IL-2 1946 and Triplehead problem

Ereth · Post by **Ereth** » 14 Sep 2008, 23:46

I only recently got my Digital TripleHead2go working right, thanks to this forums help. And some things work great.

But one of the reasons I built this was to get back into Flight Sims, an arena I'd left behind a few years ago.

To that end I was trying to get Il-2 1946 to run. Now, if I leave it at it's native resolution, it runs just fine, on my left monitor. There are no widescreen modes at all listed in it's menu of video choices.

If I use the Surround Gaming Utility to set it to 5040x1050 the game launches and I can hear the sound, but it never draws anything on screen. As far as I can tell it's minimized and won't come out of it. I can ALT-TAB out and get my mouse back, but when I ALT-TAB back to IL2, it just stays minimized. ALT-ENTER does nothing.

I'm running Vista 64-bit, and I thought that might be the problem, but searching through the forums and Google, I see people who've made it work, so now I'm puzzled.

I've seen similar things before. For instance if you have Folding@Home running Guild Wars will minimize and won't maximize. But I don't have F@H running, so that's not the cause here.

Any ideas?

I tried switching to 3840x1024 in SGU but the game just crashed on launch instead. I'm not sure why.

If it's relevant, this is the STEAM version.

windturbin · Post by **windturbin** » 18 Sep 2008, 00:52

3840x1024 should work for you , go look at your nvidia or ati display properties to make sure it is an available resolution for your monitors and make sure the matrox SGU software is writing that resolution in your IL2 config file! 3840x960 is what I am using for IL2 right now, you might want to give that a go.

Also, you might want to read these................

http://widescreengamingforums.com/node/9326

http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=3751

http://www.ch-hangar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5388

garcol · Post by **garcol** » 18 Sep 2008, 20:55

Good job windturbin!
Thanks for your input.
I was reluctant to answer as I am running XP SP3 and getting 5040x1050.
I dont know all the problems with running vista system.
It sounds as if Vista is holding things back a bit?
I have looked at the "View Cfg" in SGU and it lists it being 5040x1050 resolution after I optimize.

windturbin · Post by **windturbin** » 19 Sep 2008, 15:40

Good job windturbin!
Thanks for your input.
I was reluctant to answer as I am running XP SP3 and getting 5040x1050.
I dont know all the problems with running vista system.
It sounds as if Vista is holding things back a bit?
I have looked at the "View Cfg" in SGU and it lists it being 5040x1050 resolution after I optimize.

garcol, that is great news! I just so happen to have XP on a seperate drive on my computer. I have to install drivers, sp3, matrox software, internet, etc, etc, so it will take me a while to get it up and running.

I will check back here and let you know if I can get 5040x1050 w/xp!

Thanks for the info!

windturbin · Post by **windturbin** » 20 Sep 2008, 02:52

Installed.........

windows xp sp3

175.19 geforce display driver

directx 10

Changed my monitors to "Matrox Triplehead2go digital edition" in my device manager (I have two of them listed for some reason?)

matrox power desk -se

matrox sgu

matrox updates vxp2k_THDE_v2.3.40.t6.52

matrox update vxp2k_gxm_2_03._008

I have the new resolutions in my SE software but not in my SGU software.

I un-installed and re-installed over and over again for about three hours, with no success getting them to show up in the SGU software.

:oops: :evil: :oops:

windturbin · Post by **windturbin** » 20 Sep 2008, 16:39

ok, I got it!

The SGU I was using for XP was not XP specific. I download the specific SGU software from Matrox sight for XP and presto, all resolutions are now showing up in SGU. IL2 appears to hold the 5040x1050, yippee!

Now I have to get my TrackIR, and CH harware installed so I can fly around and see what it looks like!

Thanks garcol, I guess you are right, it must be a Vista problem!

Now if we could work out the FOV problem I would be ecstatic!

garcol · Post by **garcol** » 21 Sep 2008, 04:06

Good job windturbin. And good description too. I must have gotten lucky. Havn't been here for a bit, due to wifey's puter taking a small dump. All good now though.
Glad you got it working. And your description should help others. Iam not good at decribing how I get things working sometimes. In fact sometimes Iam not even sure how I get them working...lol

windturbin · Post by **windturbin** » 25 Sep 2008, 04:01

Upon Further review, just because IL2 will pull up with the SGU set to 5040x1050 does not mean its actually working in Windows XP. I have a wider FOV using 3840X960 than 5040x1050 so I would say it is not working.

I went back to Windows Vista and did some more experimenting. I think I may be on to something. (maybe)

I found that by going to the Matrox power desk-SE edit mode list and selecting and setting certain ratio's and resolutions enables certain resolutions to work in the SGU software.

Here is what I tied....................

