video RAM w/Commandos3

[Federico]

Hi. Gonna ask a probably stupid question, thanks in advance for being
patient.

I have a Toshiba laptop almost 3 years old. Never had any video problems
with any software until now.
Win XP Pro SP2. Bios, video driver, Windows, directx are updated. Dxdiag
tests went OK.

I installed Commandos 3 and tried to play it. Everything went well until
after a couple of stages I started getting a totally black scenery. What I
mean by this is that I could perfectly see people, doors and everything that
moved... but buildings, walls, etc dont appear.

The problem probably is that my video card doesn't meet the requirements
(16Mb vs 32Mb). Question is.. is there a way to work around this or should i
desist on playing this game at this computer?
Problem is I dont have another one at home Upgrading the video card or
processor isn't an alternative (or possible at all?).. I'll probably be
upgrading the whole thing soon.

In case it helps, I'm pasting part of dxdiag results and the game
specifications below.
Thank you.
Federico




Game minimum Specifications:
- Pentium® III 700 Mhz (or Athlon(tm) equivalent)
CELERON... HMM
- 128 MB on Windows 98SE, 256 on Windows 2000/XP
OK
- 32 MB DirectX 9 compatible 3D Graphics card (nVidia GeForce or Ati Radeon
Chipset) 16MB?



------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 4/26/2005, 11:28:48
Machine name: TOSH
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack
2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: Spanish)
System Manufacturer: TOSHIBA
System Model: Satellite 1400
BIOS: v1.30
Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(TM) CPU 1200MHz
Memory: 240MB RAM
Page File: 336MB used, 250MB available
Windows Dir: D:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found. DirectDraw test results: All tests
were successful. Direct3D 7 test results: All tests were successful.
Direct3D 8 test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 9 test results:
All tests were successful.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Trident Video Accelerator CyberBlade XP Ai1
v6.4022-016L.22ICD
Manufacturer: Trident
Chip type: Trident CyberBlade XP Ai1
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1023&DEV_8820&SUBSYS_00011179&REV_82
Display Memory: 16.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Res:
Driver Name: tridxp.dll
Driver Version: 5.01.2600.0142 (English)
DDI Version: 8
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 1/29/2002 15:24:54, 571904 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: tridxpm.sys
Mini VDD Date: 1/29/2002 15:27:02, 226560 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EC3-CB60-11CF-4772-292A2CC2C835}
Vendor ID: 0x1023
Device ID: 0x8820
SubSys ID: 0x00011179
Revision ID: 0x0082
Revision ID: 0x0082
Video Accel:
Deinterlace Caps: n/a
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: All tests were successful.
D3D7 Test Result: All tests were successful.
D3D8 Test Result: All tests were successful.
D3D9 Test Result: All tests were successful.

 

[The March Hare [MVP]]

I have a Toshiba laptop almost 3 years old. Never had any video problems
with any software until now.
Win XP Pro SP2. Bios, video driver, Windows, directx are updated. Dxdiag
tests went OK.

I installed Commandos 3 and tried to play it. Everything went well until
after a couple of stages I started getting a totally black scenery. What I
mean by this is that I could perfectly see people, doors and everything that
moved... but buildings, walls, etc dont appear.

The problem probably is that my video card doesn't meet the requirements
(16Mb vs 32Mb). Question is.. is there a way to work around this or should i
desist on playing this game at this computer?

You cannot upgrade the video ram or replace the graphics card on virtually
all laptops. Time to upgrade the whole thing

Follow up set to: microsoft.public.windowsxp.video

 

[Jerry]

Is your video RAM separate from main memory or shared? If it is shared you
could increase the amount allocated to video - check the BIOS.

 

[The March Hare [MVP]]

Is your video RAM separate from main memory or shared? If it is shared you
could increase the amount allocated to video - check the BIOS.

Good point Jerry.

From the OP:

Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(TM) CPU 1200MHz
Memory: 240MB RAM

So it looks like it is using shared memory (240 + 16 = 256).

Followup set to: microsoft.public.windowsxp.video

 

[Federico]

Thanks Jerry. Checked the BIOS but no luck.

FROM THE USER GUIDE:
Graphics/Video
- 14.1"TFT active-matrix display; Internal display supports up to 16M colors
at 1024 x 768
- Trident CyberALADDiN-T graphics controller; 16MB external UMA video memory
- 3D Graphics Accelerator, AGP bus support; 2D Graphics Accelerator, BitBLT
hardware, Hardware cursor, Direct Drawsupport
- External Color Support/Refresh rate:
640 x 480; 60/75/85Hz Non-Interlaced @16M
800 x 600; 60/75/85Hz Non-Interlaced @16M