How do you launch the game in higher res?

fo3 · 07-13-21, 09:42 AM

Hi everyone, I used to play this game on my ancient PC about 10 years ago. It had lower res so I had no problems (some sktA 3200 with 9600 radeon.)

About 2-3 years ago I tried to revisit this game with a more modern old PC (still 10 year old 1090T with 5770 GPU, just old retired work PCs is how I game) and couldn't get it to launch. Was a shame because I had so many mods and downloaded add ons I wanted to get back to, but I gave up.
Revisiting the games now because I found out it didn't launch on this other PC because it can't launch at res above 1024x768 and it's native res was much higher

Anyway - I have heaps of mods (ARB, GWX, JSGME, supposed res fixers etc), I can PLAY it at higher res but I can't LAUNCH it at native desktop 1920x1080.

Every time I want to play I have to drop my desktop res to 1024x768 just to launch it, then the mods come into play to make it high res just fine.
How come I can't launch it without messing up my desktop and dropping res manually before starting the game? Is there a fix?

I play mostly old games on my old retired PCs and even red alert will launch and drop res to 640x480, why can't I get a modded SH3 to even launch at my native res without "Can not initialize 3d engine" error?
What am I missing? Any hand holding help available here? I've tried so hard and searched and it's all talk about playing at high res (not a problem) but no one has talked about LAUNCHING the game.

Aktungbby · 07-13-21, 11:25 AM

fo3!

after a considerable 'silent run'.

fo3 · 07-13-21, 12:37 PM

Thanks, I'll look into that tomorrow night.

Can I get away with the widescreen magui for GWX3 or do I need the whole big standalone version?

E: I just checked my win doc folder for SH3 and main config was:
[VIDEO]
Resolution=1024 x 800
DynamicShadows=No
FullScreen=Yes
Synchronized=No

Can I change that res setting too, or just change the sync to yes and leave the res at 1024x800?

fo3 · 07-14-21, 05:44 AM

I'm using win7 and it has DX11.

I looked into installing the GWX version of widescreen gui via jsgme but had heaps of warnings it's going to overwrite what I've already got sorted as far as playing OK in high res. :

Quote:

"Commands_de.cfg" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"Commands_en.cfg" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"Cameras.dat" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"menu_1024_768.ini" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"flotillas.cfg" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"CBS03.tga" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"harta01.tga" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"harta02.tga" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"LOAD CAREER2.tga" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"muzeu.tga" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"save01.tga" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"UpgradesChart.tga" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"Flaggen.tga" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"Orders3.tga" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"RecManual.tga" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"AA_shell.tga" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"AP_shell.tga" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"HE_shell.tga" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.
"SS_shell.tga" has already been altered by the "ARB WideGui 1920x1080" mod.

So I'm not sure if I should proceed right now - took ages to sort out the nav map issue with ARB. Might leave it until I have more time to mess around, or after I made backups, or after I die in game or something.

JerseySeven · 07-14-21, 10:08 PM

You might look into DGUI. it's a newer HD mod. I'm using it with LHS3 and CCom, and tested it briefly with GWX. The high res mod typically goes after the supermods and some overwriting is expected.
If you are installing with JSGME, then you can always remove it if there is a problem!

fo3 · 07-15-21, 06:42 AM

OK I was looking at the manual for lsh3 since you mentioned it ( I haven't tried it because this is an old PC with win7) and I noticed it talked about the error I get. They mentioned having to set GPU to have a 1360x768 mode.

I might be onto something here because for some reason my monitor keeps defaulting to a 59hz setting. While the GPU does have 59hz (and 60hz) for most resolutions it does not have 59hz option for that res. Maybe this is the issue?

I just tried 20x to try set my monitor to 60hz and try boot the game, or try to get it to hold 60hz but settings keep changing back to 59hz.
I tried to find a way to add a 59hz setting for 1360x768 but no such luck so far.

