Quake 3 Won't Start

Post by **Dr.Gibbs** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 11:42 pm

Wow, I haven't posted here in a loooong time.

I can't get Quake 3 to work on my system anymore - it crashes as soon as it starts, and then my desktop gets that nice inverted look to it. Reinstalling it doesn't help. I have the newest nVidia drivers and all Windows updates (GeForce 6800). I've tried four or five different versions of the nVidia drivers with no success. I haven't been able to get it to run for the last six months

There's no error - it just gives me that vague Microsoft report thing.

I was hoping someone knew something about this... Google didn't help...

Post by **axbaby** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 1:56 am

i do not know directly what's wrong but it would seem i could be several things.
-make sure your monitor is using the correct refresh rate
-a bios setting --try as a test bios defaults
-in run box type dxdiag and see if directx recognizes a problem "quake3 only uses direct-x for sound and input as you know but it may steer you to a potential problem with your system"
-cpu or case overheating ?
-potential problem with ram "download a memory checker"
-did you upgrade motherboard drivers
-try quake3 in safe mode "not sure q3 can run though"
-try a very old system restore after creating a new restore point

Post by **Dr.Gibbs** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 4:43 am

axbaby wrote:i do not know directly what's wrong but it would seem i could be several things.
-make sure your monitor is using the correct refresh rate
-a bios setting --try as a test bios defaults
-in run box type dxdiag and see if directx recognizes a problem "quake3 only uses direct-x for sound and input as you know but it may steer you to a potential problem with your system"
-cpu or case overheating ?
-potential problem with ram "download a memory checker"
-did you upgrade motherboard drivers
-try quake3 in safe mode "not sure q3 can run though"
-try a very old system restore after creating a new restore point

I don't think any of those are a problem.

I know this is pretty hard since it's so vague... the only thing I can guess is it just isn't goint to work on this system anymore

I suppose it might be nVidia's drivers, but I definitely don't want to downgrade them.

Post by **Captain** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:15 am

Downgrading the drivers to a previous version won't make much of a change to your performance.

Did it work before? If so, what else have you changed to cause this?

Post by **Foo** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:08 am

Kill your quake install entirely, delete the folder, and run a standard install again off the CD.

Don't patch it, just run it and see if it works.

Build up from there.

Post by **Dr.Gibbs** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 11:42 pm

Should I install all of the point releases in order, or just 1.32?

Post by **Tormentius** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:29 am

Dr.Gibbs wrote:Should I install all of the point releases in order, or just 1.32?

Just 1.32.

Post by **Dr.Gibbs** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:11 am

Tormentius wrote:Just 1.32.

In that case, I've already tried it - and I think the original installation works fine, then it breaks when I install the point release.

Unfortunately I just moved and left the Q3 CD behind, so I guess I can't reinstall it until I can find another one

Post by **4days** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 8:23 am

just in case - rename all your '.cfg' files to '.blah', run the game and let it create a new cfg - if it works, go through the '.blah's and find the dodgy setting.