Invisible Characters

homunculus · 10-01-2009 08:16 PM

I'm just coming back to CoH after a long absence and I'm having the fun problem of invisible characters. I am on a laptop and I know it has a crappy video card, but the ATI Radeon X series is listed as compatible and I know it's lightyears ahead of the old card I had when I played before.

I've read through some of the posts of people with similar issues and I've upgraded to the latest ATI drivers and the newest version of DirectX. However, no joy for me. Here are the results of my CoH Helper and HijackThis runs, if anyone can offer some advice I'd appreciate it a great deal.

---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.1.1.8---

DxDiag gathered at October 1, 2009 23:15 (-04:00)
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Inspiron 1521
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A00
Central Processor: AMD Turion(tm) 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-50, MMX, 3DNow (2 CPUs), ~1.6GHz
Memory: 1918MB
.Net Memory Report: 1127MB out of 1918MB available
Page File: 3100MB (710MB currently in use)
C Drive: (ST9160821AS) 40777MB out of 152617MB (26%) free
D Drive: (TSSTcorp DVD+-RW TS-L632D) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DirectX Diag version: 5.03.2600.5512 (32-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor: Default Monitor
Monitor's Max Resolution: (blank)
Video Device Name: ATI RADEON XPRESS 1200 Series
Manufacturer / Chip: ATI Technologies Inc. / ATI Radeon X1200 Series (0x791F)
Video Memory: 700.0 MB
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6891
Driver Date: 12/1/2008 4:51:31 PM
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: SigmaTel Audio
Driver File: sthda.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.5515.0000
Driver Date: 5/10/2007 10:24:34 AM

WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: 0GU163
Motherboard Version:
BIOS Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
BIOS Name: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A00
BIOS Version: DELL - 27d70510
BIOS Release: 20070516000000.000000+000

Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1024x768
3D Resolution: 1024x768 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: Yes
Maximized: No
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: Yes

Physics Quality: None
Maximum Particles: 100
Max Particle Fill? 1.000
Physics Card Enabled: No

Anti-aliasing: None
Anisotropic Filtering: 2x
Texture LOD Bias: Smooth
Water Effects: None
Bloom: 0.100 (turned off)
Depth of Field Enabled: No
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: Yes
Shader Detail: Low (with world bumpmaps)

World Texture Level: Low
Character Texture Level: Low
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 0.500
Entity Detail Level: 0.300
Shadows Enabled: No
Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: No
Suppression of Extra Player FX Enabled: No
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: No
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes

Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 1.000
Music Sound Volume: 0.600

Show Advanced Graphics Options: No
Overall Graphics Quality: 0.300
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: 134117 bytes/second
Current Game Version: 1600.20090918.4T2
Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\City of Heroes

Mod files in the Data directory
No modifications found

--------------------------------------

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 11:13:30 PM, on 10/1/2009
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\bcmwltry.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Service\AdskScSrv.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\msco rsvw.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 9\mentalray\satellite\raysat_3dsmax9_32server.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nero\Nero BackItUp 4\NBService.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\Engine\16.7.2.11\ccSvcHst.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\SearchIndexer.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\Engine\16.7.2.11\ccSvcHst.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLTRAY.exe
C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\stsystra.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\MOM.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Desktop Search\WindowsSearch.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\SearchProtocolHost.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\ccc.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Chris\Desktop\CohHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\wordpad.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files\TweakCoH\TweakCoH.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Int ernet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: Symantec Intrusion Prevention - {6D53EC84-6AAE-4787-AEEE-F4628F01010C} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\Engine\16.7.2.11\IPSBHO.DLL
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Broadcom Wireless Manager UI] C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLTRAY.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StartCCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SigmatelSysTrayApp] %ProgramFiles%\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\stsystra.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdobeCS4ServiceManager] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\CS4ServiceManager\CS4ServiceManager.ex e" -launchedbylogin
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Windows Search.lnk = C:\Program Files\Windows Desktop Search\WindowsSearch.exe
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nwprovau.dll
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/ge...sh/swflash.cab
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: Autodesk Licensing Service - Autodesk - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Service\AdskScSrv.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Acresso Software Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: mental ray 3.5 Satellite (32-bit) (mi-raysat_3dsmax9_32) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 9\mentalray\satellite\raysat_3dsmax9_32server.exe
O23 - Service: Nero BackItUp Scheduler 4.0 - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nero\Nero BackItUp 4\NBService.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\Engine\16.7.2.11\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: Dell Wireless WLAN Tray Service (wltrysvc) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE

--
End of file - 6400 bytes

Mandu · 10-01-2009 10:21 PM

If the radeon 1200 series is lightyears ahead of what you were using before then you must have been using a vga card. The 1200 series is the absolute rock bottom of gaming viable chipsets. It should play less visually demanding games well enough but odds are that CoX is way beyond it's capabilities.

The specs given for compatibility with the game are very very seriously outdated. I think marketing just doesn't update the specs because they don't want to discourage people with low end systems from trying the game.

A couple of questions. Have you tried playing in safe mode?

And just out of curiosity what was the video card or chipset you had before?

Don't count your weasels before they pop dink!

homunculus · 10-02-2009 08:55 AM

Thanks for the response. I've tried playing in safe mode, with the same results. I don't remember exactly what the specs were on the video card I was using since I've been through a few boxes since I stopped playing in '06 but I do remember that it was an integrated chipset as it was a crappy hand-me-down box from work. I had to play with seriously reduced video settings, but I could play.

Unfortunately, it looks like I'm just going to have to put the game on the back burner again until I can get a new desktop system together.

Peterbilt · 10-02-2009 04:02 PM

I have found the last few updates have hampered the playability on my old machine. It is to the point where I'll crash on loadup if there is too much traffic (such as WW) in the area where I'm logging on. But my problem is processor power, not video. Sounds like you just need a more powerful card. Fryes has a sale last week on an nVidia 8400 card for only $20 so a video card should be too expensive.

Current favs: Champ: Frau Schmeterling-22 MM 50s: NOTW-Blaster, Cat-Girl Commando-corr, Queen of the Dawn-PB, NOTW-Def, Peterbilt-Brute, IcedTNA-Tank, Archilies-scrap, Mann Eater-stalk, Redemptive Soul-toller, Mt Fuji of A-Team-Tank, Hot Stuff Vale-Dom
My MiniCity

Zombie Man · 10-02-2009 04:18 PM

You might want to try a third party vendor's driver like found here or here

You might also try different setting for textures and shader, even if it's a higher one.

Also, see if your manufacturer's website had updated drivers for the motherboard chipset/CPU.

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