hey all, I got Arcanum and im having problems with it. Im running Windows 7 64 bit, and using the no3d and doublebuffer switches but for some reason the game keeps showing the desktop, i mean the game works but every few seconds it looks like it crashes to the desktop, only it didnt crash, it just minimized. Its unplayable like this, almost on cue every 2-3 seconds, it flashes back to the desktop.

Any ideas? Thanks

I have the same problem under Windows 7 32 bit. Some more things that I tried to no avail:

-running the game as admin
-running in compatibility-mode
-directly starting the exe
-installing the unofficial patch
-installing the high-res patch
-disabling my second monitor

Nothing worked, the game refuses to run. I have an NVidia graphics card, but I don't intend to downgrade my drivers to a version that's a year old.

It's been awhile since I played Arcanum but for what it's worth -

****Standard things to confirm*******

If running Win 7 / Vista - Did you ...

install as an administrator? (right-click the setup.exe and click "Run as an administrator" in the resulting dialog.
turn UAC off before installing? (see attached image) Set to "Never" notify or uncheck in Vista
install in a directory outside of Program Files?
right click the game shortcut, click Properties, click the Compatibility tab and check mark "Run this program as an administrator"?
try using different compatibility modes, starting with the newest and working back to the oldest?
install all mods as an administrator?
try re-running (as an admin) the HighRes.bat located in the Arcanum install directory . . . trying different resolutions. That failing, run the HighRes.bat (as an admin) and uninstall / reinstall the HighRes mod.

If you decide to reinstall the game make sure you uninstall it first and delete all files and directories under GOG.com\Arcanum before reinstalling. Also make a backup of your saves first. (see image)

*************
Make sure you DO NOT have the short cut set to run in window mode as I remember the game didn't like to be run in a window.

If you have a dual / quad core CPU, did you try setting the affinity to a single core? You can do it manually by starting the game, ALT-TAB out of the game, open task manager (CTRL - ALT - DEL ), find the [game name].exe on the Processes tab, right click the exe and click Set affinity . . . on the resulting dialog. Un-check all but the CPU 0 check box. (See attached image) Close the task manager and play the game. If this helps I suggest using RunFirst as it sets the affinity for the game without having to go thru the task manager process each time you play.

Some users of Vista / Win 7 have limited the memory to solve some problems. I don't care for this method since it must be done before running the game every time and reset to the full memory after you stop playing. (see image) Make a note of the current setting prior to changing it since you will need to set it back after playing.

If you are running an AMD CPU you might try the AMD Dual Core Optimizer

Edit : No matter what I do, the post keeps naming two images affinity and two images Limit memor??? sorry.

I did most of it even before you mentioned it, but there were some thins that I did not think of.

Unfortunately, they did not help me at all. Thanks for the try, though ;) Maybe one of your ideas helps Riker.

Edit: You might also try right clicking the game shortcut, click properties, click the Compatibility tab and check mark "Disable visual themes", "Disable desktop composition". Also, disable or turn off your Gaggets sidebar since one of those could be taking focus for a moment.

Sorry it didn't help. Are you running any skinning programs like Window Blinds. If so, go into the program and exempt the arcanum.exe from skinning. Might also try disconnecting from the internet and turning your AV and Firewall programs off since they sometimes interfere with games. Of course turn them back on before reconnecting. If the game runs you might try disabling one at a time to determine which program it is and go from there.

It appears that another program is taking focus from the game which cause it to minimize.

i was having the same problem until i ran the program as an administrator from Gog folder under All Programs (from start menu) -- now all is well!

(windows 7 32-bit, dual core processor).

Hehe . . . that will be a great fix if it works for them, never ran across that one . . . =)

Edit: Anything unusual in the menu shortcut target path command line?

Wow thanks for that, It works a treat. I dont know why using that shortcut would make any difference, but I made it all the way to Shrouded Hills with no problem. Weird.

THANK YOU! That works very well. To fix the other shortcut, go to the "security" tab under the shortcut properties and remove the group "interactive". Allow "everyone" to read and execute the program.

And, well, that should be it. Please be adviced that my version of windows is German, so the description may not be completely accurate, but I'm sure someone with an english version can figure out what I mean and maybe post step by step instructions ;)