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Every time i start up battlefront 2, the screen goes black for several minutes, after which it loads up normally. The same is true when loading a map; when it starts and finishes, the screen goes black for several minutes before returning to the menu. I've never tried running it on this computer before, so i'm not really sure what's causing it. The video drivers are up to date, and apart from that I'm not sure what it could be...

Specs:
Windows Xp Home (SP 3)
Core 2 duo 1.8GHz
1 Gb RAM

It's not much of a gaming computer, but I'm pretty sure specs have nothing to do with it....

I used to have this problem on my other computer. I remember finding out what exactly the problem was one time, but I forgot it's specifics. It had something to do with the graphics card, or it's drivers. I tried updating my drivers but it never worked. It's not a problem for me now, since I'm using a newer much more powerful computer.

As a side note, you'll be unable to join MP servers, but you can still make them.

tr:dr It can't be fixed short of getting a better PC.

lucasfart wrote: Specs:
Windows Xp Home (SP 3)
Core 2 duo 1.8GHz
1 Gb RAM

It's not much of a gaming computer, but I'm pretty sure specs have nothing to do with it....

My boy, specs are EVERYTHING. If you barely meet the minimum requirements of a game, your game is barely going to run... In your case, I'm going to guess its a combination of your ancient processor and an integrated graphics card (read: crappy graphics card for gaming).

Here are the SWBF2 PC requirements
http://starwarsbattlefront.filefront.co ... quirements

Now, until you meet all of the recommended requirements, your game will run, sure, but it will most likely have issues.

But the thing is, i was running it fine on lowest graphics on a 2002 model computer, with 512mb RAM, 2.8 GHZ cpu (single core) and windows xp home sp1.....The graphics card (integrated) was either 64 mb or 128. it worked FINE on each and every map i tried. Granted, some with a lot happening ran slower, but i've never had anything like this happen before....

So somehow, i don't think specs are the issue here...

EDIT: What do you mean, until the pass the recommended requirements? They already do! No, the specs are not the problem, i'm almost positive....Just thinking back now, i don't actually have any audio drivers installed at the moment, due to problems with them...could that be causing my problems?

lucasfart wrote:But the thing is, i was running it fine on lowest graphics on a 2002 model computer, with 512mb RAM, 2.8 GHZ cpu (single core) and windows xp home sp1.....The graphics card (integrated) was either 64 mb or 128. it worked FINE on each and every map i tried. Granted, some with a lot happening ran slower, but i've never had anything like this happen before....

A single core 2.8ghz and a good 64mb or 128mb Graphics card will run it nicely. Your current double core isn't going to work as well as SWBF2 can't tell if your cpu has a second core. Since the dual core splits the GHZ, your new one is like a 0.9ghz cpu to SWBF2.

lucasfart wrote:So somehow, i don't think specs are the issue here...

They are.

lucasfart wrote:EDIT: What do you mean, until the pass the recommended requirements? They already do! No, the specs are not the problem, i'm almost positive....Just thinking back now, i don't actually have any audio drivers installed at the moment, due to problems with them...could that be causing my problems?

Audio is not the issue, your graphics card is probably as bad as mine was. Graphics Media Accelerator maybe? It would be nice to know your full specs, including your gfx card.

Yeah its an Intel GMA 128 mb card......I didn't realise that bf didn't recognise the second core. Thats annoying. But with what you said about it being 0.9 GHz, you are mistaken. By core 2 duo 1.8 GHz, i meant 2 cores, each with 1.8GHz. But yeah, that's still hopeless. Has anyone made a patch of some sort to get multi-cores working?

EDIT: Here's my current specs: It's a macbook, 2006-2007 model...

lucasfart wrote:Yeah its an Intel GMA 128 mb card......I didn't realise that bf didn't recognise the second core. Thats annoying. But with what you said about it being 0.9 GHz, you are mistaken. By core 2 duo 1.8 GHz, i meant 2 cores, each with 1.8GHz. But yeah, that's still hopeless. Has anyone made a patch of some sort to get multi-cores working?

There is a way to hex edit the swbf2.exe to read dual cores, as I know someone who did it. I however have a single core, so I have had no need to edit my .exe. The admins should probably have a say in this, as editing the .exe is actually illegal. Not to be presumptuous, the staff should be fine with it. As this is a small helpful edit, and not reverse engineering the .exe.

A GMA graphics card will run the game horribly, and have issues just like mine did. I suggest getting a replacement for the card. Should be about $80 tops.

THEWULFMAN wrote:

lucasfart wrote:Yeah its an Intel GMA 128 mb card......I didn't realise that bf didn't recognise the second core. Thats annoying. But with what you said about it being 0.9 GHz, you are mistaken. By core 2 duo 1.8 GHz, i meant 2 cores, each with 1.8GHz. But yeah, that's still hopeless. Has anyone made a patch of some sort to get multi-cores working?

There is a way to hex edit the swbf2.exe to read dual cores, as I know someone who did it. I however have a single core, so I have had no need to edit my .exe. The admins should probably have a say in this, as editing the .exe is actually illegal. Not to be presumptuous, the staff should be fine with it. As this is a small helpful edit, and not reverse engineering the .exe.

Actually, enabling both CPU threads is what you're thinking of. Go to Task Manager, right-click BattlefrontII.exe, Set Affinity..., make sure both checkboxes are checked.

lucasfart wrote:Yeah its an Intel GMA 128 mb card......I didn't realise that bf didn't recognise the second core. Thats annoying. But with what you said about it being 0.9 GHz, you are mistaken. By core 2 duo 1.8 GHz, i meant 2 cores, each with 1.8GHz. But yeah, that's still hopeless. Has anyone made a patch of some sort to get multi-cores working?

