Thing to try to get the game running on vista.

[spaceritual]

ahoy,"I've tried all of the above, downloaded the patch, downloaded the hotfix, download NVIDIA drivers, and I still can't even get into the game. When I open the EXE file, Vista just gives me a message saying "The Witcher has stopped working". I'm kind of at a loss for words. EB games wouldn't even refund me.... best $60 I ever spent...." After trying some of the fixes as gavitron tried I too am getting the "witcher has stopped working " error and the game refusing even to start , the obly thing that seems to work is to play the game in windowed mode , why would this work? perhaps the answer to why windowed mode works would lead to the cure for full screen mode?My system-Dell XPS420Q6600 Quad Core processor3 gig DDR3 667Mhz memoryNvidia 8800 GTX (169.25 drivers)Xfi Extreme Gamer SoundcardDell Xcelerator PLDS-DH-4B1S blu ray/dvd player ( firmware 7D13 )Windows Vista Home Premium1 TB Serial ATA Raid 0 Stripe Hard DriveMotherboard Bios AO3

 

[olly464]

Hi there, how do I run it in window mode if, like above, I cannot start the game?Thanks in advance.

 

[zuffox]

Hi there, how do I run it in window mode if, like above, I cannot start the game?Thanks in advance.

Tried appending -w to the .exe file (right-click -> Properties -> Shortcut?

 

[olly464]

Hi there, how do I run it in window mode if, like above, I cannot start the game?Thanks in advance.

Tried appending -w to the .exe file (right-click -> Properties -> Shortcut?

How do you mean, appending -w?

 

[zuffox]

Hi there, how do I run it in window mode if, like above, I cannot start the game?Thanks in advance.

Tried appending -w to the .exe file (right-click -> Properties -> Shortcut?

How do you mean, appending -w?

Firstly to run in a window you have to be in a screen resolution above 1024 by 768 (1152 by 864 is the next one up for example). Now you can try either command line or pressing control and F together (as per the keyboard shortcuts) The command line option is to run CM4 with the -windowed flag. Click Start > Run > and in the box type in the location of CM4 – c:\program files\cm4\cm4.exe -windowed for example. Now after cm4.exe add “-windowed”. So what you end up putting in the run box is c:\program files\cm4\cm4.exe –windowed [or -w] This forces the game to run in a window. (you can always right click on the shortcut on your desktop, click on properties and put -windowed at the end of the command that launches the game, if you always want it in a window)

Either that or trying to see if you can force windowed mode in your driver/graphic card panel (e.g. Catalyst Control Center or ... that place for nVidia/GeForce/Detonator).

 

[spaceritual]

To get windowed mode go to Options once you have the loading screen up then select Video Mode then Untick Full screen, the game will now launch in Windowed Mode

 

[spaceritual]

Are you sure you have named the right file in the FAQ of OP? In searching for d3ddx9_35.dll the only link I get on google is your post Also when I download the MS hotfix it tells me that this update does not apply to your system .

 

[mobidoy]

Here is a link to ithttp://www.m3fe.com/760/

 

[sydetys]

If you wanna know...or if you DON`T..I don´t care I will tell anyway:I haveintel E6750 CPU (2.67GHz, core 2 duo, 1333 MHz FSB)Geforce 8800 ultra 768 Mb DDR3 RAM 6GB, vista x64 SP1 betalatest driverslarge address aware ON from all exe and dll filesWithcher patch 1.2FULL directx 10 AND 9.0c (just installed top of DX 10, installer DID add quite a few files)NET frameworks 3.5latest drivers..allc++ 2005 redistributableand guess what.....works FINE, this game won´t crash anymore in Trade Quarter or in transition from/to swampso those were memory leak bugs, and enough of ram resourses this game is STABLE

 

[spaceritual]

Here is a link to ithttp://www.m3fe.com/760/

Thanks for the link , hope it cures my crashing problems

 

[spaceritual]

