Neverwinter Nights 2 issues

[Astvinr]

Alright, so I've been trying out a few games on W7 now, and they've all worked great (FC2, Assassin's Creed, TF2), but now I've dusted off Neverwinter Nights 2.

First of all the installation was a bit long I think, but I'm not sure if that has anything to do with W7. Then however when I tried to play the game it wouldn't start at all, nothing happened. The nwn2main.exe file was running, but nothing happened. I tried to restart, but that didn't work so I did it manually.

Then once I got back in I was able to start NWN2, and began changing the graphical settings, like widescreen resolution, maximum detail and so on.
By the way I'm trying W7 out on my new computer:
Gigabyte EP45-UD3 motherboard, Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550, Geforce GTX 260 (216 shaders).

So when I added water reflection and water refraction and applied (I was just in the menu, I hadn't started a campaign or anything) it just stopped. The music was still playing, but nothing was happening. I wasn't able to shut it off with the Task Manager, nor could I restart from the windows start menu, so I did so manually again.

Next time around I manage to change all the graphical settings, this time not clicking apply but instead I clicked ok.
Then I try starting a campaign, so I make my character and start it up... but in the process of loading it simply stops. Same as before, I'm not able to shut it off with the Task Manager and I can't restart the computer normally, so once again I do it manually.

Then I manage to get into the game, start the campaign, engage in some dialogue, but then when I get my first quest (open a chest and get some furs) it stops then and there. Same procedure as previously follows...

From here on I try it over and over, hurry through dialogue and manage to get further and further into the game, but I'm only able to play for like... 2-3 minutes at a time before it stops. And it doesn't matter if I'm currently clicking around, or if I'm simply standing still. It still stops after probably the same amount of time every time. I think I'm gonna time it the next couple of times actually...

Oh, and about every other time I try to enter the game it stops working then and there as well.

Anyway, here's what I've tried to resolve the issue:

1. Compatability mode XP (SP2) and Vista, neither solve the issue.
2. Disable UAC virtualization for nwn2main.exe. Heck you never know... but it works the same with or without.

I'm gonna try some more stuff and get back to you... first I'm going to set the graphical details lower and see what happens.

 

[Mark]

Have you tried the latest Nvidia drivers 181.22? and have you updated your DirectX from Microsoft, it's the Vista one you want, November is the latest I think.

 

[Astvinr]

I've only updated through Windows Update. There was an update for my graphics card there, but you're saying that's not the one I should use?

And no I suppose I haven't updated my DirectX unless that's done through Windows Update.

You have any links perhaps?

edit:
I googled the nvidia driver, and here's what it says:

GeForce Release 181 WHQL

181.22 January 22, 2009

Was that the one you were referring to?

 

[Mark]

Yes I would recommend getting the latest drivers for your hardware and I have a GTX260 216core as well and that's the driver I am running with and all my games are working well.

DirectX Download here

 

[Astvinr]

Spanks a lot!

I'll get back to you all with some feedback once I've installed and tried it.

 

[Mark]

No worries Astvinr and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[Astvinr]

I'm afraid that didn't help at all...

Same as always:

1. I start the game, black screen (as it's supposed to be), from there nothing.

2. Reboot manually, start game again and magically it works! After a few minutes however... the screen freezes. Music, voices and other sounds still work though. But nothing else.

I'm going to reinstall NWN2 now. I recall seeing a notice that the DirectX part of the installation of NWN2 didn't work as it couldn't find the path to... something. Perhaps now with updated DirectX, that will work as intended.

 

[Mark]

It's worth a go, try installing with Vista Compatibility mode to see if that helps.

 

[Astvinr]

You mean enable Vista Compatability on the setupfile on the install DVD?

Anyway, the same DirectX error appeared when I installed it now. It says:



I'll reinstall again, this time with Vista Compatability mode.

 

[Astvinr]

I turned on compatability mode for XP SP2 on all exe files on the DVD, but I still got the same error.

That's too bad because a guy over at the nwn2-forum said that worked for him.
Oh well... back to see what more there is to do...

