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Silverfall - graphics problem #963754
06/21/14 08:49 PM
06/21/14 08:49 PM
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maryjo Offline OP
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Hi everyone.
I've been able play this game after updating the tages protection. That was a pain.
Now I'm up to level 46 in the game with no problems until now.
When I click on the world map It's black ! It started turning pink first. The only thing showing now is the circles you click on to go back to places you've been.
Inside towns is ok. Walking around outside towns and such is good too.
Just the world is black. I need the world map to play.
I tried updating the video driver: AMD Radeon HD 6600 series But I keep finding these web sites that want me to pay with a credit card. I just can't seem to solve this problem.
Any help would be wonderful Mary Jo

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #963762
06/21/14 09:33 PM
06/21/14 09:33 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
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near Yosemite
Marian Offline
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Have you tried to update your video drivers from the AMD site here?

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #963763
06/21/14 09:37 PM
06/21/14 09:37 PM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,263
Arizona
InlandAZ Offline
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Oh my, never pay for drivers, follow Marian's link - they're free.

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #963883
06/22/14 12:43 PM
06/22/14 12:43 PM
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maryjo Offline OP
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Thank You, for answering me.
I follwed your link and updated the drivers. It was esy and no cost :]] I don't know how I keep going onto those other sites. Guess I really did't know where to look.
Sad to say I still have my problem. I've defragged,ran cc cleaner,did a windows update too. Started new games still the same results. I also tried play under diffrent compatibility modes Lost my charaters and still had the black world map.
Could my disk just have gone bad ? Something in the monitor ?
Again thank you for answering me. maryjo

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #963899
06/22/14 02:06 PM
06/22/14 02:06 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
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southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
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Originally Posted By: maryjo
Sad to say I still have my problem. I've defragged,ran cc cleaner,did a windows update too. Started new games still the same results. I also tried play under diffrent compatibility modes Lost my charaters and still had the black world map.

Try older drivers. The latest drivers are going to be oriented toward the latest video cards and intended for the latest games. The game came out in 2007, so look for drivers from around then, or at least for earlier than the latest. Here's the driver archive for Windows 7 x64.
http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/desktop/previous?os=Windows%207%20-%2064

I'm assuming you have 64-bit Windows 7. If you have a different version of Windows, you'll have to do your own search. Look for the link for "Previous Drivers and Software" on the right of the page where you downloaded your current drivers from.

Quote:
Could my disk just have gone bad ?

Not unless the problem is being caused by the TAGES failing. One of the "options" for copy "protections" like TAGES is to have the game play as a demo for a certain amount of time, then mess up and refuse to play correctly. These are called "protection triggers" or "trigger functions" or some other names that would be bleeped in this forum.
From ***The Wikipedia article on TAGES (June 22, 2014)***:
Quote:
Tagès APIs - A set of libraries allowing the developer to implement a set of fully customized "protection triggers", potentially appearing at any stage of the protected application's execution phase. For instance, should a non-authentic copy of a protected product be detected, the developer of that software product can decide upon the actions to be taken under such circumstances, such as electing to silently degrade some aspects of the product's functionality. The Tagès APIs require modifications and additions to the source code of the protected application. A consequence of silently degrading or crashing a program that fails authentication is that users have no way of distinguishing between intentional protection behavior and application bugs. This has resulted in support centers receiving large volumes of calls that were eventually determined to be for pirated copies.

Of course what they never admit is that these problems occur with legitimately purchased versions of the games as well. The problems will often occur when CD/DVD drives are getting old and don't read 100% the way TAGES expects them to any more. The drive may be 100% in every other way, but can't succeed at passing the copy "protection." Even some new drives will fail at passing the copy "protection" and cause the bugs and crashes.

You can try a NoCD and see if it helps. Look for one that's for your version of the game.

I suppose it's possible for a game to require one set of driver capabilities for the early parts and another set for the later parts. But if a game uses DRM that uses "trigger functions," it's also likely that you're being thwarted by "trigger functions."

Quote:
Something in the monitor ?

The monitor either shows an image or it doesn't. If you're not seeing a message saying "sync out of range" the problem has nothing to do with the monitor. The game is from 2007 -- new enough to fully support widescreen rather than CRT monitors.

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #963903
06/22/14 02:30 PM
06/22/14 02:30 PM
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New Jersey USA
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maryjo Offline OP
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Thank You for trying to help me.
I don't know too much about older drivers. If I down load a older driver does it take over the computer? Affecting other games or programs? Would the computer know which drivers to use? and when?
What is a NoCD ? How would that work?
Do you think I should unistall the game and start over? Would hate to get back to that high level and lose it all again.
Thank You again. maryjo

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #963912
06/22/14 03:54 PM
06/22/14 03:54 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
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southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
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Originally Posted By: maryjo
I don't know too much about older drivers. If I down load a older driver does it take over the computer? Affecting other games or programs?

If you download a driver for your video card, it only affects the video card.
It does not "take over your computer" unless you get an infected driver (maybe not a driver at all) from a questionable website.

