Game freezes at boot up

[Jim D Burns]

I just purchased Starshatter tonight to take a look at it and the game freezes up when I try to run it. All I see is a black screen after I click the program icon.

I tried two installs, first I upgraded to 4.5.0 and then uninstalled and only upgraded to 4.0.3 on my second full install and both times nothing just a blank screen. I had to power down to get out of the frozen screen, alt-tab and ctrl-alt-del did nothing.

Jim

Here’s a copy of the errlog.txt file:

+====================================================================+
| STARSHATTER 4.0.3 21 Dec 2005, 7:24:27 PM |
+====================================================================+
| |
| Windows XP 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2 |
| |
| Registered Owner: ************ |
| |
| CPUs Detected: 1 CPU Level: 15.2.4 CPU Speed: 2520 |
| x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 4 |
| GenuineIntel |
| |
| 1024 MB RAM 2460 MB Max Swap 2220 MB Avail Swap |
| |
| DirectX 7 installed. |
| DDRAW 5.03.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) |
| D3DIM 5.1.2600.0 (xpclient.010817-1148) |
| DINPUT 5.03.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) |
| DPLAY 5.00.2134.1 |
| DSOUND 5.3.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) |
| DMUSIC 5.3.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) |
| |
| |
| NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 |
| |
+====================================================================+

Initializing Game
Request 800x600x32 mode
Request DirectX 7 Hardware Rendering mode
Request Primary 3D card
Gamma Level = 128

Initializing instance...
Window created.
Instance initialized.
Initializing game...

********************************
* Direct 3D version 7 *
********************************

SoundCardD3D Primary Buffer Format:
bits: 16
chls: 2
rate: 22050

Created video object.
VideoDX7 Fullscreen: Using double buffered video memory surface
VideoDX7: Found attached surface.
DDSCAPS_3DDEVICE
DDSCAPS_BACKBUFFER
DDSCAPS_COMPLEX
DDSCAPS_FLIP
DDSCAPS_LOCALVIDMEM
DDSCAPS_VIDEOMEMORY
Preparing to enumerate Z Buffers...
driver_index = 1
GUID: 84e63de0-46aa-11cf-816f-0000c020156e
VD3D_ZBufferEnum:
VD3D_ZBufferEnum:
VD3D_ZBufferEnum:
Creating Z Buffer (800 x 600)
VideoDX7: Created Z Buffer (depth = 32)

Supported Texture Formats:
1) 15-bit True color RGB 555
2) 16-bit True color RGBA 5551
3) 16-bit True color RGBA 4444
4) 16-bit True color RGB 565
5) 24-bit True color RGB 888
6) 32-bit True color RGBA 8888 <== SOLID <== TRANSPARENT <== TRANSLUCENT <== INDEXED
7) 16-bit True color RGB 880
8) 16-bit True color RGB 556
9) 24-bit True color RGB 888
10) 0-bit True color RGB 000
11) 0-bit True color RGB 000
12) 0-bit True color RGB 000
13) 0-bit True color RGB 000
14) 0-bit True color RGB 000
15) Palette 256

VideoDX7: Checking for gamma support. ddcaps.dwCaps2 = 606afe7c
GAMMA SUPPORTED
Created screen object.
Palette loaded.
Established requested video parameters.

Loading Ranks and Medals
Loaded key.cfg


Starshatter::InitGame() create joystick

[Adonnay]

Is this where the errlog.txt ends or did you just cut it? If this is where it stops then it's probably something with a joystick or gamepad you have?

The drivers seem to be okay and your gfx card should be sufficient. Did you check your dxdiag infos? Any issues there?

Dumb question... do you have directX 9 installed? Because on top it says only "DirectX 7 installed".

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Adonnay

Is this where the errlog.txt ends or did you just cut it? If this is where it stops then it's probably something with a joystick or gamepad you have?

The drivers seem to be okay and your gfx card should be sufficient. Did you check your dxdiag infos? Any issues there?

Dumb question... do you have directX 9 installed? Because on top it says only "DirectX 7 installed".

I have posted the full errlog file, no edits except the registered owner line.

No problems with DirectX, the version I have installed is 9.0c and dxdiag showed no problems. I tried another fresh install today with just the downloaded 4.0.2 setup file and no patches over it and got the same black screen. The errlog went a little further today:


+====================================================================+
| STARSHATTER 4.0.2 22 Dec 2005, 12:32:36 AM |
+====================================================================+
| |
| Windows XP 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2 |
| |
| Registered Owner: **********|
| |
| CPUs Detected: 1 CPU Level: 15.2.4 CPU Speed: 2520 |
| x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 4 |
| GenuineIntel |
| |
| 1024 MB RAM 2460 MB Max Swap 2208 MB Avail Swap |
| |
| DirectX 7 installed. |
| DDRAW 5.03.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) |
| D3DIM 5.1.2600.0 (xpclient.010817-1148) |
| DINPUT 5.03.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) |
| DPLAY 5.00.2134.1 |
| DSOUND 5.3.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) |
| DMUSIC 5.3.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) |
| |
| |
| NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 |
| |
+====================================================================+

Initializing Game
Request 800x600x32 mode
Request DirectX 7 Hardware Rendering mode
Request Primary 3D card
Gamma Level = 128

Initializing instance...
Window created.
Instance initialized.
Initializing game...