So you are saying you have a 3.6 GHz dual core processor?

Marth8880 wrote: Actually, enabling both CPU threads is what you're thinking of. Go to Task Manager, right-click BattlefrontII.exe, Set Affinity..., make sure both checkboxes are checked.

Well that's an easier second method to do it. Good to know.


Also, don't get a Macbook if you want to play games. I'm not saying Macs suck(which I don't think, they are fine computers), I'm just saying PCs play games a lot easier.

Yeah, both are already checked, so my cpu should be fine to use....also just found out that my graphics card, weirdly enough, is 244 mb...so size definitely isn't an issue. Does bf2 have issues with integrated intel chipsets?

EDIT: @ Wulfman - I'm not rich you know.....this is dad's old laptop which i have inherited, and i'm about to get a newer 2009 model one from him (macbook still). Macbooks are fine for gaming, depending on the model you get. Our newer one has 4gb Ram, core 2 duo 2.6ghz and a 512mb Nvidia graphics card. Nevertheless, i would like to fix this one, so any help is appreciated.

And also, just so you guys know, the game runs totally fine once its all loaded, its just that there's a several minute gap before it loads.

So you're saying you'd like to fix this one, but you don't have the money for new parts. I hate to break it to you, but the loading problem IS a combination the graphics card and the CPU attempting to load the game and/or render the map.

Take a look at this website and try to find your graphics card:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Comparison ... 130.0.html
(Hint: it's near the bottom, maybe a low Class 3 "Low-Midrange," but more likely in Class 4 "Barely Games-Capable")
The Intel integrated graphics cards aren't made for gaming. They're meant for maintaining battery life while doing simple tasks that may require a graphics card (like surfing the web or watching a movie on your laptop).

As for your processor, setting the affinity like Marth said should fix that, but only after the game has started up, so you'll have to sit through the black screen at least once every time.

I understand what you're saying, but I'm not sure if that's what it is. When the screen goes black, i'm don't think anything is loading...its only after the black screen that the loading screen appears, at which point the game loads normally, with no speed problems. It's the same with the maps. The screen goes black, and then when the loading screen reappears it goes normally. I just can't see it as being a hardware fault...As i mentioned before, my 2002 computer with an integrated 64mb graphics card (mighta been intel; can't remember) ran the game fine, albeit on lowest settings.

So while i accept what you say, I'm not sure that you're right about it being a hardware fault.

Twilight is right, it's the hardware. The Intel Media/Graphics/Gaming/Whatever Accelerator is not meant or designed for doing almost anything outside of the basic Interwebz, word processing, light media streaming, etc.

While it wasn't made for games, it can play them. If you check out http://neoswrath.blogspot.com/2009/03/i ... eview.html review, you'll find that quite a lot of games can be run, albeit on low settings for most...I tried his tnl patch, but it didn't seem to make a difference.

EDIT: I'm considering modding the drivers, as it seems to have good results for some people. I dunno how reliable it is, so if anyone's had any experience with this kinda stuff, let me know.

And sorry if modding drivers is in some way against the rules. Please correct me if it is.

Well then, Mr. Computer Expert, if you don't think it's the hardware, that's fine. Three different people, including myself, have tried telling you what your issue is, but CLEARLY it's something else. Good luck in figuring it out, I've done what I can.

I would NOT touch any of the kernel or drivers for hardware if I were you.

@ Twilight - I realise i probably sounded like some stuck up no-it-all, so I'm sorry. You probably ARE right, but i just don't wanna give up too soon. There might be some workaround, and its for that reason that I'm not just giving up based on what you guys have said.

@ Marth - If they do stuff up, would it be hard to restore them to the original drivers? I say this because i originally had NO video drivers on this computer, and it worked fine, although the screen res was a bit lower.

Not probably, we are right. I'm speaking from experience. I had the same exact 2 minute long black screen upon loading the game and maps. I tried for 7 months to figure something out, short of a new card or new computer. SWBF2 may be an old game, but it still requires a decent graphics card to function properlly. I had to suffer through the 2 minute long waits every single time, untill about 2 months ago when I switched to a new, larger computer. I'm going to lay your options out here for you.

Option A: Suck it up and just wait two minutes. I usually read a page or two of a book when waiting.
Option B: If I wanted to keep working while it waits 2 extra minutes to load, I'd minimize it. I have only used a MacBook for 2 weeks, I forget the key combination for bringing up Mac's equivalent to the PC's Task Manager.
Option C: Buy a new graphics card, one designed for playing games. Like I said, they run around 70 bucks, give or take depending on what you get. This should solve your problem.
Option D: Buy a new, better computer that doesn't have a GMA graphics card. A MacBook would cost a ton(around $700, and I don't even know if that would be enough), a PC good enough to play SWBF2 at almost max settings(all but AA) would cost about $300. That's what my new one cost.

Those are your options. You asked us what your problem is, we told you. Have a nice day.

Alright, this may sound lazy, but I'm grumpy now.

I only read the first post and saw that it's the exact same as mine. LOL.

Well, as I write this, I decided to read them but nothing new.

THEWULFMAN wrote:Buy a new, better computer that doesn't have a GMA graphics card. A MacBook would cost a ton(around $700, and I don't even know if that would be enough), a PC good enough to play SWBF2 at almost max settings(all but AA) would cost about $300. That's what my new one cost.

Working towards this.

OK. Thanks for the help you guys. With the whole minimising thing, Wulfman, when i alt+tab out of it, when i click on the game again to reopen it, it just closes the game completely. Its really weird.

And on a totally unrelated subject, what are your opinions on overclocking the card, just to get a little extra out of it. I was thinking of using http://www.gmabooster.com/home.htm to give it a little extra oomph. The laptops battery doesn't work, so battery consumption isn't a problem.