Black Screen, appears to be related to textures

[dasungeheuer]

Update: SOLVED

In my case, it turned out that I had a hardware issue, as pointed out by a very helpful Turbine support. Thank you, Turbine!

The 8800GT I have came overclocked from the factory, to 650/950 instead of 600/900. By using RivaTuner to bring it down to "stock speeds" of 600 core, 900 memory, my issues have gone away. I've played for hours on Very High textures with DX9, and am now testing "everything High/Very High/Ultra High on DX10". So far so good.

I've also bumped texture buffer up to 1.0 and enabled triple-buffering. More because I can (got 8GB of RAM, might as well use it) and it'll take some strain off the rendering than anything else.

Why did this not cause issues in "you-name-the-game" - Bioshock, Mass Effect, &c? Beats me. After reading all these black screen threads and the various fixes people find, I can only conclude that DDO is more sensitive than other games to a number of issues, including but not limited to:

- Hardware issues / overheating
- Sound driver issues / OpenAL
- DirectInput issues
- Graphics driver issues, especially with AMD/ATI drivers newer than 9.7
- Corruption of game files / userprefs.ini

All of those can cause "black screen". There's no one "black screen" cause, I think.

And sorta related, though really a different category:
- If your graphics chip doesn't support DDO features, DDO may try to render using the DX9 software renderer. By default, that gives you a black screen. Installing the DX9 SDK gives you a software renderer that can actually show a screen. That's far sub-par to having hardware support, of course - but explains why at least one person solved his issue by installing the SDK.

And yet another category, related to crashes on startup:
- Some free AV software can cause issues, for example AVG Free has caused "crash on 1st startup" and "game randomly minimizes every 20-30 minutes" for some people on the forums. They resolved it by un-installing AVG and installing something-else - such as MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials, the new free AV from MS) - instead.

>>
I get frequent black screens in the game. The game itself still runs, and the sound continues, I just can't see anything.

This is on a new install of Windows 7 64, 8GB of RAM, NVidia 8800GT 512MB with 191.07 drivers, Asus Sonar DX sound w/ Asus Win7 beta drivers.

This also happened in Vista64, same hardware, almost same drivers: Sound drivers were different.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 10/31/2009, 10:33:03
       Machine name: MEEP
   Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_rtm.090713-1255)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
       System Model: EP45-UD3P
               BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU    Q8300  @ 2.50GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.5GHz
             Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 8190MB RAM
          Page File: 1674MB used, 10610MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
   User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
 System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
     DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
          Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 
       Manufacturer: NVIDIA
          Chip type: GeForce 8800 GT
           DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0611&SUBSYS_1A011019&REV_A2
     Display Memory: 4079 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 495 MB
      Shared Memory: 3583 MB
       Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (59Hz)
       Monitor Name: ViewSonic VX2235wm
      Monitor Model: VX2235wm
         Monitor Id: VSC591E
        Native Mode: 1680 x 1050(p) (59.954Hz)
        Output Type: DVI
        Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 8.16.0011.9107 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.16.11.9107
        DDI Version: 10
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 9/27/2009 23:12:22, 9441384 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: n/a
    WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
  Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4551-11CF-3A50-0A3A1DC2C535}
          Vendor ID: 0x10DE
          Device ID: 0x0611
          SubSys ID: 0x1A011019
        Revision ID: 0x00A2
 Driver Strong Name: oem14.inf:NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1:Section003:8.16.11.9107:pci\ven_10de&dev_0611
     Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
        Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C 
   Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch 
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch 
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch 
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch 
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
       D3D9 Overlay: Supported
            DXVA-HD: Supported
       DDraw Status: Enabled
         D3D Status: Enabled
         AGP Status: Enabled

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Speakers (ASUS Xonar DX Audio Device)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_13F6&DEV_8788&SUBSYS_82751043&REV_00
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: cmudaxp.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0008 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: n/a
          Date and Size: 9/23/2009 11:45:30, 1257472 bytes
            Other Files: 
        Driver Provider: ASUSTeK
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

