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Geek Culture / weird screen updating issue while playing game

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 16:20 Edited at: 25th Aug 2013 16:21
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Just started playing one of my favourite games and something very weird happened to the in game screens. When I click certain buttons a new game window appears giving me options like things to purchase etc. At one point a few moments ago nothing happened - then I noticed that as I moved the mouse the desired game window appeared gradually - just as if I was cleaning a very dirty window.

Here's a typical screenshot:



I guess it'll clear when I reboot or restart the game but I've never seen a glitch like that before.



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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 17:26
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Update: problem has survived a reboot. Now what could cause that? The only thing that's changed is that I changed the default GFX card this morning - it was originally the integrated graphics thing which I've changed to the "high performance NVidia card". Perhaps that's the problem. I'll change it back and see if that fixes the issue - it's obviously something to do with screen refreshing and is reminiscent of a problem with the current DBPro editor.



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Chris Tate
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 17:51
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Wow, long time no play. Besides the nice music and artwork, wasn't that the worst Heroes release and it is your favorite? Well at least I found the AI to be really stupid. I too liked playing with the Order / Academy.

The first thing that springs to my mind is GPU temperature; since the CPU has not detected any exceptions, it must be a hardware related fault.

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 18:31
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Quote: "and it is your favorite"


No.

Quote: "one of my favourite games"




I prefer HMM3 - but you can build more interesting maps and game logic with the HMM4 editor.

I've yet to play HMM5. (I've got a copy - just got distracted by HMM4 because it came bundled with it and had loads of fun building maps. )

Quote: " it must be a hardware related fault"


Seems highly likely now. I've reverted to the integrated graphics option and the problem has gone away. So either I've got a damaged nvidia GFX card (I've suspected that for a while) or I need a driver update or there's something else wrong somewhere . I'll check - but there always seems something more interesting to do.



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MrValentine
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 18:48
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G80 series? Would help if you stated which drivers you were using the WDDM drivers are known to cause glitches... Also which model is the gpu...

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 19:41
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The integrated one (if I've understood it correctly) is described as Intel(R) HD Graphics 3000 and the "high quality" NVidia one is NVidia GeForce GT 630M 1GB (although it doesn't seem to explicitly show up anywhere in Control Panels, DXdiag, etc ).

This laptop uses the NVidia Optimus graphics system which is supposed to extend battery life by giving you a choice of GFX processor but since I use it on mains power about 99% of the time that's not really an issue.

If I right click on an exe file there's an option to choose which GFX processor to use. I've not noticed a difference with most programs (the present post being an exception). However, some of my shader demos run many times faster using the "high performance" processor. That's why I changed the default - but now it seems to be broken with certain applications. It's possible I need to reboot after changing the default - I'll try that and report back.



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MrValentine
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 19:59
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did you install the latest drivers from www.nvidia.com?

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 20:25 Edited at: 25th Aug 2013 20:25
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I'm not sure I know how to do that. This is what I see when I look at devices:



I can't see any way of updating the driver - and I don't know which of the many files I'm supposed to be looking at.

Windows only seems to want to update the integrated Intel thing and the Update Driver button on the NVidia properties panel is greyed out. I'm at a loss.

And, no, a reboot didn't change anything. Also, the integrated graphics option won't work correctly with this particular game until I make it the default (which I'm about to do).

At least the majority of my shader demos work faster with the NVidia card. I guess I should be grateful for that.



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Seditious
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 20:39 Edited at: 25th Aug 2013 20:43
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I always download my nvidia drivers from the official site:

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
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swissolo
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 20:40
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you can look here
which should lead you here

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 20:47
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That wasn't what I meant. I know how to find them on the NVidia site - my problem is always how to install them cleanly since I usually have problems after I manually install a driver.

The last time I installed some drivers on my PC I ended up having to manually edit the registry which was a pain. However, I vaguely recall updating something on this laptop a while back which did actually fix something. Perhaps I should try again. Can't recall now whether that was the Intel one or the NVidia one.



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Seditious
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 20:51
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Have you tried "option 2" on the link I posted? It automatically detects which driver you need, and installs it for you.
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swissolo
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 20:53
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Quote: " my problem is always how to install them cleanly since I usually have problems after I manually install a driver. "

Their installers usually have a 'clean install' check box which removes all prerequisites for you.

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Chris Tate
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 20:55
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I also recommend their system monitor program which at one point saved my graphics card from burning out at 98 degrees C. I did not realize that my old PC case's fan wasn't working properly and it was one of the hottest days of the year; by the UKs standards.

The issue caused frequent graphic glitches in Counter Strike GO.

