I just installed MW4 Mercs and ran through the intro, at about the point where I believe the intro ends the program does a "restore down" as if its changing resolutions. But it seems to get stuck and never brings up the menus or other options.
I have already installed MW 4: V & BK and patched them and MW4 mercs but the issue still occurs.
Do you guys have any suggestions of things to try?
I am running on Windows XP Professional with 1 GB of Ram and a 3 GHZ P4
I know the graphics chip is a ATI variety I believe its a 64MB chip.
ANy help would be most appreciated
Full Version: MW 4 Mercs: Won't load menu
QUOTE
Third-Party DVD Players
When you try to use MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries, you may experience problems with third-party DVD players such as Maxi Gamer Xentor. For example, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries may not start properly. This problem occurs because the opening movie is in Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) format. To resolve this problem, contact your hardware manufacturer for information about updated software. If the updated software does not resolve the problem, remove the third-party DVD player.
When you try to use MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries, you may experience problems with third-party DVD players such as Maxi Gamer Xentor. For example, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries may not start properly. This problem occurs because the opening movie is in Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) format. To resolve this problem, contact your hardware manufacturer for information about updated software. If the updated software does not resolve the problem, remove the third-party DVD player.
QUOTE
ATI RADEON 7000 or 7500
When you use one of these video adapters with Windows Millennium Edition and you use a game resolution of 640 x 480 x 16, your computer may stop responding when you try to start MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries. This problem occurs with both the retail and latest drivers. To resolve this issue, use Autoconfig_Mercs.exe in the folder where the game is installed to reset your screen resolution: double-click Autoconfig_Mercs.exe, click Advanced, and then select a different screen resolution.
When you use one of these video adapters with Windows Millennium Edition and you use a game resolution of 640 x 480 x 16, your computer may stop responding when you try to start MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries. This problem occurs with both the retail and latest drivers. To resolve this issue, use Autoconfig_Mercs.exe in the folder where the game is installed to reset your screen resolution: double-click Autoconfig_Mercs.exe, click Advanced, and then select a different screen resolution.
QUOTE
ATI Radeon 8500
When you start the game, the main menu is not visible. To resolve this issue, visit the following ATI Web site to download and install the latest drivers:
http://www.atitech.com (http://www.atitech.com)
When you start the game, the main menu is not visible. To resolve this issue, visit the following ATI Web site to download and install the latest drivers:
http://www.atitech.com (http://www.atitech.com)
Helpful?
[quote=Topa,Jan 6 2006, 08:01 PM]
[quote]Third-Party DVD Players
When you try to use MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries, you may experience problems with third-party DVD players such as Maxi Gamer Xentor. For example, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries may not start properly. This problem occurs because the opening movie is in Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) format. To resolve this problem, contact your hardware manufacturer for information about updated software. If the updated software does not resolve the problem, remove the third-party DVD player.[/quote]
[/quote]
What exactly do they mean by 3rd Party? Are they talking the hardware itself or a software program? If hardware then I have a problem MY DVD Combo drive is a Toshiba, but it came with the system.
[quote]ATI RADEON 7000 or 7500
When you use one of these video adapters with Windows Millennium Edition and you use a game resolution of 640 x 480 x 16, your computer may stop responding when you try to start MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries. This problem occurs with both the retail and latest drivers. To resolve this issue, use Autoconfig_Mercs.exe in the folder where the game is installed to reset your screen resolution: double-click Autoconfig_Mercs.exe, click Advanced, and then select a different screen resolution.
[/quote]
I have some more things to test in the autoconfig but my initialy try at low settings did not achieve anything
[quote]ATI Radeon 8500
When you start the game, the main menu is not visible. To resolve this issue, visit the following ATI Web site to download and install the latest drivers:
http://www.atitech.com (http://www.atitech.com)[/quote]
Helpful?
[/quote]
Unfortunately because i play on a notebook the drivers for my chip are the latest, so that's not gonna help, and ATI's website is not much help either
[quote]Third-Party DVD Players
When you try to use MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries, you may experience problems with third-party DVD players such as Maxi Gamer Xentor. For example, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries may not start properly. This problem occurs because the opening movie is in Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) format. To resolve this problem, contact your hardware manufacturer for information about updated software. If the updated software does not resolve the problem, remove the third-party DVD player.[/quote]
[/quote]
What exactly do they mean by 3rd Party? Are they talking the hardware itself or a software program? If hardware then I have a problem MY DVD Combo drive is a Toshiba, but it came with the system.
[quote]ATI RADEON 7000 or 7500
When you use one of these video adapters with Windows Millennium Edition and you use a game resolution of 640 x 480 x 16, your computer may stop responding when you try to start MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries. This problem occurs with both the retail and latest drivers. To resolve this issue, use Autoconfig_Mercs.exe in the folder where the game is installed to reset your screen resolution: double-click Autoconfig_Mercs.exe, click Advanced, and then select a different screen resolution.
[/quote]
I have some more things to test in the autoconfig but my initialy try at low settings did not achieve anything
[quote]ATI Radeon 8500
When you start the game, the main menu is not visible. To resolve this issue, visit the following ATI Web site to download and install the latest drivers:
http://www.atitech.com (http://www.atitech.com)[/quote]
Helpful?
[/quote]
Unfortunately because i play on a notebook the drivers for my chip are the latest, so that's not gonna help, and ATI's website is not much help either
QUOTE
Software DVD Players: Certain display cards (for example, those in the Maxi Gamer Xentor family) that come bundled with software DVD players may experience problems when trying to start MechWarrior: Vengeance due to the opening cinemas being in the MPEG format. To correct this, contact your hardware manufacturer for updated software. If problems persist, uninstall the software DVD player, and the game should start and play normally.