But I think this is the problem since that mod manual mentioned it would cause this same boot error. So I'll try to concentrate getting this montor refresh rate to stay at 60hz and not move back to 59hz. Or try add 1366x768@ 59hz mode to a radeon 5770/windows or catalyst driver.

E: monitor is a 24" samsung syncmaster 2494hs if anyone else is familiar with it. Drivers used to be just the win7 ones when it was used for a work PC. Catalyst drivers I put on a while back when it retired from work duties were an old one 10.6 - period correct for this GPU I believe - I don't think newer ones help an ancient card with an ancient game anyway, sometimes they just make things worse. I know the reason why this PC was never upgraded to win10 was the GPU was so old win10 didn't work properly and the res got all screwed up. This PC would be a worthwhile system if it was possible to buy a decent GPU at a fair price.

fo3 · 07-15-21, 07:35 AM

Just letting everyone know that I tried the latest catalyst drivers in case it would help and it seems the GPU is so old it didn't even come with drivers for the GPU. IE I deleted all drivers, installed it and still had no driver and only had 800x600 poor graphics until I installed windows one. So updating video software won't work.
So still stuck on the 59hz monitor and limited res options at that hz.

Oh well, I don't expect anything; but letting you all know I think this is the issue.

fo3 · 07-16-21, 05:15 AM

It was the issue. I couldn't get my drivers to add 59hz mode, or the monitor to keep 60hz setting so I tried the custom res utility mentioned in the LSH3 manual and adding a setting for 1360x768@59hz
Now when launching the game it can change the res to that for the boot screen/intro by itself. Then it boots into 1920x1080 mod for the menu/gameplay.

Then when I quit the game it goes back to my usual 1920x1080 desktop. Much nicer than having to mess about with my desktop res manually before launching the game!

If I get a decent GPU that can run win10 then I'll give LSH3 a try, thanks.

Doolar · 07-17-21, 03:17 PM

Hey fo3, I have 4 computers that play SHIII. I had the same issue on one of them. I could PLAY it at higher res but I couldn't LAUNCH it at native desktop 1920x1080. I also had to drop my desktop res to 1024x768 just to launch it, then high res was fine after SHIII started. I tried every trick and remedy but no luck. Then I came across this and it fixed it. It was driving me crazy. 3 computers were perfect, but not the 4th. WHY ? Well here's what worked for me, hope it works for you.

Win10
1. Right Click Desktop
2. Select "Display Settings"
3. Scroll to "Advanced Display Settings" and select it
4. Scroll to "Refresh Rates"
5. Select 60,000hz (I've seen 59.940hz listed, it works)

Win7
1. Right Click Desktop
2. Select "Screen Resolution"
3. Select "Advanced Settings"
4. Select the "Monitor Tab"
5. Select "Screen Refresh Rate"
6. Select 60,000hz (I've seen 59.940hz listed, it works)

I don't have a clue why my Refresh Rate was way off, but it was. I had given up on fixing this "Can Not Initialize ..." issue. The above steps fixed it.
Jerry (Baltimore Md) or Doolar (CA45)

Doolar · 07-17-21, 03:26 PM

Hey you guys are too fast for me. While I was writing my ideas, above and posting it, I see you've beat me to the punch and tried that refresh rate fix. Sorry I couldn't help

JerseySeven · 07-17-21, 08:49 PM

I think everyone's GPU and system are slightly different. For ex. With the DGUI HD mod, I can launch LSH3 or CCom either from 1920x1080 (or from my monitor, TV actually, native res of 3840x2160). It drops back to 1080p on startup, of course.

SH4 with the Fall of the Rising Sun mod doesn't require DGUI to run at 1080p, but it absolutely will NOT start at anything but 1920x1080. Probably the HD mod that FotRSU uses.

