Over-riding Screen resolution?

[Gryffon300]

Now, you're going to have a chuckle at my expense, and that's OK, but can some IT guru give me some help? (There's no [grovel] smilie, or I'd use it now.)
OK, here is my problem. I've effectively locked myself out of SH4 as follows. I use a laptop with a screen res of 1366x768 (16:9). BUT, I have been playing on an external monitor with a screen res of 1680x1050 (16:10). This is the in-game graphics option setting that I have selected. No problems, UNTIL the monitor was taken to another location.

Now, trying to open and play on the laptop, the screen only displays the top left-hand 80% or so of the game. Now, that's ALMOST manageable, because I can go to the Options - Graphics Settings and re-set the Screen Resolution and Refresh Rate BUT, and here's the rub, I can not 'Apply' the setting, because the button is off the screen at the bottom right, and can't be accessed.

So, is there a way to go into the game folder and manually re-set the screen res?

Thanks

Gryff

[irish1958]

Originally Posted by Gryffon300

Now, you're going to have a chuckle at my expense, and that's OK, but can some IT guru give me some help? (There's no [grovel] smilie, or I'd use it now.)
OK, here is my problem. I've effectively locked myself out of SH4 as follows. I use a laptop with a screen res of 1366x768 (16:9). BUT, I have been playing on an external monitor with a screen res of 1680x1050 (16:10). This is the in-game graphics option setting that I have selected. No problems, UNTIL the monitor was taken to another location.

Now, trying to open and play on the laptop, the screen only displays the top left-hand 80% or so of the game. Now, that's ALMOST manageable, because I can go to the Options - Graphics Settings and re-set the Screen Resolution and Refresh Rate BUT, and here's the rub, I can not 'Apply' the setting, because the button is off the screen at the bottom right, and can't be accessed.

So, is there a way to go into the game folder and manually re-set the screen res?

Thanks

Gryff

There is probably an easy way. What I would do I'd take my laptop somewhere there is a monitor, hook it up and change the resolution. I would then thank the monitor owner and buy him (or if you are lucky her) a beer.

[CapnScurvy]

On an XP Operating System follow the path "My Documents/SH4/data/cfg" folders to find the "main.cfg" file.

On a Vista OS (and anything newer) the path will be a little different. Open "YourComputersName/Documents/SH4/data/cfg". Opening the file "main.cfg" with Windows Notepad will allow you to change the resolution that the game uses.

Look for the [VIDEO] section, then "Resolution=". On my system, the default resolution is given as "Resolution=1024,768,60,22". The third value is the Refresh Rate, the 4th is the Color Depth. I don't know why its set to 22 and not 32, just leave it alone. "Save" your changes, and exit the file.

I found this option useful when I was messing around with a game resolution that my 32" TV couldn't recognize or render, yet the resolution was "offered" in the "Graphic Settings" of the game. I chose the resolution then exited to Windows, restarting with the new resolution. Upon restarting the screen went black. I had to either use "Task Manager" to get out of the game, or shut the computer down with a restart. Resetting the resolution of the game to the default 1024,768 parameter in the "main.cfg" file allowed the game to be displayed once again!

[Gryffon300]

Originally Posted by irish1958

There is probably an easy way. What I would do I'd take my laptop somewhere there is a monitor, hook it up and change the resolution. I would then thank the monitor owner and buy him (or if you are lucky her) a beer.

You are probably right, but, being Friendless and Marooned alone here over in the Deep West, my selection of co-conspirators is somewhat limited. I'll find some obliging cove, no doubt. The 6-pack of 'Beez Neez' that I will have under my arm I'm sure will smooth the way..

Cheers

Gryff

[Gryffon300]

Originally Posted by CapnScurvy

On a Vista OS (and anything newer) the path will be a little different. Open "YourComputersName/Documents/SH4/data/cfg". Opening the file "main.cfg" with Windows Notepad will allow you to change the resolution that the game uses.

Look for the [VIDEO] section, then "Resolution=". On my system, the default resolution is given as "Resolution=1024,768,60,22". The third value is the Refresh Rate, the 4th is the Color Depth. I don't know why its set to 22 and not 32, just leave it alone. "Save" your changes, and exit the file.

Ah Captain, my Captain! You have saved the day! Although a perfectly acceptable suggestion was made by an Irish laddie, the weather is turning foul here and I didn't favour venturing forth.

Accordingly, your solution involving staying warm and playing at being a Sparky suits me passing well! I'll raise a tot of porter to you in thanks from a grateful supplicant.



Gryff

PS yep, that's it. Simple when you know what you are doing. Thanks again.

[Pacificmaelstrom]

I had the exact same problem and this was just what I needed!