It may or may not affect other games in a negative way.
It's unlikely it would affect programs (other than games) unless you were using programs that required 3D graphics acceleration -- maybe game-making programs.

Quote:
Would the computer know which drivers to use? and when?

The computer uses whatever version of the drivers you've installed.
You can download every driver for your video card that was ever made, but the computer will only use the drivers you've installed.
Often driver packages will prompt you to uninstall the old drivers before installing the new ones.

You can always go back to a previous version of the drivers if the ones you try don't work out for you.
This site has links for how to do this using different versions of Windows.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/f/roll-back-drivers.htm

Quote:
What is a NoCD ? How would that work?

A NoCD bypasses the check for the original disc. Modern disc-based copy "protection" uses checks that go far beyond checking to see if there is a CD in the drive. They force the CD/DVD drive to scan parts of the disc that aren't normally used and use encrypted data, incorporating features like how fast the drive reads the disc. They delay how quickly the game starts and can wear out your drive. NoCD's were once mainly used by people who didn't want to have to put the disc in the drive every time they started the game -- or didn't like the delay the copy "protection" caused when starting the game -- or by people who downloaded illegal copies of the game. Nowadays NoCD's are often used by people who aren't able to play their legitimately purchased games due to copy "protection" that doesn't work properly with their version of Windows or with their CD drive. Sometimes there is no NoCD available for your particular version of the game.

I can't tell for sure that this is a copy "protection" problem, but considering the sneaky "trigger functions" that modern copy "protections" use, I wouldn't be surprised. It's one reason download versions of games may be better -- no CD check that can cause issues.

Quote:
Do you think I should unistall the game and start over? Would hate to get back to that high level and lose it all again.

Unless you somehow got a corrupt install, you'll probably have the same problem once you replay to where you are now in the game.

Are you able to load old saves? If your old saves are still good, be sure to back them up somewhere if you decide to try re-installing the game.

Do you have a patched version of the game? It's had at least two patches -- 1.16 and 1.17 .

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #963927
06/22/14 05:41 PM
06/22/14 05:41 PM
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Michigan
Geo Offline
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My first thought was to check the shader version of the game and the card,but then I saw you got through 46 levels so I doubt that's it.

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #963938
06/22/14 06:56 PM
06/22/14 06:56 PM
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New Jersey USA
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maryjo Offline OP
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Thank You for answering me right away.
I started a new game this time under as the administrator. It seems to be working ok that way.
The world map is good and working as it should. Before I just clicked on the game icon.
I'm hoping it will still work after I reach that level again. This is a legal game CD. I also have the stand alone expansion cd Earth Awakening.
Hope I don't run into the same problems when I play that.
How would I find out if there is a NoCD. Would I look on the internet or would the game ask me during a new install?
Thank You again for taking the time to answer all my questions. maryjo

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #964624
06/26/14 09:56 AM
06/26/14 09:56 AM
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Marian Offline
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About the NoCD, you would have to google for NoCD patch for Silverfall; it would be an online download.

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #964659
06/26/14 01:08 PM
06/26/14 01:08 PM
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New Jersey USA
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maryjo Offline OP
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Thanks I'll look for it maryjo

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #964660
06/26/14 01:09 PM
06/26/14 01:09 PM
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Marian Offline
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Marian  Offline
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You're welcome. smile

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #964669
06/26/14 01:58 PM
06/26/14 01:58 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
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southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
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Originally Posted By: maryjo
This is a legal game CD.

It doesn't matter to the copy "protection" whether you have a legal version of the game or not. If your DVD drive doesn't read the game disc quite the way the copy "protection" expects it to, you get the same error as if you had an illegal copy.

That kind of nonsense is one of the reasons I refuse to buy games with disc-based DRM any more.

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: Jenny100] #964671
06/26/14 02:05 PM
06/26/14 02:05 PM
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Marian Offline
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Originally Posted By: Jenny100
That kind of nonsense is one of the reasons I refuse to buy games with disc-based DRM any more.


Amen to that. I refuse to do that now as well.

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #964689
06/26/14 03:17 PM
06/26/14 03:17 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,006
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Draclvr Offline
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Add me to that list too...


Gardens put to bed for the winter. Time for some gaming!
Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #964713
06/26/14 05:00 PM
06/26/14 05:00 PM
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New Jersey USA
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maryjo Offline OP
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Thanks everyone for answering me.
Probably tomorrow I'll look for that Nocd download.
Have to go out tonight I help facilitate a group for parents of addicts.
Thanks maryjo

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #965500
06/30/14 06:15 PM
06/30/14 06:15 PM
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maryjo Offline OP
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Well, I could't deal with this game and it's problems any longer.
I uninstalled it and for $2.50 I bought it from Steam.
So far it's playing well. :]]]
I don't mind replaying the levels as long as I can finish this game.
Getting some nice equipment too. :]]]
Thanks again everyone. maryjo

Re: Silverfall - graphics problem [Re: maryjo] #965505
06/30/14 06:53 PM
06/30/14 06:53 PM
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Marian Offline
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Downloading from GOG or Steam (and at such an inexpensive price, too) can often be the best solution for problematic games. I hope the whole game works for you without problems. smile

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