            Description: S/PDIF Pass-through Device (ASUS Xonar DX Audio Device)
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_13F6&DEV_8788&SUBSYS_82751043&REV_00
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: cmudaxp.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0008 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: n/a
          Date and Size: 9/23/2009 11:45:30, 1257472 bytes
            Other Files: 
        Driver Provider: ASUSTeK
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: Microphone (ASUS Xonar DX Audio Device)
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: cmudaxp.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0008 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 9/23/2009 11:45:30, 1257472 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x1
           Format Flags: 0xFFFFF

            Description: Stereo Mix (ASUS Xonar DX Audio Device)
  Default Sound Capture: No
  Default Voice Capture: No
            Driver Name: cmudaxp.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0008 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 9/23/2009 11:45:30, 1257472 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x1
           Format Flags: 0xFFFFF

            Description: Line In (ASUS Xonar DX Audio Device)
  Default Sound Capture: No
  Default Voice Capture: No
            Driver Name: cmudaxp.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0008 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 9/23/2009 11:45:30, 1257472 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x1
           Format Flags: 0xFFFFF

            Description: Aux (ASUS Xonar DX Audio Device)
  Default Sound Capture: No
  Default Voice Capture: No
            Driver Name: cmudaxp.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0008 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 9/23/2009 11:45:30, 1257472 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x1
           Format Flags: 0xFFFFF

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
      Device Name: Mouse
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Keyboard
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

Poll w/ Interrupt: No

-----------
USB Devices
-----------
+ USB Root Hub
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x8086, 0x3A35
| Matching Device ID: usb\root_hub
| Service: usbhub

----------------
Gameport Devices
----------------

------------
PS/2 Devices
------------
+ Standard PS/2 Keyboard
| Matching Device ID: *pnp0303
| Service: i8042prt
| 
+ Terminal Server Keyboard Driver
| Matching Device ID: root\rdp_kbd
| Upper Filters: kbdclass
| Service: TermDD
| 
+ HID-compliant mouse
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x046D, 0xC50E
| Matching Device ID: hid_device_system_mouse
| Service: mouhid
| 
+ Terminal Server Mouse Driver
| Matching Device ID: root\rdp_mou
| Upper Filters: mouclass
| Service: TermDD

------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
      Drive: C:
 Free Space: 32.1 GB
Total Space: 53.7 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: SAMSUNG SP2004C ATA Device

      Drive: D:
 Free Space: 41.2 GB
Total Space: 137.1 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: SAMSUNG SP2004C ATA Device

      Drive: Y:
 Free Space: 0.9 GB
Total Space: 5.1 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: SATA SAMSUNG SP1614C SCSI Disk Device

      Drive: E:
      Model: TOSHIBA DVD-ROM SD-M1612 ATA Device
     Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 6.01.7600.16385 (English), , 0 bytes

      Drive: F:
      Model: SONY DVD RW DRU-540A ATA Device
     Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 6.01.7600.16385 (English), , 0 bytes

--------------
System Devices
--------------
     Name: Intel(R) ICH10 Family USB Enhanced Host Controller - 3A3C
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A3C&SUBSYS_50061458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&D7
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) ICH10 Family SMBus Controller - 3A30
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A30&SUBSYS_50011458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&FB
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_197B&DEV_2363&SUBSYS_B0001458&REV_02\4&A720DC2&0&01E3
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) ICH10 Family USB Enhanced Host Controller - 3A3A
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A3A&SUBSYS_50061458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&EF
   Driver: n/a

     Name: GIGABYTE GBB36X Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_197B&DEV_2363&SUBSYS_B0001458&REV_02\4&A720DC2&0&00E3
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) ICH10 Family PCI Express Root Port 6 - 3A4A
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A4A&SUBSYS_50011458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&E5
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) ICH10 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 3A39
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A39&SUBSYS_50041458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&D2
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A22&SUBSYS_B0051458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&FA
   Driver: n/a

