I just re-installed Might & Magic 8, but it won't run. I think it doesn't like the newer version of Directx. Any suggestions would be most welcome. thanks

[ 02-23-2004, 09:38 AM: Message edited by: Variol (Farseer) Elmwood ]

You don't have an older version of Directx you can install over your newer one do you?

I was thinking of that, but then other games won't work.

try creating a boot disk with just what you want to run on it or partion you're hard drive

[ 02-23-2004, 04:05 PM: Message edited by: JOE030303 ]

DirectX should be fully backwards compatible. What OS are you running? If you are running XP have you tried adjusting the compatibility mode?

Can you explain that a bit more? I do have XP. Are you refering to the Hardware and Software etc. settings? I tried a few different things there but no success.

I had the same problem with MM7 recently, try running in software mode rather than hardware mode. That's what did it for me.

EDIT: You could also try disabling all the 3D stuff in DirectX (Direct3D etc.), then enabling them one-by-one to see if any of them are causing the problem.

[ 02-24-2004, 07:14 AM: Message edited by: Ben Lauritson ]

Thanks, do I do that in the start menu?

Can you explain that a bit more? I do have XP. Are you refering to the Hardware and Software etc. settings? I tried a few different things there but no success. </font>[/QUOTE]Open up Windows Explorer. Find the executable that you have to run to play M&M 8. Examine the shortcut that is under the start menu if you aren't sure. Right click on it then choose properties. Up the top of the properties window will be some tabs. The second one is compatibility. Click on it. Check the box saying to use compatibility mode and tell the game to run in Windows 98 compatibility mode.

Thanks, do I do that in the start menu? </font>[/QUOTE]OK, in the start menu, click Run, and type in dxdiag and click OK. Click the Display tab, and disable anything that may be enabled, such as DirectDraw acceleration, Direct3D acceleration etc.

Without these, it should force MM8 to use software mode, but just to make sure (assuming you installed it under the default start menu group):

In the start menu, select Programs, then select 3DO, then select Might and Magic VIII, then there should be a Might and Magic VIII Configuration Utility. Click that, then make sure it's set to software 3D. You might also want to disable accelerated 3D audio if it's not already disabled, just in case.

That's how I got MM7 running on WinXP, and so I presume it would work the same for MM8.

Ok, I'll give both ideas a try. I think I did try the different configurations but I'll try again anyway. Thanks

No Ben, it didn't work. I can't see it being my disc, but like I said 6,7 and 9 all work.

I think I'll have to break down and install it on my 3 year old computer (also has XP Pro) and see if it works on that.

Well, there it is. My old computer w/ WinXP P3 866 448ram will run the game, but my new Athlon 2500+ and 512ram won't! Does shed any light on things? Could it be a processor issue?
It may be my 9200 video card 'cos I don't think it goes down to 640x480.

[ 02-25-2004, 09:52 AM: Message edited by: Variol (Farseer) Elmwood ]

I had a problem with another game that sounds similar. The issue I had was that I was using the 'Default Monitor' driver - but my monitor's vertical and horizontal refresh rate limits were in a totally different range (I was using an Apple multiscan 17"). Really, I thought it was the DirectX and did all the things mentioned above, none worked. Then I downloaded a program called powerstrip, which will create a monitor.inf file for your monitor if you can tell it what the refresh rates are for your monitor (so I searched on google and found the refresh rates). Then I installed this .inf file as the driver for the monitor, and everything was perfect (note: I had no problems with all of my other games and applications, just one of them - Civ III). I haven't tried M&M, but maybe it's worth a try for you. In any case, if you are using the default monitor driver, it feels better to have one that actually matches your monitor's specs.

Well, my monitor is a 19" Viewsonic. I just bought it last month. Maybe I'll try to put the driver back in or someting. What you're suggesting is a bit tech. for me.

Here's a link for drivers for several 19" viewsonics, among others. I haven't tried them, as I don't have this monitor, but if you are using the windows default monitor driver, then you might be better off with one of these (or the one that came with the monitor, if one did)

http://www.dcomputer.com/proinfo/dri...sp?prodcatid=4

In my case, my monitor was (is) an outdated one, and an Apple, so I couldn't find a windows XP driver for it, and had to make one myself using the powerstrip program.

[ 02-26-2004, 12:34 PM: Message edited by: petertmorgan ]

thanks, I'll give it a try..

I had to run mm7 in software mode. And I needed to change my desktop to 16 bit. Im not sure but I might have had to run it in windows 95 mode.
I also needed some utility to make it run slower.

Id also like to point out.... that ur not going to finish mm8 it ends in a tedious dungeon. This is like a multi hundred hour game.

It still doesn't explain why all the other M&M's run though? It runs great on my old PC so I see no reason to mess with it.