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Author Topic:   NT "Blue Death" Warning

Hydro posted 05-03-99 07:21 PM ET
Warning to NT users: According to EA Tech Support, SMAC "wears out" the emulated drivers on NT (whatever that means). Once this happens, SMAC will not work on that NT system again.
SMAC worked fine on my system (with choppy sound)for three weeks. Last Wednesday I got the dreaded "Blue Death" screen. Now SMAC will not work, even through system resources are abundant and regardless of attempts at uninstall/reinstall. I contacted EA/Fraxis and was politely told that I was lucky it worked on NT as long as it did, and that I can only fix the problem by upgrading or changing my operating system to something that supports DirectX (which I can't do for business reasons). So, I am officially in mourning, since I LOVED SMAC! At least I will get more sleep now.
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS posted 05-04-99 10:38 AM ET
Uh, needless to say, that is utter fantasy. I assure you, you contacted EA. What is the current problem? What happens when you launch the game?
jkm
firaxis games
Hydro posted 05-04-99 07:58 PM ET
Jim,
Thanks for the reply.
Launch Problem: When I launch I get the Fraxis screen, a blue screen with an hourglass, another Fraxis screen, and then it hangs. I have let it run for 20 minutes and there is no change. When I check Program Manager it states the program is not responding. At this point I End Task, since the SMAC is using 100% of the CPU resources (normal is 5%) and none of my other applications will work.
On a hunch I launched the game without the CD (which I left back in Chicago since I thought the game was toast). I have the standard install on my laptop. I got a message saying I needed the CD (no surprize), pressed OK, and the game promptly launched! Very strange. Is the lesson that I don't need the CD? Or is the CD causing the hang? Am I missing something?
At least I can get the game going, even if I don't know why!
Urban Ranger posted 05-05-99 01:41 AM ET
I have SP 4 with NT 4 on my computer and it works.
Another way I can think of, to get around the problem, is to put Windows 95/98 and NT dual boot on your computer.
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS posted 05-05-99 11:36 AM ET
It's locking on the movie, which uses directdraw. You have a couple options. You can disable the movies in the a/v prefs (or set disableopeningmovie to 1 in the alpha centauri.ini file). Another option is to see your you videocard's manufacturer has an update NT driver.
jkm
firaxis games
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Author	Topic: NT "Blue Death" Warning
Hydro	posted 05-03-99 07:21 PM ET Warning to NT users: According to EA Tech Support, SMAC "wears out" the emulated drivers on NT (whatever that means). Once this happens, SMAC will not work on that NT system again. SMAC worked fine on my system (with choppy sound)for three weeks. Last Wednesday I got the dreaded "Blue Death" screen. Now SMAC will not work, even through system resources are abundant and regardless of attempts at uninstall/reinstall. I contacted EA/Fraxis and was politely told that I was lucky it worked on NT as long as it did, and that I can only fix the problem by upgrading or changing my operating system to something that supports DirectX (which I can't do for business reasons). So, I am officially in mourning, since I LOVED SMAC! At least I will get more sleep now.
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS	posted 05-04-99 10:38 AM ET Uh, needless to say, that is utter fantasy. I assure you, you contacted EA. What is the current problem? What happens when you launch the game? jkm firaxis games
Hydro	posted 05-04-99 07:58 PM ET Jim, Thanks for the reply. Launch Problem: When I launch I get the Fraxis screen, a blue screen with an hourglass, another Fraxis screen, and then it hangs. I have let it run for 20 minutes and there is no change. When I check Program Manager it states the program is not responding. At this point I End Task, since the SMAC is using 100% of the CPU resources (normal is 5%) and none of my other applications will work. On a hunch I launched the game without the CD (which I left back in Chicago since I thought the game was toast). I have the standard install on my laptop. I got a message saying I needed the CD (no surprize), pressed OK, and the game promptly launched! Very strange. Is the lesson that I don't need the CD? Or is the CD causing the hang? Am I missing something? At least I can get the game going, even if I don't know why!
Urban Ranger	posted 05-05-99 01:41 AM ET I have SP 4 with NT 4 on my computer and it works. Another way I can think of, to get around the problem, is to put Windows 95/98 and NT dual boot on your computer.
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS	posted 05-05-99 11:36 AM ET It's locking on the movie, which uses directdraw. You have a couple options. You can disable the movies in the a/v prefs (or set disableopeningmovie to 1 in the alpha centauri.ini file). Another option is to see your you videocard's manufacturer has an update NT driver. jkm firaxis games