Vista - Black Screen with Games

**Smair** · 06-27-2009

Hi there,

I recently bought this new PC, which has vista on it. The specs are as follows:

Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Dual Core Processor

4GB Corsair DDR II Memory
ATI Radeon x1600 Series
Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit.

I have tried installing many different games on my pc, which are quite new and have been released in the last few years. The installation goes fine, and everything is great. When it comes to launching the game, well, i double click the file to run the game, and i get a black screen. Nothing happens afterwards. It just stays black. 'Ctrl + Alt + Delete' does not work, and neither does 'Alt + Tab', or any other keyboard shortcuts. This results in me having to hold in the power button and turn my pc off like that.

Any idea's on what could be wrong? It is extremely frustrating, due to the fact that i've tried running about 3 - 5 games on my computer, and neither of them work, without a black screen coming up after trying to launch any of them. I've tried numerous things like 'Running as Administrator' and changing compatibillity modes and so on and so forth, but none of that works.

Any suggestions/solutions will be greatly appreciated, thank you.

**fadedrs** · 06-27-2009

Quote:

ATI Radeon x1600 Series

low end video card, you will need to get a seperate video card for it.

is it a desktop or laptop?

**Smair** · 06-27-2009

Hi,

I currently own a desktop pc.

I have one working game, and only one, which is "UT2004' and i'm able to max out the settings. But that is the only game i can run.

All other games are non-runnable.

The GFX card (ATI Radeon) is a separate one i purchased quite some time ago.

**stew2** · 06-27-2009

If you go to this link, you will see the x1600 is a low end card: Graphics Card Hierarchy Chart - Review Tom's Hardware : Best Graphics Cards For The Money: Jan. '09

You'll still be able to play most games but on a low graphics settings. To get the most out of your graphics card download and install the CCC package from ATI:

Graphics Drivers & Software

Once that is installed download and install these two updates:

DirectX (You need this whether you running DirectX 9, 10 or 10.1)
C ++ for Vista 64 bit

Once the last one is installed, reboot your pc.

**Smair** · 06-29-2009

Hi stew2

I did what you said, installed the DirectX and C++ updates, and installed CCC. It didn't help the matter however.

Thing is, my brother used this Graphics Card before me, and he said it could run any game like BioShock, Call of Duty 4, UT3 and so on. So if the card could run those games on his pc, why won't the card run games on my pc?

**stew2** · 06-29-2009

Can you list the games you are trying to play.

**Smair** · 07-02-2009

Hi, Sorry for the late reply.

Anyways, I was trying to play BioShock, The Sims 2, World Of Warcraft, GTA: San Andreas.

This card worked fine on my brothers pc, and it could play the above games. My brother gave the card to me, and i put it in my pc, and now the above games aren't playable, so i'm assuming it must be my pc.

**stew2** · 07-02-2009

Ok i dont have any of those games listed but if you havent done this already then you can try it. Go to the folder where the game is installed. Its most likely installed in C:\Program Files (x86)

Open the game folder and look for the .exe files. So in the bioshock folder your looking for something like BioShock.exe. See if theres any other .exe files especially ones that say Launcher, Config etc and double left click on them. That will open a settings window for that game where you should set every graphics option to its lowest level and then try playing the game.

neorrealismo · 07-03-2009

Hi All,

I have exactly the same problem. Start a game and the screen goes black, no response from the keyboard until I turn it off and start again. I thought it might be the firewall (comodo) but it doesn´t seem to register anything, I managed to start BF2 in windows mode but it was full of problems. The only game that seems to work is TW:Empire and that had problems in the beginning. I hope anyway has any ideas?

Thx

**fadedrs** · 07-03-2009

try updating the game, i had the same problem with crysis, would not start, kept crashing out on me, update the game engine patch and it worked.