     Name: ASUS Xonar DX Audio Device
Device ID: PCI\VEN_13F6&DEV_8788&SUBSYS_82751043&REV_00\5&1FA470FA&0&2000E1
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) ICH10 Family PCI Express Root Port 5 - 3A48
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A48&SUBSYS_50011458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&E4
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) ICH10 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 3A38
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A38&SUBSYS_50041458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&D1
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller #2
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8168&SUBSYS_E0001458&REV_02\4&525529E&0&00E4
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) ICH10 Family PCI Express Root Port 4 - 3A46
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A46&SUBSYS_50011458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&E3
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) ICH10 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 3A37
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A37&SUBSYS_50041458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&D0
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) ICH10R LPC Interface Controller - 3A16
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A16&SUBSYS_50011458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&F8
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8168&SUBSYS_E0001458&REV_02\4&2E680ECD&0&00E5
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) ICH10 Family PCI Express Root Port 2 - 3A42
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A42&SUBSYS_50011458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&E1
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) ICH10 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 3A36
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A36&SUBSYS_50041458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&EA
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) 4 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port - 2E21
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2E21&SUBSYS_50001458&REV_03\3&13C0B0C5&0&08
   Driver: n/a

     Name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0611&SUBSYS_1A011019&REV_A2\4&2273D500&0&0008
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) ICH10 Family PCI Express Root Port 1 - 3A40
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A40&SUBSYS_50011458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&E0
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) ICH10 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 3A35
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A35&SUBSYS_50041458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&E9
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) 4 Series Chipset Processor to I/O Controller - 2E20
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2E20&SUBSYS_50001458&REV_03\3&13C0B0C5&0&00
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10B5&DEV_8111&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_21\4&238ED369&0&00E1
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) ICH10 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 3A34
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A34&SUBSYS_50041458&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&E8
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Intel(R) 82801 PCI Bridge - 244E
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_244E&SUBSYS_50001458&REV_90\3&13C0B0C5&0&F0
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Texas Instruments 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_104C&DEV_8024&SUBSYS_10001458&REV_00\4&278CCF74&0&38F0
   Driver: n/a

