Possible Fix For Res Fix Screenshot Issues?
 

I don't know if this is a well-known "fix" or not, but it was new to me and I know others have had the same problem when using the Res Fix so I figured I'd put it out there. Since switching to Win7 I haven't been able to take screenshots with any success using the Res Fix once it remaps that function to the PrintScreen key. Hit the key and the game just freezes up, sometimes on the first try, or I might get one or two good shots... but eventually it would crash my game. I never seemed to have this problem on XP. I always thought it was some kind of unresolved and unavoidable Res Fix issue, and not an issue with the PrintScreen function itself.

Well, I was trying to look for other ways to get a screen capture and downloaded Fraps, even tho I'd read posts by others here saying that it didn't work for them either. Well, whatever, systems are different, I thought I'd give it a try. But even though I could hit the designated button without crashing my game, and an image file was created, it was always just a black image and not an actual screen capture. So I started googling for info on problems with Fraps and came across this suggestion for fixing the PrintScreen/screenshot issue for fullscreen apps in Win Vista and Win7. It has nothing to do with SH3 or the Res Fix or Fraps but with the Aero themes in both of those OSes.

Apparently if you are using them (and I think they're the default in both) it can bork up the usual PrintScreen function when you are running a game, leading to screen captures turning out as just black images or otherwise giving you major headaches. The suggestion was to temporarily disable Aero while your game/app is running - Windows will revert to a Classic desktop and then back to Aero when the app closes. (Of course you could just turn Aero off completely, but you don't have to.)

What you do is right click on the short cut for your game (or presumably the .exe file itself, I dunno for sure) and click on Properties. Under the Compatibility tab, put a check mark in the box for "Disable desktop composition" and click Apply and then OK to close the Properties box.

Now when you start that game/app, you should get a brief text box from Windows letting you know it's switched to a Classic desktop.

I just tried this in my stock installation and was able to take 6-7 captures in as many seconds without any problem whatsoever, and they all showed up in the folder I mapped them to in the Res Fix d3d9.cfg. I can't remember the last time I was able to do that - uh, yeah, I think it was when I was still running XP and didn't have Aero. :O:

Obviously I haven't tested this extensively or on game installs with a supermod and/or other heavy mod loads that might affect things, but I was having the same issue in several different installs including unmodded vanilla so none of that seemed to matter in the first place. I'm hoping that I can apply the same tweak to my GWX install and have good longterm results.

In the meantime, it's a very painless and easily reversible tweak for other Vista/Win7 Res_Fix users who can't take a PrintScreen capture without it causing problems... if anybody gives it a try and can report consistent success, it might be one more headache that some of us Res_Fix users can be rid of.

Please forgive me if this is already a well-known fix, but I'm just so excited at the mere possibility of getting screenshots again that I had to share! :D :woot:

Nice!
I havent heard of any fix at all, good find!
cant wait for screenshots :P

If this works I am going to be one VERY happy camper. I mean, after I finally get Fm Interiors and Flags and Pennants and Super Turms and Super Pens and have crews on decks and waterstreams and exhaust and lovely skins all picked out and so much other stuff finally set up and (apparently) working together, after all the time I spent and what's more the untold hours and work of everyone who did all that awesome modding... then I go in to play and I can't take piccies? :stare: :wah: :nope:

I really should go to bed so I can get up earlier and try to start a test patrol tomorrow and have more time to see how it goes. :hmmm:

I don't use the Res Fix, but I do run an app that shuts down Aero during gaming sessions. My issue wasn't with screen shots, but rather with the amount of ram being gobbled up by background applications in general.

While Aero adds all kind of cool looking effects to the GUI, it also eats up a fair bit of ram for all those eye-catching bells and whistles. They're great if you're working off the desktop, but completely unnecessary once you start to scratch the hardcore gaming itch. This being the case, I decided to tweak my system so I could flip a switch at any time and fully optimize for gaming.

As I'm running an AMD processor, I installed a freeware utility (published by AMD) suitably entitled AMD Fusion. While it has a number of functions, such as overclocking and hard drive acceleration, it really excels at optimizing performance by shutting down all non-essential applications.

I use it routinely now whenever I start a gaming session and I must say I do notice a marked improvement in response time. That being said, I really like your idea of editing the shortcut properties to temporarily disable Aero.

Seems a great first step, and I would only add the suggestion of a 'fusion' type utility for those who may be interested in taking it a step further. :sunny:

Thisis a potentially very interesting and worthwhile piece of information/advice...I must get out of my lazy spell and install fraps again to see if this problem is occuring for me...nice one :yep:

Just tried something....you don't need to select "Disable desktop composition" and thus forcing your OS into 'Classic Desktop' mode (good for those with sufficient RAM, granted)...above that 'Settings' section is an area entitled 'Compatability mode' with a single box entitled 'Run this program in compatibility mode for' then 13 choices ranging from Windows95 to Windows7, I chose 'Windows XP (Service Pack 3)' and screenshots and ME are now working fine.

I'll get round to installing fraps again in a day or two.

Why not install it now, to secure the system so you can see that there is no fubar, :yep:

Could have something to do with the fact I'm a lazy basum and have just concluded a 25 hour shift :-?

Forget the above....the problem with ME returned :stare:

Got both boxes checked and everything appears sweet :sunny:

Oh and don't forget to carry out the same operation for the ME exe icon or the satisfactory solution won't last beyond one patrol.

Yes, it speaks for itself ... we'll take a siesta now :lol:

@Jimbuna: I wasn't having any more trouble with ME (once I switched back to the older gfx drivers) but was still getting freezes when hitting PrintScreen for a screenshot in-game. Altho maybe you mean taking a screenshot of the ME window? I haven't ever tried that. As for Fraps I haven't tried that again yet, but it would be nice to be able to use that as well. :yep:

@Fish In The Water: I'm going to check out AMD Fusion, first I've heard of it. I tried... Gamestop, I think? But I didn't care for it much, as it didn't seem to make much difference and I did read some concerns about it being a dodgy program.

Ah right, yes I did mean PrintScreen, don't notice any stutter on my system but having said that there is currently very little on /in it.

I'm off now till Thursday so I'll make the time to install fraps again....fingers crossed for us both :DL

Haven't heard that myself, (about it being 'dodgy'), although I will admit the documentation does leave a fair bit to be desired. From my experience it seems to work quite well (once you've got it configured correctly).

I wouldn't fool around with Gamestop though, better to head straight to the source:

http://sites.amd.com/us/game/downloa.../overview.aspx

Good link, :yep:

I have it installed, I'm looking at it now. Thanks for the link.:DL