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User:Garrett/Sandbox

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< User:Garrett
Revision as of 01:27, 4 August 2016 by Garrett (talk | contribs) (initial all)

Vista

This page is a stub: it lacks content and/or basic article components. You can help to expand this page by adding an image or additional information.
Behaviour on this page applies to both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows; for behaviour specific to 64-bit versions see 64-bit Windows.

First steps

Ensure you have installed the latest operating system updates, particularly the following:

Inherited behaviour

Some Windows XP behaviour is inherited (details incomplete).

Dependency problems

DLL is missing from your computer

The following gaming-related DLLs are not included with Windows Vista. Download them manually to fix the error.

Sound problems

Can't enable 3D sound

DirectSound3D functionality has been removed. See Restoring Legacy Audio Effects (DirectSound hardware path).

WMA Source Filter music not working

The Windows Media Source Filter has been removed, so games using this method have no music. Affected games include Test Drive 6 and Ford Racing 2.

FMV/audio codec issues

N and KN editions of Windows lack multimedia codecs expected by some games; see Get Windows Media Player.

Can't change MIDI mapper

For DOS games use the DOSBox MIXER. For native Windows games use Putzlowitsch's Vista MIDI Mapper Control Panel.

DRM problems

StarForce Protection driver blocked due to incompatibility

StarForce versions below 3.04.062 will never work; 3.04.062 and higher work (may need driver update with SFUPDATE).[1]

SafeDisc games not working

Retail games using SafeDisc protection do not work due to SECDRV.SYS support being disabled by MS15-097. Any versions sold digitally are not affected.

The game may show an error message ("Access Denied - Please login with administrator privileges and try again" or similar) or simply not work.

Some games have SafeDisc removed in a later patch (refer to the game's page for details). Protected games can be played with the workaround covered on MS15-097.


References

Other problems

Can't change bindings or bindings lost on game restart

Microsoft DirectInput Mapper is not included with Vista due to IDirectInput8::ConfigureDevices being deprecated.[1] Download it manually to fix the error.

"Feature not included" or "Help not supported" when choosing help option

WinHelp (.hlp) files are not supported by default. Install WinHlp32.exe.


References

7

This page is a stub: it lacks content and/or basic article components. You can help to expand this page by adding an image or additional information.

First steps

Ensure you have installed the latest operating system updates, particularly the following:

Inherited behaviour

Most Windows Vista behaviour is inherited (details incomplete).

Games use incorrect refresh rate

This occurs when running some games on displays that report TV-compatible timings.[1] If the correct refresh rate cannot be chosen in the game's settings set the desktop to the intended refresh rate and use borderless fullscreen windowed or windowed mode.

DRM problems

StarForce Protection driver blocked due to incompatibility

StarForce versions below 3.07.018 will never work; 3.07.018 and higher work (may need driver update with SFUPDATE).[2]

Tages Protection driver is blocked due to compatibility issues

Use TagesSetup to install the latest version.[3]


References

8

This page is a stub: it lacks content and/or basic article components. You can help to expand this page by adding an image or additional information.
This page may require cleanup to meet basic quality standards. You can help by modifying the article. The discussion page may contain useful suggestions.

Inherited behaviour

Windows 7 behaviour is inherited except for the following:

Display problems

Window border visible in fullscreen mode

Visible border example

Some games have a window border visible in fullscreen mode on Windows 8. The result may vary from the example on the right (e.g. the border area might be solid white instead). To fix install the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (Windows 10, earlier versions) and apply the ForceSimpleWindow compatibility fix.

(Ideally provide a ready-made shim for the affected game).

Low frame rate in fullscreen mode

Make compatibility fix with DXPrimaryEmulation -DisableMaxWindowedMode parameter.[1]

"This app cannot open - The screen resolution is too low for this app to run"

Windows apps require a minimum desktop resolution of 1024x768. Desktop applications do not have this limitation.[2]

Dependency problems

DirectPlay games do not work or prompt for DirectPlay feature/DLL

DirectPlay is disabled by default due to this feature being deprecated.
Instructions

DRM problems

StarForce Protection driver blocked due to incompatibility

StarForce versions below 4.5 will never work; 4.5 and higher work (may need driver update with SFUPDATE).[3]

Other problems

Can't set Windows NT 4.0 compatibility mode

This mode is no longer listed; use the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (Windows 10, earlier versions) to make fixes using this mode.

Can't change MIDI mapper

MIDI support has been further reduced in Windows 8.[4]
For DOS games use the DOSBox MIXER. For native Windows games MIDI out setter will work in some situations.[5]


References

8.1

This page is a stub: it lacks content and/or basic article components. You can help to expand this page by adding an image or additional information.

First steps

Ensure you have installed the latest operating system updates, particularly the following:

Inherited behaviour

All Windows 8 behaviour is inherited.

Mouse problems

DRM problems

StarForce Protection driver blocked due to incompatibility

StarForce versions below 4.05.007.005 will never work; 4.05.007.005 and higher work (may need driver update with SFUPDATE).[3]


References

10

This page is a stub: it lacks content and/or basic article components. You can help to expand this page by adding an image or additional information.

Inherited behaviour

Most Windows 8.1 behaviour is inherited (details incomplete).

Audio problems

Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect don't work

Encoding APO (Audio Processing Objects) are broken.[1] A fix was released with build 10547[2], but it still fails to completely address the issue.[3] A workaround has been included since builds 10565 and 10586[4][5], but stopped to work for some users in 10586.3[6] (driver issue?[7]).
Build 14316 broke DTS again[8], fixed in build 14342[9][10].

Driver problems

Nvidia Optimus systems always run legacy DirectX games on integrated graphics

This behaviour affects DirectX 8 and earlier.[11]

Windows reinstalls incorrect driver

See How to temporarily prevent a Windows or driver update from reinstalling in Windows 10.

DRM problems

SafeDisc games not working

Retail games using SafeDisc protection do not work on Windows 10 due to SECDRV.SYS support being discontinued.[12] Any versions sold digitally are not affected.

The game may show an error message ("Access Denied - Please login with administrator privileges and try again" or similar) or simply not work.

Some games have SafeDisc removed in a later patch (refer to the game's page for details).

SecuROM Error 8016 on Intel Skylake CPUs

Error message: "A required security module cannot be activated. This program cannot be executed (8016)."

Update the BIOS (if available).[13] Some games have been patched to fix this issue.[14]


References