I selected and applied 1280x960 4.3 ratio setting.
Then I tried these (see below) resolutions in the SGU software for IL2-1946
3840x960 (This resolution worked)
4098x768 (This resolution would not work at all)
4320x900 (This resolution would not work at all)
5040x1050 (This resolution would not work at all)

I selected and applied 1280x1024 5.4 ratio setting
Then I tried these (see below) resolutions in the SGU software for IL2-1946
3840x960 (This resolution worked)
3840x1024 (This resolution worked)
4098x768 (This resolution would not work)
4320x900 (This resolution would not work)
5040x1050 (This resolution would not work)

I selected and applied 1280x800 16.10 ratio setting
Then I tried these (see below) resolutions in the SGU software for IL2-1946
3840x800 (This resolution worked)
3840x960 (This resolution would not work)
3840x1024 (This resolution would not work)
4320x900 (This resolution would not work)
5040x1050 (This resolution would not work)

What is interesting to me is that.............

My monitors are 16.10 ratio, but when I selected a 4.3 ratio setting my computer reboots and reconfigured using that ratio. I don't pretend to understand this but I was not aware that I could even use these settings until I tried them.

Looking at the examples above, I have to select and apply the vertical resolution from the "edit mode list" that matches the verical resolution I want to use in the SGU list.

So, if thats true, doesn't it stands to reason that to get the 5040x1050 resolution in the SGU to work, I would need to be able to select a 1050 vertical resolution in the "edit mode list" right? Problem is you don't have 5040x1050 to select from in the "edit mode list", I can go to the "change" button in the Matrox power desk-SE and change my desktop resolution to 5040x1050 but that does not mean it working in through the SGU and in the gamesim..

Am I off base here or am I on to something?

(edited....I said horizontal I meant (should have said) vertical!

garcol · Post by **garcol** » 25 Sep 2008, 18:46

I think your talking over my head at this point. Plus I only run XP so I cannot compare to Vista stuff.
Oh and not to mention my power supply decided to take a cr*p on me. It is under warranty and Im now working off an old beater laptop.
I should be up and running within a week....
I will have to look at things then.
Edit: After rereading I would think you are on the right track. Could it be a problem with power desk version or SGU version? You couldnt get 5040x1050 in XP with certain version of SGU right? Now you cant select 5040x1050 in edit mode list, but rather change mode? Something doesnt sound quite right in power desk with Vista.
Course im reaching here and im not that good at this stuff.
Keep us posted. And hope at some point I can be of some type of help.

Mark B · Post by **Mark B** » 25 Sep 2008, 21:59

Are you having trouble with any other games besides IL2 1946?

It is possible that the problem is that your version of IL2 1946 is a Steam version. If the Steam version's config file is not being edited properly by the SGU, then the resolutions will not be set.

We will take a closer look at this.

Thanks for the feedback!

Mark

windturbin · Post by **windturbin** » 25 Sep 2008, 22:51

Are you having trouble with any other games besides IL2 1946?

It is possible that the problem is that your version of IL2 1946 is a Steam version. If the Steam version's config file is not being edited properly by the SGU, then the resolutions will not be set.

We will take a closer look at this.

Thanks for the feedback!

Mark

Thanks Mark!

Not sure what that means "steam version"?

I called Matrox tech support today, then I sent them an e-mail showing the information in this post, also the post address, they said they would send the information through to the gaming dept.?

Would be nice if they would respond to our findings by posting here?

As far as having trouble with other games, IL2-1946 and FSX are the only ones I have or use. I previously thought I was getting 5040x1050 in FSX because it pulled up after setting the resolution, but I think I was mistaken because using 3840x960 I have a better FOV than 5040x1050. I need to go back to FSX whan I get home and make sure. But it is definitly the case with IL2.

Mark B · Post by **Mark B** » 26 Sep 2008, 16:25

The Steam version meaning the version of the game downloaded and launched via Steam. I assume that's what you meant in your original post when you said "STEAM version"?

With STEAM installed titles, the location of the game's config files and registry settings are sometimes different than the Disc version. In those cases, the SGU will have difficulties locating and modifying/"optimizing" these files for triplehead.

We are going to re-create your setup in-house to test.

I'll keep you posted. :cheers

*edit, I just noticed it was Ereth who mentioned STEAM version, and not you. But this point still holds valid.

Mark B · Post by **Mark B** » 26 Sep 2008, 16:30

To add to this discussion, one item that should be verified is that the TripleHead2Go is properly detected in Windows Vista 64bit.

For the 64bit version of Vista, all users will need to MANUALLY update their monitor driver (INF) in order for the TripleHead2Go to be properly detected. If you haven't done this already, please contact our tech support department so they can walk you through this process.

windturbin · Post by **windturbin** » 27 Sep 2008, 17:31

ok, here are screenshots .............

