RA 1.50 Resolution Setting Crash

Avio88 · 06-03-21, 12:16 AM

Just installed the RA 1.50, but when I set the resolution in-game to 1024x768, the game crashed to desktop. Running Win 10. Hope someone could help here. Thank you.

ET2SN · 06-03-21, 02:55 AM

This is normal, its due to running newer versions of Windows and DX.

You'll need to locate your Dangerous Waters main folder. Look inside it and you'll see a file named dangerouswaters.ini.

Highlight this file and make a copy of it. Stash the copy somewhere out side of your DW folder as a back-up in case things don't go right.

Go back to the original .ini file in the DW folder. Highlight it (single click) then right-click and select ""Open with" then select Notepad (and ONLY Notepad, the .ini file is raw text and it needs to stay that way).

Find the following section in the .ini :

[Graphics]
.MapStretch No
.ScreenStretchQuality 3
.ParticleMax 500
.ParticleRate 5
.LocalLights Yes
.TransparentWater No
.WantRain Yes
.Disable3D No
.Want3DClouds Yes
.WantVegetation Yes
.AdapterID 0
.DeviceID 0
.ModeID 3
.DetailTextures Yes
.BlendTextures Yes
.Caustics Yes
.WaterParticles Yes
.WaterReflectionQuality 3
.WaterQuality 4
.WaterDrawMethod 1
.CameraFOV 60
.WantShadows Yes
.ModelDetailTex Yes
.RunInWindow No
.Gamma ""
.SoftwareCursor No

The value in red text is probably set to 0 or 1, change it to 3. Then, save the file and re-start DW. You should see everything run in 1024x768 mode.

Avio88 · 06-03-21, 07:17 AM

Thanks so much, ET2SN. I followed the steps but the crashing still happened. Also, the ModeID value got changed back to the original "1". Is there any way to force the ini file to keep the value of "3"?

ET2SN · 06-03-21, 10:14 AM

Well, I'll make a wild guess and say you need to install the d3d8.dll file found in your Win_8_10_Support folder in DW/RA's main folder.

This isn't hard to do but it can be tricky. Open the Win_8_10_Support folder and copy the d3d8.dll file out to your desktop. Click on the file you just copied and drag it into your main DW/RA folder.

The trick to installing the d3d8.dll file is that if you can see your DW exe file and the dll in the same folder, you did it right.

Meanwhile, if you've already installed some type of shell program to run DW in Windowed mode, the d3d8.dll file should not be used.

You could also try highlighting the entire [Graphics] section I posted above and pasting it into your dangerouswaters.ini file, replacing the old [Graphics] section. Again, only use NOTEPAD to do this edit.

If none of that works, you may need to play around with Windows10 compatibility mode and/or Admin settings. I didn't need to do this in Win10(64 bit) but its possible.

Good luck.

Avio88 · 06-03-21, 06:51 PM

Thanks again for your very detailed steps and help ...

I followed exactly but problem still exists. Tried troubleshoot compatibility settings to vista / xp, and also running as admin, with the d3d8.dll correctly placed, but still it crashed to desktop, and each time the ModeID value got changed back to "1".

I am running the program from a Toshiba laptop using Intel graphic.

FPSchazly · 06-04-21, 07:42 AM

What's the maximum resolution of that laptop? ModeID 3 is actually 1280x1024.

Avio88 · 06-04-21, 10:50 AM

My laptop's max resolution is 1366 x 768 (also my current display setting). The game's available options are 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768.

When I set ModeID to "2", the option is default to 1024 x 768, BUT the in-game resolution looks exactly the same, no change from when it was 800 x 600.

When set at "3", both available options still show 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768. There isn't any option for 1280 x 1024.

06-03-21, 12:16 AM	#1
Avio88 Swabbie Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 5 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	RA 1.50 Resolution Setting Crash Just installed the RA 1.50, but when I set the resolution in-game to 1024x768, the game crashed to desktop. Running Win 10. Hope someone could help here. Thank you.

