Windows 7: DA:O and other games, black screens with sound

the games work but my problems is that for instince in DA:O i will create a new character or just get in and its just black, i hear the sound, but its just black, i cant controll the character, there is nothing there, in some cases i will get video for a few seconds but that is it really. my drivers and cc are up to date. i am using an ati hd5770 1gb. the version is not in steam but the only other game ive noticed problems with which are more extencive is in darksiders which i did get from steam, help is appreciated, ty

I had same problem with DAO. I uninstalled Physx that was installed with game and downloaded newer version and that fixed my problem.

i cant for some reason un install it, it is not in my add remove progs list and there are some exes in the file location but i dont know which one would be un install or how to get riddof it. anny suggestions on how i can get riddof it?

Because it's under "A" for AGEIA PhysX under Programs and Features (Add/Remove). Anyways it's not used since you have an ATI card - it's an Nvidia thing and usually gets installed with a lot of EA games in case you did have an Nvidia card.

Anyhow you shouldn't have to remove it to get the game to run. I played Dragon Age: Origins just fine with it installed and never had an issue. Again, you don't need it, and it can be removed but I left it installed and had no issues.

Two things you might want to do it update your video card drivers, and also update your DirectX files - Download details: DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010)

If you continue to have issues, have a look here - Tips on Troubleshooting Game Issues

Good luck.

since i do not need it can i completely get ridof it or is it better to just update?

You can get rid of it if you want since you have no Nvidia card.

I just did a reinstall of my OS, installed Dead Space 2 and it installed PhysX as well. I just left it as it's not taking up much space. I too only have an ATI card.

Again, it won't hurt to uninstall it.

PhysX is required to be installed for Dragon Age to function. Even if you have an AMD/ATI graphics card. In this case PhysX works solely as a library like DirectX but is computed via the CPU instead of a dedicated processor like it woud if you had an Nvidia graphics card with PhysX support. Mass Effect 2 requires it as well.

why do they require PhysX, i thought direct x was requierd. thats why when you put the disc in they have a button that sais install DirectX

Are you sure? You have a link to this. I ask not as a challenge but to learn something. I really didn't know this and assumed it was strictly for Nvidia cards. Also, you are given the option to not install it. At least I got that with Dead Space 2.

I'll reinstall Dragon Age again since I reinstalled my OS and see If I get the option to decline installing PhysX and post back.

PS I can see it being needed for Nvidia cards, but ATI cards don't use it.

Thanks.

Not sure about DA, but my Mirrors Edge game would not run when I uninstalled Phys-X.

Got an error about the physx dll missing.

I re-installed it, and never bothered with it again.


I would assume that its the same with other games that install it as well.
Im not sure about this either, but I do remember trying to remove it and Mirrors Edge complaining about it.