------------------
DirectShow Filters
------------------

DirectShow Filters:
WMAudio Decoder DMO,0x00800800,1,1,WMADMOD.DLL,6.01.7600.16385
WMAPro over S/PDIF DMO,0x00600800,1,1,WMADMOD.DLL,6.01.7600.16385
WMSpeech Decoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,WMSPDMOD.DLL,6.01.7600.16385
MP3 Decoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,mp3dmod.dll,6.01.7600.16385
Mpeg4s Decoder DMO,0x00800001,1,1,mp4sdecd.dll,6.01.7600.16385
WMV Screen decoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,wmvsdecd.dll,6.01.7600.16385
WMVideo Decoder DMO,0x00800001,1,1,wmvdecod.dll,6.01.7600.16385
Mpeg43 Decoder DMO,0x00800001,1,1,mp43decd.dll,6.01.7600.16385
Mpeg4 Decoder DMO,0x00800001,1,1,mpg4decd.dll,6.01.7600.16385
WMT VIH2 Fix,0x00200000,1,1,WLXVAFilt.dll,14.00.8081.0709
Record Queue,0x00200000,1,1,WLXVAFilt.dll,14.00.8081.0709
WMT Switch Filter,0x00200000,1,1,WLXVAFilt.dll,14.00.8081.0709
WMT Virtual Renderer,0x00200000,1,0,WLXVAFilt.dll,14.00.8081.0709
WMT DV Extract,0x00200000,1,1,WLXVAFilt.dll,14.00.8081.0709
WMT Virtual Source,0x00200000,0,1,WLXVAFilt.dll,14.00.8081.0709
WMT Sample Information Filter,0x00200000,1,1,WLXVAFilt.dll,14.00.8081.0709
DV Muxer,0x00400000,0,0,qdv.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Color Space Converter,0x00400001,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
WM ASF Reader,0x00400000,0,0,qasf.dll,12.00.7600.16385
Screen Capture filter,0x00200000,0,1,wmpsrcwp.dll,12.00.7600.16385
AVI Splitter,0x00600000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
VGA 16 Color Ditherer,0x00400000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
SBE2MediaTypeProfile,0x00200000,0,0,sbe.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder,0x005fffff,2,4,msmpeg2vdec.dll,6.01.7140.0000
AC3 Parser Filter,0x00600000,1,1,mpg2splt.ax,6.06.7600.16385
StreamBufferSink,0x00200000,0,0,sbe.dll,6.06.7600.16385
MJPEG Decompressor,0x00600000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
MPEG-I Stream Splitter,0x00600000,1,2,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
SAMI (CC) Parser,0x00400000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
VBI Codec,0x00600000,1,4,VBICodec.ax,6.06.7600.16385
MPEG-2 Splitter,0x005fffff,1,0,mpg2splt.ax,6.06.7600.16385
Closed Captions Analysis Filter,0x00200000,2,5,cca.dll,6.06.7600.16385
SBE2FileScan,0x00200000,0,0,sbe.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Microsoft MPEG-2 Video Encoder,0x00200000,1,1,msmpeg2enc.dll,6.01.7600.16385
Internal Script Command Renderer,0x00800001,1,0,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
MPEG Audio Decoder,0x03680001,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
DV Splitter,0x00600000,1,2,qdv.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Video Mixing Renderer 9,0x00200000,1,0,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Microsoft MPEG-2 Encoder,0x00200000,2,1,msmpeg2enc.dll,6.01.7600.16385
ACM Wrapper,0x00600000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Video Renderer,0x00800001,1,0,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
MPEG-2 Video Stream Analyzer,0x00200000,0,0,sbe.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Line 21 Decoder,0x00600000,1,1,qdvd.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Video Port Manager,0x00600000,2,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Video Renderer,0x00400000,1,0,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
File Writer,0x00200000,1,0,WLXVAFilt.dll,14.00.8081.0709
VPS Decoder,0x00200000,0,0,WSTPager.ax,6.06.7600.16385
WM ASF Writer,0x00400000,0,0,qasf.dll,12.00.7600.16385
VBI Surface Allocator,0x00600000,1,1,vbisurf.ax,6.01.7600.16385
File writer,0x00200000,1,0,qcap.dll,6.06.7600.16385
iTV Data Sink,0x00600000,1,0,itvdata.dll,6.06.7600.16385
iTV Data Capture filter,0x00600000,1,1,itvdata.dll,6.06.7600.16385
DVD Navigator,0x00200000,0,3,qdvd.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Overlay Mixer2,0x00200000,1,1,qdvd.dll,6.06.7600.16385
AVI Draw,0x00600064,9,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
RDP DShow Redirection Filter,0xffffffff,1,0,DShowRdpFilter.dll,
Microsoft MPEG-2 Audio Encoder,0x00200000,1,1,msmpeg2enc.dll,6.01.7600.16385
WST Pager,0x00200000,1,1,WSTPager.ax,6.06.7600.16385
MPEG-2 Demultiplexer,0x00600000,1,1,mpg2splt.ax,6.06.7600.16385
DV Video Decoder,0x00800000,1,1,qdv.dll,6.06.7600.16385
SampleGrabber,0x00200000,1,1,qedit.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Null Renderer,0x00200000,1,0,qedit.dll,6.06.7600.16385
MPEG-2 Sections and Tables,0x005fffff,1,0,Mpeg2Data.ax,6.06.7600.16385
Microsoft AC3 Encoder,0x00200000,1,1,msac3enc.dll,6.01.7600.16385
StreamBufferSource,0x00200000,0,0,sbe.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Smart Tee,0x00200000,1,2,qcap.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Overlay Mixer,0x00200000,0,0,qdvd.dll,6.06.7600.16385
AVI Decompressor,0x00600000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
AVI/WAV File Source,0x00400000,0,2,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Wave Parser,0x00400000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
MIDI Parser,0x00400000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Multi-file Parser,0x00400000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
File stream renderer,0x00400000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Microsoft DTV-DVD Audio Decoder,0x005fffff,1,1,msmpeg2adec.dll,6.01.7140.0000
StreamBufferSink2,0x00200000,0,0,sbe.dll,6.06.7600.16385
AVI Mux,0x00200000,1,0,qcap.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Line 21 Decoder 2,0x00600002,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
File Source (Async.),0x00400000,0,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
File Source (URL),0x00400000,0,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Infinite Pin Tee Filter,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Enhanced Video Renderer,0x00200000,1,0,evr.dll,6.01.7600.16385
BDA MPEG2 Transport Information Filter,0x00200000,2,0,psisrndr.ax,6.06.7600.16385
MPEG Video Decoder,0x40000001,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385

