Failed to Initialize 3D Engine [1.12]

Gratuitous Forum Support
1

GSB stopped working on my notebook with "Failed to Initialize 3D engine …\src\Game.cpp 296

I’m running Windows 7 with an ATI Radeon HD 3200.

debug.txt

[code]----DEBUG FILE----
Windows Vista detected
GSB Debug File. App version Beta 1.11
Desktop resolution is 1920 x 1200
Initialising Direct3D
Initialising global vertex buffer
creating render targets
success in initialising 3D
Initialising Direct Input
Finished Initialising Direct Input
Initialising Sound Engine
Initialised Sound System with 512 channels

Finished Initialising Sound Engine
ParseInstruction [LaunchTutorial(DESIGNPICKER)]
SimScript::Execute:FunctionName [LaunchTutorial]
ParseInstruction [Highlight(DESIGN_PICKER)]
SimScript::Execute:FunctionName [Highlight]
ParseInstruction [CancelHighlight()]
SimScript::Execute:FunctionName [CancelHighlight]
ParseInstruction [LaunchTutorial(DRAGICONS)]
SimScript::Execute:FunctionName [LaunchTutorial]
ParseInstruction [Highlight(shipicon_tutorial cruiser)]
SimScript::Execute:FunctionName [Highlight]
ParseInstruction [BlockButtons()]
SimScript::Execute:FunctionName [BlockButtons]
ParseInstruction [AllowButton(shipicon_tutorial cruiser)]
SimScript::Execute:FunctionName [AllowButton]
ParseInstruction [WaitFor(DRAGSHIP)]
SimScript::Execute:FunctionName [WaitFor]
ParseInstruction [AllowButtons()]
SimScript::Execute:FunctionName [AllowButtons]
ParseInstruction [CancelHighlight()]
SimScript::Execute:FunctionName [CancelHighlight]
ParseInstruction [WaitFor(CLOSEBHAVIORPICKER)]
SimScript::Execute:FunctionName [WaitFor]
gratuitousspacebattles/server/getsurvivalscores.php?&username=&id=&map=survival1
releasing D3D engine
D3D released
END DEBUG—
[/code]

