Topic: OP XP Problem

[Fahrenheit]

I've got OP installed on my windows xp laptop.

I have the shortcut pointed to StarfleetOP.exe

I have the shortcut's "start in" set to the Orion Pirates directory ("C:\Program Files\Taldren Software Inc\Starfleet Command Orion Pirates" to be exact).

I have successfully put in my CD-key and played the game.


I have tried the following:

disable advanced text services (or leave unchecked)

run in compatability for win 98/me

run in normal or maximized window.



The problem I'm having is that OP starts, I get the loading screen, and then the program minimizes all by itself and I see the desktop again.  Now, I'd seen this behavior in EAW a lot, but it always switched back to the program as it finished loading.

However...  it just sits there on my desktop.  Eventually, I'll hear SFC music playing, so I'm relatively sure it's on the first screen waiting for input from me.  But if I try switching to the program (Alt-Tab won't work, have to click it on the start bar), it briefly will switch (I'll see a blank screen and the SFC cursor), but then will switch back to the desktop.


Help!

 

[Cleaven]

I don't know if it's the problem, but you don't need the 98 compatibility, maybe 2000, but not 98. Same with the maximised window business.

I have XP pro on my laptop too, and aside from the "start in" entry, everything else is default.
 
   

[Kyoshi]

Please let me suggest following procedures, maybe you are able to work around your problem using my 'tricks':

(create a new shortcut, because you should not need any special compatibility settings at all)

Set your Desktop-Color-Depth to Hi-Color-Mode (16 bit / 65k colors or however it is called on your laptop). Running on True-Color-Mode (24 bit, 32 bit, etc,) may cause trouble, while the Programm is switching into the background. I don't know why it is switching on your laptop anyway (it shouldn't of course).

If this was not succesful yet, try to start SFC:OP itself in the unsupported window mode (while using a 16 bit desktop). Locate and edit (using notepad) the SFC.INI in the game folder of OP. there, In the section [3d], you will find the entry 'windowed=0' . Simply change it to 'windowed=1' and OP will not launch in fullscreenmode anymore. In case of mousepointer problems using this mode, you can try to change the settings in the section [mouse] too (try and error).

I am able to run OP, using the settings described above, but i don't have your 'switch to background problem' while launching the game... anyway... good luck.
 

[Fahrenheit]

Quote:
(create a new shortcut, because you should not need any special compatibility settings at all)

Compatibility settings don't seem to change the behavior at all.

Quote:

Set your Desktop-Color-Depth to Hi-Color-Mode (16 bit / 65k colors or however it is called on your laptop). Running on True-Color-Mode (24 bit, 32 bit, etc,) may cause trouble, while the Programm is switching into the background. I don't know why it is switching on your laptop anyway (it shouldn't of course).

Yeah, I'm running in 16-bit mode.  In fact, I only have 16-bit or 32-bit modes permitted.  1024x768 16-bit is how I have my laptop set, and I'm running SFC:OP in 1024x768.

Quote:

If this was not succesful yet, try to start SFC:OP itself in the unsupported window mode (while using a 16 bit desktop). Locate and edit (using notepad) the SFC.INI in the game folder of OP. there, In the section [3d], you will find the entry 'windowed=0' . Simply change it to 'windowed=1' and OP will not launch in fullscreenmode anymore. In case of mousepointer problems using this mode, you can try to change the settings in the section [mouse] too (try and error).

Ok, at your suggestion, I tried this.  It works, after a fashion.  No mouse errors, but it's just darned annoying that the window is only taking 2/3 of my screen (looks about 800x600).  





Update:  On a whim, I turned OFF fps display.  It's working in full screen mode now.  I don't know if that was the culprit or not.

[3dot14]

Quote:
Ok, at your suggestion, I tried this.  It works, after a fashion.  No mouse errors, but it's just darned annoying that the window is only taking 2/3 of my screen (looks about 800x600).

if it's a 800x600 menu screen in the center with black borders, then it is normal. the resolution only changes in the combat portion of the game. Menu screen is alway 800x600 with black fillers.

the lowres function in the 3d group changes resolution.

[3d]
lowres=3
windowed=1

This should give you 1024x768 (although technically windowed, but since your desktop is at the same resolution, it will be full screen) should run as you want. (and it's alt-tab freindly.)


and I don't think fps would mess it up, but I can't speak for your vid card. on mine (ati mobile radeon 9000, 1024x768 16 bit, xp home) I can run with fps renbled just fine.
 

[Rod O'neal]

I've had the same thing happen to me when I activated winowed=1 in the ini. I set it to windowed=0 and no probs. maybe that's it?  