WDM Streaming Tee/Splitter Devices:
Tee/Sink-to-Sink Converter,0x00200000,1,1,ksproxy.ax,6.01.7600.16385

Video Compressors:
WMVideo8 Encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,wmvxencd.dll,6.01.7600.16385
WMVideo9 Encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,wmvencod.dll,6.01.7600.16385
MSScreen 9 encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,wmvsencd.dll,6.01.7600.16385
DV Video Encoder,0x00200000,0,0,qdv.dll,6.06.7600.16385
MJPEG Compressor,0x00200000,0,0,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Cinepak Codec by Radius,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Intel IYUV codec,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Intel IYUV codec,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Microsoft RLE,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Microsoft Video 1,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.06.7600.16385

Audio Compressors:
WM Speech Encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,WMSPDMOE.DLL,6.01.7600.16385
WMAudio Encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,WMADMOE.DLL,6.01.7600.16385
IMA ADPCM,0x00200000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
PCM,0x00200000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Microsoft ADPCM,0x00200000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
GSM 6.10,0x00200000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Messenger Audio Codec,0x00200000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
CCITT A-Law,0x00200000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
CCITT u-Law,0x00200000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
MPEG Layer-3,0x00200000,1,1,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385

Audio Capture Sources:
Microphone (ASUS Xonar DX Audio,0x00200000,0,0,qcap.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Aux (ASUS Xonar DX Audio Device,0x00200000,0,0,qcap.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Line In (ASUS Xonar DX Audio De,0x00200000,0,0,qcap.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Stereo Mix (ASUS Xonar DX Audio,0x00200000,0,0,qcap.dll,6.06.7600.16385

PBDA CP Filters:
PBDA DTFilter,0x00600000,1,1,CPFilters.dll,6.06.7600.16385
PBDA ETFilter,0x00200000,0,0,CPFilters.dll,6.06.7600.16385
PBDA PTFilter,0x00200000,0,0,CPFilters.dll,6.06.7600.16385

Midi Renderers:
Default MidiOut Device,0x00800000,1,0,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth,0x00200000,1,0,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385

WDM Streaming Capture Devices:
ASUS Xonar DX Audio,0x00200000,2,2,ksproxy.ax,6.01.7600.16385
ASUS Xonar DX Digital,0x00200000,3,3,ksproxy.ax,6.01.7600.16385

WDM Streaming Rendering Devices:
ASUS Xonar DX Audio,0x00200000,2,2,ksproxy.ax,6.01.7600.16385
ASUS Xonar DX Digital,0x00200000,3,3,ksproxy.ax,6.01.7600.16385

BDA Network Providers:
Microsoft ATSC Network Provider,0x00200000,0,1,MSDvbNP.ax,6.06.7600.16385
Microsoft DVBC Network Provider,0x00200000,0,1,MSDvbNP.ax,6.06.7600.16385
Microsoft DVBS Network Provider,0x00200000,0,1,MSDvbNP.ax,6.06.7600.16385
Microsoft DVBT Network Provider,0x00200000,0,1,MSDvbNP.ax,6.06.7600.16385
Microsoft Network Provider,0x00200000,0,1,MSNP.ax,6.06.7600.16385

Multi-Instance Capable VBI Codecs:
VBI Codec,0x00600000,1,4,VBICodec.ax,6.06.7600.16385

BDA Transport Information Renderers:
BDA MPEG2 Transport Information Filter,0x00600000,2,0,psisrndr.ax,6.06.7600.16385
MPEG-2 Sections and Tables,0x00600000,1,0,Mpeg2Data.ax,6.06.7600.16385

BDA CP/CA Filters:
Decrypt/Tag,0x00600000,1,1,EncDec.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Encrypt/Tag,0x00200000,0,0,EncDec.dll,6.06.7600.16385
PTFilter,0x00200000,0,0,EncDec.dll,6.06.7600.16385
XDS Codec,0x00200000,0,0,EncDec.dll,6.06.7600.16385

WDM Streaming Communication Transforms:
Tee/Sink-to-Sink Converter,0x00200000,1,1,ksproxy.ax,6.01.7600.16385

