Stepping backwards

November 9th, 2003 - 18:09 | 37 comments

The following will be of little interest to anyone unfamiliar with the inner workings of Windows, just a warning

Earlier this year I had a choice between getting a nice 17″ LCD monitor, or 2×17″ CRTs (the prices are pretty much the same). I went for the latter, and haven’t regretted it. The nvidia nView software stretches the windows taskbar across both screens, so it’s like one big desktop. The only problems I’ve had have been either with games - scrolling around maps with the mouse isn’t very easy when the cursor just moves onto the next monitor - or with the odd software program not being able to display on anything but the primary monitor. Nothing huge.

Earlier today I downloaded RightMark 3dSound in an attempt to diagnose the madness that is my sound output. It revealed that my computer outputs sound based on an iteration involving fifteen random infinite sets derived from a distributed lava lamp. Or something. A good plan seemed to be to download the latest nForce drivers, as they control the audio and a new version came out recently. I installed these, and it made no difference to the sound, but did manage to wind me up in other ways.

The option to span the taskbar across the screens appears to have been removed in the new drivers. I initially thought this may be a conflict between the new nForce drivers and my old Detonators, so I installed the latest “ForceWare” - version 52.16. This didn’t help. All I can find on the internet is a reference to the ‘nView display settings’ window, in which you can choose to use ‘DualView’. This doesn’t appear on my computer, however, and I’m thinking it may only be for Quadro users. I could downgrade drivers, and probably will if I don’t sort this in a couple of days, it’s just so irritating!

If anyone can help…please do

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37 Responses to “Stepping backwards”

1 Ben Nov 10th, 2003 at 10:00 pm

so the nForce drivers managed to affect your video drivers?! weird!
Unless of course the problem lies in the included video drivers being installed over the top of your old ones?

Might be worth trying to uninstall the lot and put ‘em back on.

And might they have moved the checkbox?
Try that Rage 3D tweak util, it has tons of extra options in it that set things in the registry…

…Sorry I can’t help more
2 Andrew West Nov 10th, 2003 at 11:14 pm

that was what happened, yeah. All seems in order though, there’s nothing actually going wrong as such. Just missing. The Rage 3D tweak is only for ati cards, isn’t it?
3 Ed Nov 11th, 2003 at 1:42 pm

I’m not sure how multiple monitors works entirely on the PC… but, I remember on the Mac in System 6 or 7 days what happened was this:
You had a control panel which had rectangular representations for each of the monitor screens. Now, depending upon how they touched (the touch could literally be corner next to corner if you wanted it like that), or it could be set so that one screen was higher up…. so you had to go right along the very top of the first screen to get onto the other monitor.

Is there anything like that with nVidia? Surely there should be an option somewhere which controls how you can get onto the next screen?
4 Ben Nov 11th, 2003 at 7:48 pm

Maybe it’s RivaTuner that I’m thinking of then, but I thought I’d used the Rage 3D one before I moved to ATi…still, worth a look I think
5 Nodster Nov 12th, 2003 at 12:59 pm

im having issues with mine, in that most programs want to render to my monitor, so dual display (same image on both) makes my monitor primary instead of secondary which is a pain. Be better if it displayed on both.. but ahh *sigh*
6 Andrew West Nov 12th, 2003 at 2:38 pm

XP controls the positioning of monitors and it lines up ok. It’s just the taskbar. No biggie, just annoying. There’s a program called UltraMon which I could buy for about ?25 that would sort it, but that seems silly when you used to be able to use the nvidia drivers.

RivaTuner has nothing, sadly. There’s something similar on Guru3D today that looks interesting, but it won’t download atm.

Nod: you’re connected to the tv, right?
7 CanadianViking Nov 17th, 2003 at 6:56 am

I’ve experienced the exact same problem…the new Forceware driver does not allow you to span the taskbar accross both monitors.

It can be done if you use the spanned desktop option, but that introduces other problems.

I would just like to have the option to span the taskbar back (as it was with previous driver versions).

