D2X-XL Doesn't start

D2X-XL - Descent II update for modern systems with many new features and enhanced graphics. Home Page

Moderators: Grendel, Aus-RED-5

Post Reply
User avatar
Annorax
DBB Cadet
DBB Cadet
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:54 pm
Location: MA, USA

D2X-XL Doesn't start

Post by Annorax »

Hi,

I am running Windows 2000 and I am glad I found this remake for the game. I played it for years quite a while ago but now it doesn't work well on new systems.

I extracted D2X-XL into my \Descent2 folder and the game tries to start (I see a screen), then it goes away. Stderr.txt says:

Fatal signal: Segmentation Fault (SDL Parachute Deployed)

Does anyone know how I can start this? Thank you. :)
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

#1 If you haven't, patch your regular Descent 2 to version 1.2
#2 D2X-XL will not run with the shareware Descent data (I'm saying this just in case)
#3 Update all your drivers (video, audio, chipset) (if you haven't already)
#4 Update your Win2K to the latest service pack (if you haven't already)

If that doesn't help, try to install Descent 2 in another folder (you can keep your first installation), patch it if required, then unzip d2x-xl.zip to that folder, try again.

I have a Win2K system available and no problems with D2X-XL there, so basically it works on Win2K.
User avatar
Annorax
DBB Cadet
DBB Cadet
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:54 pm
Location: MA, USA

Post by Annorax »

I just patched to version 1.2.
I have the full version of Descent2.
I have Windows 2000 w/SP4 and all the updates.

The only thing I can think of is that my video card is pretty bad, a Kyro2 64mb. I played with some .ini file settings but with no luck. This is what I'm using:

-grabmouse
-sound22k
-nocdrom
-gl_trilinear
-gl_alttexmerge
-playermessages
-noredundancy
-nomovies
-gl_reticle 0
-shortpackets
-pps 10
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

I think your video card is the problem.
User avatar
Aus-RED-5
DBB Friend
DBB Friend
Posts: 1604
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2004 7:27 am
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Contact:

Post by Aus-RED-5 »

Have you tryed the Compadibilty options for d2x-xl.exe file?
Image
Sometimes changing that can help. Try different settings and see what happens. :)
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

I don't believe that Kyro card has sufficient OpenGL support.
User avatar
Annorax
DBB Cadet
DBB Cadet
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:54 pm
Location: MA, USA

Post by Annorax »

When I right click on the program, I'm not getting a Compatiblity tab. Is that just for XP?

I figured it was my video card. Is there any .ini options that can lower or remove some advanced graphics settings to make it work for me?
User avatar
BUBBALOU
DBB Benefactor
DBB Benefactor
Posts: 4198
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 1999 2:01 am
Location: Dallas Texas USA
Contact:

Post by BUBBALOU »

User avatar
Annorax
DBB Cadet
DBB Cadet
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:54 pm
Location: MA, USA

Post by Annorax »

I have SP4.

The Compatiblity mode appears on some .exe's but not this one...
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

Hm. I just saw the Kyro2 can run Quake 3, so it should easily run d2x-xl. Do you have the latest drivers?

You can try to add

-use_shaders 0
-render_quality 1

to your d2x.ini.
MD-2389
Defender of the Night
Defender of the Night
Posts: 13477
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Location: Olathe, KS
Contact:

Post by MD-2389 »

Diedel, the kyro2 line easily hits 1000fps in Descent 3. The only thing it lacks for d2x-xl is pixel shader capability. I know because I used to own one. (Hercules 3D Prophet 4500)

http://www.tweak3d.net/reviews/hercules/prophet4500/
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

You can turn off shader usage by d2x-xl (see above post). And d2x-xl finds out whether it has shaders or not.

I found out however that I had introduced a bug that would cause d2x-xl not to find the game data if it wasn't stored in a subfolder of the D2 folder named 'data'.

Bug fixed now (1.5.36).
User avatar
Annorax
DBB Cadet
DBB Cadet
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:54 pm
Location: MA, USA

Post by Annorax »

Thank you all for the help.

It's close. Now I can start up Descent2 and get to the start up screen. I can play with options, but when I try to play, it just closes, right after it shows all the new robots.

I am running windowed, and it also closes when I try to increase the windowed resolution to 800x600. Trying in fullscreen results in the same problems.

My .ini file is:

-grabmouse
-sound22k
-nocdrom
-gl_trilinear
-gl_alttexmerge
-playermessages
-noredundancy
-nomovies
-gl_reticle 0
-shortpackets
-pps 10
-use_shaders 0
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

Tried d2x-xl 1.5.37 on Win2K pro SP4 today, and it worked like a charm (NVidia GF2 MX400). It's really hard to help you now, Annorax, I'm afraid. :(

I wonder whether the problem is your gfx card's OpenGL support, or maybe SDL has troubles with it.
User avatar
Annorax
DBB Cadet
DBB Cadet
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:54 pm
Location: MA, USA

Post by Annorax »

I figured it would not work, most cool remakes don't. :(

Thank you for your help. I plan to get a new computer within a year so I'll make sure to keep watching this project. It's great and the only currently worked on Descent remake project I've found. I'll be around. :)
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

Why don't you get a GF 5200 for your computer? They don't cost much and should work as well as the Kyro. That's the card I have in my WinXP pro machine.
User avatar
Annorax
DBB Cadet
DBB Cadet
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:54 pm
Location: MA, USA

Post by Annorax »

Hmm.. that is something to think about. Let me go visit Newegg and see what they have.
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

Faster GF FX 5200 250/400 MHz, 128 MB for less than 40 USD ... :roll:
Post Reply