Disappearing background in Training missions

Avedomni · Post by **Avedomni** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:38 am

Windows Version (and Service Packs): Windows XP, SP2
Processor Speed: 1600Mhz
RAM: 512MB
Video Card (Make and Model#): nVidia GeForce4 Ti4200 with AGP8X
Sound Card (Make and Model#): Creative Audigy
Connection Type (Dialup, Cable, DSL, other): Cable
Modem (Make and Model#): <unknown>
Router (Make and Model#): None

Problem Encountered at Step #: I take a different path starting at 5.
Which Program (ASGS/Allegiance): Allegiance
What Error Message: None
Comments (What you tried, description, etc):

I am attempting to go through the Training missions, but everytime the person tells me my ship is about to move on its own the display goes dark and the mission stops progressing. I can still see the HUD, and I can still access the menus, but the stars and other objects disappear. If I target the commander (F button) and then change my view to View target (F10) the display comes up and I see the Commander's ship, but when I go back to the HUD the background is still missing. I first encountered it in Mission 2 when the mission tries to show me what turning looks like, and again in Mission 3 when it tries to show me how the retical changes color depending on how centered you are on the target. In both cases, I had to exit the mission because it wouldn't advance.

Post by **Tigereye** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:00 am

Strange.

Try running a DirectX diagnostic to see if it reports any problems.

Click Start-->Run
type "dxdiag" and click OK

Click through each tab in the dxdiag program and run the tests there. Note any errors/problems it finds.

If you find problems, you may want to try to reinstall your directx by visiting http://www.microsoft.com/directx

Good luck,

--TE

Avedomni · Post by **Avedomni** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:17 am

I ran the diagnostic and got no errors. I updated my DirectX anyway (it's been awhile), and still no errors, but the problem persists.

I don't think it's a display problem though (of course, I could very easily be wrong), because the entire mission stops. It isn't just that I don't see my ship turning, it doesn't turn. Also, when I enter a mission where I can control it, it turns just fine; it's only when the system tries to take over and turn it that the problem occurs.

beauty · Post by **beauty** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:06 am

Hmm, this is kind of dodging the question, but ...

*** Have you tried logging through the main Allegiance icon and flying? Do you have the problem there?

This is a newer version of Alleg and maybe we have a really unusual bug we missed in the training mission...

Also ...

*** What video card to you have and what resolutoin are you running it in?

Avedomni · Post by **Avedomni** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:25 am

beauty wrote:QUOTE (beauty @ Sep 14 2006, 06:06 PM) Hmm, this is kind of dodging the question, but ...

*** Have you tried logging through the main Allegiance icon and flying? Do you have the problem there?

I haven't, but I have run the other training missions and the problem only occurs when the game takes over the controls.

Strangely, if the autpilot is active at the time it takes control there doesn't appear to be a problem. I discovered this in the fourth mission, which I ran twice. The first time, I accepted the mission to fly to the Mars sector Aleph (Insert key) and didn't turn off the autopilot. When I got to the aleph, the game took over piloting and it proceeded as normal; I passed through the aleph and was able to fly (under my own control) in Mars sector.

When I re-ran the mission later, I deactivated the autopilot and flew to the aleph myself. When I got there the game tried to take over control and the problem occured again.QUOTE *** What video card to you have and what resolutoin are you running it in?[/quote]The video card is the GeForce Ti4200 mentioned in the first post, and the resolution is at 800x600 for most of the tests. I also tried it at the next resolution up (I don't recall what it is), and got the same issue.

One thing to note: The last few times I tried this I paid extra attention to the exact moment when it occurs. The background blanks just after the ship starts to turn. I see the background begin to swing away, as it would if I were turning, for about .5 seconds before blanking.

Post by **Raveen** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:29 am

This couldn't be caused by a corrupted download could it? If the part of the training missions file(s) that deals with the AP forcably taking over is corrupted then I suppose it could cause a crash.

Avedomni · Post by **Avedomni** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:34 pm

Raveen wrote:QUOTE (Raveen @ Sep 15 2006, 01:29 AM) This couldn't be caused by a corrupted download could it? If the part of the training missions file(s) that deals with the AP forcably taking over is corrupted then I suppose it could cause a crash.

It's possible. I intend to redownload the installation file when I get home, just to test it out. It seems strange that it would be able to take control when the autopilot is engaged but not when it's disengaged.

ImmortalZ · Post by **ImmortalZ** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:51 pm

I believe the installer will always check its own integrity before installing. This bug has me stumped (wouldn't be the first time. This is a great place to learn about obscure computer problems and equally obscure solutions.)

Post by **Tigereye** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:42 am

I too have never encountered someone with this problem.

My gut is telling me it's hardware/driver related though.

--TE

Avedomni · Post by **Avedomni** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:23 pm

Tigereye wrote:QUOTE (Tigereye @ Sep 16 2006, 10:42 PM) I too have never encountered someone with this problem.

My gut is telling me it's hardware/driver related though.

--TE

Which really only leaves Hardware, since I've updated every driver I can imagine has anything to do with it and the problem persists.

Oh well. Perhaps I can learn well enough without those specific training missions to at least get a feel for the controls. The problem doesn't seem like one that would come up in the actual game.

Thank you all for your help.