Bioshock suddenly stuck at 1024 x 768

[chokke]

Yes, I have searched but not able to find a sollution so I am making a new post. The problem occured after I accidently pressed alt-tab and the screen went black. Then I turned off the Bioshock-process in task manager. At this time I was running at 1680x1050 without problems. But after that, I haven't been able to change resolution from 1024 x 768 without the game crashing and only way to stop it is by shutting down the process. What to do?

My spec on computer is Nvidia 8800GTS, 4GB RAM, some new intel-CPU and blablabla if it has anything to do with the matter.

[Hackez]

Yes, I have searched but not able to find a sollution so I am making a new post. The problem occured after I accidently pressed alt-tab and the screen went black. Then I turned off the Bioshock-process in task manager. At this time I was running at 1680x1050 without problems. But after that, I haven't been able to change resolution from 1024 x 768 without the game crashing and only way to stop it is by shutting down the process. What to do?

My spec on computer is Nvidia 8800GTS, 4GB RAM, some new intel-CPU and blablabla if it has anything to do with the matter.

The latest Nvidia Drivers, 163.69 have been reported to resolve this alt-tabbing issue you are experiencing. So I would highly suggest you upgrade to those drivers as soon as possible.

Trying changing your resolution in the INF files after updating your Nvidia Drivers, hopefully this will resolve your issue.

[chokke]

How do I check what drivers I got? I belive I installed them on saturday or friday (newest of course). And I do not have any need to alt-tab, it was an accident. And I can play just fine (or well, not enjoy it, but it works) at 1024 x 768.
And where to find even newer drivers?

[Hackez]

How do I check what drivers I got? I belive I installed them on saturday or friday (newest of course). And I do not have any need to alt-tab, it was an accident. And I can play just fine (or well, not enjoy it, but it works) at 1024 x 768.
And where to find even newer drivers?

Snag the latest drivers from here:

http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_downloads_rel70betadriver.html

Nvidia 163.69 are the latest, released on September 17th, 2007, so your drivers aren't currently up to date.

[chokke]

Oh, I misread your post as a non-native-english person I thought you said the 163.69 was cause, but after checking nvidia.com I belive I have 162.22 now, trying the beta (guess it's stable?) now then.

[chokke]

Since I am really stupid and can't see any edit-button I am forced to make a new post. Bioshock won't start at all now. The bioshockpicture comes up, then it gets shutten down and has to be closed by Vista... Yes I downloaded vinda 64 bits driver.

[chokke]

This is really strange. Now, after disabling some stuff at control panel I am able to switch resolution when I play in window mode, but not without window mode. Then it crashes and the computer hangs. This sucks bad.

[neildittmar]

Try removing the BioShock.ini file from your user account. The game will recreate it. To locate the file in Vista, complete the following:

1. Right click on the Start orb, left click Explore. Windows Explorer will launch.

2. By default, Windows explorer will open into the folders for the particular account that you're logged into. Locate the "Roaming" folder from within your account folder and click the BioShock folder contained therein.

3. Locate the BioShock.ini file and delete it. When you launch the game next time, it will recreate it with auto-detect settings. Hopefully, you'll be able to modify your settings via the Graphics Options in-game and get back to your desired resolution.

Let us know if that helps at all.

[chokke]

Is it the same file as ConfigINI (which is a IBF file according to Windows) inside the C:\program files\steam\steamapps\common\bioshock\content?
It seems to be the only configfile for Bioshock that I found, searched for the other you mentioned without any result at all

[chokke]

Ok found the bioshock.ini, deleted it,still same frigging bug. Windowed mode is depressing and I want to play full screen on widescreen :D

[neildittmar]

Is it the same file as ConfigINI (which is a IBF file according to Windows) inside the C:\program files\steam\steamapps\common\bioshock\content?
It seems to be the only configfile for Bioshock that I found, searched for the other you mentioned without any result at all

Oh... didn't realize you were running a Steam version of the game. Sorry about that. It's no wonder that the configuration file location would be different (as you found out).

[chokke]

I found bioshock.ini now. WIth help from another (great) thread, But the problem is still there. Windowed I can play with 1680x1050, but with maximized, it doesn't work, 75 % of the screen goes black only and the game stops and I have to shut down the process...

[Osp42]

Chokke, that is intended behavior. Whenever the game crashes, it's supposed to restore video and sound to their defaults. Yes, it's stupid.

To work around this "feature," open up Default.ini in the Builds\Release folder where you installed BioShock to and scroll about 2/3rds down to the [WinDrv.WindowsClient] section. Edit the FullscreenViewport values to the resolution that you want. If you have any other settings that you want configured (like refresh rate or high detail shaders off), find where they are in that file and edit those, as well.

Do that and your settings will be set as the new defaults to be restored after a crash.

If you're a bit confused, here's the long explanation: When you first started the game, Default.ini was copied to BioShock.ini in your Documents folder. Now, the developers assumed (rather confidently) that the game crashing had to be because of misconfigured settings, so they made it so that each crash brought about a re-copying of Default.ini to BioShock.ini. That's why your settings are never saved and the resolution is always 1024x768 when you load the game. If you make your changes to Default.ini, they will become the new defaults and, when the game copies the defaults upon crashing, you'll get the settings that you want.

[chokke]

I simply don't get this! It doesn't work! I can still play at 1024 x 768 at maximed and windowed, but to change resolution the game crashes if it's not in window mode and then the sensetivity on the mouse is screwed and it's a stupid frame. So why does it crash on maximed only?! Friggin' bugged game, all because I had to press alt-tab...

[Tech John]

I simply don't get this! It doesn't work! I can still play at 1024 x 768 at maximed and windowed, but to change resolution the game crashes if it's not in window mode and then the sensetivity on the mouse is screwed and it's a stupid frame. So why does it crash on maximed only?! Friggin' bugged game, all because I had to press alt-tab...

What res are you running the desktop in?

[Osp42]

I simply don't get this! It doesn't work! I can still play at 1024 x 768 at maximed and windowed, but to change resolution the game crashes if it's not in window mode and then the sensetivity on the mouse is screwed and it's a stupid frame. So why does it crash on maximed only?! Friggin' bugged game, all because I had to press alt-tab...So, you made the changes that I recommended and the game still starts fullscreen in 1024x768... or are you saying that it starts up in windowed-mode?

The latter can be solved by going to where I said before and changing StartupFullscreen=False to StartupFullscreen=True

If it's the former and the game is starts in fullscreen mode at 1024x768, check to make sure that the changes that I recommended in my first post are there still and then make the same changes in BioShock.ini. If you have your resolution set in both places, there should be no way for the game to revert back to 1024x768.

If you still have problems, I think that either you're not following instruction or you're not explaining yourself clearly enough (since what I've instructed should fix the problem that you're explaining).

[Tech Dan]

Hello

Please browse the ini file anf find the two entries:

FullscreenViewportX=1024
FullscreenViewportY=768

Try changing the above numbers to your desired resolution, save and hopefully it should work.

[chokke]

It seems to work now :) . That last tip solved it. To bad the game crashes right after the trip to Ryan's office. The screen goes total black. Good job 2kgames.

[Tech John]

It seems to work now :) . That last tip solved it. To bad the game crashes right after the trip to Ryan's office. The screen goes total black. Good job 2kgames.

When the game crashes does it crash back to the desktop or just stay on a black screen?

[chokke]

Black, blacker, blackest and I have to reset all my options ingame.

[Tech John]

Black, blacker, blackest and I have to reset all my options ingame.

Try to del the Bioshock.ini file start the game, exit the game and make the changed Tech Dan asked you to make.

Then try the game again.