Another Links does not open in Windows 11 post.

[dalbrech]

When I start it, The links splash show up but then a black box shows and the game CTD's before I can even read the black box.
I am running Windows 11 with a Nividia GE Force RTX 3050 . I have have looked over this forum,but can't see a fix for this problem though other people have probably had it.

[Adelade]

Difficult to recommend stuff with no more info to go on than that, but check off the most basic ones:

-Make sure you have patch 1.07 and the Nvidia patch.

-Try to run Links as Admin and with Compatibility mode for Win 7.

-Try High DPI scaling override.

-Try launching from both LinksLauncher and LinksMMIII

-Test if Links will launch after unplugging USB devices.

-Try the Registry edit for resolution and windowed/fullscreen

-Try enabling Windows Legacy Components

[GoBucks]

I've found that starting with this download of v1.07 gets you off on the right foot.

https://www.linkscountryclub.com/links-2003-v107

Also, what is the native resolution of your monitor?

[dalbrech]

I am using the download version which shold be patched to 1.07. Also have the Nvidia fix.
I unplugged all USB devices except for the mouse and keyboard, still nothing.
That is what is frustrating, Ihave treid all the standard fixes nothng seems t works.
I did a uninstall and reinstaeed the download veriosn: now not even the splash screen shows up. Nothing happens.

[GoBucks]

What is the native resolution of your monitor

[Mailman]

When I start it, The links splash show up but then a black box shows and the game CTD's before I can even read the black box.
I am running Windows 11 with a Nividia GE Force RTX 3050 . I have have looked over this forum,but can't see a fix for this problem though other people have probably had it.

I feel your pain I really do

Since managing to install Links 2003 sucessfully on a new build PC I can confirm that it does work on Windows 11 -build 24H2 - sort of. Heck I've even got both Anisotropic Filtering and AA working. However Links though feels like a car that stubbornly refuses to start first time in the morning. Most of my early attempts were with the download version installed. In desparation I installed via the CD version (Links 2003 Xplosiv version) I purchased. I did patch to version 1.07 only and have had more success the last month although Links 2003 stubbornly still refuses to load at the first time of asking. Apart from the addition of the original Links animations (Sorenstam, Garcia etc) the disks came with a download of DirectX distributable which I executed although have no confidance that it made any difference as you can get these legacy DirectX libraries from MS anyway. I reckon it takes between 2 and 20 times before it loads properly trying a variety of different things. When it does load and I then exit after a while subsequent re-starts, without changing anything, Links goes back to the re-start loop at which point I say enough is enough

It seems that everyone uses different things to get Links working on Windows 11 with varying success. What works on one system fails on another. Remember that Links needs to have a setup run to fully populate the registry (and that took some doing). I would try putting the Links MMIII on the taskbar which obviates the need for so many visits to Task Manager to shut it (Links MMIII.exe) down and not to even use Links Launcher. I don't find any of the compatibility modes make any difference although I do have the 'Disable full screen optimisations' checked ATM. Another thing that can make a difference for me is changing from 'Balanced' power to 'High Performance' on the power settings.

I can play Links if I have the patience to keep re-starting but I obviously cannot use Gameranger to play an online game. The ironic thing is that I can only play Links on Windows 11 with a much older PC that I updated to Windows 11 (using unsupported hardware)

[Ian Wells]

As a non-savvy computer person it has always amazed me that there are Windows 11 users who have no problems playing Links and yet others do. Windows 11 is the same for everybody who has the same build isn't it? (If the answer to this is no, please ignore the text below.)
I know from reading all the posts on this forum we have some savvy computer people, I therefore ask the question, is it not possible to create some sort of spreadsheet/questionnaire that lists all the relevant parameters that may have influence on whether a computer will successfully allow Links to play?
If every member then completes the questionnaire, would this not give sufficient data for those savvy people to establish what the problem is?

Ian

[dwg]

I come from the world of servers, so user applications are a little outside of my wheelhouse, but I do have a vested interest with Links :)

Windows 11 itself is the same across systems, but it is what that is around Windows that often makes the difference. I have Links running on Windows 24H2 with problems only with a couple of courses so far, and they are around recoverable hangs, but I have fairly standard systems, not gaming orientated systems, not that Links should need them, a 2002 program should not have a performance problem with any reasonable 2025 hardware.

There are a lot of potential variables involved, GPU that is in use and screen resolution are probably at the top of the list, perhaps even the CPU comes into it. From my observations of late, and I readily admit that the data I have seen is often incomplete, problems seem more prevalent with resolutions above 1920 x 1200, and it does seem most problems are graphics related.

I think it will come down to people posting their system configuration, what they have tried and what does and does not work.

The more data points that we have the more likely to be able to identify any common elements.

The systems I have working with Windows 11 and Links are:

Asus Notebook with 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 with Intel Iris Xe Graphics running a resolution of 1920 x 1080
Acer Desktop with 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13400 with Intel UHD Graphics 730 running a resolution of 1920 x 1080

Fairly basic systems and both have the 1.07 and Nvidia patches installed, I am using dgVoodoo on both of these systems. The resolution listed is the native resolution of the systems.

I have 3 courses I am having hanging problems with specifically on the Windows systems and have tried quite a few so far.

[dwg]

PS I think most things to try will be around graphics settings.

I expect these will include the Links mode used, Windowed vs non-Windowed. Scaling in Windows, dgVoodoo settings. I think that someone who has a system with a higher resolution than I have, and has experimented could list the various settings better, I have not had to touch many settings given the hardware I have.

[Ian Wells]

I only play Links when testing a course so I do not have great experience with playing
I have two computers, a laptop to work on APCD, and occasional testing, and an All-in-one desktop which is used for reference and testing.
These are the specs;

Allinone 1.jpg (83.59 KiB) Viewed 116 times

Allinone 2.jpg (36.43 KiB) Viewed 116 times

Allinone 3.jpg (39.11 KiB) Viewed 116 times

Laptop 1.jpg (79.56 KiB) Viewed 116 times

Laptop 2.jpg (35.12 KiB) Viewed 116 times

Laptop 3.jpg (33.24 KiB) Viewed 116 times

Links graphic settings for All-in-one are AMD Radeon Graphics, Display mode 1920x1080x32, Full screen. (Picture quality slider 100%)
Links graphic settings for All-in-one are Digeridoo DirectX Wrapper, Display mode 1920x1080x32, Full screen. (Picture quality slider 100%)
I don't know how to get the version number of the digeridoo.

Hope this helps.
Ian