Sim City 4 multimonitor error

[Noman1000 1]

Usually my first response to a problem is to google it, but countless forum threads in other forums and in this one haven't provided any help. When trying to run Sim City at 5670x1080 it gives me an error "Hardware Driver Error: Could not initialize Direct Draw", then a black screen, then crashing. Has anyone else encountered this problem? And this there a way to fix this? I've seen multimonitor Sim City before, but it doesn't seem to work even with the resolution flags and setting render to software only.

I'm using these flags. -CustomResolution:enabled -r5760x1080x32 -CPUCount:1 -f -intro:off

And I'm also running using Steam, but I don't see a problem with that either. If there's a solution that would be wonderful since I would love to play a city over a gigantic panorama.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Usually my first response to a problem is to google it, but countless forum threads in other forums and in this one haven't provided any help. When trying to run Sim City at 5670x1080 it gives me an error "Hardware Driver Error: Could not initialize Direct Draw", then a black screen, then crashing. Has anyone else encountered this problem? And this there a way to fix this? I've seen multimonitor Sim City before, but it doesn't seem to work even with the resolution flags and setting render to software only.

I'm using these flags. -CustomResolution:enabled -r5760x1080x32 -CPUCount:1 -f -intro:off

And I'm also running using Steam, but I don't see a problem with that either. If there's a solution that would be wonderful since I would love to play a city over a gigantic panorama.

First remember that this is a legacy game written in the 2000 time frame.

If this doesn't work for you, I am afraid you may be pushing the envelope too far. The program may or may not accept your parameters because that width means at least four and probably five monitors, which is an operating system thing, and not a game thing. Most programs are not written to handle outlandish setups like this.

I think you have got a problem to solve on your own.

[Noman1000 1]

I figured it might have been because the game is incredibly old. However I saw it done so I figured it might work through tweaking SOMETHING. I'm using three monitors, though back then it might have been considered that many.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I figured it might have been because the game is incredibly old. However I saw it done so I figured it might work through tweaking SOMETHING. I'm using three monitors, though back then it might have been considered that many.

Depends on what you mean is old. I have some stuff running that is much older than that. But, yes, the older stuff I have is not much on graphics at all. Try cutting down to two monitors. If it works, then go forward from there.

Good luck with your mission control scenario.

  Edited March 26, 2012 by A Nonny Moose  

[Noman1000 1]

When a game has large compatibility issues with new hardware. It's one of the reasons I would consider it old. What with the hardware render issue with newer cards. I think it might not be the program, it might be SLI in general. Perhaps if I get an AMD card and span it might work. Oh well, another reason for saving for a 7950.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

When a game has large compatibility issues with new hardware. It's one of the reasons I would consider it old. What with the hardware render issue with newer cards. I think it might not be the program, it might be SLI in general. Perhaps if I get an AMD card and span it might work. Oh well, another reason for saving for a 7950.

Generally speaking the problem is often not hardware but the software. Microsoft is notorious for not supporting software as old as SC4. They want you to buy the latest toys to keep their OEM partners happy, and they really don't care if you get left in the dust.

One solution you might want to try is to switch operating environment. It is a lot of work, but if you want to try Linux, I will help you.

[Noman1000 1]

I have tried Linux in the past and I don't want to use it.

[Ac1dDra90n 0]

Have you tried the free version of actual multiple monitors:

http://www.actualtools.com/multiplemonitors/

I haven't tried this with sc4 but works great with starcraft