The display card is an Intel. I can post up the specifications if it would be helpful. I was kind of figuring it might be a driver issue, but everything seems fairly up to date.

That's for when you have an issue with installing a game, Pamela. Like when the drive won't spin up when you insert the disc. She's already installed it.



Jenny, you don't need to use safe anyway. That's not going to help with performance and crashing issues. Anyway, your computer probably has a different BIOS, which would mean F8 is the wrong key, it would probabloy be ENTER.

Just re-install the game the normal way.

I haven't received my copy of this game as yet, but I'm following up on all the "woes" folks are expressing in the hope that my experience does not follow.

One suggestion I did see on another website was to use the "launcher.exe" executable in the game file to get the game to launch. That might be worth a try JennyP if you've already installed the game as Robert suggests.

That means you have Integrated Graphics. It's not actually a video card. I don't know if it's your problem, but Integrated Graphics chips are very slow compared to a good dedicated video card.

You should always post your specs if you're having performance issues with a game.

Good advice. I may have to go out and get one if that's the case, because the effect on it with this game is truly horrid. Kind of like walking through jutting pieces of cardboard.

If you need recommendations, post the brand and model number of your computer. Choosing a video card can be very confusing if you don't know much about them. It's also very important to know what power supply your computer has.

**edit**

And some computers don't have an expansion slot for adding a card. You'd need to look up the specs to see what your options are.

**edit again**

I just read the bit about Vista. Have you tried running the game in compatibility mode for XP? Right click on the game's icon, select properties->compatibility

Thanks for the assistance thus far, Robert. Hopefully this will be helpful on the recommendation front:

Dell Inc. Dell DXC061
Windows Vista Home Premium (build 6000)
2.13 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
2048 kilobyte secondary memory cache
320.03 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
238.51 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
TSSTcorp DVD+-RW TS-L632D [CD-ROM drive]
Dell USB Mass Storage USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 1
Generic Flash HS-CF USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 2
Generic Flash HS-COMBO USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 3
ST3320620AS [Hard drive] (320.07 GB) -- drive 0
Intel(R) 82801HR/HH/HO SATA AHCI Controller
2038 Megabytes Installed Memory
Intel(R) G965 Express Chipset Family [Display adapter] (2x)



============================================================


<I just read the bit about Vista. Have you tried running the game in compatibility mode for XP? Right click on the game's icon, select properties->compatibility>

I had not. I shall try that now.

=========================================================

Interesting. That doesn't seem to fix the problem, but it may make it slightly better. During the opening sequence/early gameplay anyway. I'll have to mess with it some more; thanks for that tip.

One of the people I was working with on another forum finally gave up and installed in Safe Mode and it is now working perfectly. Her system was completely up to snuff and more, but nothing worked. I had also suggested installing after a Clean Boot, but don't know if that would work as only Safe Mode has worked so far. The other person had to take her computer to the shop, so hopefully Safe Mode or Clean Boot will work for her when she gets it back. I sure think it's worth a shot, JennyP!

I suspect a clean boot would have also resolved the issue. Safe mode loads the OS with the bare minimum it needs to operate. If that fixed the problem for them, then I suspect there was a program or process that was causing a conflict.

Coffey, I'll look up your specs and post back in a few minutes. I'll just make an edit in this post.

Also, please use the edit button when you have an after thought or need to add something IF nobody has posted after you. They don't want you to stack your posts

**edit**

I'm going to need the proper model number of your computer (for example, my computer is a Dell Dimension 4700). I thought perhaps "DXC061" was your service tag number, but that doesn't work when I try to look it up.

If you don't know your model number, go to this site and have it scan your system, then post the URL to the scan results page in your next post. Or look on your case for your "service tag" number.
http://www.crucial.com

Robert:

Thanks for the help. I'm running an XPS 210. I also am attaching the URL, although that appears to have encountered some issues also:

http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/viewscanbyid.aspx?id=0AE1733531D926C3&tabid=&pagename=

Thanks again.

DXC061 seems to be a BIOS version. ***link***

Link for XPS 210 ***here***

It's one of those little bitty computers

I'm looking into it, Coffey. That unit has the slim "small form factor" design. It mentions a "Half Height" PCI-E slot in the specs. It may limit your options quite severely. Those type of cases are not a good choice for gaming. You may have to use a low profile card, which would be much slower than a convientional 16X PCI-E card. It also only has a 275W power supply.