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mr Handy
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 21:23 Edited at: 25th Aug 2013 21:26
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@Green Gandalf
Dude, do you really expect this old game to run safely on windows 7/8 + modern hardware? All games that were made before Vista have multiple various problems based on pure random sometimes, sadly. You are too positive, dude! It's like, hey, the Kennedy was just injured! You should build a powerful PC (also to play upcoming games on max) and download free VMware Player (interface is simple like press x to win) and put an XP/98 on it.

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 21:57
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Quote: "Dude, do you really expect this old game to run safely on windows 7/8 + modern hardware? "


Yes.

Quote: "Their installers usually have a 'clean install' check box which removes all prerequisites for you."


That's what I used - and I had to contact NVidia's Help desk when things went wrong. In the end they asked me how I sorted it out.

Quote: "Have you tried "option 2" on the link I posted? It automatically detects which driver you need, and installs it for you."


Yes.

Anyway, I've now downloaded the NVidia drivers, created a restore point and now I'm about to have a go at installing it.

I'll be back.



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swissolo
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 23:00
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Quote: "That's what I used - and I had to contact NVidia's Help desk when things went wrong. In the end they asked me how I sorted it out"

I figured you knew what you were doing but your initial questions seemed to imply otherwise The driver installers are always supposed to work but if they don't I've never had any issues myself

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mr Handy
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 23:03
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Quote: "Yes."

Well then, try your luck with the "Ex Machina". I bet you will have problems even on onboard graphics mode.

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 25th Aug 2013 23:22 Edited at: 25th Aug 2013 23:23
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When a game is advertised as being W7 compatible I expect it to be. Period. I don't believe the problem here is the game since it works with both cards when the default card is set as integrated graphics. The problem only arises when I make the NVidia card the default - and persists whichever card I choose and disappears when I reset the default.

Updating the drivers hasn't cured the problem. My guess is that it's the software that manages the two cards, i.e. NVidia Optimus itself. I'll see if I can contact the manufacturer or find updates to that.

Quote: "I figured you knew what you were doing"


I wouldn't go that far.



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MrValentine
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Posted: 26th Aug 2013 01:17 Edited at: 30th Aug 2013 11:35
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Disable Desktop Composition in Advanced properties, hope you know how to do this...

Which OS are you using again?

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 26th Aug 2013 01:43
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Quote: "Disable Desktop Composition is Advanced properties, hope you know how to do this"


Don't even know what it is.

Quote: "Which OS are you using again?"


W7.



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MrValentine
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Posted: 26th Aug 2013 03:20
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you can find it in advanced system settings when you open Computer on the start bar I think

go to Computer
right click anywhere, and select Properties and then on the left select advanced system settings...

Click settings in the performance box...

And then somewhere on that list you should find desktop composition, make it so that it is disabled...

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 26th Aug 2013 12:36 Edited at: 26th Aug 2013 13:17
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OK. Done that. No change. Do I need to reboot after making the change? What does it do exactly?

Edit Actually there is a change. Windows won't now let me change the processor by right-clicking the exe:



Let's see if enabling desktop composition restores things ... (I've looked it up by the way and am not really any the wiser).

Edit2 Nope. Things are screwed now. Perhaps a reboot will do the trick? [This is why I don't usually mess with driver updates etc. You fiddle around for hours trying different settings of various things, and the net result is usually a loss of something that worked before with the original problem still intact. Oh well. ]

Edit3 This is getting weirder. I can still change the GFX processor when I run my DBPro exes but not for this particular game. I guess I'll just have to run it with integrated graphics set as the default. A pain since I would prefer the NVidia GFX to be the default.



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MrValentine
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Posted: 26th Aug 2013 13:33
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you could always try my ultimate list of doom procedures...

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mr Handy
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Posted: 26th Aug 2013 14:48 Edited at: 26th Aug 2013 15:06
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Quote: "When a game is advertised as being W7 compatible I expect it to be. Period."

The game was made back in 2002, latest patch was back in 2003-2005, you have been deceived by proofless advertise.
Here is a sample: http://heroescommunity.com/viewthread.php3?TID=33690

P.S. on the other hand, advertise told you the "truth": you are able to launch the game on W7, and it will even run.
Some games are just refusing to launch on certain OS, like old DOS games.

P.P.S. I just asked my friend to install HOMM4 (russian ver. with 2 addons and latest patch) on his Win 7: same bug happened with NVidia and Intel GMA works correct.

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 26th Aug 2013 15:20
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That's interesting. Thanks.

Quote: "you have been deceived by proofless advertise"


Not really deceived - it DOES run and plays fine on W7. As you've noted it's only certain cards that can't play it correctly.



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mr Handy
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Posted: 26th Aug 2013 15:41
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That's very odd, Nvidia has very good compatibility. Alas, the winner is always Intel GMA (but slowest perfomance). In my opinion Windows 7 is the cause. Can you somehow test your card and the game on XP?

