as I said earlier, I can only actually run 800x600
| once I have unsinstalled the drivers, and as soon as I install the drivers
| again, I get the blank screen at the 800x600 setting.
 
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