Audio Renderers:
Speakers (ASUS Xonar DX Audio D,0x00200000,1,0,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Default DirectSound Device,0x00800000,1,0,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
Default WaveOut Device,0x00200000,1,0,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
DirectSound: S/PDIF Pass-through Device (ASUS Xonar DX Audio Device),0x00200000,1,0,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
DirectSound: Speakers (ASUS Xonar DX Audio Device),0x00200000,1,0,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385
S/PDIF Pass-through Device (ASU,0x00200000,1,0,quartz.dll,6.06.7600.16385

---------------
EVR Power Information
---------------
Current Setting: {5C67A112-A4C9-483F-B4A7-1D473BECAFDC} (Quality) 
  Quality Flags: 2576
    Enabled:
    Force throttling
    Allow half deinterlace
    Allow scaling
    Decode Power Usage: 100
  Balanced Flags: 1424
    Enabled:
    Force throttling
    Allow batching
    Force half deinterlace
    Force scaling
    Decode Power Usage: 50
  PowerFlags: 1424
    Enabled:
    Force throttling
    Allow batching
    Force half deinterlace
    Force scaling
    Decode Power Usage: 0

This appears to be related to textures. Let me describe what's going on, and what I have tried.

- With DX10 on, when I get a "black screen", I won't recover.
- With DX9 on, when I get a "Black screen", the game may briefly auto-recover and go into the next black screen. Sometimes, I need to Alt-TAB out, wait about 40 seconds, and Alt-TAB back in.
- Sometimes, instead of a black screen, I get "blocks" in my textures, like you'd get with texture memory corruption
- It's _much_ worse in the wilderness than in town, and much worse in town than in instances.
- Instances show this behavior mainly when a new monster (boss) comes on, or when I enter a room with "action" such as steam vents.
- If I reduce texture quality to "very low", the frequency of this issue is highly reduced. I can play for minutes on "very low".
- Bring textures to "low", "medium" or god forbid "very high", and the game becomes unplayable.

I have tried, without success:

- Re-installing graphics drivers
- Deleting DDO, re-installing from the "high texture" install instead of the downloader
- Installing the DirectX Aug 2009 SDK
- Removing all extraneous input devices
- Disabling onboard sound
- Rebooted many times, of course
- Deleted userprefs.ini and re-started DDO
- Forced DDO to use Windows dx9 DLLs by renaming the DLLs in its folder after the autopatcher did its work, and before starting DDO proper

Reasons I don't think this is a hardware failure:
- All other games work. I can leave Atlantica Online running for days, for example.
- I am not overclocking anything
- GPU temperature is at around 75 degrees C when playing

[Sothary]

I have the same problem, been going on for months.

At time when I get the black screen, I hear sound repeat and the system locks, sometimes it doesn't but I can still hear everyone talking, once in a while when I have to hard boot again, it screws up the bios settings after crashing. I've tried almost everything imagineable...

[W1zardHAT]

I also get a black screen, tho I've never played before. I just downloaded the game this morning, and every time I try to play, the game loads up, I can hear sounds, someone talking, and what I'm guessing is menu music.

Is there any way I can adjust the games video settings with out having to log in?

[dasungeheuer]

I also get a black screen, tho I've never played before. I just downloaded the game this morning, and every time I try to play, the game loads up, I can hear sounds, someone talking, and what I'm guessing is menu music.

Is there any way I can adjust the games video settings with out having to log in?

W1zard, your issue could be caused by a number of things, depending on your hardware:

- If your graphics card doesn't support DDO features, then that's the cause of the black screen "the moment you go to 3D rendering". You can install the Directx SDK (not end-user runtime!) to test this. If the SDK solves your issue, then the root cause at heart is that your hardware's not quite up to spec, and DDO switched to a software renderer.

- Graphics and sound drivers - go check that they are the latest.

- Some people have found issues caused by OpenAL, particularly when using Creative sound cards. There's a thread about it, go search for it.

- Other people have found issues caused by DirectInput. I _think_ that in most of those cases, dxdiag will actually report DirectInput errors. Fixes range from disconnecting all input devices not in use to the more arcane, such as fiddling around with DirectInput dlls.

Good luck!

[wootin]

I just posted my Black Screen of Death issue over here - http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p...7&postcount=73. We might want to combine these threads to get a good count of who has this problem.