It has something to do with the (DVD-)software you have installed.
QUOTE
I have some more things to test in the autoconfig but my initialy try at low settings did not achieve anything
But the text says, the low settings (640x480) are the reason for this, try 800x600.
For more information go to this site:
http://kbalertz.com/sresults.aspx?sw=mechw...=1&stec=0&pNo=1
I think its a collection of all known issues...
the crazy thing is I think it defaulted to 800x600 at least thats what it said when I peak at advanced.
I uninstalled and did some driver updates just to make sure. I'll reinstall it later and try it again and let you guys know thanks
I uninstalled and did some driver updates just to make sure. I'll reinstall it later and try it again and let you guys know thanks
Most odd...as of today, at least according to your description of the problem, the exact same thing is happening to me. Mercs (w/MP3) was working just blasted fine until today, then it just...didn't. Symptoms were identical- game starts up normally, intro movies play normally, game suddenly resizes and freezes before reaching the main menu. I ran the auto-configuration utility after reading this thread and found that the game resolution setting had been reset to default (800x600x16). I ran the utility several times, and each time the resolution would reset. I tried all 6 settings with the same result. Additionally, I noticed that my graphics card had a duplicate entry in the auto-configuration utility (that is, the drop-down menu would display TWO entries for ATI RADEON 9700 MOBILITY 128MB).
It can't be any of the listed hardware issues, seeing as how the program WAS working, and I do not have any of the components listed as problematic. This leads me to believe that it is a software issue and not related to hardware (as my Laptop, the system in question, has not changed since I got it a year ago).
I've made a few minor changes to the contents of my hard drive in the past few days since I last ran Mercs, but nothing that should affect the game. I transferred Tribes:Vengeance, which I haven't used in a while, over to my storage drive, moved GTA3 back onto my main drive, moved around a few personal files, and installed Grisoft AVG. Nothing pertaining to the Microsoft Games directory or MW4:Mercs was altered or moved.
The only thing I could think of that would have been able to cause any sort of issue would be the Anti-Virus software, but after disabling it completely the problem persisted so I don't think that is the cause. I am running a defrag right now to see if it helps any (fortunately, my last defrag was about a week ago so it shouldn't take too long). Will check back when the 'frag finishes...
It can't be any of the listed hardware issues, seeing as how the program WAS working, and I do not have any of the components listed as problematic. This leads me to believe that it is a software issue and not related to hardware (as my Laptop, the system in question, has not changed since I got it a year ago).
I've made a few minor changes to the contents of my hard drive in the past few days since I last ran Mercs, but nothing that should affect the game. I transferred Tribes:Vengeance, which I haven't used in a while, over to my storage drive, moved GTA3 back onto my main drive, moved around a few personal files, and installed Grisoft AVG. Nothing pertaining to the Microsoft Games directory or MW4:Mercs was altered or moved.
The only thing I could think of that would have been able to cause any sort of issue would be the Anti-Virus software, but after disabling it completely the problem persisted so I don't think that is the cause. I am running a defrag right now to see if it helps any (fortunately, my last defrag was about a week ago so it shouldn't take too long). Will check back when the 'frag finishes...
Hi Veretax. 
I haven't read this whole thread, but at a glance it seems like removing the opening cinematics might solve your problem. Because of similar issues I had to change the target path in my MW4 desktop shortcut to:
That command removes the video from the sequence and goes straight to the main menu. Maybe that will work. (Don't forget to include all the spaces.)
I haven't read this whole thread, but at a glance it seems like removing the opening cinematics might solve your problem. Because of similar issues I had to change the target path in my MW4 desktop shortcut to:QUOTE
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Mechwarrior Mercenaries\MW4Mercs.exe" /gosnovideo -noautoconfig
That command removes the video from the sequence and goes straight to the main menu. Maybe that will work. (Don't forget to include all the spaces.)
i will give this a try later this week when i reinstall and try it again.
That little trick fixed everything right up. Thanks a bundle! 
NP, I'm glad it worked.
It has something to do with a codec update that went around with one of the various media players. Raptor Rage helped me out with it a while back. Here is some detail on the GOS function.
It has something to do with a codec update that went around with one of the various media players. Raptor Rage helped me out with it a while back. Here is some detail on the GOS function.
i think i figured it out.
i tried the
/gosnovideo /noautoconfig
and i got in.. the menu interface was belh, but i was able to make my warrior in the roster.
i ran an instant action mission just to be safe though.
SO i was like hrm if I remove /gosnovideo what happens. well i get in just fine menus look better, so i click on roster and it locks up.
THere is something in that menu for the rosters that is causing the problem I think
i tried the
/gosnovideo /noautoconfig
and i got in.. the menu interface was belh, but i was able to make my warrior in the roster.
i ran an instant action mission just to be safe though.
SO i was like hrm if I remove /gosnovideo what happens. well i get in just fine menus look better, so i click on roster and it locks up.
THere is something in that menu for the rosters that is causing the problem I think
It could also be that you used / instead of - as the switch for the noautoconifg parameter.
QUOTE (Veretax @ Jan 15 2006, 03:37 PM)
...the menu interface was belh...
The menu looks "belh" because of the video that should be in the background - it's another symptom of the problem.
AFAIK this won't be resolved. It would involve something to the effect of reformatting the videos to be compatible with any new media codecs. It seems like a bit much work for a cosmetic issue...but someone that is more knowledgeable might correct me on that, though.
well i went back and had to put the gosnovideo switch back in. bcause sometimes when i'd click to go to the main menu the program would freeze up again. it is rather annoying, but not much I can do at present. At least I can get in and enjoy the gameplay which so far has been outstanding. I really like the way the missions are structured a lot more then in MW4 Vengeance
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