Ok. I'm new to this game and there are two problems I need help with.

1: Graphics. I've gotten the graphics to a decent state but reading menus is still a problem. What I keep reading on these threads is "Set Descent 3 to OpenGL".......... Okay....... How do I do that? As far as I know my computer does not have it. When I go into setting and scan for it all it finds is direct3D

Also will OpenGL improve the graphics or resolution? The graphic are kind of grey and lifeless compared to the screen shots and the game's maximum resolution is 1600 by 1200. it would be cool to get the to look nicer without modding.

2: The Mouse. I'm playing this with a mouse and keyboard and I've got a set up I like, mostly... The mouse seems to be automaticly inverted so forward is down and back is up. I would like to be able to re-invent the mouse to the way it is in most FPS games. It confuses both my head and hand.

Thank you for reading.

Which video card do you have? ATI or Nvidia?

For your mouse, when in game, go into the configuration for the keyboard/joystick/mouse and there is a small setting next to where you customize the controls that says something like "invert mouse"

I think I have an Nvidia card.

If there is an invert mouse option my meneu screen is to messed up to show it I'm afraid.

Thanks you for offering to help.

ok, For the video, when you are in the launcher, click the setup button. Then click the VIDEO tab and click the "redetect ...."
When it's done, you should be able to clock the arrow in the video card selection and select OPENGL.

For mouse invert,

Within the game, click CONFIGURE, then Configure Controller, in the axis you want to change, click the ? and there will be a pop up window where you can invert the axis.

I've tried that but I'm afraid the only viable option it offers me is Direct3D. If I deselect Direct3D I'm offered 3Dfx Glide and OpenGL. But if I try to scan for those rather than Direct3D the only option I'm given is "No device selected" which wont let me play the game. So whatever OpenGL is I don't seem to have it.

This is what OpenGL is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opengl

What graphics card do you have? I know you said you think it is an nvidia, but can you confirm, and how old is it? OpenGL is part of the nvidia drivers, I'd find it hard to believe you don't have the OpenGL libraries on your machine.

It shouldn't be that old. I had my PC built in march of last year (You may have guessed I'm not very tech savvy). Is there any way I can find out what kind of card I have exactly without opening my PC up?

The nvidia software will also tell you, if it has been installed alongside the driver.

My thanks to you and Judas Iscariot. The card I have a is NVidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti. I hope that helps.(Sorry about taking awhile to get back on this).

I really can't imagine you'd have any problems with OpenGL on a GTX 660Ti. First things first, ensure your graphics drivers are up to date. You can get the latest drivers and software from the nvidia site:
http://www.nvidia.co.uk/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-uk

Rerun the setup of D3 in the launcher. Click the setup after the launcher start. Click the video tab and have it "redetect" video devices. Make sure you check off the boxes for direct3d, openGl and click detect.

From the results it will list what your card is capable of doing.

As I've said brfore I've done this multiple times and always with the same results. It offers me Direct3D 3Dfx Glide and OpenGL. But when I click detect the only thing it ever offers me is Direct3D Primary Display Driver. When I delesct Direct3D and try to use OpenGL it offers me nothing and always has.

I don't seem to have any other device.

I'll try this at home tonight. It's weird because Direct3D and OpenGL is just software drivers and all are available on modern cards. GLIDE is no longer used as GLIDE cards went buh bye a decade ago.