Here is a list of thing that have worked for people to get the game running under Vista. If you have more to add, do so, i will put them in the first post. Control Panel -> User Accounts ->Turn User Account Control On or Off.Untick the box which say: 'Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer'.rebootFrom the Windows command line: BCDEDIT /set IncreaseUserVa 2800Then you must reboot your computer.Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager -> disk drives -> double click on your(s) hard drive ->policies -> Remove check for Enable Write Caching on the disk.right click on your shortcut, go to properties, compatibility, put a check to disable visual theme and Disable desktop compositionDo the same thing for Witcher.exe found in c:\program files\the witcher\system\Start the game from the file Witcher.exe found in c:\program files\the witcher\system\If you get an error message with Side by Side in it:Uninstall Visual C++ redistributable from the add/remove program panelDownload and install .Net Framework 1.1 and 1.1sp from MicrosoftRun Vista UpdateDownload and install Visual C++ redistributable again from microsoft (Note: Vista 64 will have to download the X86 and X64 version, install both despite the warnings)If you have a message saying that d3ddx9_35.dll is missing, look for the file on google ad save it to your c:\windows\system32\ Folder. To be able to do so, you will need to have the UAC turned off or Vista will prevent you from doing it.Edit 1: To include silenthunter suggestions

If you want to reset this back to 2048 do you use the same command BCDEDIT /set IncreaseUserVa 2048 to decrease it?

 

[sydetys]

I am using vista too works well I was wondering that I am using "limited account" in vista and run witcher under admin rights (I don´t mind to type admin login and password everytime ´cos tis safer)BUT is it SAFE to turn UAC OFF???? this machine IS online allways when I play or use it.HOW does it compromise my security if I turn UAC off? (From internet attack point-fo-view)does viruses and malware gain better access into my PC?Physically I am the only user in my home, so...enlighten me...BTW I found this in internet check it out http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946932 describes how to turn off UAC for a specific program...instead turnin´ whole shit off

 

[kleric10]

Due to frequent crashes (mainly after "zoning") just after starting to play the game I have carried out all previous suggestions without success.[size=10pt][size=10pt]Now I have lowered my screen resolution from 1600x1200 to 1024x768 and .... voila, it's running without a huge noticeable quality reduction of the game. [/size] [/size] Only drawback - I have to change my screen resolution settings every time before or after playing. Don't know what will happen later in the game (some guys mentioned problems in a city), but at least I can really start playing now ;D 2 x Gefore 8700M GT / SLIDual Core T7600 @ 2,33 GHz4MB ram2 x 160 GB HDD / Raid 0

 

[poljoti]

After doing everthing up to the 'Witcher' change line, my system has not crashed yet. Although I play it in the evening after work for some three hours on average, I am not a hard gamer who plays it until they finish the game in one or a few sessions. But, before the changes Vista would crash quite often, mostly during scene changes or during saves. Thanks for your input.p.s. exactly what does the command line do ( BCEDIT) ? I had seen something like it when I first built my system last year, while searching for 'using a SLI config' on Vista.As a followup, finished the game yesterday. And I had only a couple of crashes since the changes I made above using Vista 32bit. I look forward to the next sequel, chapter, whatever because I loved the game and especially the 'mature' content in it.Later...

 

[twizzzzz]

Hey. I had Windows Vista Home Premium x64 with ATI Radeon 2900PRO, 4GIG of RAM, Intel Core2Duo 3.2GHz, and the game always crashed. The RTM version of Vista SP1 just came out, i'm going to try the game out with that. I hope it will fix my problems... Oh and also, now i'm trieing the game with a Xtreme-G modded vga driver!

