Rundll32 Error in GDI.exe

[mamnich24]

Dear Guys,
Just installed 8.2 then the 8.3 patch. When I click on the desktop shortcut, or the Quick Start or Standard Start icons in the Start Menu I get the error rundll32 error in GDI.exe, and the game locks up.
I'm running Windows ME with the Intel 82810 graphics chipset, 667 Celeron, 191mb RAM. Now, whenever I try to change the resolution or color, the computer locks up. How can I fix this?
Thanks,
Mike

[Voriax]

Well, a graphics problem of some sort...the intro stuff in SPWaW 8.x needs directX 9 so if you do not have it already get it and install. Also you might want to try updating your graphics driver.

Voriax

[Marc von Martial]

Hi,

IIRC the Intel 82810 graphics chipset is a shared RAM onboard chipset.

The Graphical Device Interface is what is known as a System Resource.

When you boot your computer, the PC assigns a specific amount of memory to the GDI so it can do its work. But that amount of memory can't be increased.

So if you work with a graphics-rich environment - lots of icons, fancy fonts, buttons and other stuff on your screen - the resulting pressure on GDI as the computing day progresses can lead to a GDI crash.

One way to avoid that is to cut down on all the fancy stuff, apps running in the background or upgrade RAM.

Make also sure you run latest drivers for the chipset: http://support.intel.com/support/graphics/intel810/

Like mentioned above you might also check if you run the needed DirectX version.

[mamnich24]

Dear Guys,
Still doesn't work. I updated driver, updated directx to 9.0c, reinstalled 8.2 over previous, set graphics acceleration to lowest setting,
deleted all in the task bar, turned off the screensaver, disabled norton autoscan, tried the desktop shortcut, the standard and quick starts, tried clicking on mech.exe from explorer, and changed the desktop shortcut to c:\matrixgames\steelpanthersworldatwar\mech.exe , and it still won't play, locks the computer, gives the gdi error, and kicks back from true color to 256. Next idea? I have 191 mb RAM.
Thanks,
Mike

[RBWhite]

mamnich

How much system memory is allocated to your onboard AGP video. I ask because of the odd RAM number you posted, 191.

You should be able to check that in system information. Its in accessories under system tools.

Use Directx checkup under tools.


Rick White

[mamnich24]

Dear Guys,
I couldn't find how much memory is allocated to the driver under the system resources. Where is it?

Here is what system info gave:
Total physical mem - 190.45 mb
available physical mem - 276.00 kb
total virtual mem - 2 GB
available virtual mem - 1.69 GB
page file space 1.81 GB
c:\windows\system\vmm32.vxd ( 1, 019.88 kb not avail)

In the Resource Meter:
system - 57% free
User resources - 57% free
GDI Resources - 77% free

Page file 124mb used, 1732 mb avail

I ran the dxdiag, and it showed fine, except in 800x600, true color, when I ran the fullscreen direct draw test, it locked up. When I ran the test in 640x480 256, and in 800x600, high color, it passed.

Another thing I notice, is when I try to change resolution or color from the display properties screen, it almost always locks up with the dll32 error in GDI.exe.

Any new ideas?

Thanks,
Mike

[RBWhite]

mamnich

You show:

Total physical mem - 190.45 Mb.
Available physical mem - 276.00 Kb. [shouldn't that be Mb.]

Where you did the test on direct draw, up to the left should be all the information about your video.

Do you have the system setup disk that came with your computer? Sometimes and I repeat sometimes if you let it autostart in the CD, there might be a repair feature to fix or reinstall missing or damaged system files. Now mind you, I said might.




Rick White

[mamnich24]

Dear Rick,
Avail Phys Memory is now at 2.54 mb
Under Dxdiag, approx. total memory for the video at 800x600 16bit is 5mb

I have an emachine recover disk, and it wipes out all and starts over - no option to restore certain parts.

Next idea?
Thanks,

Mike

[Voriax]

mamnich, did you have an earlier version of SPWaW? If you had, did it work okay? I did a bit of googling and found some info that Intel's 82810 chipset isn't very DirectX compliant and thus some games simply will not work with it. If this is indeed the case your only solution would be to get a separate video card and deactivate the onboard video.

Also, what is the exact text of the error message you get?

Voriax

[RBWhite]

mamnich

If your fimilar with the CMOS area of your system, you need to go into CMOS and allocate as much memory to your video display that it will except 32, 64, 128.

When your machine boots up you should see a hit delete to enter setup or something to that affect.

It should be in the chipset section, it will give you memory options for your video display. Pick the highest and save the CMOS setup.

Rick White

[RBWhite]

Voriax

I found in my own experience with E-Machines, having worked on some for friends, is by design they are not very improvable. In most cases you have to contact E- Machine themselves, and what they spec as upgrade parts aren't much better than what they gave you originally.

He could probly get a video card to work, but the motherboards bios for the E-Machine may give him some trouble.

E = Economically manufactured.

mamnich might be better off bitting the bulit and investing in a new machine. But not another E-Machine.

Rick White