Monitor shuts down...

[PurpleScotch]

Hello guys, I previously posted in a thread about this problem in the M2TW technical help , but no one answered, and the OP of that thread didn't get to fix his problem too. So I decided to create a thread myself, and see if I can gather any help.

Anyways, whenever I start a battle in M2TW, it would load as usual. However, after the loading is done, my monitor gives me a message "Input not supported", and then shuts down. When this happens, I'm forced to restart the PC to go back to the desktop.

It happens every single time I start a battle in M2TW. Other games, however, work, such as Flight Simulator X, Rome: Total War and Battlefield 2.

I posted this in 'The Basement' because I think this is more of a monitor/system error, than something wrong with M2TW. But I'm no expert, so I hope someone here knows what is wrong and can help me fix it.

Thanks for reading.

[TemplarLord]

Give us some info about the monitor brand, and the more important parts of hardware; such as the CPU, GPU, amount of RAM, MBO.

Try installing a driver for your monitor, I know it's a longshot, but it might fix your problem.

[Freddie]

Are you running M2TW with any mods? I complete uninstall and reinstall of the game would probably fix the problem.

I'm 90% sure your monitor is working fine. If you have another monitor (or a friend) has one to spare you could always test it on another screen but I'd bet my last penny the something would happen.

[PurpleScotch]

@TemplarLord:
Ok, here's some info:

-Monitor: acer AL1511
-Graphics Card: ATi RADEON 9550
-CPU: Pentium 4 2.66GHz
-RAM: 1 GB

Yea, I know, my system is very old. I am getting a new one in a few months. But the thing is, I played M2TW on the exact same PC and monitor just before this started happening, then, all of the sudden, I can't play battles in M2TW anymore. Hope you can help...

@Freddie: I will try to repair my installation. Is that enough? Or do I need to uninstall and then install it again?

[Freddie]

Ok, here's some info:

-Monitor: acer AL1511
-Graphics Card: ATi RADEON 9550
-CPU: Pentium 4 2.66GHz
-RAM: 1 GB

Yea, I know, my system is very old. I am getting a new one in a few months. But the thing is, I played M2TW on the exact same PC and monitor just before this started happening, then, all of the sudden, I can't play battles in M2TW anymore. Hope you can help...

I see your an Artifex so asking you if your game is modded is like asking the Pope if he's Catholic.

If you a backup of M2TW stored on your HArd drive try running that, failing that uninstall the game (be sure to remove all the folders manually but backup your saved games first).

[PurpleScotch]

I see your an Artifex so asking you if your game is modded is like asking the Pope if he's Catholic.

If you a backup of M2TW stored on your HArd drive try running that, failing that uninstall the game (be sure to remove all the folders manually but backup your saved games first).

I didn't ask if my game is modded, I just suck at monitor problems, it has nothing to do with the ability to create mods and models/skins for the game. Either that, or you probably mean that you shouldn't ask me if my game is modded because I'm an Artifex.

Anyway, I'll try reinstalling and/or repairing my installation and see if I get any more replies until then.

Thanks for trying to help, though.

[Freddie]

I didn't ask if my game is modded, I just suck at monitor problems, it has nothing to do with the ability to create mods and models/skins for the game.

Anyway, I'll try reinstalling and/or repairing my installation and see if I get any more replies until then.

Thanks for trying to help, though.

You don't seem to understand what it I’m try to say to you.

This has nothing to do with your monitor. The fact you monitor losses it’s connection when a battle is about to start is symptom of the real problem not the cause.

This has happened to me a few times before when playing Total War games (as well as other games), the screen goes black and the standby light comes on. The monitor is working fine, it’s not displaying a picture because either the video card has overheated and died or because the game is corrupted.

If you play M2TW with moded files the chances of the game becoming corrupted are high. That's why I asked if your M2TW installation was modded or not, to check how likely the game has become corrupted. This has nothing to do with a broken monitor trust me.

[PurpleScotch]

Yes, my game is modded, but all the mods have their own subfolders. But my installation could still be corrupted, I think.

EDIT: Currently reinstalling...

[PurpleScotch]

Damn, I reinstalled it, and deleted all my unpacked files (more than 6 GB of space) but I still get the problem.

Just when the battle is done loading, the monitor would shut down saying that there is no signal, then it would display a message saying "Input not supported", as I mentioned above.

[TemplarLord]

Monitor turns black after loading screen

Try Epicus's suggestion, maybe it'll fix it

[PurpleScotch]

Didn't work.

[Freddie]

Didn't work.

Have you updated you video card drivers recently?

[Ummagumma]

What resolution/refresh rate does your monitor support? It sounds similar to 'out of range' signal errors - if the game is spitting out it's visuals at a resolution/refresh rate beyond what the monitor supports then the display will switch to a error screen to prevent damage. It might not be, but it's worth looking into. Check the "medieval2.preference.cfg" file, there are values under [video] for "battle_resolution" and "campaign_resolution", check they fit your screen.
I'm not sure exactly what the "autodetect = 0" entry does, but if all else fails turn it to 1 and see what happens. It seems to have the right name for detecting the correct output for your display...

[PurpleScotch]

Have you updated you video card drivers recently?

Last time was before summer even started. I use Omega drivers.

What resolution/refresh rate does your monitor support? It sounds similar to 'out of range' signal errors - if the game is spitting out it's visuals at a resolution/refresh rate beyond what the monitor supports then the display will switch to a error screen to prevent damage. It might not be, but it's worth looking into. Check the "medieval2.preference.cfg" file, there are values under [video] for "battle_resolution" and "campaign_resolution", check they fit your screen.
I'm not sure exactly what the "autodetect = 0" entry does, but if all else fails turn it to 1 and see what happens. It seems to have the right name for detecting the correct output for your display...

My monitor supports 75 Hz max. I am using 60 Hz currently.

Just checked my .cfg file. Both battle and campaign resolutions are just like they where when my M2TW used to work, that is 1024x768 (the lowest resolution M2TW supports).

I'll try the auto-detect thing and edit my post with the news *crosses fingers*.

[Wheelchair]

What resolution/refresh rate does your monitor support? It sounds similar to 'out of range' signal errors - if the game is spitting out it's visuals at a resolution/refresh rate beyond what the monitor supports then the display will switch to a error screen to prevent damage. It might not be, but it's worth looking into. Check the "medieval2.preference.cfg" file, there are values under [video] for "battle_resolution" and "campaign_resolution", check they fit your screen.
I'm not sure exactly what the "autodetect = 0" entry does, but if all else fails turn it to 1 and see what happens. It seems to have the right name for detecting the correct output for your display...

I believe this can also be done in-game in video options, it MAY be your problem.

[Ummagumma]

I believe this can also be done in-game in video options, it MAY be your problem.

Oh yeah.. for whatever reason I thought he said he got it after the game loaded rather than a battle.. my bad. (Long day...)

[PurpleScotch]

Tried it. Didn't work. I think it detects your system specs and changes the graphics quality to suit them.

Any more ideas I could try?

[Ummagumma]

No issues with AA/AF?

Anything in the system.log.txt?

[PurpleScotch]

I don't think so, the log file didn't even appear.

This is very strange, all other games work perfectly, except M2TW.

[Freddie]

I don't think so, the log file didn't even appear.

This is very strange, all other games work perfectly, except M2TW.

Try setting all the options to minimum and see if you can get it work.

Does this problem occur on any battle you try to start or is it a particular battle on the Campaign map?