Posts from Problem with 3D graphics in Might and Magic IX.

Hello. I've scoured the entire forum, but couldn't find anything similar.
I played MM9 many years ago on an old PC; now I'm working on a decent laptop, nostalgia hit me, and I wanted to get back into the action... but here's the catch: the Buka license refused to launch entirely. I solved the problem using a patch that disables StarForce. I thought my problems ended there... but no such luck.

Happily, I see the splash screen, quickly create a bunch of characters, hit "START".... loading, the little ship is sailing briskly.... and then BAM! I seem to arrive in Ravensford, the music is playing, my heroes' faces are there, the map is displayed, BUT - the entire 3D world is completely missing!

Inventory, map, spellbook - everything opens. In other words, everything in 2D is displayed as it should be, but the world itself is just a total black void and that's it! (((

Disappointed, I go into the video settings and see 2 options:
1) Primary Display Driver
2) Mobile intel 965 chipset family (my GPU).

Primary is selected. I select my GPU, hit apply, for a split second the screen flickers, a "adjusting resolution" message appears, and then it returns to the main settings screen. Only when I enter the video settings again, I see that the Primary Display Driver is still the saved option!!! WHAT IS GOING ON???? I can't figure it out.... I suspect my GPU, which by the way has let me down more than once, but I'm wondering if maybe something can be changed in its settings? Please help, I've missed this clunky game so much! ))

Thanks in advance.

Added after 36 seconds
Here is a fragment of my dxdiag.txt, if it helps.. sorry in advance for the length, delete it if I'm breaking any rules ))

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2A02&SUBSYS_14E21043&REV_03
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: igxprd32.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4859 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 8/7/2007 22:29:06, 57344 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: Mini VDD: igxpmp32.sys
Mini VDD Date: 8/7/2007 22:29:20, 5776864 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-6942-11CF-0861-E834A2C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x8086
Device ID: 0x2A02
SubSys ID: 0x14E21043
Revision ID: 0x0003
Revision ID: 0x0003
Video Accel:
Deinterlace Caps: n/a
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Realtek HD Audio output
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0662&SUBSYS_104319C3&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5672 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 7/24/2008 18:02:44, 4749824 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 8000, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 32
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 32
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
Description: Realtek HD Audio Input
Default Sound Capture: Yes
Default Voice Capture: Yes
Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5672 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Date and Size: 7/24/2008 18:02:44, 4749824 bytes
Cap Flags: 0x41
Format Flags: 0xFFF

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
DLS Path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\GM.DLS
DLS Version: 1.00.0016.0002
Acceleration: n/a
Ports: Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
Registry: OK
Test Result: Not run

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
Device Name: Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: Bluetooth Remote Control
Attached: 1
Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0xFFFE, 0xFFFE
FF Driver: n/a

Poll w/ Interrupt: No
Registry: OK

Added after 3 minutes
oh, yes, and one more thing - the GPU had a rolled-back driver, i.e., an older one; I thought that was the issue, changed it to the newest one - it did nothing. Changing the resolution in Windows and the color depth from 32 to 16 also didn't help. So that's the situation... ((

I don't really understand any of this, but I'll take a shot:
1) Try running the game in compatibility mode for Windows 98.
2) If you have a desktop computer, buy a video card for a PCI slot at a pawn shop or something – it shouldn't cost more than 150 rubles, and the game probably supports those kinds of cards.
If you're from St. Petersburg, I can lend you a card to try out.

Heh, thanks for the suggestion, but the situation is complicated by the fact that it's a laptop... I've partially solved the problem by simply clicking on the "restore defaults" link in the settings (as if they weren't already at their default settings...), and unexpectedly the image returned! However, now, if I go underwater or wait for sunset, the screen turns black again... I don't understand it at all. I have to wait until dawn... and I really enjoyed wandering around Chedian at night! =(

Yes, this is a known issue, and I encountered it myself. However, after a long search, I found a forum on GOG with a link to the ddraw.dll file. https://github.com/narzoul/DDrawCompat/releases/download/v0.3.1/DDrawCompat-v0.3.1.zip. As of June 30, 2024, the link is working. If you can't download it, let me know, and I'll upload my archive. I placed the file in the root directory of the game, and everything started working normally.