 

[Astvinr]

Dammit... I'm starting to go crazy here...
I've even resorted to cracking the game! It's a legit copy, but hey I'll try just about anything right now.
So anyway, using cracked exe-files didn't help. It was rather funny though because it did work like usual, with the exception of one NPC doing all these crazy gestures and suddenly flying up and down in the air before he approached my character.

Anyway... I also tried making a virtual copy of disc, but that wouldn't work when I mounted it with PowerISO at least. And that's the only virtual drive program that's worked for me so far.

I've tried running as administrator both with and without compatibility mode (both XP and Vista), and with and without disabling visual themes.
It just won't work!

The only way it does work that I have heard of is if you install the original game, then you install the Storm of Zehir expansion. If you don't patch the game it will allegedly work. The problem is... I don't have Storm of Zehir.

If anyone knows any other way I could get it running, I'd appreciate it.
I've seen some stuff about deleting registry files, perhaps that could help?

Obviously W7 is still in beta so I didn't expect it to go smooth. But for the most part it's worked much better than I thought.

 

[Astvinr]

Okay so I got a hold on both expansions, and tried first by installing the original game, then see if that would run. As usual, it ran for a few minutes before freezing.
Then I installed MotB, tried playing it, but with the same results.
Then I installed SoZ, but that didn't resolve the issue either.
So finally I updated with the live updating program, but still the game would freeze after only a few minutes played.

I've heard one person say that he had these problems, but he got it working after reinstalling W7 and then updating the iKernel the first thing he did.
Anyone who knows why you'd want to do that? And how would you do that?
He then installed the original NWN 2 and MotB only, without updating. But since I've tried that myself with no success, the only thing left to do for me is to reinstall W7, and perhaps update this iKernel thing?

So the only question I have is how would I update it iKernel?
From what I know it's the Installshield Engine, but I can't say I know exactly what it does. So if you'd happen to know I'd be thankful if you told me.

Thanks!
// Rickard

 

[The Dragon Mask]

I've got the same problem! I even rebooted, applied the patch for windows 7 that fixes .msi installations, and installed Storm of Zehir before updating, and it STILL doesn't work! Did you get it to work? I think it's a problem with recognizing dx9, I think dx11 has some compatibility problems right now. I've gotten a lot of applications to work just by installing dx9, of course, this is not perfect and a lot of the time, it makes the program have graphical glitches! Please help out!

 

[Bargle]

I can't even get the game to run in build 7057 (x64). Starting it makes the screen go black like it's loading in, but then nothing happens. If I tab out, the following error messages pop up:

Unable to detect a video card with hardware 3D acceleration. Neverwinter Nights 2 requires a video card that supports then please make sure that it's enabled.

Hardware 3D acceleration appears to be disabled. If your video card supports hardware 3D acceleration, then please make sure that it's enabled.

 

[recklessfire]

I get the exact same problem as Bargle... Also running 7057 (x64) =(

Is there anyway to trick the game into not trying to detect a 3D card? I have a feeling things may just work if I get past the error messages.

 

[The Dragon Mask]

Yeah, well I've just decided to use XP and wait until Windows 7 actually comes out. Hopefully then, they will be finished with DX11. I also had this problem a while ago with Halo 1, but eventually it just stopped happening, I think I turned on Compatibility mode for XP, but I dont' know.

 

[Fizban]

Interesting, I played Neverwinter Nights 2 flawlesslyon Build 7000 x86 but haven't installed it yet on Build 7057 x64. I'll do so in a few minutes and see if I can get it to work.

 

[Fizban]

I just installed it, and got the same error you posted about ERROR_DX_INSTALL. I am guessing because of the error the game won't run but I haven't tried that yet and will do so shortly.

 

[Fizban]

I get this message when booting it, haven't tried rebooting the PC yet or booting the program again, just got this on my first attempt.

 

[Fizban]

I'm officially clueless. Tried everything I could think of, it never freezes for me, but always pops up with that same warning. I'm unsure though if the issue is with Build 7057 or with all x64 Builds of windows 7 as the Windows 7 Build I had it running on before was 7000 x86.