last week, there was an update that made my graphics get all fuzzy... before that they were sharp and crisp. it was a few days before the update to the nimoy and new menu stuff... I put up with it because; it's a beta, I assumed it'd be fixed in the launch version... someone in game told me that I should try changing my visual settings... which; every time I try to do; gives me a permanent black screen(with music), crash or freeze.
so I guess my question is... why did the graphics drop in the first place and why and how can I get them back without all the hassle?
... someone in game told me that I should try changing my visual settings... which; every time I try to do; gives me a permanent black screen(with music), crash or freeze.
so I guess my question is... why did the graphics drop in the first place and why and how can I get them back without all the hassle?
Not an STO issue. If you're getting a black screen when trying to change graphic options in-game, then you have a video card driver issue, a corrupted install, or some other local problem. It could even be a dying video card, but you'd see that in other places too.
It sounds as if you may be running Windows XP using an NVIDIA-based video card. Id like for you to try the following for me and see if it helps:
1. Start the Star Trek Online Launcher and login using your username and password.
2. Once the Launcher has finished checking to see if you are up-to-date left-click on the Options entry at the top center of the Launcher.
3. In the Advanced command line please type the following: -noSleepWhileWaitingForGPU
4. Left-click on OK and launch the game.
last week, there was an update that made my graphics get all fuzzy... before that they were sharp and crisp. it was a few days before the update to the nimoy and new menu stuff... I put up with it because; it's a beta, I assumed it'd be fixed in the launch version... someone in game told me that I should try changing my visual settings... which; every time I try to do; gives me a permanent black screen(with music), crash or freeze.
so I guess my question is... why did the graphics drop in the first place and why and how can I get them back without all the hassle?
One of the recent patch notes said that they made changes to the video settings, and so the patch reset everyone's graphics to defaults (or something like that).
Typically, the 'fuzzy' graphics problem is caused by people having 'half resolution' enabled. It is a setting right at the top of the list, below your resolution. This really should be turned off unless you are trying to run the game on a VERY weak video card.
As for your crashing problems, it does sound like a driver issue. Make sure you have both your video driver and directx current.
It sounds as if you may be running Windows XP using an NVIDIA-based video card. Id like for you to try the following for me and see if it helps:
1. Start the Star Trek Online Launcher and login using your username and password.
2. Once the Launcher has finished checking to see if you are up-to-date left-click on the Options entry at the top center of the Launcher.
3. In the Advanced command line please type the following: -noSleepWhileWaitingForGPU
4. Left-click on OK and launch the game.
One of the recent patch notes said that they made changes to the video settings, and so the patch reset everyone's graphics to defaults (or something like that).
Typically, the 'fuzzy' graphics problem is caused by people having 'half resolution' enabled. It is a setting right at the top of the list, below your resolution. This really should be turned off unless you are trying to run the game on a VERY weak video card.
As for your crashing problems, it does sound like a driver issue. Make sure you have both your video driver and directx current.
my stuff is current... I updated both drivers recently.
Id still like for you to try using the steps above to see if that helps address the issue. If you still get the same results after doing so Id like for you to delete both copies of the gameprefs.pref file in your game directory. These files will be in one of four possible locations depending upon where you installed the game to:
C:\Program Files\Cryptic Studios\Star Trek Online\Live\localdata
C:\Users\Public\Games\Cryptic Studios\ Star Trek Online\Live\localdata
The goal is to remove any possible complication from your previous attempts to adjust the graphical settings and force the game to re-detect the default settings. If this still fails to work double-check to make sure what refresh rate you are using for your monitor:
1. Go into your Control Panel and select Display.
2. Once there select Adjust Resolution which should be in the upper left-hand corner of the window.
3. Select Advanced Settings then Monitor.
If your refresh rate is set to 60 Hertz try adjusting to 59 Hertz, delete the gamepref.pref files again, and re-launch the game. If you still have issues at that point please contact our Technical Support Department at http://www.startrekonline.com/support and make sure that you reference this forum thread as well as what steps you took and they will try and help you further.
last week, there was an update that made my graphics get all fuzzy... before that they were sharp and crisp. it was a few days before the update to the nimoy and new menu stuff... I put up with it because; it's a beta, I assumed it'd be fixed in the launch version... someone in game told me that I should try changing my visual settings... which; every time I try to do; gives me a permanent black screen(with music), crash or freeze.
so I guess my question is... why did the graphics drop in the first place and why and how can I get them back without all the hassle?
I have a 8800GTOC running this thing on a 40 inch lcd tv and doing some insane graphic levels... The only time I saw a black screen when changing options was when changing to the default resolution for my lcd tv in which it put me at some weird 2200x???? setting. I was patient and it loaded just fine after about a minute of waiting.
Are you sure your not just jumping the gun when changing settings? I mean alot of people after 15 seconds wig out and think its locked but never let it load up properly. I would update the drivers and try again.
TIP: For older Nvidia, turn off the AA and turn the shadows down to LOW. Otherwise everything else is running on high and looks amazing.
What does it crash on? Absolutely every little graphic change, or just resolution change? Try just changing individual video settings at a time.
As I said previously, make sure you have the Half Resolution setting turned off.
