The problem: When I run NWN, after the intro videos play without issue, I get the dreaded black menu screen with only the hardware cursor rendering properly. The music plays in the background and I hear button's being pressed when I click randomly around the screen. I've tried searching through forums old and new; on the new forums, I only saw about 4 threads on this topic. Most of the similar threads are for ATI or nVidia/nForce users who were encountering a black crash screen. Mine isn't crashing; in fact, I have to use the Task Manager to close the program, b/c I can't figure out how to click around the invisible menu to exit.
Next, the requisite system information; then, the troubleshooting steps I've tried so far. This is a Toshiba A205-S5864 laptop with integrated Intel graphics -- please, you don't have to convince it's not a real video card. I updated this sytem from Vista to Windows 7 last year.
Game Version: NWN 1 Diamond Ed. (at least SoU and HotU), 1.69 critical build
Game Language: English
Retail or Digital: GOG Digital Download
Processor Manufacturer: Intel
Processor Type: Core 2 Duo T5550
Processor Speed: 1.83 GHz, Dual-Core
Operating System / Service Pack: Windows 7 Pro SP 1, 64-bit
System RAM: 3 GB
Video Card Manufacturer: Intel on-board integrated graphics
Video Card Model: Mobile Intel 965 Express Chipset (GM965
--
http://www.intel.com...rector_count=1
)
Video Card RAM: approximately 384 MB max (from system memory)
Video Card Driver Version: 8.15.10.1930 (dated 9/23/2009 -- supposedly current according to Intel's driver update utility; Toshiba never posted a Win 7 64-bit driver)
Sound Card Manufacturer: Realtek
Sound Card Model: Realtek High Definition Audio (on-board)
Sound Card Driver Version: 6.0.1.5904 (dated 7/28/2009 -- supposedly current per Toshiba's website and Windows Update)
CD/ROM Type: DVD R/W drive (not relevant for GOG digital download)
I just finished IWD2 on the same machine, continuing a saved game from 5+ years ago, and I decided that I wanted to play NWN.
- I downloaded NWN Diamond Edition from GOG.com earlier this week
- Used the GOG Downloader to mitigate download issues
- Installed to C:\\NWN\\
- I pulled down the 1.69 Critical Build compatibile with Diamond Ed. and that installed w/o issue
- I updated the Compatibility file properties of nwnmain.exe for all users to: (a) run in Win XP SP3 mode (also tried SP2), (
disable visual themes, © disable desktop composition, and (d) run as administrator - I tried to update video and sound drivers; only the sound driver appeared to be out of date
- I've made updates using the nwconfig.exe program as follows:
- I've tried 800x600 res as well as my laptop's native 1280x800
- I've tried compatibility mode for textures as well as 64+ MB
- I've tried disabling sound and running sound in safe mode
- I've changed my Windows display res to 800x600 to prevent a resolution change going into the game's 800x600
- I started editing the nwn.ini, nwplayer.ini, and nwconfig.ini files as follows:
- nwn.ini: Changed ".\\" to "C:\\NWN\\" for the directories under [ALIAS] and reverted
- nwn.ini: Changed SafeMovie=0 to SafeMovie=1
- nwn.ini: Added "Disable Intro Movies=1" at the very bottom under [VIDEO OPTIONS], although this does not seem to work.
- nwn.ini: Video options all minimized through config utility
- nwplayer.ini: Tried CPU Affinity at 0, 1, -1, -2. Currently set to 0.
- Tried adding a desktop shortcut and running nwmain.exe +TestNewModule "modulename", which doesn't help and also prevents my sound. I just skips the intro movies.
Nothing so far has worked. While it's possible that no one has been able to get this to run successfully on a Windows 7 laptop with Intel graphics, I'm a little surprised. Things I haven't tried:
- Installing on my old WinXP-equipped desktop (to see whether it works) and then porting that installation to the Win7 laptop
- Reverting my laptop to Vista and retrying to install
- Looking for older Intel graphics drivers and installing those (although there doesn't appear to be any older drivers for Windows 7 64-bit)
- Looking for older DirectX drivers (not sure any exist for the integrated graphics chipset)
Please let me know if you have any other ideas I should try. I really want to be able to run this on my laptop so I can sit on the couch w/ my wife while she's watching TV (b/c then I get to play PC games unabated).