drawdebug.txt

Initialising 3D Engine Driver : nvd3dum.dll Description : NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS DeviceName : \\.\DISPLAY1 About to Create 3D Device with width: 1920 and height : 1200 Checking For Shader Support NumSimultaneousRTs:4 hal_caps.PixelShaderVersion >= D3DPS_VERSION(2, 0) Finished initialising 3D Engine Initialising Render target of 512 X 512 rt_ship rt_ship Initialising Render target of 2048 X 2048 rt_offscreen1 rt_offscreen1 Initialising Render target of 2048 X 2048 rt_offscreen2 rt_offscreen2 titlescreen2048.bmp cwfont20.dds zekton16.dds box_background.jpg textbutton.dds textbutton_h.dds cursor.dds dialog_titlebar.dds menu_backdrop.jpg gui_scrollup.dds gui_scrollup_h.dds gui_scrolldown.dds gui_scrolldown_h.dds bg1_icon.jpg achieve_empty.dds border_depth.dds debris.dds contrails.dds escapepod.dds escapepodengines.dds shield_impact.dds client_interlace.dds dialog_client.dds 19px_highlight.dds 19px_highlight_black.dds smokeclouds.dds runninglight.dds shield_collapse.dds tooltip.dds square_box.dds square_box_h.dds square_box_brown.dds Federation Tiger Cruiser.dds Federation Falcon Fighter.dds Federation Fox Frigate.dds newshipbutton.dds bg1.jpg strip_fill.jpg strip_fill_red.jpg module_locked.dds deployment_range.dds Alliance Alligator Cruiser.dds Alliance Swordfish Frigate.dds Alliance Cobra Frigate.dds module_crew.dds fed_turret_miss_v2.dds fed_turret_bull_v2.dds module_shield_v3.dds module_engine_3.dds module_armour_v9.dds module_powergen_v5.dds fed_turret_las_v1.dds gui_dragbutton.dds gui_sliderbar.dds fillbar.dds module_armour_v7.dds module_armour_v1.dds module_shield_v5.dds plasma_turret_v3.dds module_crew2.dds federation_turret_pd_v2.dds button_close.dds button_close_h.dds progress_bar.jpg loadscreen_javelin.bmp star.dds turret_blast_yellow.dds beam_red_atlas.dds turrets_federation.dds shield_blast.dds shield_scroll.dds shield_blast2.dds normal_shield.dds armourglow.dds Federation Fox Frigate_damaged.dds engineglow.dds particles.dds engine_colors.dds Federation Fox Frigate_hulk.dds breakup_alpha.dds beam_blue_atlas.dds plasma.dds Federation Tiger Cruiser_damaged.dds Federation Tiger Cruiser_hulk.dds tractor_beam.dds tractor_beam_alpha.dds beam_green_atlas.dds turrets_alliance.dds alliance_shield.dds Alliance Alligator Cruiser_damaged.dds allianceengineglow.dds Alliance Alligator Cruiser_hulk.dds turret_blast_purple.dds Alliance Swordfish Frigate_damaged.dds Alliance Swordfish Frigate_hulk.dds Alliance Cobra Frigate_damaged.dds Alliance Cobra Frigate_hulk.dds minimap.dds battle_buttons.dds green_score.dds red_score.dds missile_flare.dds missile.dds bullets.dds target_overlay_line.dds range_marker.dds blastglare.dds shockwave2.dds ecmshock.dds achieve_bronze.dds Alliance Hornet Fighter.dds Alliance Scorpion Fighter.dds Alliance Shark Cruiser.dds Alliance Python Cruiser.dds Alliance Wasp Frigate.dds fed_turret_bull_v1.dds module_powergen_v2.dds loadscreen_eagle.bmp Federation Falcon Fighter_sprite.dds federation_hulks.dds Alliance Hornet Fighter_sprite.dds alliance_hulks.dds Alliance Scorpion Fighter_sprite.dds turret_blast_red.dds repairbot_weld.dds repairbots.dds Alliance Shark Cruiser_damaged.dds Alliance Shark Cruiser_hulk.dds beam_orange_atlas.dds Alliance Python Cruiser_damaged.dds Alliance Python Cruiser_hulk.dds Alliance Wasp Frigate_damaged.dds Alliance Wasp Frigate_hulk.dds survival1_icon.jpg survival1.jpg Imperial Ballista Fighter.dds Imperial Centurion Cruiser.dds Imperial Hasta Frigate.dds Releasing texture: cursor.dds Releasing texture: fillbar.dds Releasing texture: border_depth.dds Releasing texture: tooltip.dds Releasing texture: rt_offscreen1 Releasing texture: rt_offscreen2 Releasing texture: rt_ship Releasing texture: titlescreen2048.bmp Releasing texture: cwfont20.dds Releasing texture: zekton16.dds Releasing texture: box_background.jpg Releasing texture: textbutton.dds Releasing texture: textbutton_h.dds Releasing texture: dialog_titlebar.dds Releasing texture: menu_backdrop.jpg Releasing texture: gui_scrollup.dds Releasing texture: gui_scrollup_h.dds Releasing texture: gui_scrolldown.dds Releasing texture: gui_scrolldown_h.dds Releasing texture: bg1_icon.jpg Releasing texture: achieve_empty.dds Releasing texture: debris.dds Releasing texture: contrails.dds Releasing texture: escapepod.dds Releasing texture: escapepodengines.dds Releasing texture: shield_impact.dds Releasing texture: client_interlace.dds Releasing texture: dialog_client.dds Releasing texture: 19px_highlight.dds Releasing texture: 19px_highlight_black.dds Releasing texture: smokeclouds.dds Releasing texture: runninglight.dds Releasing texture: shield_collapse.dds Releasing texture: square_box.dds Releasing texture: square_box_h.dds Releasing texture: square_box_brown.dds Releasing texture: Federation Tiger Cruiser.dds Releasing texture: Federation Falcon Fighter.dds Releasing texture: Federation Fox Frigate.dds Releasing texture: newshipbutton.dds Releasing texture: bg1.jpg Releasing texture: strip_fill.jpg Releasing texture: strip_fill_red.jpg Releasing texture: module_locked.dds Releasing texture: deployment_range.