You might also want to make sure your video drivers are at their defaults. Some people like to force Anti-Aliasing and stuff from the driver, but you can do that stuff in game. There could be a conflict or something.
last week, there was an update that made my graphics get all fuzzy... before that they were sharp and crisp. it was a few days before the update to the nimoy and new menu stuff... I put up with it because; it's a beta, I assumed it'd be fixed in the launch version... someone in game told me that I should try changing my visual settings... which; every time I try to do; gives me a permanent black screen(with music), crash or freeze.
so I guess my question is... why did the graphics drop in the first place and why and how can I get them back without all the hassle?
I have the same problem. I have been trying to change the resolution. When i do, the screen goes black except for the mouse cursor. I still hear the music. I have given it up to 5 minutes with no luck. I have checked my video driver, it is up to date. I am running Windows Vista home premium on an HP G60 laptop. It has an intel processor (Core 2 duoe, 2.00 GHz) and video card, 3 GB RAM. I have tried adding the advanced string to the launcher like described earlier with no luck. I am just trying to change the resuolution cause i am stuck at 1024x768 and the tray is going to get even more crowded when i make commander. Also i don't know if it makes any difference that i have my laptop connected to my 50' plasma TV for playing the game.
I have the same problem. I have been trying to change the resolution. When i do, the screen goes black except for the mouse cursor. I still hear the music. I have given it up to 5 minutes with no luck. I have checked my video driver, it is up to date. I am running Windows Vista home premium on an HP G60 laptop. It has an intel processor (Core 2 duoe, 2.00 GHz) and video card, 3 GB RAM. I have tried adding the advanced string to the launcher like described earlier with no luck. I am just trying to change the resuolution cause i am stuck at 1024x768 and the tray is going to get even more crowded when i make commander. Also i don't know if it makes any difference that i have my laptop connected to my 50' plasma TV for playing the game.
almost exactly what I'm running... it actually has gotten a little better... but I'm not running it at 100% anymore... just about 70-80%
Comments
Not an STO issue. If you're getting a black screen when trying to change graphic options in-game, then you have a video card driver issue, a corrupted install, or some other local problem. It could even be a dying video card, but you'd see that in other places too.
1. Start the Star Trek Online Launcher and login using your username and password.
2. Once the Launcher has finished checking to see if you are up-to-date left-click on the Options entry at the top center of the Launcher.
3. In the Advanced command line please type the following: -noSleepWhileWaitingForGPU
4. Left-click on OK and launch the game.
One of the recent patch notes said that they made changes to the video settings, and so the patch reset everyone's graphics to defaults (or something like that).
Typically, the 'fuzzy' graphics problem is caused by people having 'half resolution' enabled. It is a setting right at the top of the list, below your resolution. This really should be turned off unless you are trying to run the game on a VERY weak video card.
As for your crashing problems, it does sound like a driver issue. Make sure you have both your video driver and directx current.
I'm using Vista...
my stuff is current... I updated both drivers recently.
C:\Program Files\Cryptic Studios\localdata
C:\Users\Public\Games\Cryptic Studios\localdata
C:\Program Files\Cryptic Studios\Star Trek Online\Live\localdata
C:\Users\Public\Games\Cryptic Studios\ Star Trek Online\Live\localdata
The goal is to remove any possible complication from your previous attempts to adjust the graphical settings and force the game to re-detect the default settings. If this still fails to work double-check to make sure what refresh rate you are using for your monitor:
1. Go into your Control Panel and select Display.
2. Once there select Adjust Resolution which should be in the upper left-hand corner of the window.
3. Select Advanced Settings then Monitor.
If your refresh rate is set to 60 Hertz try adjusting to 59 Hertz, delete the gamepref.pref files again, and re-launch the game. If you still have issues at that point please contact our Technical Support Department at http://www.startrekonline.com/support and make sure that you reference this forum thread as well as what steps you took and they will try and help you further.
I have a 8800GTOC running this thing on a 40 inch lcd tv and doing some insane graphic levels... The only time I saw a black screen when changing options was when changing to the default resolution for my lcd tv in which it put me at some weird 2200x???? setting. I was patient and it loaded just fine after about a minute of waiting.
Are you sure your not just jumping the gun when changing settings? I mean alot of people after 15 seconds wig out and think its locked but never let it load up properly. I would update the drivers and try again.
TIP: For older Nvidia, turn off the AA and turn the shadows down to LOW. Otherwise everything else is running on high and looks amazing.
As I said previously, make sure you have the Half Resolution setting turned off.
You might also want to make sure your video drivers are at their defaults. Some people like to force Anti-Aliasing and stuff from the driver, but you can do that stuff in game. There could be a conflict or something.
I have the same problem. I have been trying to change the resolution. When i do, the screen goes black except for the mouse cursor. I still hear the music. I have given it up to 5 minutes with no luck. I have checked my video driver, it is up to date. I am running Windows Vista home premium on an HP G60 laptop. It has an intel processor (Core 2 duoe, 2.00 GHz) and video card, 3 GB RAM. I have tried adding the advanced string to the launcher like described earlier with no luck. I am just trying to change the resuolution cause i am stuck at 1024x768 and the tray is going to get even more crowded when i make commander. Also i don't know if it makes any difference that i have my laptop connected to my 50' plasma TV for playing the game.
almost exactly what I'm running... it actually has gotten a little better... but I'm not running it at 100% anymore... just about 70-80%