It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Community
Might and Magic seriesMM8 alt-tab problem(12 posts)(12 posts)
(12 posts)
Pages:
1
This is my favourite topic
Posted September 23, 2013
Hi. I'm trying to run MM8 and it works fairly well, but whenever I alt-tab to Windows and back, then game interface is shrinked to the left vertical half of the screen and the colors are scrambled - mostly pink-ish as if the game color palette got screwed up. To navigate the interface with the mouse, I have to navigate blindly in the black right side of the screen to find the menu items on the left side if you get me.

I've tried to use windowed mode, but found out I can't since Windows 8 won't allow me (or the GPU drivers) to switch to 16-bit mode (which seems to be required for windowed mode).

If I get back to the game, only the ingame HUD is displayed incorrectly, the rest of the game interface (view) is fine. But it still makes the game unplayable after alt-tabbing.

Can anyone help?

PS: I've tried all the possible compatibility settings in Windows
Posted September 23, 2013
avatar
Budrumi: Hi. I'm trying to run MM8 and it works fairly well, but whenever I alt-tab to Windows and back, then game interface is shrinked to the left vertical half of the screen and the colors are scrambled ... I've tried to use windowed mode, but found out I can't since Windows 8 won't allow me (or the GPU drivers) to switch to 16-bit mode (which seems to be required for windowed mode).
Alt+Tab can't be fixed but windowed mode can. Install GrayFace MM8 Patch, and remove Windows 95 compatibility mode from the game if it is present. Windowed mode will now work; Alt+Tab will still break colors as before but toggling windowed mode seems to fix this without having to restart the game. I'm also on Windows 8 so hopefully it will work the same for you.

Note that with this patch you need an extra step to get music working again; run the game once with the patch applied then go to the installation folder, open mm8.ini, change PlayMP3=0 to PlayMP3=1 and save your changes.
Post edited September 23, 2013 by Arkose
Posted September 24, 2013
avatar
Budrumi: Alt+Tab can't be fixed but windowed mode can. Install GrayFace MM8 Patch, and remove Windows 95 compatibility mode from the game if it is present. Windowed mode will now work; Alt+Tab will still break colors as before but toggling windowed mode seems to fix this without having to restart the game. I'm also on Windows 8 so hopefully it will work the same for you.

Note that with this patch you need an extra step to get music working again; run the game once with the patch applied then go to the installation folder, open mm8.ini, change PlayMP3=0 to PlayMP3=1 and save your changes.
Thanks, I've installed the patch, changed compatibility mode to WinXP (with compat. turned off completely, the game would throw "Smacker" error), fixed music, but it still won't run windowed. I've ran MM8Setup.exe again, changed the renderer to Software and clicked Windowed mode, launched the game, yet it's still in fullscreen mode.
Oh once I switched from Hardware accelerated 3D to Software, I can't switch back, the option is grayed now (it says "This device does not support D3D hardware acceleration" which is nonsense ofcourse (I have HD6950 GPU)).

Any other ideas? Thanks in advance
Posted September 24, 2013
avatar
Budrumi: it still won't run windowed. I've ran MM8Setup.exe again, changed the renderer to Software and clicked Windowed mode, launched the game, yet it's still in fullscreen mode.
Oh once I switched from Hardware accelerated 3D to Software, I can't switch back, the option is grayed now
I didn't try changing windowed mode in setup, I toggled it with F4 while in-game.

3D settings are stored in the registry; uninstalling the game (choosing to keep saves, if applicable) will delete the settings. Try reinstalling to reset the settings and apply the patch again, using F4 to toggle windowed mode.
Posted September 24, 2013
Reinstalling didn't fix the accelerated gfx issue, I found out I had to turn compatibility mode too for the mm8 setup, then it showed me the accelerated option.
Anyway, reinstalled the game, reinstalled the patch, but it didn't fix the issue. When I use F4 ingame, it switches to windowed mode, but the graphics breaks (like when I used alt-tab before).
Posted September 24, 2013
avatar
Budrumi: Anyway, reinstalled the game, reinstalled the patch, but it didn't fix the issue. When I use F4 ingame, it switches to windowed mode, but the graphics breaks (like when I used alt-tab before).
Did you remember to turn off the OS compatibility mode for mm8.exe? Leaving it with an OS version applied will still break colors, but removing that seems to make it work fine.

Also if you're running the game directly from the installation folder it should be run with mm8.exe, not mm8-rel.exe, since the -rel version isn't updated by the GrayFace patch.

Failing that I'm not sure why you would be getting a different result unless the video card matters somehow.
Posted September 26, 2013
Ofcourse I've forgotten to turn off compat. mode for mm8.exe :)
Thanks for your help, now it works fine in windowed mode.

Last question - is there a mod/fix that adds more resolutions you could use?
Posted September 26, 2013
avatar
Budrumi: Last question - is there a mod/fix that adds more resolutions you could use?
Unfortunately I couldn't find any proper resolution mod for MM8 or MM6, but there is one for MM7 (MMResTool).
Posted September 26, 2013
Alright, thanks for your help, I appreciate it.
Posted May 14, 2014
Thanks guys, I managed to get it running on my macbook through playonmac. Your comments helped out big time.
Posted August 23, 2014
Thanks guys this thread fixed my annoying problem for me too!

Cheers!
Posted June 06, 2023
avatar
Budrumi: Hi. I'm trying to run MM8 and it works fairly well, but whenever I alt-tab to Windows and back, then game interface is shrinked to the left vertical half of the screen and the colors are scrambled - mostly pink-ish as if the game color palette got screwed up. To navigate the interface with the mouse, I have to navigate blindly in the black right side of the screen to find the menu items on the left side if you get me.

I've tried to use windowed mode, but found out I can't since Windows 8 won't allow me (or the GPU drivers) to switch to 16-bit mode (which seems to be required for windowed mode).

If I get back to the game, only the ingame HUD is displayed incorrectly, the rest of the game interface (view) is fine. But it still makes the game unplayable after alt-tabbing.

Can anyone help?

PS: I've tried all the possible compatibility settings in Windows
___________________________________________________________________

I play MM8 on a 64bit Win 10 and i use a method that works very well for me.
> Set your screen resolution to 800x600
> Set your property settings
> Compability = Win XP + SP3
> Run as administrator
> Reduces color mode = 16-bits (65536) colors
> Run the game
> Use the F4 key to change windows/full screen mode (windows mode will be completely messes up)
> Use fullscreen mode and the you can play the original version of MM8 without problems.
> You can go in and out of the game, but must press F4 again to get to viewable screen.
Post edited June 06, 2023 by Blackie Morningstar
Pages:
1
This is my favourite topic
Community
Might and Magic seriesMM8 alt-tab problem(12 posts)(12 posts)
(12 posts)