Anyone have a solution to this?
8 Andrew West Nov 17th, 2003 at 12:43 pm

I haven’t yet managed to find any solution i’ll update these comments if I do, though.
9 Andy Barnes Nov 17th, 2003 at 10:51 pm

Ive just installed the 52.16 drivers and ive been struk by the very same problem - DRIVING ME MAD! why oh why would they remove the taskbar spanning option???? Hope nvidia fix it.
10 bruce Nov 21st, 2003 at 7:40 pm

Yea, same problem here, i think i’ve spent about 3 hrs already on trying to look for the stupid option!
11 Jonathan Arrabito Nov 25th, 2003 at 5:48 am

I have the same problem… it has to be something in the registry… I am looking for the value now… If anyone has any info, plese post it here…
12 nonagon Dec 8th, 2003 at 6:19 pm

So it’s not just me that’s having this problem…I can’t believe nVidia would remove taskbar spanning in 52.16; this is driving me apeshit! Anyone know of a solution?
13 denis Dec 8th, 2003 at 7:48 pm

Your videocard ? NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 ? is not supported.
Your videocard does not support some required features ( MIN_SIMULTANEOUS_TEX_4 ).
Your videocard pixel shader version ? 0000 ? is below the minimum requirements.
Your videocard vertex shader version ? 0000 ? is below the minimum requirements.
PLS Some body help me
14 Andrew Dec 12th, 2003 at 12:12 pm

53.03 doesn’t fix it
15 thejolliegreengiant Dec 30th, 2003 at 6:01 pm

I am trying to play prince of persia and I keep getting this message…
Your videocard does not support some required features ( MIN_SIMULTANEOUS_TEX_4 ).
Your videocard pixel shader version ? 0000 ? is below the minimum requirements.
Your videocard vertex shader version ? 0000 ? is below the minimum requirements.

can someone please help me?
16 method Dec 31st, 2003 at 10:46 am

for prince of persia :
i’n the same problem and i have the response … read the readme :
“Minimum Configuration: NVIDIA GeForce 3 or higher (excluding NVIDIA GeForce 4 MX), ATI Radeon

Recommended configuration: NVIDIA GeForce 4 or ATI Radeon 9500 ”

so our “NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440″ is not supported …

let’s go hardware’ shop to buy a new video card to play this game :’(
17 revboy Dec 31st, 2003 at 11:06 am

Check this site out for more info :

http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.html?i=1642&p=2

…. particularly this comment :

-

What is missing from the GeForce4 Go? Well, the same things that are missing from the GeForce4 MX line of cards. This includes the nfiniteFX engine, which leaves the GeForce4 Go without DirectX 8 pixel shaders and only limited support for vertex shaders. This puts the feature specs right in line with the Mobility Radeon 7500 which also does not include DirectX 8 pixel and vertex shader support.

—

It so says Geforce3 and 4 MX cards cannot play Prince of Persia - Sands of Time ; But even my Geforce4 420 Go can’t, cuz it’s a minimised spec of a mobile graphic card
18 method Dec 31st, 2003 at 11:07 am

i am in a forum where explain a solution : you need to download a software and it emulate a video card.

Take a look at :
http://www.price.ro/forum/showthread.php?t=9347&goto=nextoldest
19 mr power Dec 31st, 2003 at 12:29 pm

i have the same problem with prince of persia it says:
Your videocard ? NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420 ? is not supported.
Your videocard does not support some required features ( MIN_SIMULTANEOUS_TEX_4 ).
Your videocard pixel shader version ? 0000 ? is below the minimum requirements.
Your videocard vertex shader version ? 0000 ? is below the minimum requirements.

