Chief-- this is the error message that one of the players at MysterManor received-- and she ran CCleaner- then loaded in Safe mode and then was able to play the game normally.(regular startup) have you tried this?

Chief, if running it from the auto play doesn't work -- try this

Go into the game folder 'C:\Program Files\The Adventure Company\Dead Reefs" ---> Double click on the "Launcher.exe" file and see if that helps.

Also in that folder there is a "Gamelog.log" open it to see what the error is. Maybe we can adjust something the the engigine.ini file, which is the game's config file.

inferno

Thanks Winfrey.
But I do not know what CCleaner is????

Chief

Will re-install to check your suggestion Inferno

Chief,
Just an FYI- here is a link to CCleaner-- many use it to clean up leftover files-- take a peek


ccleaner

Thanks Winfrey. Is it similar to Lavasoft Ad-Aware????

Inferno, Luncher.exe does not work.

For what I can read in Gamelog:

Default render engine version 1

Unable init render driver to resolution 1280x1024



I do not have those numbers for the screen resolution.

Chief


Winfrey, did what you suggested with Cleaner and Safe Mode and can now play the game. It took about twice the time to install. Thanks a million.

Chief- CCleaner cleans the registry - first I click on issues- then i do the cleaner-when doing cleaner which takes off- temp files- missing dlls - logs etc.I click on options and skeep the cookies I don't want deleted.

Winfrey, just edited my last post to say the game is OK. Thanks.

Chief

good to hear-- my game is in the mail- I for sure will load it in safe mode.

What is your Default Display set to?

inferno

I would be curious to know what your screen resolution is also, Chief. But I'm really glad to hear that the solution I suggested to one of our Mystery Manor members who finally got it to work, did the trick for you. I would still like to see if it would work after doing a clean boot also.

Draclvr, my screen resolution is 1024x768.

Inferno, is the Default Display the same thing? Sometime my technical translation is not update.

Chief

The "default" resolution is the screen resolution your computer is using when you turn it on. Or perhaps Inferno wants to know what "default" resolution the game is using (could be different from your desktop). You can check that in the in-game settings.

As long as it is working for you --- that is the most important thing right now. But --- You might have to adjust your default
Display to 800x600 first and then change it in the Game Settings program to the same thing.

I would leave well enough alone for now --- untill another glitch arises

inferno

For whatever help it is worth, I did what you suggested with Dead Reefs and installed the game through Safe-mode and Administrator account and then it played beautifully in Normal-mode in Win XP. Mind you, it installed fine in Normal-mode but would not execute - just a black screen no matter how many times I tried.

Why does installing in Safe-mode/Admin make a difference? Now I am just curious what the thinking is behind this strange method of installation.

Thanks,
Linda

Safe mode doesn't load background programs that could interfere with the install. Being logged in as an Admin allows you to install in locations which are blocked by security restrictions when using ordinary user accounts.

Thank you Jenny100.

It did make a difference and I was just curious as to the why of it.

Linda

Yeah. Somebody 'SPLAIN this to me too!!

Jenny has already explained it. You can find details on "safe mode" by typing "what is safe mode" in your google search and click "search".

I know what Safe Mode is and have checked out Jenny's wonderful explanation, but what is the difference when you go to actually play the game? The game I have which I always have to install in Safe Mode get installed in exactly the same place. This game will install just fine in Normal startup, but won't play unless I install in Safe Mode. Yes, the software that is interferring gets bypassed during the install, but since I'm PLAYING from the same location, how does that work?

*shhh... genuis building at work here...*

Since we do not know what software is causing the problem, I guess it's hard to say why it works by installing in safe mode. This is the first game I've heard of that needs to be installed in safe mode, because it won't play by installing the regular way, but WILL install the regular way. There has to be something different about the way the game is installed (or what components are (or are not) installed).

The only time I've ever seen it necessary to use safe mode to install a game was when it would not install the normal way (disc would not spin up, or setup.exe would not work).

Yup, me too. Oh, well. Sometimes there are things it's best not to ask why, only to know it works and then go play the game. Thanks, Robert!

But-- on some machines you can install the regular way--I did just to see if I could-- and I am happily playing the game.

I also had no problems installing it in normal mode ---
It may have something to do with processor speed/configuration versus what back round programs are running at the time and how your system handles them.

inferno

I have the same problem in running the game. When I try to launch it I got the message DeadReefs.exe nada.

What I am supposed to do. I have buy an original copy of the game, I have payed for it, but it does not run!!!

Whay I have to change everything in my computer in order to be able to run it. In the system requirements it says that it runs in windows XP, which is a lie.

I think next time is better for the producers to test a game before selling it.

All computer software comes with a warning that it is strongly advised that you quit all programs running in the background. So to avoid any possible conflicts or corruption and all the hassle of making sure that everything is closed I load all software in Safe Mode just because it is easier to me and there is no question if anything is still running.