Put the full ATI Catalyst drive plus app in.

Works better now, but the cursor still flickers on the game screen. Some others are OK.

Still getting the above event, but now the ATIEventLog is getting events, 5 of them repeated on each boot, here is the first one...

Event Type: Information
Event Source: ACEEventLogSource
Event Category: None
Event ID: 0
Date: 4/19/2007
Time: 7:55:38 AM
User: N/A
Computer: IRVS
Description:
0000000001: 2007-04-19 07:55:38:656 Failed to merge manifest file: C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\skins\ccc-skins.xml with exception: Could not find file 'C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\skins\ccc-skins.xml'.
Error Called by: ATI.ACE.CLI.Foundation.MergeManifest::ReadManifest processID:01384 threadID:( ) domainName:(ccc.exe ) assemblyName:(CLI.Foundation.XManifest, Version=2.0.2613.19973, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=90ba9c70f846762e)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

I had this before and ATI couldn't figure it out. This seems to effect my boot speed and some application starts. My mouse app for the MX Revolution no longer appears on the SYSTRAY for instance but it is running? Go figure.

Not sure what I'm going to do about this.... May try contacting ATI again... sigh.

IDS

I installed the Mar. '07 driver, 8.31.0.0 dated 3/2/07.

Now the curson 'pointer' flickers pretty badly, but I don't get the colored box around it. Almost is not playable.

I also see ATI errors in my Event Log...

+++++++++++++++++
Event Type: Information
Event Source: ATI Smart
Event Category: None
Event ID: 105
Date: 4/18/2007
Time: 2:32:33 PM
User: N/A
Computer: IRVS
Description:
The description for Event ID ( 105 ) in Source ( ATI Smart ) cannot be found. The local computer may not have the necessary registry information or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer. You may be able to use the /AUXSOURCE= flag to retrieve this description; see Help and Support for details. The following information is part of the event: The event log file is corrupt..
+++++++++++++++

I may need to install the entire ATI Catalyst driver set including the driver. I'll give that a try.

Irv

My drivers are the 6.x ones, but for a reason. This is a Dell XPS, about 18 months old. I think the card was a special for them. I've tried newer drivers and had problems. I always had to roll back to the older driver. It may be this is part of the problem, like I said, I've had other programs (games) do the same. The ones that do get 'fixed' allow the choice of h/w or s/w emulation and other choices for video.

I'll give the new drivers a try though and see. The problems I had with the newer ones were error from the Catalyst control filling my Event Viewer. Only rolling back stopped those.

IDS

There have been some other people who have had some graphic "glitches" with ATI Radeon cards and giveaway games in the past. I think they were older cards (with less memory - like the 9700) than you have. I'm running a recent nVidia card - so "unfortunately" I am not seeing the same issues some Radeon users have.

Do you have the option to try running with standard Microsoft video drivers (32bit color - 1024x768). Just guessing here, but maybe if we can rule out a display driver issue might be able to prevent the need to bark up the wrong tree.

Also check your display driver version, currently v7.3 (28Mar2007)

Checked all that, mouse pointer, resolution, all OK.

Stopped ALL running programs, still no go.

Pretty sure this is due to the H/W acceleration possibly? My mouse has a setting that if it detects a game it will allow different s/w control of the mouse, the mouse app or the OS. I've tried it both ways, no difference.

I decided to try SAFE MODE, interestingly the game returns the Generic Application Error and asks you to turn on Debug that others have mentioned?

So, no go...

I may try some ATI tools to see if that helps?

Like I said, I've had this in other games, and they had a mouse option to get around this. Forget which ones no though?

IDS

First thing I would try (to troubleshoot) close down all the other programs that are running (including those in the system tray) and see if the problem goes away with nothing else running. This will help rule out that the game is conflicting with something else running at the same time.

Also try different color settings on your desktop (Check the desktop is set to 32 bit color).

Try turning off any custom cursors (Mouse settings in Control Panel) - check that you are using Windows Default (system scheme).

Try those for starters.

Today's game, Atlantis Quest, WinXP Pro SP2 system with a Logitech MX Revolution mouse, ATI Radeon 850 XT Platinum Edition 256MB video card.

Cursor in the game appears as a large block with colored background which appears to be random (changes on each screen to slight different pattern and color), with the cursor on top of it.

Makes it almost impossible to play.

Have experienced this on other games, and those that allow choices for s/w or h/w acceleration fix this problem.

Anyone have a cure?

IDS