User:Garrett/Sandbox

Vista

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:

• Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2)
• Platform Update for Windows Vista

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.

• Direct3D Retained Mode DLL (d3drm.dll)
• Microsoft DirectX for Visual Basic (dx7vb.dll)
• Microsoft DirectX for Visual Basic (dx8vb.dll)
• Microsoft DirectInput Mapper (dimap.dll and diactfrm.dll)

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.

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. 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.

7

First steps

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

• Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
• Platform update for Windows 7 SP1

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. 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.

8

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Inherited behaviour

Windows 7 behaviour is inherited except for the following:

• Rainbow color problems in older games does not occur (a visually similar issue with 16-bit color Direct3D games still occurs).

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

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.

For DOS games use the DOSBox MIXER. For native Windows games MIDI out setter will work in some situations.

8.1

First steps

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

• Windows 8.1 Update
• All update rollups

Inherited behaviour

All Windows 8 behaviour is inherited.

Mouse problems

• Mouse input is incorrectly scaled: set the application compatibility to Disable display scaling on high DPI settings.
• Mouse pointer stutters or freezes: Use the fixit tool or make a compatibility package with NoDTToDITMouseBatch.
• Problems using keyboard and touchpad simultaneously: see Button clicks for internal touchpads and pointing sticks are not responsive while or shortly after the keyboard is used.

10

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. A fix was released with build 10547, but it still fails to completely address the issue. A workaround has been included since builds 10565 and 10586, but stopped to work for some users in 10586.3 (driver issue?).
Build 14316 broke DTS again, fixed in build 14342.

Driver problems

Nvidia Optimus systems always run legacy DirectX games on integrated graphics

This behaviour affects DirectX 8 and earlier.

Windows reinstalls incorrect driver

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