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Alligator Cruiser.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Swordfish Frigate.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Cobra Frigate.dds Releasing texture: module_crew.dds Releasing texture: fed_turret_miss_v2.dds Releasing texture: fed_turret_bull_v2.dds Releasing texture: module_shield_v3.dds Releasing texture: module_engine_3.dds Releasing texture: module_armour_v9.dds Releasing texture: module_powergen_v5.dds Releasing texture: fed_turret_las_v1.dds Releasing texture: gui_dragbutton.dds Releasing texture: gui_sliderbar.dds Releasing texture: module_armour_v7.dds Releasing texture: module_armour_v1.dds Releasing texture: module_shield_v5.dds Releasing texture: plasma_turret_v3.dds Releasing texture: module_crew2.dds Releasing texture: federation_turret_pd_v2.dds Releasing texture: button_close.dds Releasing texture: button_close_h.dds Releasing texture: progress_bar.jpg Releasing texture: loadscreen_javelin.bmp Releasing texture: star.dds Releasing texture: turret_blast_yellow.dds Releasing texture: beam_red_atlas.dds Releasing texture: turrets_federation.dds Releasing texture: shield_blast.dds Releasing texture: shield_scroll.dds Releasing texture: shield_blast2.dds Releasing texture: normal_shield.dds Releasing texture: armourglow.dds Releasing texture: Federation Fox Frigate_damaged.dds Releasing texture: engineglow.dds Releasing texture: particles.dds Releasing texture: engine_colors.dds Releasing texture: Federation Fox Frigate_hulk.dds Releasing texture: breakup_alpha.dds Releasing texture: beam_blue_atlas.dds Releasing texture: plasma.dds Releasing texture: Federation Tiger Cruiser_damaged.dds Releasing texture: Federation Tiger Cruiser_hulk.dds Releasing texture: tractor_beam.dds Releasing texture: tractor_beam_alpha.dds Releasing texture: beam_green_atlas.dds Releasing texture: turrets_alliance.dds Releasing texture: alliance_shield.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Alligator Cruiser_damaged.dds Releasing texture: allianceengineglow.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Alligator Cruiser_hulk.dds Releasing texture: turret_blast_purple.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Swordfish Frigate_damaged.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Swordfish Frigate_hulk.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Cobra Frigate_damaged.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Cobra Frigate_hulk.dds Releasing texture: minimap.dds Releasing texture: battle_buttons.dds Releasing texture: green_score.dds Releasing texture: red_score.dds Releasing texture: missile_flare.dds Releasing texture: missile.dds Releasing texture: bullets.dds Releasing texture: target_overlay_line.dds Releasing texture: range_marker.dds Releasing texture: blastglare.dds Releasing texture: shockwave2.dds Releasing texture: ecmshock.dds Releasing texture: achieve_bronze.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Hornet Fighter.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Scorpion Fighter.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Shark Cruiser.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Python Cruiser.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Wasp Frigate.dds Releasing texture: fed_turret_bull_v1.dds Releasing texture: module_powergen_v2.dds Releasing texture: loadscreen_eagle.bmp Releasing texture: Federation Falcon Fighter_sprite.dds Releasing texture: federation_hulks.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Hornet Fighter_sprite.dds Releasing texture: alliance_hulks.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Scorpion Fighter_sprite.dds Releasing texture: turret_blast_red.dds Releasing texture: repairbot_weld.dds Releasing texture: repairbots.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Shark Cruiser_damaged.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Shark Cruiser_hulk.dds Releasing texture: beam_orange_atlas.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Python Cruiser_damaged.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Python Cruiser_hulk.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Wasp Frigate_damaged.dds Releasing texture: Alliance Wasp Frigate_hulk.dds Releasing texture: survival1_icon.jpg Releasing texture: survival1.jpg Releasing texture: Imperial Ballista Fighter.dds Releasing texture: Imperial Centurion Cruiser.dds Releasing texture: Imperial Hasta Frigate.dds

