KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q302604: Train Simulator: Train Simulator Doesn’t Start After Install

Article: Q302604
Product(s): Microsoft Home Games
Version(s): 1.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbimu
Last Modified: 07-MAY-2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Train Simulator, version 1.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

After you install Microsoft Train Simulator, one of the following behaviors may
occur when you attempt to start the program:

- Train Simulator stops responding (hangs).

  -or-

- Train Simulator starts, but a black screen appears.

  -or-

- Train Simulator does not start.

CAUSE
=====

This behavior can occur if one or both of the following conditions are true:

- Your display adapter does not have enough memory.

  -or-

- Your display adapter does not support DirectX 7.0a.

  -or-

- Your system's video card is based on the following nVidia chipsets which are
  using drivers based on the Nvidia 3.6X or earlier (Detonator 1) reference
  drivers, and the drivers need updating:

  TnT
  TnT 1
  TnT2 M64
  TnT2
  TnT2 Ultra
  GeForce 256
  GeForce 256 Pro
  GeForce 256 Ultra


This behavior is known to occur with the following display adapters:

  ATI 264VT4 chipset-based display adapters:

  ATI RAGE IIC 1MB
  ATI RAGE IIC 2MB
  ATI RAGE IIC 4MB

  MPACT! (Chromatic Research)

  Chromatic Research Inc., who made the Mpact! Series of chips, is out of
  business. Please contact your system manufacturer for more information.

  NeoMagic MagicMedia chipset-based display adapters:

  Number Nine Imagine Series 2

  Trident TVGA series display adapters:

  TVGA 8900, 9000, 9200CXr, 9470

  Trident TGUI series display adapters:

  TGUI 9420DGI, 9400CXi, 9440, 9680

  Trident ProVidia 9685 display adapters

  Trident 3DImage display adapters:

  3DImage 9750, 9850

  S3 Trio 3D 2X chipset-based display adapters

  S3 Virge DX/GX PCI 375/380

  SIS 5597/5598 chipset-based display adapters

  SiS 530



RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this issue, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Obtain Updated Display Drivers
----------------------------------------

Contact your display adapter manufacturer to obtain display drivers that support
DirectX 7.0a. For additional information about how to contact your display
adapter manufacturer, click the article numbers below to view the articles in
the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

  Q60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

  Q60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

If you have determined that you have an nVidia chipset on your system, you can
obtain updated drivers at the following website:

  http://www.nvidia.com/view.asp?PAGE=windows9x

Method 2: Upgrade Your Display Adapter
--------------------------------------

Upgrade your display adapter to an adapter that meets the requirements of
Microsoft Train Simulator. To do this, contact your display adapter
manufacturer.

Please see method 1 for a listing of vendors.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The third-party contact information included in this article is provided to help
you find the technical support you need. This contact information is subject to
change without notice. Microsoft in no way guarantees the accuracy of this
third-party contact information.

The third-party products discussed in this article are manufactured by vendors
independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding
these products' performance or reliability.

Microsoft Train Simulator requires a DirectX 7.0a-compatible 3-D accelerator
display adapter with 4 MB of RAM.

For additional information about the minimum system requirements that are needed
to play Train Simulator, click the article number below to view the article in
the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q299762 Train Simulator: Minimum System Requirements

Additional information about your display adapter can be obtained by using the
DirectX Diagnostic Tool. To view your display adapter information by using the
DirectX Diagnostic Tool, follow these steps:

NOTE: DirectX must be installed on the computer.

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type "Dxdiag" (without the quotation marks), and then click
  OK.

3. In the DirectX Diagnostic Tool dialog box, click the Display tab.

4. Under Device, note the device information. Under Drivers, note the driver
  information.

5. Click the DirectX Drivers tab. Note the DirectX driver Version, and Date
  information.

To download the latest version of DirectX, browse to the following Microsoft Web
site:

  http://www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads

Additional query words: msgame TrainSim Simulator Train graphics video black screen hang startup card cards

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbimu 
Technology        : kbHomeProdSearch kbGamesSearch kbTrainSim
Version           : :1.0
Issue type        : kbprb

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

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.