crap!
20 bemaniac Jan 3rd, 2004 at 10:04 am

GODDAMMIT I HAVE WANTED TO PLAY PoP FOR SO LONG!! btw that forum (http://www.price.ro/forum/showthread.php?t=9347&goto=nextoldest) IS IN LYK SPANISH OR SUMTIN I CANT READ IT!
21 tano Jan 14th, 2004 at 1:33 am

ya se como se arregla
vean aca esta en italiano pero bueno fijense
http://www.emuleitalia.net/fora/index.php?showtopic=6409
22 anon Jan 22nd, 2004 at 7:17 pm

Here is the registry entry for the taskbar spanning. I doesn’t seem to help tho. Save this text as a .reg file and double click it.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NVIDIA Corporation\Global\nView\Tweak]
“TaskbarSpanMod”=dword:00000001
23 KubaS Jan 24th, 2004 at 8:46 pm

Listen… here’s link for program that can emulate/fix problem with GF MX440… http://www.tommti-systems.de/main-Dateien/…nalyzer-v23.rar
Here’s a note how to make up options… it’s in italian, couse i found it in the other forum… but everyone can understand it
Con questo programmino riuscite a far funzionare quasi tutti i giochi non supportati anche la geforce 2 MX riesce a far girare Prince. Si devono selezionare nella zona “Hardware limits” quasi tutte le opzioni emulate… etc. etc. soprattutto le ultime tre.

Se ci riuscite, disattivate subito la nebbia nelle opzioni per riuscire a vedere il gioco.

Per far funzionare Prince con un Geforce4 MX e anche per le altre schede, seguite queste istruzioni:

1) Avviate il programma 3d analyzer
2) Cliccate su “Select” e scegliete il file eseguibile che serve per far partire il gioco, nella cartella dove lo avete installato.
3) Dopo andate nella zona “hardware limits (caps bit)” e selezionate guasi tutte le opzioni ma le pi? importanti sono la 1? la 3? la 4? e la 5? anche se la prima ma la potete sostituire al posto di “Force sw TNL” nella zona “Performance”
4) Ora potete premere su “RUN” e vedere se riuscite ad arrivare nel men? principale del gioco.
5) Appena giunti nel menu principale lo vedete quasi tutto di un colore grigio ma le scritte comprensibili (Questo sulla Geforce2 e 4 MX)
6) Create un profilo, andate nelle “opzioni -> grafica” e vi consiglio per le GF4MX di regolarle cos?:
Nebbia OFF (fondamentale per riuscire a vedere qualcosa)
Effetto Acqua OFF (se lo attivate non la vedete trasparente ma con un effetto scuro metallico.
Effetti Speciali BASSI ( se lo mettete MEDIO non vedete niente quando usate l’effetto del pugnale, ALTO fa come il Medio ed ? tutto sfuocato)
Per le altre impostazioni come volete basta che non vi va lento.

Problemi riscontrati:
Se da problemi a tutto schermo specialmente quando si cambia la risoluzione avviare il gioco in finestra tramite l’opzione “Force windowed mode” nella zona “Performanze” del programma, o provate a disattivare o attivare il V-sync nel menu opzioni-> grafica-> avanzate del gioco.
24 Glapsides Jan 25th, 2004 at 9:16 pm

1. Download 3D Analyzer at: http://www.tommti-systems.de/main-Dateien/TOOLS/dontlinkthefile_3danalyzer-v23.rar

2. Push the “select” button and select the location of you “PrinceOfPersia.exe” and hit ok in that dialog

3. Click the “Run” button

4. When Prince of Persia loads start a new game

5. When in loads to the next menu with the options button click that then click the graphics button

6. When you see the the Gamma and screensize bars look right below that… you will see an option called special effects…
turn that off and change any othe options you like… have fun playing the game

7. After you exit the game click the “Save batch file!” button in the 3D Analyzer program

8. Save this to the location (other than start menu) where you shortcut for Prince of Persia is and delete that shortcut

9. From now on you can click on that new file to run the game!

TIPS:

~now don’t ever move the location of the 3D Analyze program unless you want to set it all back up again

~don’t set your settings too high in the graphics options in POP unless your syetem hauls! (start low… you can always move it
higher later)