2

Those files are the defaults, not ones generated by the game. Does your notebook support a desktop height of 768 or more? if not, the game almost certainly will not run on it, at least not fullscreen.
You might have an errors.txt with more information in it, alongside those two files.

3

Errors.txt is empty.

GSB did run on the notebook before, but inexplicably stopped working.

The notebook’s screen resolution is 1280x800.

4

I discovered the game runs fine with “Run As Administrator”. This reminded me that Vista and Windows 7 will Virtualize access to some system folders for limited-user accounts, including those under “Program Files”. Attached is the actual debug.txt, drawdebug.txt, and errors.txt. I also have include a single-run set.

I would prefer to be able to run GSB without admin privileges, but realize that it may not be feasible.
debugdata-onerun.zip (619 Bytes)
debugdata.zip (1.22 KB)

5

Pretty sure I had this problem a few times, but that was only when I had World of Warcraft open already. Never has happened if WoW wasn’t open. I just assumed it was a program conflict. If I had GSB open, I could then open WoW, and both worked fine. Haven’t looked into it any more than that.

6

GSB should definitely run as a limited user. I’ve come to conclude over the years that not all Vista / XP installations seem to be enforcing the limited user / administration differences the same way. Exactly what makes them different I’m not sure, but it seems in some cases certain users seem to always need to run as administrator and others do not. The usual fun with Microsoft :frowning:

7

It works after 1.14 is installed.

8

Updated to 1.14 (at least Impulse TELLS me I have) and I still get this error. Black screen whenever I try to run the game.

Debug

2/10/2009 - 0::34 - CreateDevice
2/10/2009 - 0::34 - D3DERR_INVALIDCALL
2/10/2009 - 0::34 - software vertex processing failed
2/10/2009 - 0::34 - Failed to initialise 3D Engine:…\src\Game.cpp 296

Nvidia Geforce 8600 GT, latest drivers, XP

Debug Data

Initialising 3D Engine
Driver : nv4_disp.dll
Description : NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT
DeviceName : \.\DISPLAY1
About to Create 3D Device with width: 800 and height : 768
Attempting software Vertex Processing

9

800x768? That doesn’t sound right. It should either by 1024x768 or 800x600. Are any of these the normal resolution of your laptop screen? Did GSB pick this resolution for you or did you set it yourself somehow?

Other people have also had trouble with resolutions after updating. Open the file “My Documents\My Games\GratuitousSpaceBattles\prefs.ini” in Notepad and check the width and height in there. Are those 800 and 768? Try changing them to whatever resolution your laptop’s screen uses and see if it works from there.

Also, please answer these questions:

[]Where you able to run the game before? If so, what resolution were you using and what version worked?[/]
[]What is your laptop’s native screen resolution?[/]
[]What width and height are in your prefs.ini?[/]

If there is some recurring problem where updates are breaking the screen resolution setting, this should help Cliffski track it down.

10

Oh geez. That worked! It was set to 800x768 and changing it to 1000x768 fixed it.

That’s odd. No I had never gotten it to work, must have installed set to that.

Oh well. Thanks!

11

I had this issue too, sharing in hope it helps future users. I usually run the game windowed, screen resolution is 1440x900, game resolution is 1440x830, so I can still see the windows task bar. I once tried to run the game windowed, but had the " Failed to initialise 3D Engine" error. It seems you need to use a ‘standard’ resolution when running the game fullscreen.
switching back to 1440x900 (editing prefs.ini) fixed it.