Zoo Tycoon 2 display issues

[steve]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.games (More info?)

I’ve installed Zoo Tycoon 2 onto my Windows XP machine but am experiencing
display problems preventing the game from being played easily.
When I first installed the game it appeared to work OK albeit it had a large
flickering cursor. Subsequent plays has seen it worsen, the cursor flickers
and doesn’t always show and sometimes only shows when the mouse is moved but
worse of all many of the screen images including the main landscape area are
corrupted by black or red cross hatching, so it’s hard to see where you are
placing things.
When selecting the game it appears to switch into Windows ‘safe’ mode, the
screen goes black and appears to switch off and on and the cursor is the safe
mode size, when you exit it returns to normal windows after a bit of time and
elements of the desktop being missing for several seconds.

My XP has Service Pack 2
Direct X is at version 9.0c
Machine is AMD Athlon 1.7GHz, 256 RAM
I’ve checked all tests on DXDIAG and it states ‘no problems’ found
I’ve not got cursor trails selected and have reduced the hardware
acceleration by 1 and 2 notches to no effect.
I have a Hercules 3d Prophet 4000XT TV Out 32Mb video card now with the
latest driver (MS Support suggestion which didn't make any difference)

After some tinkering again yesterday I managed to get the game working
better again but it still had the large flickering cursor but played OK for
some time but after a while it started to slow up and the red cross hatching
re appeared. I appear to have exhausted the XP support facilities on my
machine and what I can find on the MS web site. Can anyone suggest anything?
Thanks,

By the way it’s a Christmas present that my daughter is quite upset about so
far.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.games (More info?)

Hi Steve,

I looked up some information about that brand of video card:

Due to limitations with DirectX compliance of this graphics card, the game may become unresponsive when any option is selected on
the Main Menu. Try updating your drivers to the latest reference drivers, currently version 4.14.0010.6176, although this is not
guaranteed to fix this problem. For more information on how to do this, see "Graphics Cards and Video Drivers," earlier in this
Readme file.

For more details, visit that web page at:
http://www.microsoft.com/games/zootycoon/zoo2/support.asp#graphics

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

Game FAQs: ;gms]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.
_________________________________________________________

"Steve" <Steve@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:4CDCF998-8D17-475D-8717-401E51A99279@microsoft.com...
| I've installed Zoo Tycoon 2 onto my Windows XP machine but am experiencing
| display problems preventing the game from being played easily.
| When I first installed the game it appeared to work OK albeit it had a large
| flickering cursor. Subsequent plays has seen it worsen, the cursor flickers
| and doesn't always show and sometimes only shows when the mouse is moved but
| worse of all many of the screen images including the main landscape area are
| corrupted by black or red cross hatching, so it's hard to see where you are
| placing things.
| When selecting the game it appears to switch into Windows 'safe' mode, the
| screen goes black and appears to switch off and on and the cursor is the safe
| mode size, when you exit it returns to normal windows after a bit of time and
| elements of the desktop being missing for several seconds.
|
| My XP has Service Pack 2
| Direct X is at version 9.0c
| Machine is AMD Athlon 1.7GHz, 256 RAM
| I've checked all tests on DXDIAG and it states 'no problems' found
| I've not got cursor trails selected and have reduced the hardware
| acceleration by 1 and 2 notches to no effect.
| I have a Hercules 3d Prophet 4000XT TV Out 32Mb video card now with the
| latest driver (MS Support suggestion which didn't make any difference)
|
| After some tinkering again yesterday I managed to get the game working
| better again but it still had the large flickering cursor but played OK for
| some time but after a while it started to slow up and the red cross hatching
| re appeared. I appear to have exhausted the XP support facilities on my
| machine and what I can find on the MS web site. Can anyone suggest anything?
| Thanks,
|
| By the way it's a Christmas present that my daughter is quite upset about so
| far.
|

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.games (More info?)