07-13-21, 09:42 AM	#1
fo3 Watch Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 23 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	How do you launch the game in higher res? Hi everyone, I used to play this game on my ancient PC about 10 years ago. It had lower res so I had no problems (some sktA 3200 with 9600 radeon.) About 2-3 years ago I tried to revisit this game with a more modern old PC (still 10 year old 1090T with 5770 GPU, just old retired work PCs is how I game) and couldn't get it to launch. Was a shame because I had so many mods and downloaded add ons I wanted to get back to, but I gave up. Revisiting the games now because I found out it didn't launch on this other PC because it can't launch at res above 1024x768 and it's native res was much higher Anyway - I have heaps of mods (ARB, GWX, JSGME, supposed res fixers etc), I can PLAY it at higher res but I can't LAUNCH it at native desktop 1920x1080. Every time I want to play I have to drop my desktop res to 1024x768 just to launch it, then the mods come into play to make it high res just fine. How come I can't launch it without messing up my desktop and dropping res manually before starting the game? Is there a fix? I play mostly old games on my old retired PCs and even red alert will launch and drop res to 640x480, why can't I get a modded SH3 to even launch at my native res without "Can not initialize 3d engine" error? What am I missing? Any hand holding help available here? I've tried so hard and searched and it's all talk about playing at high res (not a problem) but no one has talked about LAUNCHING the game.

07-13-21, 11:25 AM	#2
Aktungbby Gefallen Engel U-666 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: On a tilted, overheated, overpopulated spinning mudball on Collision course with Andromeda Galaxy Posts: 27,853 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	Welcome back! fo3! after a considerable 'silent run'. __________________ "Only two things are infinite; The Universe and human squirrelyness; and I'm not too sure about the Universe"

07-13-21, 12:37 PM	#3
fo3 Watch Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 23 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Thanks, I'll look into that tomorrow night. Can I get away with the widescreen magui for GWX3 or do I need the whole big standalone version? E: I just checked my win doc folder for SH3 and main config was: [VIDEO] Resolution=1024 x 800 DynamicShadows=No FullScreen=Yes Synchronized=No Can I change that res setting too, or just change the sync to yes and leave the res at 1024x800? Last edited by fo3; 07-13-21 at 12:49 PM.

07-15-21, 06:42 AM	#6
fo3 Watch Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 23 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	OK I was looking at the manual for lsh3 since you mentioned it ( I haven't tried it because this is an old PC with win7) and I noticed it talked about the error I get. They mentioned having to set GPU to have a 1360x768 mode. I might be onto something here because for some reason my monitor keeps defaulting to a 59hz setting. While the GPU does have 59hz (and 60hz) for most resolutions it does not have 59hz option for that res. Maybe this is the issue? I just tried 20x to try set my monitor to 60hz and try boot the game, or try to get it to hold 60hz but settings keep changing back to 59hz. I tried to find a way to add a 59hz setting for 1360x768 but no such luck so far. But I think this is the problem since that mod manual mentioned it would cause this same boot error. So I'll try to concentrate getting this montor refresh rate to stay at 60hz and not move back to 59hz. Or try add 1366x768@ 59hz mode to a radeon 5770/windows or catalyst driver. E: monitor is a 24" samsung syncmaster 2494hs if anyone else is familiar with it. Drivers used to be just the win7 ones when it was used for a work PC. Catalyst drivers I put on a while back when it retired from work duties were an old one 10.6 - period correct for this GPU I believe - I don't think newer ones help an ancient card with an ancient game anyway, sometimes they just make things worse. I know the reason why this PC was never upgraded to win10 was the GPU was so old win10 didn't work properly and the res got all screwed up. This PC would be a worthwhile system if it was possible to buy a decent GPU at a fair price. Last edited by fo3; 07-15-21 at 07:10 AM.