********************************
* Direct 3D version 7 *
********************************

SoundCardD3D Primary Buffer Format:
bits: 16
chls: 2
rate: 22050

Created video object.
VideoDX7 Fullscreen: Using double buffered video memory surface
VideoDX7: Found attached surface.
DDSCAPS_3DDEVICE
DDSCAPS_BACKBUFFER
DDSCAPS_COMPLEX
DDSCAPS_FLIP
DDSCAPS_LOCALVIDMEM
DDSCAPS_VIDEOMEMORY
Preparing to enumerate Z Buffers...
driver_index = 1
GUID: 84e63de0-46aa-11cf-816f-0000c020156e
VD3D_ZBufferEnum:
VD3D_ZBufferEnum:
VD3D_ZBufferEnum:
Creating Z Buffer (800 x 600)
VideoDX7: Created Z Buffer (depth = 32)

Supported Texture Formats:
1) 15-bit True color RGB 555
2) 16-bit True color RGBA 5551
3) 16-bit True color RGBA 4444
4) 16-bit True color RGB 565
5) 24-bit True color RGB 888
6) 32-bit True color RGBA 8888 <== SOLID <== TRANSPARENT <== TRANSLUCENT <== INDEXED
7) 16-bit True color RGB 880
8) 16-bit True color RGB 556
9) 24-bit True color RGB 888
10) 0-bit True color RGB 000
11) 0-bit True color RGB 000
12) 0-bit True color RGB 000
13) 0-bit True color RGB 000
14) 0-bit True color RGB 000
15) Palette 256

VideoDX7: Checking for gamma support. ddcaps.dwCaps2 = 606afe7c
GAMMA SUPPORTED
Created screen object.
Palette loaded.
Established requested video parameters.

Loading Ranks and Medals
Loaded key.cfg


Starshatter::InitGame() create joystick
Joystick: initialized DI7 pdi = 001715c4
Joystick: preparing to enumerate devices
EnumJoystick 1: 'Logitech WingMan Extreme Digital 3D (USB)'
guid: {35d62cb0-db9c-11d9-800144455354}

Loading System Designs 'sys.def'
Loading Weapon Designs 'wep.def'






P.S. I should note I only watch the black screen for about 1-2 minutes the game doesn't take longer than that to load does it?

Jim

[AncientAngel]

Here is mine errorlog:

Windows XP 5.0 (Build 2195) Service Pack 4 |
| |
| Registered Owner: Jamie, |
| |
| CPUs Detected: 2 CPU Level: 15.4.1 CPU Speed: 2999 |
| x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 1 |
| GenuineIntel |
| |
| 1024 MB RAM 2461 MB Max Swap 2109 MB Avail Swap |
| |
| DirectX 9 installed. |
| DDRAW 5.3.0000001.0904 built by: private/Lab06_dev(DXBLD00) |
| D3DIM 5.00.2180.1 |
| DINPUT 5.1.2600.881 built by: Lab06_N(mmbuild) |
| DPLAY 5.00.2134.1 |
| DSOUND 5.3.0000001.0904 built by: private/Lab06_dev(DXBLD00) |
| DMUSIC 5.3.0000001.0904 built by: private/Lab06_dev(DXBLD00)


Notice my Dx version is 9. You might want to hit Micro-softs sight and possibly up-date your service packs if it needs any and redo your Dx9 and restart your system so they take affect.

[Jim D Burns]

I know for a fact that I have version 9.0c installed as it was required for some of the games I run, but just to be sure I went to the windows download site and downloaded the full 40 odd meg directx file and installed it. Same thing, black screen and the errlog file shows directx 7 (see below).

Perhaps this is the problem, the game is reading some old ver 7 registry line created when XP Pro was first installed and isn’t pointing to the proper “current” location? I have no idea if this even a realistic possibility, but I have no idea why version 7 would be displaying other than some old initial install leftover stuff somewhere. Dxdiag shows version 9.0c and no problems detected.

Just to let you know, I have no problems running any other graphically intensive program I own.