On Mon, 3 Jan 2005 11:19:55 -0500, Jimmy S. wrote:

> Hi Steve,
>
> I looked up some information about that brand of video card:
>
> Due to limitations with DirectX compliance of this graphics card, the game may become unresponsive when any option is selected on
> the Main Menu. Try updating your drivers to the latest reference drivers, currently version 4.14.0010.6176, although this is not
> guaranteed to fix this problem. For more information on how to do this, see "Graphics Cards and Video Drivers," earlier in this
> Readme file.
>
> For more details, visit that web page at:
> http://www.microsoft.com/games/zootycoon/zoo2/support.asp#graphics

Be also sure to disable the mouse pointer shadow, and not to use any kind
of animated cursor, disabling the trail may not be enough with some cards
and Direct3D programs...

--
All the Best
Katy Pluta

 

[steve]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.games (More info?)

Thanks Katy for taking the trouble to assist, have tried all mouse pointer
simplification techniques but it doesn't appear to have made any difference
I'm afraid. I have since been advised by the manufacturers of the graphics
card that it is actually not compatible with Directx 9 which the game needs.
Well they've given me a link to a driver which may work, we'll see.
Thanks again anyway.


"Katy P." wrote:

> On Mon, 3 Jan 2005 11:19:55 -0500, Jimmy S. wrote:
>
> > Hi Steve,
> >
> > I looked up some information about that brand of video card:
> >
> > Due to limitations with DirectX compliance of this graphics card, the game may become unresponsive when any option is selected on
> > the Main Menu. Try updating your drivers to the latest reference drivers, currently version 4.14.0010.6176, although this is not
> > guaranteed to fix this problem. For more information on how to do this, see "Graphics Cards and Video Drivers," earlier in this
> > Readme file.
> >
> > For more details, visit that web page at:
> > http://www.microsoft.com/games/zootycoon/zoo2/support.asp#graphics
>
> Be also sure to disable the mouse pointer shadow, and not to use any kind
> of animated cursor, disabling the trail may not be enough with some cards
> and Direct3D programs...
>
> --
> All the Best
> Katy Pluta
>

 

[steve]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.games (More info?)

Thanks Jimmy for trying to assist, I had already downloaded the latest driver
for the card on the Hercules site but have since been informed by their tech
support that the card isn't Direct x compaitible above version 7. They've
pointed me in the directrion of a driver that may work - i guess you were on
the same lines as this.
Thanks
Steve

"Jimmy S." wrote:

> Hi Steve,
>
> I looked up some information about that brand of video card:
>
> Due to limitations with DirectX compliance of this graphics card, the game may become unresponsive when any option is selected on
> the Main Menu. Try updating your drivers to the latest reference drivers, currently version 4.14.0010.6176, although this is not
> guaranteed to fix this problem. For more information on how to do this, see "Graphics Cards and Video Drivers," earlier in this
> Readme file.
>
> For more details, visit that web page at:
> http://www.microsoft.com/games/zootycoon/zoo2/support.asp#graphics
>
> --
> Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
> Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
>
> Game FAQs: ;gms]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.
> _________________________________________________________
>
> "Steve" <Steve@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:4CDCF998-8D17-475D-8717-401E51A99279@microsoft.com...
> | I've installed Zoo Tycoon 2 onto my Windows XP machine but am experiencing
> | display problems preventing the game from being played easily.
> | When I first installed the game it appeared to work OK albeit it had a large
> | flickering cursor. Subsequent plays has seen it worsen, the cursor flickers
> | and doesn't always show and sometimes only shows when the mouse is moved but
> | worse of all many of the screen images including the main landscape area are
> | corrupted by black or red cross hatching, so it's hard to see where you are
> | placing things.
> | When selecting the game it appears to switch into Windows 'safe' mode, the
> | screen goes black and appears to switch off and on and the cursor is the safe
> | mode size, when you exit it returns to normal windows after a bit of time and
> | elements of the desktop being missing for several seconds.
> |
> | My XP has Service Pack 2
> | Direct X is at version 9.0c
> | Machine is AMD Athlon 1.7GHz, 256 RAM
> | I've checked all tests on DXDIAG and it states 'no problems' found
> | I've not got cursor trails selected and have reduced the hardware
> | acceleration by 1 and 2 notches to no effect.
> | I have a Hercules 3d Prophet 4000XT TV Out 32Mb video card now with the
> | latest driver (MS Support suggestion which didn't make any difference)
> |
> | After some tinkering again yesterday I managed to get the game working
> | better again but it still had the large flickering cursor but played OK for
> | some time but after a while it started to slow up and the red cross hatching
> | re appeared. I appear to have exhausted the XP support facilities on my
> | machine and what I can find on the MS web site. Can anyone suggest anything?
> | Thanks,
> |
> | By the way it's a Christmas present that my daughter is quite upset about so
> | far.
> |
>
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.games (More info?)