 

[xfortay]

Seriously, i have tried every fix imagineable. I paid 50 dollars for this game and I shouldnt have to slash and dice all through my system trying to get it to work.. Is it too much to ask that the makers actually "fix" the vista problem?? Or I dont know, maybe actually test it on some vista machines before they sell it? All you have to do is google The Witcher Vista and you are overwhelmed with page after page of Vista users complaining about it not running! I WILL NEVER BUY ENOTHER GAME FROM THIS COMPANY AND IF YOU HAVE ANY SENSE YOU WILL NOT BUY IT EITHER! Over two months now I have owned this game it it wont run! I keep coming back to the site to see if a fix has finally been implemented... but time after time..NOTHING! It is as if they dont care now that they have our money!!

 

[mobidoy]

Seriously, i have tried every fix imagineable. I paid 50 dollars for this game and I shouldnt have to slash and dice all through my system trying to get it to work.. Is it too much to ask that the makers actually "fix" the vista problem?? Or I dont know, maybe actually test it on some vista machines before they sell it? All you have to do is google The Witcher Vista and you are overwhelmed with page after page of Vista users complaining about it not running! I WILL NEVER BUY ENOTHER GAME FROM THIS COMPANY AND IF YOU HAVE ANY SENSE YOU WILL NOT BUY IT EITHER! Over two months now I have owned this game it it wont run! I keep coming back to the site to see if a fix has finally been implemented... but time after time..NOTHING! It is as if they dont care now that they have our money!!

Wow... there is a whole lot of angriness here !! First please, tone down... You said you've tried everything... Surprise to see that... i often ask ppl to contact me when they are not sure of the problem and guess what, most of them finaly got it to work.But, if you have tried everything, you surely looked at the fact that this is NOT the official support but some help provided by other players. Also, You did sent an email to Atari for support request... So you do know that you should post this message over there since they are the one that do the support !! I am on Vista as many others and once the tweaks are done properly, (fixing Vista errors) well the game runs just great ! Sorry for you !

 

[slicer77]

He could always just swap back to XP like the other gamers on here, since XP>>>Vista, . But i doubt that you've tried everything, bud. Mobidoy has fixed every Vista problem since i've been on these forums, maybe you should try emailing him, or posting your particular problem, seeing as that was your first post on this forum.And btw, i will buy all games that this company makes until they convince me not to buy them, The Witcher is hands down the best RPG i have ever played. Although i hope the next few years will be taken up by Witcher extensions and maybe an expansion or two. And i haven't even finished the game yet, just got back to Old Visima in Act IV.

 

[xfortay]

Well I have tried every lame fix listed on these forums. I just spent hours today going through the delete paging file, defrag, re-enable paging file, wasted more money on the memory test recommended by Mobi, just to find no problems, Ive edited the userVA to 2800, ive tried Windowed mode, Ive updated my graphics driver multiple times, ive completed all of the hotfix's from Microsoft, I have updated to the latest patch just to get the NO CD DETECTED error, fixed that, game still not working. Of course I am irritated, I have been trying for months to get this game to work with no results, I have contacted Atari tech support and gotten the same fixes which dont work. I have never in my years of gaming encountered such a buggy, unstable game, not even close. I have been patient. I cannot even remember everything i have tried to list because this has been ongoing for months. I fully expected to get online and see some SW release has been issued to correct the Vista issues, that doesnt seem to be happening.So Mobi, I DO realize this isnt the Official Support section but I see you offer plenty of advice. I can appreciate your efforts but I am wondering... This says this is the official discussion forum, so are you an employee of Atari or how are you related to this the makers of this game? I am just wondering if it is even worth the effort any more to even get this game to work since Atari techh support has been unable to solver the problem. Or is this just a lesson learned on what software maker not to buy from in the future. It is hard to believe that i am the only Vista user out here that these fixes are not working for and Atari tech support is unable to help considering the sheer number of search results you encounter when searching for resolutions. As far as switching back to XP, that is not an option. One shouldnt have to warp the operating system around a game that is advertised as working on another. There should be some sort of warning label on the box saying it is possible it wont work with Vista. The game will run about 2 minutes then I get THE WITCHER HAS STOPPED working. The same error message most are complaining about it seems

 

[Licaon_Kter]

post your system specs, OS version, video/audio driver versions you've tested