[Fahrenheit]

I've got OP installed on my windows xp laptop.

I have the shortcut pointed to StarfleetOP.exe

I have the shortcut's "start in" set to the Orion Pirates directory ("C:\Program Files\Taldren Software Inc\Starfleet Command Orion Pirates" to be exact).

I have successfully put in my CD-key and played the game.


I have tried the following:

disable advanced text services (or leave unchecked)

run in compatability for win 98/me

run in normal or maximized window.



The problem I'm having is that OP starts, I get the loading screen, and then the program minimizes all by itself and I see the desktop again.  Now, I'd seen this behavior in EAW a lot, but it always switched back to the program as it finished loading.

However...  it just sits there on my desktop.  Eventually, I'll hear SFC music playing, so I'm relatively sure it's on the first screen waiting for input from me.  But if I try switching to the program (Alt-Tab won't work, have to click it on the start bar), it briefly will switch (I'll see a blank screen and the SFC cursor), but then will switch back to the desktop.


Help!

 

[Cleaven]

I don't know if it's the problem, but you don't need the 98 compatibility, maybe 2000, but not 98. Same with the maximised window business.

I have XP pro on my laptop too, and aside from the "start in" entry, everything else is default.
 
   

[Kyoshi]

Please let me suggest following procedures, maybe you are able to work around your problem using my 'tricks':

(create a new shortcut, because you should not need any special compatibility settings at all)

Set your Desktop-Color-Depth to Hi-Color-Mode (16 bit / 65k colors or however it is called on your laptop). Running on True-Color-Mode (24 bit, 32 bit, etc,) may cause trouble, while the Programm is switching into the background. I don't know why it is switching on your laptop anyway (it shouldn't of course).

If this was not succesful yet, try to start SFC:OP itself in the unsupported window mode (while using a 16 bit desktop). Locate and edit (using notepad) the SFC.INI in the game folder of OP. there, In the section [3d], you will find the entry 'windowed=0' . Simply change it to 'windowed=1' and OP will not launch in fullscreenmode anymore. In case of mousepointer problems using this mode, you can try to change the settings in the section [mouse] too (try and error).

I am able to run OP, using the settings described above, but i don't have your 'switch to background problem' while launching the game... anyway... good luck.
 

[Fahrenheit]

Quote:
(create a new shortcut, because you should not need any special compatibility settings at all)

Compatibility settings don't seem to change the behavior at all.

Quote:

Set your Desktop-Color-Depth to Hi-Color-Mode (16 bit / 65k colors or however it is called on your laptop). Running on True-Color-Mode (24 bit, 32 bit, etc,) may cause trouble, while the Programm is switching into the background. I don't know why it is switching on your laptop anyway (it shouldn't of course).

Yeah, I'm running in 16-bit mode.  In fact, I only have 16-bit or 32-bit modes permitted.  1024x768 16-bit is how I have my laptop set, and I'm running SFC:OP in 1024x768.

Quote:

If this was not succesful yet, try to start SFC:OP itself in the unsupported window mode (while using a 16 bit desktop). Locate and edit (using notepad) the SFC.INI in the game folder of OP. there, In the section [3d], you will find the entry 'windowed=0' . Simply change it to 'windowed=1' and OP will not launch in fullscreenmode anymore. In case of mousepointer problems using this mode, you can try to change the settings in the section [mouse] too (try and error).

Ok, at your suggestion, I tried this.  It works, after a fashion.  No mouse errors, but it's just darned annoying that the window is only taking 2/3 of my screen (looks about 800x600).  





Update:  On a whim, I turned OFF fps display.  It's working in full screen mode now.  I don't know if that was the culprit or not.

[3dot14]

Quote:
Ok, at your suggestion, I tried this.  It works, after a fashion.  No mouse errors, but it's just darned annoying that the window is only taking 2/3 of my screen (looks about 800x600).

if it's a 800x600 menu screen in the center with black borders, then it is normal. the resolution only changes in the combat portion of the game. Menu screen is alway 800x600 with black fillers.

the lowres function in the 3d group changes resolution.

[3d]
lowres=3
windowed=1

This should give you 1024x768 (although technically windowed, but since your desktop is at the same resolution, it will be full screen) should run as you want. (and it's alt-tab freindly.)


and I don't think fps would mess it up, but I can't speak for your vid card. on mine (ati mobile radeon 9000, 1024x768 16 bit, xp home) I can run with fps renbled just fine.
 

[Rod O'neal]

I've had the same thing happen to me when I activated winowed=1 in the ini. I set it to windowed=0 and no probs. maybe that's it?