the dreaded black screen
 

alright guys - help me through this before my withdrawl pains kick in. and please (i am asking this with respect), no condescending remarks about how old DF1 is, how no one plays it anymore etc. thanks in advance.

Here's the deal - CD was destroyed last November, and between moving, new job etc. it wasn't until now that I finally replaced it. I have DSL at our new place, so I went through the procedures of opening up firewall ports for Df as instructed on the novalogic site.

Unfortunately, when I went to connect to novaworld, it would not let me do so. I got an error message stating that it cannot connect to the URL. Looking for an answer, I did some digging around and found something called the DF1 pinger, and from there learned of a new patch, which seems to have updated my program to direct to the correct url to novaworld's lobby. The link below will elaborate, if you are interested:

http://novalogic.com/download/NLExePatcher.exe

problem now is that, even though I can now get the lobby, I can't seem to join a game as I am getting the dreaded black screen with nothing after that. Not sure if this is firewall-related or not, but according to the instructions at novaworld, that should be all good.

the game version reads as: 1.00.03.01P - (what's up with the P?). i have an external DSL modem and as far as i know, no router. i have set the firewall ports to whatever number specified on novalogic's site. i've tried shutting off the firewall and as far as i can tell, that hasn't helped either.

i can see games in the lobby such as SCAR free for all etc., but only get a black screen when i try to join them. i tried hosting a game, but no one joined, so i don't know if i am actually hosting them or not.

any other ideas?

thanks.....

What firewall are you using? Make sure it's allowed DF1 to use the online connection.

Also, I get a letter "P" on my version as well - don't worry. ;)

Chris :)

hi, chrispy - thanks for the quick reply.

i am using windows firewall for winxp. i have tried following the directions at novalogic (opening ports UDP 3568 and 3569) and have also tried shutting the firewall off completely with no success. i only have one DSL modem for one computer so as far as i know, i don't think i have a router, whatever the $#%# that is.

A router's basically a device that determines the paths to travel between networks.

When running DF1 online, you should've gotten a warning message from Windows Firewall asking to block the game or not. Did you ever see that? (I'm sure you could still play online even with the warning message intact lol.)

I use Windows Firewall as well.

Try uninstalling DF1 completely, delete the whole game folder, then reinstall (backup your saves if you want).

Also, you might want to experiment with drivers and update, rollback, etc. I'm not sure really.

Someone here might help you out better mate. ;)

Chris :)

if you did not already know this

you update the game first using the older update, after then use the new server update NLExePatcher.exe

all so it will not run in Windows Xp you need to make a DF1 shortcut to desktop then edited the setting to run in windows 98/Me
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3.../df1adapte.jpg
right click-on the shortcut lookup properities click-on it, then you be in the shortcut option above.

then try to play the game.


NLExePatcher.exe is not a full update! only patch the game to connect to new servers address only. they move to a new location 's

dudes. i think novaworld should do something about this black screen deal. cuz i opened up my ports n' used will's update and all that BS and the **** still does not work! im still gettin that black screen.

guys -

thanks for the replies - i'll see what i can find out~

gee did you even updated it at all, there are twoo update you need for it

install in this order other wise you may get error
1.) game update
2.) server location update

game plays good for me! thats all i did

install it right off the Cd then use the two updates

what kind of modem did you receive. Most dsl companys are sending units that are a router, modem and firewall all in one.