~NEVER turn on the special effects in POP

~don’t mess with the options in 3D Analyzer unless you want to totally mess up your computer or know EXACTLY what your
doing
25 Josh Feb 1st, 2004 at 8:28 am

Hey you want to play the prince of persia you have to get this program called 3d analyze v2.31 it works just follow this thing that all
26 RT Feb 3rd, 2004 at 8:48 pm

Guys, to span the taskbar across the monitor you have to span the display across the monitors.
display properties, advanced, geforce tab, on the pop out side panel select “nview display mode”, select which ever display setup you have i.e horizontal, vertical….hey presto!
BTW in the nview properties another now appears to limit the taskbar to only 1 monitor.
27 Fred Feb 8th, 2004 at 2:48 pm

For the POP, I don’t get the step 2. As shown above in the laid out steps…

PLEASE HELP!!!!!1
28 RGH Feb 8th, 2004 at 2:55 pm

When I downloaded the 3d anyalizer from the site, provided in the forum, it was a .rar file so that I could not “select” it, as suggested above, Am I missing something….please explain…..

I need to play POP!!!!!!!!!!
29 Andrew Feb 17th, 2004 at 11:52 am

You can open .rar files using Winrar - http://www.rarlab.com/.

Thanks for the suggestions about taskbar spanning. I tried the reg key but it didn’t work for me either. I don’t have the ‘nview properties’ tab…someone said it only appears for Quadro cards?
30 Simon Feb 17th, 2004 at 10:47 pm

Andrew, you should find the settings in 52.16 for nview. In the display control panel, advanced, nvidia, there is a desktop management tab. If you enable nview in there then expand the node you will find a load of options. Alternatively, if you have the systray icon, right click, go to nview desktop manager, enable nview and then you should find in the same menu an entry called nview properties. At least thats where it is for me.
31 Andrew Feb 19th, 2004 at 3:36 pm

Oops, I meant “nview display mode” rather than the “nview properties” tab. I have all the other normal nview options, but nowhere can I configure the desktop spanning as suggested above and in other places.
32 Albert Jun 1st, 2004 at 10:40 pm

I need help! I took the advise of some of you and downloaded 3D Analyzer. In the Performance Category I selected “force SW TnL” and in the Hardware Limits Category, I selected the one, three, four and five options. Yet when I pressed run, it says my videocard is not supported

AND

my videocard did not support the required feature (MIN_STREAM_2).

Anyone please help!
33 Albert Jun 1st, 2004 at 10:46 pm

I notice that some of my earlier message is missing. When i press run, it says my 3D-Analyze v2.3 is not supported

Anyone know how I can get the MIN_STREAM_2 software on line?

Please Help!
34 EL BRUJo Jun 7th, 2004 at 5:03 am

hey does any body know how to make silent hill 3 to run like Prince of persia? because my card does not support vertex shaders some one please help if you can email me!!
35 Brian G Aug 1st, 2004 at 8:16 am

Thanks for the help on the spanning taskbar it was driving me nuts!!!
To repeat the steps above
Again go to your Display Properties then click on the setting tab, then advanced, then the GeForce tab, then on the pull out window to the left click on nView Display Mode, Then pick Horizonatal or Vertical Span.
Once that is done, apply it, then on the same pull out window click Desktop mangement, then use the wizard to enable your nview properties.
Once that is done right click on the desktop to access your nview properties, and go to the tab called “windows” then uncheck the box that says “Limit taskbar … ”

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36 set_beside_me Nov 15th, 2005 at 12:23 pm

hey guys…i tried both version 2.31 & 2.34 of 3d analyzer but i got this problem…

“Could not copy D:\Games\Prince of Persia\3d Analyzer\hook_3DA.dll to D:\Games\Prince of Persia\hook_3DA.dll”

any suggestions? thanks
37 Not iportant Nov 11th, 2007 at 12:59 am

Most probably, you are using Vista. To solve that problem just run 3Danalyze as administrator (click right on 3danalyze shortcut and you will see).

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