Another Links does not open in Windows 11 post.

[dwg]

I assume you mean dgVoodoo.

If you run the program dgVoodooCpl.exe it will tell you the version number.

If you sourced it from Linkscorner it will be version 2.7.

You have the standard FHD resolution which is supported by Links 2003 1.07.

[Ian Wells]

You are correct the version is 2.7. 5 some time ago Andy asked that we didn't use the correct name as it caused problems, but I guess that isn't the case now?
Ian

[dwg]

@mailman

Does it work any better if you use mode 14 (1920 x 1080) and set Links to be Windowed?

[Mailman]

@mailman

Does it work any better if you use mode 14 (1920 x 1080) and set Links to be Windowed?

Mode 14 (1920x1080) is what I have been using since getting Links 2003 to run and run in fullscreen mode on my 2k monitor (see specs).

As an experiment I tried to run it in windowed mode (registry windowed = 1). It displays the same behaviour as running in full-screen mode via the Nvidia control panel (i.e often takes many restarts). So no real difference to what has been the case since I've resumed posting.

I then tried another experiment to see what would happen running in mode 15 (1920x1200) and was surprised to see that Links runs in a different aspect ratio (16:10) to my monitor aspect ratio (16:9). It ran in windowed mode (after a few restarts) but also ran in full-screen mode as before with the registry windowed setting = 0 and with the Nvidia control panel scaling setting to 'full-screen' as well.

The number of re-starts is probably the same but at least I had it running in 1920x1200 for a while, So no change in overall behaviour

[dwg]

I read your specs that is what started me thinking.

I'm surprised with your results, I would not have expected mode 15 to work given your screen's aspect ratio, I have not had any luck mixing aspect ratios within what my systems support.

I was thinking windowed mode 14 may have worked better because if memory serves, Links was written around DirectX 7, it is no spring chicken after all, and DirectX 7 has a screen resolution limit of 2048×1536.

As a further test point I would be inclined to try it with the dgVoodoo wrapper installed, the wrapper overcomes this resolution restriction.

[Mailman]

I read your specs that is what started me thinking.

I'm surprised with your results, I would not have expected mode 15 to work given your screen's aspect ratio, I have not had any luck mixing aspect ratios within what my systems support.

I was thinking windowed mode 14 may have worked better because if memory serves, Links was written around DirectX 7, it is no spring chicken after all, and DirectX 7 has a screen resolution limit of 2048×1536.

As a further test point I would be inclined to try it with the dgVoodoo wrapper installed, the wrapper overcomes this resolution restriction.

Tried again this morning and got 2 loadings via windowed mode although not first time, it was less than 10 re-starts, less than a couple of mins (which is good for me ). Once loaded I then used ALT+ENTER key combo to go into full-screen mode and away I go. Links looks good (slightly better at 1920x1200 compared to 1920x1080) especially with AF and AA enabled. Coming out I went back into windowed mode via ALT+ENTER before shutting Links down.

Interesting that the Nvidia Control Panel describes Full-screen scaling as 'Stretches the desktop to fit the entire display screen, even if the aspect tratio is not the same' whereas what I am seeing is Full-screen scaling ''Stretches the Links 2003 window to fit the entire display screen, even if the aspect ratio is not the same'

Another thing I noticed this morning that does seem to help is to select the perform scaling on GPU rather than on display (in the drop-down box) in the Nvidia CP.

[dwg]

I also think Links looks better on my 1920 x 1200 screen rather than my 1920 x 1080. Alas I am limited as to what screens I can use with what systems so cannot have the optimal setup.

You are certainly getting some unusual results, it is a head scratcher.

[Mailman]

I also think Links looks better on my 1920 x 1200 screen rather than my 1920 x 1080. Alas I am limited as to what screens I can use with what systems so cannot have the optimal setup.

You are certainly getting some unusual results, it is a head scratcher.

Just finished playing 9 holes with 'The Chief' Andy via Gameranger - he beat me by the narrowest of margins

BUT BUT I changed from the Windows 11 (old hardware - AMD GPU) PC that does run Links 2003 without issue to my new PC (new hardware - Nvidia GPU) and attempted a test on Gameranger with me hosting. It took about 5-10 retrys for me on the Gameranger window but nevertheless it did start Links 2003 and away we went with me hosting.

Sink me sideways

[dwg]

It is the "after a number of retries it works" that has me head scratching.

It is most uncomputer like, some intermittent faults can be understood as there are trigger conditions that occurs at some point, but loading a program should be fairly consistent. In the case of Links you are always loading to the same screen. Clearly something is happening that is causing the load process to fail but not failing each time is the strange part. The initial load is something you would normally expect to either work properly or it doesn't work at all

If I change some things that are video related, I will get a Moneydance crash on the first restart, but after that it works every time, it is as if Links has to do a reset, I can understand that when switching between Nvidia and dgVoodoo, which it does crash on every time, as to Links this looks like a HBA change.

[Mailman]

It is the "after a number of retries it works" that has me head scratching.

It is most uncomputer like, some intermittent faults can be understood as there are trigger conditions that occurs at some point, but loading a program should be fairly consistent. In the case of Links you are always loading to the same screen. Clearly something is happening that is causing the load process to fail but not failing each time is the strange part. The initial load is something you would normally expect to either work properly or it doesn't work at all

I cannot help but think that issues (such as mine) arising from fresh install of Links on a fresh install of Windows 11 (rather than an update) revolve around DirectX and/or the Visual C++ distributable associated with Links 2003 although I could well be barking up the wrong tree. I do have a mind to try and install both runtimes on my Windows 10 dual-boot partition over the coming weeks (Wimbledon-dependent ) prior to installation to see if Links 2003 installs flawlessly (and runs) on Windows 10 because at the moment it doesn't even load. On my Windows 11 partition however I did run the Direct X runtime files that were included on the disk. CCleaner also flagged up out of date updatable C++ distributables so that had me thinking.

I'll repost if I get any success