Ignore GliDOS for the moment. Delete the previous installation and start with a fresh install of "Tomb Raider". Run the SETUP.EXE and configure it to run using "No Sound Card". Does it run properly (in silence)?

Sounds like ATI have messed up VESA even under W98. They did so under XP, but for XP, Glidos takes over VESA.

I hate to say this, but you might want to try dgVoodoo. Just type in into Google to find the site. The thing is that dgVoodoo gives VESA support under W98.

I have tried a fresh install of TomRaider. The nice things about computers is their consistency under constant conditions: the fresh install fails just like the first one. There is no 'setup.exe', only an 'install.bat' or 'install.exe'.

GLIDOS install wizard does not remove the problem. I will try the latest ATI catalyst driver (24 megs to download !) tomorrow. The ATI 'patch' on the tomraider chronicles site is irrelevant: it was developed before my card was released.

I don't think I'll try dgVoodoo - had too many bad experiences with Voodoo hardware and software (which is why I moved to ATI in the first place...)

Originally posted by RoomTrader I have tried a fresh install of TomRaider. The nice things about computers is their consistency under constant conditions:

Unfortunately the consistency seems to revolve around problems...

...the fresh install fails just like the first one.

Ok, was under the impression that you had already configured for sound and installed GliDOS at the time.

There is no 'setup.exe', only an 'install.bat' or 'install.exe'.

Ok, every DOS program uses it's own particular setup program and each has it's own name, SETUP and INSTALL are the most common.

So I take it that TR won't even start up in silence?

GLIDOS install wizard does not remove the problem.

GliDOS will never fix any program that won't run in the first place. It's designed to run DOS programs that support Glide in a Windows environment.

I don't think I'll try dgVoodoo - had too many bad experiences with Voodoo hardware and software

RoomTrader, dgVoodoo is simply a Glide wrapper for DOS programs. It's not the same as installing actual Voodoo hardware in your PC and it won't "take over" as your 3D device. Like GliDOS, it simply expands your options.

Thanks for the further advice and clarification. I have not clearly described my problem. It is the install that fails most obviously, in that the GUI is totally corrupted immediately the install.exe is invoked. If you 'guess' which key strokes should be used then the necessary files are installed to the harddisk. However, the same corruption of the GUI occurs when tomb.exe is invoked. You can 'esc' and 'space bar' past introductory screens and FMVs to the point where you can guess that you are being invited to load a game.

From there on, in certain resolutions, the game runs, in 'grotty' mode as GLIDOS would describe it (a fairly accurate description). The sound plays OK for a few minutes then stops.

The keyboard controls work OK for about 10 to 20 moves, then the game behaves as if there were a continuous stream of (the same) keystrokes from the keyboard. Pressing 'esc' cause the options screen to be displayed, but it 'rotates' among the options. I tend to suspect my Microsoft wireless keyboard, but having disabled keyboard repeat in the BIOS the problem still exists. It must the speed at which keystrokes are fed to the application.

GLIDOS installs just fine (aside from being unable to find snmpapi.dll). Executing tomraider under GLIDOS does not alter any of the above problem behaviours, aside from removing the 'grottiness'. I suspect therefore that the ATI Radeon 7200 BIOS and display driver do not implemnent GLIDE correctly. All this is under Win98 SE btw.

Comments?

Originally posted by RoomTrader It is the install that fails most obviously, in that the GUI is totally corrupted immediately the install.exe is invoked. If you 'guess' which key strokes should be used then the necessary files are installed to the harddisk. However, the same corruption of the GUI occurs when tomb.exe is invoked.

It's a this point, red flags should be popping up everywhere. It sounds like there may be DOS VESA issues with your Radeon.

I suspect therefore that the ATI Radeon 7200 BIOS and display driver do not implement GLIDE correctly.

Actually it sounds like the problem seems to be with anything using a VESA display.

Originally posted by Nicht Sehr Gut

GliDOS will never fix any program that won't run in the first place. It's designed to run DOS programs that support Glide in a Windows environment.

Gererally true, but possibly not in this case. If the setup or install programs cause screen corruption then the TR installer wizard can get around the problem.

Also if your video drivers have screwed VESA then Glidos may get you around that (but not under Windows 98). For Windows 98 dgVoodoo may get around that.

I have just updated the ATI drivers to Catalyst 3.7 (dated August 2003) for both 98SE and 2K, on the PC in question. Now I can use the GLIDOS version under win98SE for about 2 to 3 times as many keystrokes before the 'stuck keys' syndrome appears. There is now no sound at all.

Under Win2000 there is nothing: install does nothing: just a windowed DOS box appears, with no further action. GLIDOS installs but has no effect: starting GLIDOS in Win2000 with the tomb-exe installed under 98SE again results in a windowed DOS box but with no invocation of anything other than DOS4GW (?). All other main apps work just fine.

I conclude I haven't the vaguest idea of what is going on.

The game starts with some FMV sequences. If you have no sound then these sequences will hang. Typing ESC a few times might get you through that.

Use the wizard to do the install. Select the no sound option initially to cut that out of the equation.

RoomTrader wrote:

I have just updated the ATI drivers to Catalyst 3.7 (dated August 2003) for both 98SE and 2K, on the PC in question. Now I can use the GLIDOS version under win98SE for about 2 to 3 times as many keystrokes before the 'stuck keys' syndrome appears. There is now no sound at all.

Sounds like something doesn't like your cordless keyboard? Have you tried it using a normal one?

Under Win2000 there is nothing: install does nothing: just a windowed DOS box appears, with no further action. GLIDOS installs but has no effect: starting GLIDOS in Win2000 with the tomb-exe installed under 98SE again results in a windowed DOS box but with no invocation of anything other than DOS4GW (?). All other main apps work just fine.

I conclude I haven't the vaguest idea of what is going on.

Tomb Raider 2 not installing with Windows 2000 is a common problem, I have exactly the same trouble myself. The only way I can do it is to use the Installer program/wizard available from the Glidos site, but this this still won't get the game working though. There some patches available from the tombraiderchronicles site which will.

I think this is unrelated to your other problems though as TR/Glidos works fine other than that, but then I have an nVidia card. I'm always wary of ATI cards as they're known for having dodgy drivers.