Jim

P.S. It appears my directx files have higher version numbers than yours, perhaps the newer files are the problem? Here is where I downloaded the install from:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en


+====================================================================+
| STARSHATTER 4.0.2 23 Dec 2005, 3:09:06 AM |
+====================================================================+
| |
| Windows XP 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2 |
| |
| Registered Owner: *********|
| |
| CPUs Detected: 1 CPU Level: 15.2.4 CPU Speed: 2520 |
| x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 4 |
| GenuineIntel |
| |
| 1024 MB RAM 2460 MB Max Swap 2200 MB Avail Swap |
| |
| DirectX 7 installed. |
| DDRAW 5.03.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) |
| D3DIM 5.1.2600.0 (xpclient.010817-1148) |
| DINPUT 5.03.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) |
| DPLAY 5.00.2134.1 |
| DSOUND 5.3.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) |
| DMUSIC 5.3.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) |
| |
| |
| NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 |
| |
+====================================================================+

Initializing Game
Request 800x600x32 mode
Request DirectX 7 Hardware Rendering mode
Request Primary 3D card
Gamma Level = 128

Initializing instance...
Window created.
Instance initialized.
Initializing game...

********************************
* Direct 3D version 7 *
********************************

SoundCardD3D Primary Buffer Format:
bits: 16
chls: 2
rate: 22050

Created video object.
VideoDX7 Fullscreen: Using double buffered video memory surface
VideoDX7: Found attached surface.
DDSCAPS_3DDEVICE
DDSCAPS_BACKBUFFER
DDSCAPS_COMPLEX
DDSCAPS_FLIP
DDSCAPS_LOCALVIDMEM
DDSCAPS_VIDEOMEMORY
Preparing to enumerate Z Buffers...
driver_index = 1
GUID: 84e63de0-46aa-11cf-816f-0000c020156e
VD3D_ZBufferEnum:
VD3D_ZBufferEnum:
VD3D_ZBufferEnum:
Creating Z Buffer (800 x 600)
VideoDX7: Created Z Buffer (depth = 32)

Supported Texture Formats:
1) 15-bit True color RGB 555
2) 16-bit True color RGBA 5551
3) 16-bit True color RGBA 4444
4) 16-bit True color RGB 565
5) 24-bit True color RGB 888
6) 32-bit True color RGBA 8888 <== SOLID <== TRANSPARENT <== TRANSLUCENT <== INDEXED
7) 16-bit True color RGB 880
8) 16-bit True color RGB 556
9) 24-bit True color RGB 888
10) 0-bit True color RGB 000
11) 0-bit True color RGB 000
12) 0-bit True color RGB 000
13) 0-bit True color RGB 000
14) 0-bit True color RGB 000
15) Palette 256

VideoDX7: Checking for gamma support. ddcaps.dwCaps2 = 606afe7c
GAMMA SUPPORTED
Created screen object.
Palette loaded.
Established requested video parameters.

Loading Ranks and Medals
Loaded key.cfg


Starshatter::InitGame() create joystick
Joystick: initialized DI7 pdi = 001715c4
Joystick: preparing to enumerate devices
EnumJoystick 1: 'Logitech WingMan Extreme Digital 3D (USB)'
guid: {35d62cb0-db9c-11d9-800144455354}

Loading System Designs 'sys.def'

[Erik Rutins]

Jim,

I'm not sure what would be causing this, but I've e-mailed John (the developer) and asked him to check in with any ideas. Out of curiosity, does the demo work? Did you already try unplugging any additional peripherals and shutting down all background processes?

You might try uninstalling your video drivers completely via Add/Remove programs, then running Driver Cleaner Pro (google for it) and then reinstalling the latest video drivers. This is definitely the type of thing that a mix of driver files can sometimes cause.

Regards,

- Erik

[John DiCamillo]

Hi Jim,

Don't worry about DX7 vs. DX9. The older 4.0 version of the game only supports DX7, so it doesn't know how to diagnose DX versions higher than that. If you were to run version 4.5, you would see DX9 reported in the system info block at the top of the errlog file.

Now, about your specific problem. The errlog isn't telling us what's going wrong, but it is telling us what's going right. The next step after loading sys.def and wep.def is to initialize the music subsystem. Right after that, the game should print the "RUN" banner in the error log as it begins the main processing loop. We're not seeing the RUN banner, so there could be something going wrong in the Music Director class.

Try renaming the "music" folder in your game installation directory to something else (e.g. "please-work-now") and see if that makes any difference.

Good luck, and Merry Christmas all!

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: John DiCamillo
Try renaming the "music" folder in your game installation directory to something else (e.g. "please-work-now") and see if that makes any difference.

Tried the music folder renaming and had no luck, but Erik’s suggested driver cleanup did the trick. Not sure if it was the cleanup (many files were found and removed along with some registry entries) or the recent driver update from NVIDIA (21 Dec release), but the game is running now.

Thanks for the help all, and thanks for the heads up on the Driver Cleaner Pro Erik, awesome little program.

Jim

[Erik Rutins]

Jim,

Glad to hear you are up and running. Merry Christmas and enjoy Starshatter! [8D]

Regards,

- Erik