The (abv) is my FOV after selecting 3-1280x800 16:10 ratio in my "edit list mode" in my "Matrox-SE". Then selecting 3840x800 in my "SGU".
Notice the top of aircraft prop is at the top of the screen. Also notice that you can only see about half of the aircraft gauges at the bottom of the screen.

The (abv) is my FOV after selecting 3-1280x960 4.3 ratio in my "edit list mode" in my "Matrox-SE". Then selecting 3840x960 in my "SGU".
Notice the top of aircraft prop is at the top of the screen. Also notice that you can see the 1st row of aircraft gauges in their entirety at the bottom of the screen. This means it has a better vertical FOV right?

The only way I have access to 3840x960 in the SGU is by selecting 3840x960 4:3 ratio in my "matrox-SE" - "edit list mode".
Keep in mind that my monitors are 16:10 ratio monitors. But I am allowedable to select 4:3 ratio resolutions in my "matrox-SE utility.
I think IL2-1946 was originally written as 4:3 ratio and I guess this is why the FOV is better after selecting a 4:3 resolution in the "matrox-SE.

I guess my point to all this is to pass on information to matrox so maybe as to help them figure out a way for us to get a better FOV.

Above of course is the correct FOV for IL2-1946 using a single monitor.

(edited trying to get screenshots to appear)

windturbin · Post by **windturbin** » 27 Sep 2008, 18:28

To add to this discussion, one item that should be verified is that the TripleHead2Go is properly detected in Windows Vista 64bit.

For the 64bit version of Vista, all users will need to MANUALLY update their monitor driver (INF) in order for the TripleHead2Go to be properly detected. If you haven't done this already, please contact our tech support department so they can walk you through this process.

Mark, yes my monitor in my device manager states that it is "Matrox tripleHead2Go Digital edition".

garcol · Post by **garcol** » 27 Sep 2008, 20:49

Cant seem to get those links to work to view your screenies. Waaa..lol
I signed up, but the links just take me to my empty file folder.
Kinda wondering if my beater laptop has anything to do with it?

Glad your on it windturbin. Sounds like Matrox is on it too...Woohoo!!!

garcol · Post by **garcol** » 28 Sep 2008, 10:00

Great screenshots. Really shows the FOV difference. Course now i will be wanting it that way or better of course....lol

garcol · Post by **garcol** » 02 Oct 2008, 19:15

Ok, system is back up and running.
It seems you are correct. I did not change anything in power desk but rather just switched resolutions in SGU.
I was able to get your screenshot to match with 3840x960.
By switching to 5040x1050 I was matching your screeny of your 1280x800.
Although I did not have that resolution available in my SGU (1280x800) I imagine I could get that option by going into power desk and selecting it, and it is an option in there.
It seems that the best option at this point is the 4:3 aspect at 3840x960.

I should also add Iam not very good at this stuff but learning as I go.
Windturbin is teaching me....hehehe

windturbin · Post by **windturbin** » 02 Oct 2008, 20:19

I should also add Iam not very good at this stuff but learning as I go.
Windturbin is teaching me....hehehe

Sounds like the blind leading the blind :lol:

I am learning as I go as well. Is complicated stuff, no doubt.

The next question I have on my mind is..............

Is it possible for Matrox to offer 5040X1050 resolution in 4:3 aspect ratio within the "SE" - "edit list mode" list?

This would be the best setting solution for IL2-1946.

Ereth · Post by **Ereth** » 13 Oct 2008, 03:28

The Steam version meaning the version of the game downloaded and launched via Steam. I assume that's what you meant in your original post when you said "STEAM version"?

With STEAM installed titles, the location of the game's config files and registry settings are sometimes different than the Disc version. In those cases, the SGU will have difficulties locating and modifying/"optimizing" these files for triplehead.

We are going to re-create your setup in-house to test.

I'll keep you posted. :cheers

*edit, I just noticed it was Ereth who mentioned STEAM version, and not you. But this point still holds valid.

Yes, I had the Steam version. And I can prove that the SGU was modifying the config file because the game changed after I set it. IF I set the values to anything outside the normal in-game range, then the game would minimize at launch and nothing I did could get it to come up off the task bar. If I un-did the config, the game ran fine on one monitor.

I finally gave up and reformatted to XP 32-bit and IL-2 1946 works perfectly at 5040x1050, and in fact, everything I've done with the TH2Go has gone so much smoother and simpler and usually works the first try.

I am not convinced my problem was Vista, but I AM convinced that my problem was Vista 64-bit. Going back to Vista 32-bit might have cured it, but definitely going to XP 32-bit solved it.

And as a side effect, the computer feels faster, too!

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