AOE graphics problems

Hi, when i use Age of Empires, it runs fine no problems at all, but when i close it (what ever i have done, even it i just run it and close it), and try to run it again, it shows the menus fine, but the actual game screen and mutliplayer screens crash the program, so if reinstall it it runs, i have to do this everytime.
Restarting my pc doesn't work
changing my graphics driver didn't work

I have a 133Mhz, windows 98, toshiba latop, chips and tech graphics card (2mb), 48mb of ram, i have all of the recommened specs
please help

 

ok, i had to post a reply, as i couldn't find the edit button. but i have narrowed it down (i think) to either (or both) empirex.exe and/or languagex.dll

 

I can't say for sure it will help but this isn't a really common 98 issue and for one-off things, I always like to start with a known clean system. The routine below does that and seems to somehow fix a large number of the issues with no further work needed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

General clean-up instructions for Win95/98/ME

• Open a browser window and dump all TIF (temporary internet files) and cookies. Close.
• Open windows explorer and
  .. delete the contents of all temp folders
  .. delete any files in c:\ with a name filennnn.chk (where nnnn is any number so file0001.chk, file1034.chk, etc)
• verify that you have fewer than 500 files & folders directly under c:\. If you are close to that number, remove or move some files.
• empty the recycle bin
• boot to DOS
• from the command prompt do the following
  .. scanreg /fix <ENTER> (press the ENTER key)
  .. scanreg /opt <ENTER>
  ****note that 95 does not have scanreg.exe but a copy from 98 or ME will run fine if you can get one
  .. scandisk c:\ /nosave /autofix /surface <ENTER>
  .. Win /D:M (forces a safe mode windows start)
• Run another scandisk (start~programs~accessories~system tools) and check for a standard scan and to fix all errors found. The DOS scan couldn't check for long file name issues.
• Run a defrag
• Reboot to normal Windows.

 

ok thanks, i do that and get back to you asap

 

right done that

 

Did it help?

 

Hi Ray,
Maybe you already have...check the "readme" that should be on the root drive of the CD for any known problems that may be associated with your graphics card.

Check the manual for how to reduce the graphics settings of the game (and the audio settings unless you are certain it is a graphics problem). I would turn off all the "features" then try turning them back on one at a time if the game runs OK.

Do you have a good set of motherboard/chipset drivers installed for the laptop? You should find any updates at the manufacturer's website.

Matt
BTW What version of DirectX do you have? I suggest version 8.1. Version 9 does not run some older graphics cards.

 

i'm using Dx8.1 and newt sorry but it didn't hlp, another wierd problem which i forgot to mention is that it changes the icon of files, for a notepad icon for a txt file could become a html icon, but its completely random which files and icons are changed, and if i go into to folder options the old icon is still associated with the file, not the new one, i have the lastest drivers for everything and i couldn't find my graphics card in th readme

 

It seems as though it may be changing graphics setting to go into DOS to run the game. When it is exiting the game it cannot reset to the Window's GUI.

If you can find out what resolution the game is running in, match that resolution in Windows before you start running the game. So if the game runs in 800 X 600 and you are running something different in Windows, change to 800 X 600 before you start the game. Also, you may be able to run the game in DOS, you would need to see if that is possible from the manual.

I have had problems with Microsoft games in the past and once recently trying to install a demo. I found other people with the same problem at the game's website forum. No-one had an answer, so I ended up giving up trying to install it.

Matt

 

i'm pretty sure is it a 32bit windows game and the resolution is 800x600 same as my desktop