07-17-21, 03:17 PM	#9
Doolar Expert Shipsinker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baltimore,Md./ CA45 Posts: 803 Downloads: 360 Uploads: 0	try this Hey fo3, I have 4 computers that play SHIII. I had the same issue on one of them. I could PLAY it at higher res but I couldn't LAUNCH it at native desktop 1920x1080. I also had to drop my desktop res to 1024x768 just to launch it, then high res was fine after SHIII started. I tried every trick and remedy but no luck. Then I came across this and it fixed it. It was driving me crazy. 3 computers were perfect, but not the 4th. WHY ? Well here's what worked for me, hope it works for you. Win10 1. Right Click Desktop 2. Select "Display Settings" 3. Scroll to "Advanced Display Settings" and select it 4. Scroll to "Refresh Rates" 5. Select 60,000hz (I've seen 59.940hz listed, it works) Win7 1. Right Click Desktop 2. Select "Screen Resolution" 3. Select "Advanced Settings" 4. Select the "Monitor Tab" 5. Select "Screen Refresh Rate" 6. Select 60,000hz (I've seen 59.940hz listed, it works) I don't have a clue why my Refresh Rate was way off, but it was. I had given up on fixing this "Can Not Initialize ..." issue. The above steps fixed it. Jerry (Baltimore Md) or Doolar (CA45) __________________ ONEALEX 1.53 ARB / NYGM Enhanced "Steel Coffin" v5 DGUI / CCom12 DGUI / WAC 5.2 DGUI / Toyotagt86 v2.2 ARB / GWX3 DGUI

07-14-21, 10:08 PM	#5
JerseySeven Random# Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: TX Posts: 73 Downloads: 142 Uploads: 0	You might look into DGUI. it's a newer HD mod. I'm using it with LHS3 and CCom, and tested it briefly with GWX. The high res mod typically goes after the supermods and some overwriting is expected. If you are installing with JSGME, then you can always remove it if there is a problem!

07-15-21, 07:35 AM	#7
fo3 Watch Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 23 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Just letting everyone know that I tried the latest catalyst drivers in case it would help and it seems the GPU is so old it didn't even come with drivers for the GPU. IE I deleted all drivers, installed it and still had no driver and only had 800x600 poor graphics until I installed windows one. So updating video software won't work. So still stuck on the 59hz monitor and limited res options at that hz. Oh well, I don't expect anything; but letting you all know I think this is the issue.

07-16-21, 05:15 AM	#8
fo3 Watch Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 23 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	It was the issue. I couldn't get my drivers to add 59hz mode, or the monitor to keep 60hz setting so I tried the custom res utility mentioned in the LSH3 manual and adding a setting for 1360x768@59hz Now when launching the game it can change the res to that for the boot screen/intro by itself. Then it boots into 1920x1080 mod for the menu/gameplay. Then when I quit the game it goes back to my usual 1920x1080 desktop. Much nicer than having to mess about with my desktop res manually before launching the game! If I get a decent GPU that can run win10 then I'll give LSH3 a try, thanks.

07-17-21, 03:26 PM	#10
Doolar Expert Shipsinker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baltimore,Md./ CA45 Posts: 803 Downloads: 360 Uploads: 0	re Hey you guys are too fast for me. While I was writing my ideas, above and posting it, I see you've beat me to the punch and tried that refresh rate fix. Sorry I couldn't help __________________ ONEALEX 1.53 ARB / NYGM Enhanced "Steel Coffin" v5 DGUI / CCom12 DGUI / WAC 5.2 DGUI / Toyotagt86 v2.2 ARB / GWX3 DGUI Last edited by Doolar; 07-17-21 at 03:41 PM.

07-17-21, 08:49 PM	#11
JerseySeven Random# Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: TX Posts: 73 Downloads: 142 Uploads: 0	I think everyone's GPU and system are slightly different. For ex. With the DGUI HD mod, I can launch LSH3 or CCom either from 1920x1080 (or from my monitor, TV actually, native res of 3840x2160). It drops back to 1080p on startup, of course. SH4 with the Fall of the Rising Sun mod doesn't require DGUI to run at 1080p, but it absolutely will NOT start at anything but 1920x1080. Probably the HD mod that FotRSU uses.