I'm not ceratin of anything yet. I have no experience with that slim design form factor. I'm researching it. I'll get back to you asap.

Hi- all- Just came back--Robert- I understand but- what I heard and understood- was and this was with someone who had installed the game saw the intro and kept getting an error message-
The game was uninstalled- CCleaner was run- game was reinstalled in SafeMode and then played normally. and It worked--

So.... they don't have to play the game in safe mode? Are you saying they just installed in SM, then played the game with a normal boot?

Yes---
Hi Robert- Haven't talked to you in awhile

I see. That's good to know, Pamela. I've only seen safe mode used for installation issues in the past. Anyway, who cares as long as it works, right?

Yeah, it has been a while. Been making any more gameplay vids? I'm working on another one, but it's kinda sat there for the past couple of weeks.

Thanks for your help on this Robert. Next time I'm going to come find you first thing BEFORE investing in a new computer!

You're welcome I'm still waiting to hear back from some folks, Coffey. As for your purchase choice....live and learn. What's done is done (is that enough cliches?)

***edit***

Here ya go, Coffey. This 7600GS is a low profile card. It says "300W power supply" in the system requiremnets, but your Dell 275W power supply will handle it just fine. It'll give your system a huge boost in gaming performance over your integrated graphics.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122020

I actually didn't know they made a 7600 series card in low profile. Seems I learned something new on this one. Thank you for the challenge

Thanks Robert. I took your advice and picked up the card, so we'll see in a few days when it gets here if it resolves the Dead Reefs issue. I figure I should do it anyway since clearly this won't be the only game I'll have trouble with.

I notice that one of the people who reviewed the card on the Newegg site said


I wonder if you need that bracket kit. Robert, what do you think?

Started to try the clean boot thing but got a horrible access denied message which inferered my PC would never run again. I have reticked & unticked & now my PC is screaming for a restart.
Please has anyone any ideas on how I can get the game to run. It is currently uninstalled.
I am getting increasingly nervous of fiddling with vital startup programs.
EDIT I just found a useful thing called system restore. The clean boot thing dismantled all my anti virus & firewall programmes.
Now giving up for the morning & going to the gym.

Clean boot will turn off a lot of background applications, including antivirus and firewall. Sometimes these can interfere with installing or playing a game. If you ever try Clean Boot again, maybe you can keep a record of what you uncheck so you can put it back the way it was. XP does sometimes squawk when you uncheck things in msconfig. If you can't remember what you unchecked, System restore will get you back the way you were at your last restore point.

Assuming you both installed and played using Clean Boot, it doesn't sound like the problem is a conflict with background programs. Which once again leaves driver version as a potential suspect.

I don't think so, Jenny. I saw that too. The 7600GS isn't even on that product's compatibility list. I don't know why the guy needed that kit.


However, if Coffey does need it, here it is. ($7)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814998301


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There are instructions for how to restore your computer from a clean boot state ***HERE****

It didn't "dismantle" anything. It simply kept it all from starting up on it's own when you boot your computer.

Here is an online search utlility you can use to see what the items in your msconfig start-up list do.
http://www.castlecops.com/StartupList.html

Did you ever manage to get your computer to boot in safe mode? When your computer gets to the first slash screen while it's booting, there should be something that tells you which key to press to enter the Boot Menu. You have to press that key before the splash screen goes away for it to work. Try installing the game in safe mode as Winfrey suggested.

I'll try the safe mode again, thanks Robert. There was something that flashes up on the scrrn for setup, F12 I think. I'll try that. Game uninstalled & I have still not got it running.

-========================================================


please do not laugh. I had the brilliant idea of asking my PC help bit to tell me how to get to safe mode. The message said "When you are asked which operating system you want to use. press F8.
The message does not come up. At all. Tried the two F keys that did come up, F2 for setup & F12 for boot menu. Neither of them mention safe mode & the setup menu was scary.
So my own PC does not know what its doing.
Will start saving for functional PC that does what I would like it to & plays games !
Any ideas or shall I just put Dead Reefs to one side until I can get another PC ( at least 6 months, prob more )

When you see that screen that has F2 for setup and F12 for boot menu, press F8 repeatedly. It sounds like you are just not timing it right. You have to press the key while that splash is there or it won't work. If you can't get f8 to work, I don't know what else to tell you.

**edit**

Just to be clear...your ARE pressing the "F8" key and NOT The letter f on the keyboard...then the number 8....right?