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Flickering issues with Games in XP (7 posts)

Anonymous Posted 9 years, 6 months ago Joined: N/A

I own a stack of Lucas Arts games that simply flicker like a strobe light at a disco during the gameplay sceens and menu, not during opening scenes. Ive got all the drivers up to date for my monitor and onboard graphic chipset. Tried running it in all compatiable modes, including 256 colour modes.

Has anyone come across and fixed it? Cause I know of someone else that uses ME on their machine and hasnt this issue while playing the same Star Wars games that I have, another person I know that runs XP and has the same issues that I do with the flickering while owning a different a system.

LucasArts says my chipset and hardware doesnt have issues with their games according to their chart at Yodas Help Desk. Microsoft has no idea what the issue is.

If you have heard of a fix or a patch or something other than the obvious "get the latest drivers", I would be grateful cause I have researched and asked everyone, everywhere about this and I am at an end.

Cheers everyone,

Emerald Wolf

Terry O 'Shanassy Posted 9 years, 6 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Flickering issues with Games in XP

Hi, Man with two names,

I haven't encountered your particular problem, so I can't give a definitive answer to your question, but I can tell you what your problem is NOT. It is not a conflict between the games and Windows XP.

I have a long list of LucasArts games, and the only problem I've encountered under XP is that the cut-scenes in Outlaws run at super fast forward. I haven't had to run any of them in Compatibility Mode either, as far as I remember.

Jedi Knight, Jedi Outcast, The Phantom Menace, and Episode I: Racer all run like a dream on my system.

Have you tried altering your monitor's refresh rate?

Have you checked the video settings for your games? A different screen resolution might help, or you may have a video option selected which conflicts with your equipment.

Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling the games? Make sure you delete the program folder before you reinstall, or you'll just perpetuate any stuffed-up config files that may be there.

Have you OK'd the install of an earlier version of DirectX during game installation? A very early version may overwrite, and that'd sure stuff up your gaming pleasure.

Has your machine got enough grunt for the games? An older system may be taxed already running Windows XP, and suffer during gameplay. Cutscene movies don't stress a machine very much.

Is your monitor on the blink?

Hope this helps.

A LucasArts fan.

Nick O Posted 9 years, 6 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Flickering issues with Games in XP

Hi,

I used to have this problem. Found out it is actually a problem with winXP, have you noticed that whenever you play a game the refresh rate goes back to the lowest setting available? If yes, check out this link

http://www.pagehosting.co.uk/rf/home.html

It has a program called refresh force which helped me, although it does report your refresh rate at 120Hz when gaming it still works. And I don't think its running at 120Hz as my monitor couldn't take that resolution anyway.

Hope this helps,

Nick

Sultan Al-Maskary Posted 9 years, 6 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Flickering issues with Games in XP

Hi Jacen,

I know EXACTLY what the problem is and I think I can help you out with this one.

This is a problem with Windows 2000/XP and Microsoft hasn't issued a fix for it. The problem with Win 2000/XP is that when you enter any 3D game it automatically changes the refresh rate back to the lowest one available (~60Hz).

Thanks to some guys, they created a program called (Refresh Force) which fixes this problem. You can read about this program and what it does on the following URL (and download it of course!):

http://www.pagehosting.co.uk/rf

I hope this helps :)

SJMeyer Posted 9 years, 6 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Flickering issues with Games in XP

Yes Emerald I have the same problem with AoE II and Conquerors. Have tried everything. I came to the conclusion it was the old Acer 55L monitor I have. Cannot set the refresh rate high enough for the game. Can only get to 72Hz even though it is supposed to go higher.

Terry O 'Shanassy Posted 9 years, 6 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Apologies to all

I stand chastened and corrected.

I've never noticed a flickering problem on my system, but I did notice that running this program helped to get Lord of the Rings working better on my machine.

I'm off to eat more humble pie.

Anonymous Posted 9 years, 5 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Flickering issues with Games in XP

I've got a similar problem with the flickering on Windows 98 SE. The thing is it only happened when I installed SE.

When I put my computer in the 800x600 resolution mode it goes fuzzy and most games use 800x600 hence I can't play many games.

The only way I can get the games to work is to change settings on the game which can be a problem if you can't see them. Use the print screen then use alt+tab to switch to a picture program and paste. Now try and work how to get to options and change the sreen size settings.

Hope this helps

Roxby

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