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Heroes of Might and Magic II (HoMM2) DOS video mode problem

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First post, by InterClaw

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I'm trying to get HoMM2 running properly on my 486 (IBM Aptiva 2144-888) running MS-DOS 7.10 (CDU). It works fine the first time I launch the game. I get the spinning test animation for videos, then get the other intro videos and end up on the main menu. I can start a game and save and exit out into DOS normally.

The second time I run the game I get a black screen though and the monitor eventually goes into stand by, so there's no output it seems. I can hear the intro videos playing and the main menu music. Trying to restart with Ctrl-Alt-Del seems to lock the system and I can't shut off the system with the power button either (the system has an early version of that springy hold to force shut off that we're used to today). I have to shut if down by switching off the PSU.

The only way to make it work again that I've found is to delete HEROES2.CFG and let it go through the testing again and generate a new CFG file. Seems a little bit annoying to do that every time. In the settings when it is running, the videos are set to interlaced.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a solution available to me?

Reply 1 of 7, by MagefromAntares

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Hi,

Which version of HoMM2 are you trying to run? (IIRC the versions were 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3)
These patches contains some graphics related fixes, so they might be helpful.
Unfortunately all on-line sites that I have been able to find hosting the patches seems to be a bit suspicious. This Hungarian site seems to contain the patch from 1.0 to 1.3 amongst others:
http://hommm.hu/component/jdownloads/category/5-heroes-22
However, even as a Hungarian, I cannot vouch for how safe and legit this site is so be careful, but this seemed to be the least suspicious for me.

"A process cannot be understood by stopping it. Understanding must move with the flow of the process, must join it and flow with it." - Dune

Reply 2 of 7, by InterClaw

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MagefromAntares wrote on Today, 09:36:
Hi, […]
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Hi,

Which version of HoMM2 are you trying to run? (IIRC the versions were 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3)
These patches contains some graphics related fixes, so they might be helpful.
Unfortunately all on-line sites that I have been able to find hosting the patches seems to be a bit suspicious. This Hungarian site seems to contain the patch from 1.0 to 1.3 amongst others:
http://hommm.hu/component/jdownloads/category/5-heroes-22
However, even as a Hungarian, I cannot vouch for how safe and legit this site is so be careful, but this seemed to be the least suspicious for me.

Thank you for the tip! However, I'm already running Price of Loyalty version 2.1. I should have mentioned that...

Got the patch from here:
https://www.moddb.com/games/heroes-of-might-a … y-v21-dos-patch

Reply 3 of 7, by MagefromAntares

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Okay that is the last official version for the expansion as far as I know, can you post what kind of video card do you have installed? Or is it the one which have an inbuilt Cirrus Logic?

"A process cannot be understood by stopping it. Understanding must move with the flow of the process, must join it and flow with it." - Dune

Reply 4 of 7, by InterClaw

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MagefromAntares wrote on Today, 10:41:

Okay that is the last official version for the expansion as far as I know, can you post what kind of video card do you have installed? Or is it the one which have an inbuilt Cirrus Logic?

Yes, exactly. Built-in Cirrus Logic 5430.

Found some specs here:
http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/4486.htm

Reply 5 of 7, by MagefromAntares

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As I remember the Cirrus Logic 5430 didn't had the same VESA compatibility issues as the older Cirrus Logic chips, so I think it should work fine. But still maybe a run with UniVBE worth a try?

"A process cannot be understood by stopping it. Understanding must move with the flow of the process, must join it and flow with it." - Dune

Reply 6 of 7, by InterClaw

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MagefromAntares wrote on Today, 11:17:

As I remember the Cirrus Logic 5430 didn't had the same VESA compatibility issues as the older Cirrus Logic chips, so I think it should work fine. But still maybe a run with UniVBE worth a try?

I was unfamiliar with that piece of software, but acquired version 6.53 and gave it a try. Unfortunately it didn't have an effect.

And I take it back that I can reliably make it work by deleting the CFG file. Rather it intermittently works regardless of CFG file or whatever. Most of the time it starts with a black screen. Sometimes, rarely it starts the way it should. Very strange.

Reply 7 of 7, by MagefromAntares

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InterClaw wrote on Today, 16:50:
MagefromAntares wrote on Today, 11:17:

As I remember the Cirrus Logic 5430 didn't had the same VESA compatibility issues as the older Cirrus Logic chips, so I think it should work fine. But still maybe a run with UniVBE worth a try?

I was unfamiliar with that piece of software, but acquired version 6.53 and gave it a try. Unfortunately it didn't have an effect.

And I take it back that I can reliably make it work by deleting the CFG file. Rather it intermittently works regardless of CFG file or whatever. Most of the time it starts with a black screen. Sometimes, rarely it starts the way it should. Very strange.

If it happens randomly can you install and try it with a different VESA supporting game? This would let us knows if it is a HoMM2 specific issue or a general issue.

"A process cannot be understood by stopping it. Understanding must move with the flow of the process, must join it and flow with it." - Dune

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