Getting nothing but a blank screen - help needed!

Subnuts · 03-06-09, 12:08 AM

I purchased SH4 today, installed it on my PC, the opening movie ran just fine, and after that...nothing. I'm staring at a black screen with the ingame music, and nothing else happens. I wait five minutes, and it's still the same. Here are my system specs:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 processor
Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
NVIDIA GeForce GT120 graphics card
8 GB DDR2 RAM

I haven't tried downloading the 1.4 patch yet, but I'm certain my problem has something to do with my graphics card. Go figure - I've been waiting years for some serious subsimming, and I'm staring at a black screen!

Has anyone else had this problem, or can direct me to a solution to it?

Thanks!

Torplexed · 03-06-09, 12:17 AM

Could indeed be your graphic card as it sounds exactly like the problem I had with running SH3 and I have a Nvidia card too. Have you tweaked the settings of your Nvidia card at all? I had to reset my video card to all the default values to get SH3 to run. However, SH4 installed fine for me since at the time the computer was still new and I hadn't fiddled with the values yet. Both programs have a similar file structure so it could be the same problem.

Armistead · 03-06-09, 04:12 AM

The usual, update your drivers..Nvidia just released a new one. Make sure you read the sticky about using nHancer for nvidia cards.

Apply the patch....

When the screen goes black can you alt/tab back to a normal desktop or is it locked up?

It could be a hundred things, but it's not the game doing it.

AVGWarhawk · 03-06-09, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Could indeed be your graphic card as it sounds exactly like the problem I had with running SH3 and I have a Nvidia card too. Have you tweaked the settings of your Nvidia card at all? I had to reset my video card to all the default values to get SH3 to run. However, SH4 installed fine for me since at the time the computer was still new and I hadn't fiddled with the values yet. Both programs have a similar file structure so it could be the same problem.

Same deal with SH4. As Torplexed stated. Load the game. Patch it. Reset you video card to all the default values. Fire up the game. It should run correctly now. Close the game and reset your card. It should work fine now.

Torplexed · 03-06-09, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Could indeed be your graphic card as it sounds exactly like the problem I had with running SH3 and I have a Nvidia card too. Have you tweaked the settings of your Nvidia card at all? I had to reset my video card to all the default values to get SH3 to run. However, SH4 installed fine for me since at the time the computer was still new and I hadn't fiddled with the values yet. Both programs have a similar file structure so it could be the same problem.

Same deal with SH4. As Torplexed stated. Load the game. Patch it. Reset you video card to all the default values. Fire up the game. It should run correctly now. Close the game and reset your card. It should work fine now.

Yeah. It sounds like he may be having the same problem you helped me with...in reverse.

Subnuts · 03-06-09, 10:19 AM

Well, I got it working... now all I have to deal with is the fact that my F9-F12 keys don't seem to work.

Oh yeah, and I also bought a copy of SimCity 4 Deluxe from Target, which won't work because the installation program thinks the CD key printed on the back of the manual is "invalid!" And since it's been opened, I can't return it!

03-06-09, 12:08 AM	#1
Subnuts The Old Man Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,658 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	Getting nothing but a blank screen - help needed! I purchased SH4 today, installed it on my PC, the opening movie ran just fine, and after that...nothing. I'm staring at a black screen with the ingame music, and nothing else happens. I wait five minutes, and it's still the same. Here are my system specs: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 processor Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit NVIDIA GeForce GT120 graphics card 8 GB DDR2 RAM I haven't tried downloading the 1.4 patch yet, but I'm certain my problem has something to do with my graphics card. Go figure - I've been waiting years for some serious subsimming, and I'm staring at a black screen! Has anyone else had this problem, or can direct me to a solution to it? Thanks! __________________ My Amazon.com reviews

03-06-09, 10:19 AM	#6
Subnuts The Old Man Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,658 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	Well, I got it working... now all I have to deal with is the fact that my F9-F12 keys don't seem to work. Oh yeah, and I also bought a copy of SimCity 4 Deluxe from Target, which won't work because the installation program thinks the CD key printed on the back of the manual is "invalid!" And since it's been opened, I can't return it! __________________ My Amazon.com reviews

03-06-09, 12:17 AM	#2
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Could indeed be your graphic card as it sounds exactly like the problem I had with running SH3 and I have a Nvidia card too. Have you tweaked the settings of your Nvidia card at all? I had to reset my video card to all the default values to get SH3 to run. However, SH4 installed fine for me since at the time the computer was still new and I hadn't fiddled with the values yet. Both programs have a similar file structure so it could be the same problem.

03-06-09, 04:12 AM	#3
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	The usual, update your drivers..Nvidia just released a new one. Make sure you read the sticky about using nHancer for nvidia cards. Apply the patch.... When the screen goes black can you alt/tab back to a normal desktop or is it locked up? It could be a hundred things, but it's not the game doing it.