Lastly, here is a report of system information from nwconfig.exe:
-----------------------------------------
| nwconfig.ini |
-----------------------------------------
[Version]
Game=1.69
[OS]
OS=Windows XP v5.1 build 2600 Service Pack 2
Result=2
Skip=0
[Processor]
Type=Intel® Core™2 Duo CPU T5550 @ 1.83GHz
Vendor=GenuineIntel
NumCPUs=255
Speed=1828
Result=2
Skip=0
[RAM]
RAM=3063
Result=2
Skip=0
[Video Card]
Type=RDPDD Chained DD
VRAM=512
Desktop Resolution=1280x800
Desktop Color Depth=32
Result=2
Skip=0
[Open GL]
OpenGL Installed=1
OpenGL Version=2.0.0 - Build 8.14.10.1930
ATI Driver=
nVidia Driver=
Result=2
Skip=0
[Direct X]
DirectX Installed=1
DirectX Version=DirectX (9.0+) (4.09.00.0904)
DirectX Build=4.09.00.0904
Result=2
Skip=0
[Misc]
Last Run=6/10/2011 9:08:49 AM
Scanning=0
[Registry]
Location=C:\\NWN\\
Path=C:\\NWN\\
LastInstalledVersion=3
StartMenu=C:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\GOG.com\\Neverwinter Nights Diamond Edition
Flavour=Retail
InstallType=2
Latest Installed XP=2
Latest Installed XP Name=Neverwinter Nights: Diamond Edition
GUID={7C503E58-B2BC-11D5-978A-0050BA84F5F7}
Language=0
Version=1.69
[EXE Versions]
Main=8109
Server=8109
Toolset=1.3.36.4
Updater=1.24
Config=2.0.3.6
Launcher=1.0.6.4
HakPak=1.0.2.0
[Drive Info]
C:\\ [FIXED]= 180170724 K Free
D:\\ [CD ROM]= (Unknown)
-----------------------------------------
| nwn.ini |
-----------------------------------------
[Alias]
HD0=.\\
CD0=.\\
OVERRIDE=.\\override
TEMP=.\\temp
MODULES=.\\modules
LOGS=.\\logs
LOCALVAULT=.\\localvault
DMVAULT=.\\dmvault
SERVERVAULT=.\\servervault
TEMPCLIENT=.\\tempclient
SAVES=.\\saves
CURRENTGAME=.\\currentgame
HAK=.\\hak
PATCH=.\\patch
NWMFiles=.\\nwm
AMBIENT=.\\ambient
MOVIES=.\\movies
MUSIC=.\\music
[Sound Options]
Music Volume=0.75
Voice Volume=0.75
SoundFX Volume=0.75
DisableSound=0
3D Provider=
[Display Options]
Width=800
Height=600
BitsPerPixels=32
RefreshRate=60
TexturePack=0
SafeMovie=1
FullScreen=1
[Config]
FirstRun=0
Connection=0
NWLoaderDisplayTime=1
[Video Options]
VideoQualitySetting=0
Enable HardwareMouse=1
NumDynamicLights=3
AntiAliasing Mode=0
Enable VSync=0
ShinyWater=0
NumShadowCastingLights=1
EnableVisualEffectsHigh=0
Enable Truform=0
Enable AnisotropicFiltering=0
CreatureWindSetting=0
EnableGrass=0
EnableFastGrass=1
Grass Far Render Distance=900.0
EnableSkyboxes=0
EnableEnvironmentShadows=0
CreatureShadowDetail=0
Disable Intro Movies=1
-----------------------------------------
| nwnplayer.ini |
-----------------------------------------
[Game Options]
Memory Level=1
Memory Access=1
TooltipDelay uSec=100000
Enable FloatyTextFeedback=1
Hide SecondStoryTiles=0
Single Player ItemLevelRestrictions=0
Single Player Enforce Legal Characters=0
Client CPU Affinity=0
ClientEntireChatWindowLogging=0
LogMyEmoteUsage=0
In-game Text Swear Filter=0
Visible Cloaks=1
Heartbeat Logging=0
Difficulty Level=2
Log Model Errors=0
Death Logging=0
MouseoverFeedback=1
TextBubbleMode=1
[Control Options]
Zoom Speed=3.000000
CameraTurnSpeed=1.000000
Enable ScreenEdgeCameraTurn=1
CameraMode=1
[Profile]
ShowMessageOfTheDay=1
Client Port=5120
ShowDDMessage=0
ShowPregenChars=1
JournalPage=0
[Server Options]
One Party Only=1
Game Port=5121
Max Players=6
Server Name=Server
GameSpy Enabled=1
Game Type=0
Disable AutoSave=0
CD Banned Behavior=0
Suppress Base Servervault=0
Disallow Shouting=0
ShowDMJoinedMessage=1
Saving Throw Automatic Failure On 1=1
BackupSavedChars=0
Validate Spells=1
Examine CR On Creatures=1
Examine Effects On Creatures=1
Max Hit Points=0
Hide Hit Points Gained=0
Restore Spell Uses On Login=0
Always Reset Encounter Spawns=0
Master Server Authentication Required For Player Login=0
Account validation required during Master Server down times=0
2DA Cache Size=10
MaxCharLevel=40
[Trap Colors]
FriendlyColor=0,255,0
HostileColor=255,0,0
[Script Options]
Enable Profiling=0
Enable Logging=0
[Banned Ips]
0=
[Banned Players]
0=
[Banned CD Keys]
0=
-----------------------------------------
| autoexec.bat |
-----------------------------------------
Could not locate file
-----------------------------------------
| config.sys |
-----------------------------------------
Could not locate file