Unfortunately Steve, that's true. I used to have a Kyro which
I loved, but ended up buying one of the two "major" brands
instead because of driver support gaming issues. Good luck.

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

Game FAQs: ;gms]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.
_________________________________________________________

"Steve" <Steve@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:519E12EE-CC57-45BA-99BD-AC6DB7C9E5D6@microsoft.com...
> Thanks Jimmy for trying to assist, I had already downloaded the latest driver
> for the card on the Hercules site but have since been informed by their tech
> support that the card isn't Direct x compaitible above version 7. They've
> pointed me in the directrion of a driver that may work - i guess you were on
> the same lines as this.
> Thanks
> Steve
>
> "Jimmy S." wrote:
>
>> Hi Steve,
>>
>> I looked up some information about that brand of video card:
>>
>> Due to limitations with DirectX compliance of this graphics card, the game may become unresponsive when any option is selected on
>> the Main Menu. Try updating your drivers to the latest reference drivers, currently version 4.14.0010.6176, although this is not
>> guaranteed to fix this problem. For more information on how to do this, see "Graphics Cards and Video Drivers," earlier in this
>> Readme file.
>>
>> For more details, visit that web page at:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/games/zootycoon/zoo2/support.asp#graphics
>>
>> --
>> Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
>> Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
>>
>> Game FAQs: ;gms]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.
>> _________________________________________________________
>>
>> "Steve" <Steve@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:4CDCF998-8D17-475D-8717-401E51A99279@microsoft.com...
>> | I've installed Zoo Tycoon 2 onto my Windows XP machine but am experiencing
>> | display problems preventing the game from being played easily.
>> | When I first installed the game it appeared to work OK albeit it had a large
>> | flickering cursor. Subsequent plays has seen it worsen, the cursor flickers
>> | and doesn't always show and sometimes only shows when the mouse is moved but
>> | worse of all many of the screen images including the main landscape area are
>> | corrupted by black or red cross hatching, so it's hard to see where you are
>> | placing things.
>> | When selecting the game it appears to switch into Windows 'safe' mode, the
>> | screen goes black and appears to switch off and on and the cursor is the safe
>> | mode size, when you exit it returns to normal windows after a bit of time and
>> | elements of the desktop being missing for several seconds.
>> |
>> | My XP has Service Pack 2
>> | Direct X is at version 9.0c
>> | Machine is AMD Athlon 1.7GHz, 256 RAM
>> | I've checked all tests on DXDIAG and it states 'no problems' found
>> | I've not got cursor trails selected and have reduced the hardware
>> | acceleration by 1 and 2 notches to no effect.
>> | I have a Hercules 3d Prophet 4000XT TV Out 32Mb video card now with the
>> | latest driver (MS Support suggestion which didn't make any difference)
>> |
>> | After some tinkering again yesterday I managed to get the game working
>> | better again but it still had the large flickering cursor but played OK for
>> | some time but after a while it started to slow up and the red cross hatching
>> | re appeared. I appear to have exhausted the XP support facilities on my
>> | machine and what I can find on the MS web site. Can anyone suggest anything?
>> | Thanks,
>> |
>> | By the way it's a Christmas present that my daughter is quite upset about so
>> | far.
>> |
>>
>>
>>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.games (More info?)

Steve wrote:
>
>I have a Hercules 3d Prophet 4000XT TV Out 32Mb video card now with
the
>latest driver (MS Support suggestion which didn't make any difference)
>

Out of curiosity, did you get the drivers from the PowerVR site?
http://www.powervr.com/Downloads/Drivers/Index.asp

They possibly are more recent than, say, the Hercules site (since
Hercules just "rebadge" the generic PowerVR ones).

Simon

 

[Alexander_16]

i have a sim ilar problem except that my game starts fine only when you acually go to play it the game screen is black. do i need a new video card or something cause im really starting to get pissed off with it.