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 26th Aug 2013 16:17
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Not easily. The only XP I have now is on my old broken laptop - and I don't have a source disc with XP. I did have once but gave it to someone (moral: never get rid of ANYTHING).

What system specs does your friend have?



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mr Handy
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Posted: 26th Aug 2013 17:09
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He has a Toshiba notebook, Win 7 HP 64, Core i5, GeForce GT 630M

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 26th Aug 2013 23:20
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Ah! Same NVidia card. That's useful to know. I might ask NVidia about it. My laptop is a Medion.



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MrValentine
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Posted: 29th Aug 2013 07:52
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Did you not use the latest drivers?

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 29th Aug 2013 12:21
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Quote: "Did you not use the latest drivers? "


Yes - and that was when things got completely unplayable under any option. I've now reverted to the old driver and can now play the game as long as I don't try to make the NVidia card the default card. I'm busy for the next few days but after that I'll have another go at installing the latest drivers (and before someone asks, yes I used the clean install option ) as it's possible something else got changed along the way. For example, I've no idea why I started getting that message about not having privileges to make the change. That has thankfully stopped since I reverted driver.

So, overall I'm a bit annoyed and baffled.



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MrValentine
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Posted: 29th Aug 2013 12:40
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I meant to say in my last reply, use a 3-5 prior driver to the latest, I found the latest drivers to be buggy...

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 29th Aug 2013 13:43 Edited at: 29th Aug 2013 13:56
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Quote: "use a 3-5 prior driver to the latest"


What do you mean? Do you mean 3-5 updates ago? Not sure how to find those - but then I haven't looked for old drivers yet.

Edit Strange. I can't seem to locate the driver files that I downloaded a few days ago. Also, the driver page you gave me earlier doesn't seem to want to identify my GPU. Odd.



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mr Handy
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Posted: 29th Aug 2013 13:49
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Friend of mine says that old drivers would not help. It was good idea only if you have ATI card, because they literally broke something after 9.2 version (see Kane&Lynch ATI XP issue)

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 29th Aug 2013 16:30 Edited at: 29th Aug 2013 16:31
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@MrValentine

The driver you mentioned a few posts back isn't the most recent and I can't now identify the one I installed (). Here's a list of recent drivers suitable for the GT 630m card. Which is the one you'd recommend?





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MrValentine
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Posted: 29th Aug 2013 18:06
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Try 320~

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 29th Aug 2013 23:50
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OK. I'll have another go - and I'll try to keep a copy this time. No idea what went wrong before.

I'll go for the 320.49 WHQL one.



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MrValentine
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Posted: 30th Aug 2013 11:34 Edited at: 30th Aug 2013 11:36
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Quote: "I'll go for the 320.49 WHQL one."


Try one a little earlier than that if it fails to fix the issue...

Also do you know how to change the settings to use Application specifications in the NV Control Panel? where it says Performance-Balanced-Quality on a slider? [ Right click Desktop and the Green button option ]


EDIT

Another thing looking at your first post image... What resolution are you trying to run the game at?

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 31st Aug 2013 02:24 Edited at: 31st Aug 2013 02:24
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Quote: "What resolution are you trying to run the game at?"






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MrValentine
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Posted: 31st Aug 2013 06:25
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Try running it without full screen set to on with the NV card...

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 1st Sep 2013 01:39
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OK, I'll try that - but not tonight. Got an early start tomorrow taking my grandson for an archery session. So if you don't hear from me you'll know why.



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MrValentine
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Posted: 1st Sep 2013 06:27
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Quote: "archery session."




Have Fun!!!

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 1st Sep 2013 15:00
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Quote: "Have Fun!!!"


We did - I came third behind my grandson.



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MrValentine
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Posted: 1st Sep 2013 15:48 Edited at: 1st Sep 2013 15:49
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Hahahaha, good!

mind you I now have Windows 7 dual booted and I have a couple of the M&M games lying around somewhere think 5 - 6 maybe 7 - 8 not sure anymore lol, bought them and never played...

Is it 5 that the issue lies with? I could show you how to disable Desktop Composition if you wanted

EDIT

LOL ok 4 haha

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 1st Sep 2013 21:17
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Quote: "I could show you how to disable Desktop Composition if you wanted"



See first sentence of this post

Yes, it's 4 - and it's the latest version that comes boxed with 1-3 and 5 (including a nice map editor for HOMM4 with useful additional features).

About to try HOMM5 (at my grandson's insistence) so expect a new crop of idiot queries from me.



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Phaelax
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Posted: 2nd Sep 2013 01:15
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Any chance your laptop is connected to an additional monitor or tv?

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