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Q325978: Train Simulator: Error Message About Graphics Hardware

Article: Q325978
Product(s): Microsoft Home Games
Version(s): 1.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kberrmsg kbimu
Last Modified: 05-AUG-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

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

SYMPTOMS
========

When you start Train Simulator, you receive an error message similar to the
following:

  Microsoft Train Simulator has detected that your graphics hardware may be
  lacking essential features that it needs to run. Please ensure that you have
  the latest drivers from your graphics card manufacturer's web site.

-or-

When you start the Train Simulator Troubleshooter, you see this message:

  Train Simulator requires hardware acceleration.

CAUSE
=====

This behavior may occur when one or more of the following conditions are true:

- Your video card is not installed properly.

- Your computer does not meet the minimum three-dimensional (3-D) hardware
  requirements to run Train Simulator.

- Microsoft DirectDraw acceleration is turned off (disabled).

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this problem, use the following methods in the order in which they
are presented.

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following
steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product
documentation to complete these steps.

Method 1: Verify That Your Video Adapter Meets the Minimum Requirements:

For additional information about the system requirements to run Train Simulator,
click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge
Base:

  Q299762 Train Simulator: Minimum System Requirements

Use the Microsoft DirectX Diagnostic Tool to determine how much video memory is
installed on your video adapter. To do this, follow these steps.

NOTE: If your video acceleration is not set to Full, the diagnostic tool may
report less memory than is actually present on your video adapter. See the "More
Information" section of this article for steps to make sure that your video
acceleration is set correctly before you run this test.

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

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

3. Click the Display tab or Display 1 tab.

4. Under Device, note how much video memory is listed next to Approx. Total
  Memory.

5. Click Exit.

If less than 4 megabytes (MB) of video memory is installed on your video adapter,
install additional video memory, or install a video adapter with more video
memory.

If this does not resolve the problem, go to method 2.

Method 2: Install the Latest Video Driver for Your Video Adapter:

Contact your video adapter manufacturer for information about how to obtain and
install the latest video driver for your video adapter. For additional
information about how to determine which driver version you have installed,
click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge
Base:

  Q159487 Games: How to Determine the Version of Installed Video Driver

For information about how to contact your video adapter manufacturer, click the
appropriate article number in the following list to view the article 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

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical
support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not
guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by
companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty,
implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these
products.

If this does not resolve the issue, go to method 3.

Method 3: Reprofile Your Hardware and Drivers:

After you update your video adapter, run the Train Simulator Troubleshooter to
reprofile your hardware and drivers. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Games, point to Train
  Simulator, and then click Train Simulator Troubleshooter.

2. Click Change Video Driver, and then click OK.

3. Click Play Train Simulator.

If this does not resolve the problem, go to method 4.

Method 4: Install the Latest Version of Microsoft DirectX:

To download and install the latest version of DirectX, visit the following
Microsoft Web site:

  Microsoft DirectX
  http://www.microsoft.com/directx/default.asp

For additional information about how to download and install the latest version
of DirectX, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q179113 How to Download and Install DirectX

If this does not resolve the issue, go to method 5.

Method 5: Turn On (Enable) Hardware Acceleration for Microsoft DirectDraw:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

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

3. Click the Display tab or Display 1 tab.

4. Under DirectX Features, verify that acceleration is turned on (enabled) next
  to DirectDraw Acceleration.

5. If DirectDraw Acceleration is turned off (disabled), click Enable.

6. Click Exit.

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

How to Set Graphics Acceleration to Full Acceleration
-----------------------------------------------------

NOTE: You must use the Full acceleration setting (or one "notch" lower) when you
test video adapter memory.

In Microsoft Windows 98:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click System.

3. Click the Performance tab, and then click Graphics.

4. Drag the Hardware Acceleration slider to the far right (Full acceleration).

  NOTE: If full acceleration causes problems on your computer, reduce
  acceleration by dragging the slider one notch to the left of Full.

5. Click OK, and then click Close.

6. Restart your computer if you are prompted to do so.

In Microsoft Windows XP:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click Display, click Settings, and then click the Advanced tab.

3. Click the Troubleshoot tab, and then drag the Hardware Acceleration slider to
  the far right (Full acceleration).

  NOTE: If full acceleration causes problems on your computer, reduce
  acceleration by dragging the slider one notch to the left of Full.

4. Click OK, and then click Close.

5. Restart your computer if you are prompted to do so.

REFERENCES
==========

For additional information about 3-D hardware issues, click the article number
below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q191660 Err Msg: Could Not Find Any 3D Acceleration Hardware...

Additional query words: msgame

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

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

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