06-27-2009	#1 (permalink)
Smair Vista Home Premium 64bit 5 posts	Black Screen with Games Hi there, I recently bought this new PC, which has vista on it. The specs are as follows: Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Dual Core Processor 4GB Corsair DDR II Memory ATI Radeon x1600 Series Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit. I have tried installing many different games on my pc, which are quite new and have been released in the last few years. The installation goes fine, and everything is great. When it comes to launching the game, well, i double click the file to run the game, and i get a black screen. Nothing happens afterwards. It just stays black. 'Ctrl + Alt + Delete' does not work, and neither does 'Alt + Tab', or any other keyboard shortcuts. This results in me having to hold in the power button and turn my pc off like that. Any idea's on what could be wrong? It is extremely frustrating, due to the fact that i've tried running about 3 - 5 games on my computer, and neither of them work, without a black screen coming up after trying to launch any of them. I've tried numerous things like 'Running as Administrator' and changing compatibillity modes and so on and so forth, but none of that works. Any suggestions/solutions will be greatly appreciated, thank you.
My System Specs

06-27-2009	#2 (permalink)
fadedrs Vista Ultimate X64, Windows 7 X64, XP Pro X64, Vista Home Premium X86 695 posts	Re: Black Screen with Games Quote: ATI Radeon x1600 Series low end video card, you will need to get a seperate video card for it. is it a desktop or laptop?
My System Specs

06-27-2009	#3 (permalink)
Smair Vista Home Premium 64bit 5 posts	Re: Black Screen with Games Hi, I currently own a desktop pc. I have one working game, and only one, which is "UT2004' and i'm able to max out the settings. But that is the only game i can run. All other games are non-runnable. The GFX card (ATI Radeon) is a separate one i purchased quite some time ago.
My System Specs

06-27-2009	#4 (permalink)
stew2 Vista Ultimate x64 602 posts	Re: Black Screen with Games If you go to this link, you will see the x1600 is a low end card: Graphics Card Hierarchy Chart - Review Tom's Hardware : Best Graphics Cards For The Money: Jan. '09 You'll still be able to play most games but on a low graphics settings. To get the most out of your graphics card download and install the CCC package from ATI: Graphics Drivers & Software Once that is installed download and install these two updates: DirectX (You need this whether you running DirectX 9, 10 or 10.1) C ++ for Vista 64 bit Once the last one is installed, reboot your pc.
My System Specs

06-29-2009	#5 (permalink)
Smair Vista Home Premium 64bit 5 posts	Re: Black Screen with Games Hi stew2 I did what you said, installed the DirectX and C++ updates, and installed CCC. It didn't help the matter however. Thing is, my brother used this Graphics Card before me, and he said it could run any game like BioShock, Call of Duty 4, UT3 and so on. So if the card could run those games on his pc, why won't the card run games on my pc?
My System Specs

06-29-2009	#6 (permalink)
stew2 Vista Ultimate x64 602 posts	Re: Black Screen with Games Can you list the games you are trying to play.
My System Specs

07-02-2009	#7 (permalink)
Smair Vista Home Premium 64bit 5 posts	Re: Black Screen with Games Hi, Sorry for the late reply. Anyways, I was trying to play BioShock, The Sims 2, World Of Warcraft, GTA: San Andreas. This card worked fine on my brothers pc, and it could play the above games. My brother gave the card to me, and i put it in my pc, and now the above games aren't playable, so i'm assuming it must be my pc.
My System Specs

07-02-2009	#8 (permalink)
stew2 Vista Ultimate x64 602 posts	Re: Black Screen with Games Ok i dont have any of those games listed but if you havent done this already then you can try it. Go to the folder where the game is installed. Its most likely installed in C:\Program Files (x86) Open the game folder and look for the .exe files. So in the bioshock folder your looking for something like BioShock.exe. See if theres any other .exe files especially ones that say Launcher, Config etc and double left click on them. That will open a settings window for that game where you should set every graphics option to its lowest level and then try playing the game.
My System Specs

07-03-2009	#9 (permalink)
neorrealismo vista home premium 64 2 posts	Re: Black Screen with Games Hi All, I have exactly the same problem. Start a game and the screen goes black, no response from the keyboard until I turn it off and start again. I thought it might be the firewall (comodo) but it doesn´t seem to register anything, I managed to start BF2 in windows mode but it was full of problems. The only game that seems to work is TW:Empire and that had problems in the beginning. I hope anyway has any ideas? Thx
My System Specs

07-03-2009	#10 (permalink)
fadedrs Vista Ultimate X64, Windows 7 X64, XP Pro X64, Vista Home Premium X86 695 posts	Re: Black Screen with Games try updating the game, i had the same problem with crysis, would not start, kept crashing out on me, update the game engine patch and it worked.
My System Specs

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