06-04-21, 07:42 AM	#6
FPSchazly Good Hunting! Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Maryland Posts: 771 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 1	What's the maximum resolution of that laptop? ModeID 3 is actually 1280x1024. __________________ Your friendly neighborhood modern submarine YouTuber. My videos: Exclusive Look at Modern Naval Warfare! Dangerous Waters Liu Doctrine (LwAmi Learn to play Dangerous Waters

06-03-21, 02:55 AM	#2
ET2SN ET2/SS Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 2,508 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	This is normal, its due to running newer versions of Windows and DX. You'll need to locate your Dangerous Waters main folder. Look inside it and you'll see a file named dangerouswaters.ini. Highlight this file and make a copy of it. Stash the copy somewhere out side of your DW folder as a back-up in case things don't go right. Go back to the original .ini file in the DW folder. Highlight it (single click) then right-click and select ""Open with" then select Notepad (and ONLY Notepad, the .ini file is raw text and it needs to stay that way). Find the following section in the .ini : [Graphics] .MapStretch No .ScreenStretchQuality 3 .ParticleMax 500 .ParticleRate 5 .LocalLights Yes .TransparentWater No .WantRain Yes .Disable3D No .Want3DClouds Yes .WantVegetation Yes .AdapterID 0 .DeviceID 0 .ModeID 3 .DetailTextures Yes .BlendTextures Yes .Caustics Yes .WaterParticles Yes .WaterReflectionQuality 3 .WaterQuality 4 .WaterDrawMethod 1 .CameraFOV 60 .WantShadows Yes .ModelDetailTex Yes .RunInWindow No .Gamma "" .SoftwareCursor No The value in red text is probably set to 0 or 1, change it to 3. Then, save the file and re-start DW. You should see everything run in 1024x768 mode.

06-03-21, 07:17 AM	#3
Avio88 Swabbie Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 5 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks so much, ET2SN. I followed the steps but the crashing still happened. Also, the ModeID value got changed back to the original "1". Is there any way to force the ini file to keep the value of "3"?

06-03-21, 10:14 AM	#4
ET2SN ET2/SS Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 2,508 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	Well, I'll make a wild guess and say you need to install the d3d8.dll file found in your Win_8_10_Support folder in DW/RA's main folder. This isn't hard to do but it can be tricky. Open the Win_8_10_Support folder and copy the d3d8.dll file out to your desktop. Click on the file you just copied and drag it into your main DW/RA folder. The trick to installing the d3d8.dll file is that if you can see your DW exe file and the dll in the same folder, you did it right. Meanwhile, if you've already installed some type of shell program to run DW in Windowed mode, the d3d8.dll file should not be used. You could also try highlighting the entire [Graphics] section I posted above and pasting it into your dangerouswaters.ini file, replacing the old [Graphics] section. Again, only use NOTEPAD to do this edit. If none of that works, you may need to play around with Windows10 compatibility mode and/or Admin settings. I didn't need to do this in Win10(64 bit) but its possible. Good luck.

06-03-21, 06:51 PM	#5
Avio88 Swabbie Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 5 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks again for your very detailed steps and help ... I followed exactly but problem still exists. Tried troubleshoot compatibility settings to vista / xp, and also running as admin, with the d3d8.dll correctly placed, but still it crashed to desktop, and each time the ModeID value got changed back to "1". I am running the program from a Toshiba laptop using Intel graphic.

06-04-21, 10:50 AM	#7
Avio88 Swabbie Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 5 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	My laptop's max resolution is 1366 x 768 (also my current display setting). The game's available options are 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768. When I set ModeID to "2", the option is default to 1024 x 768, BUT the in-game resolution looks exactly the same, no change from when it was 800 x 600. When set at "3", both available options still show 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768. There isn't any option for 1280 x 1024.