StuartK
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 564
Registered: 06-10-2003
IP: Logged

Using build 45...

I changed my monitor refresh rate while DROD was running (in windowed mode) from 60Hz to 75Hz. The DROD display went blank, but the DROD application was still responsive. I Esc,Esc,Esc'ed to quit. I launched DROD again while at 75Hz, DROD worked normally. I then tried going from 75Hz back to 60Hz, and this time got a crash, DROD was unresponsive, and I had to manually kill the task.

I then repeated all of the above, getting exactly the same results.

I'm using Windows XP SP1, Geforce3 Ti200 graphics card, current drivers are 45.23, monitor is Sony CPD-E430, the maximum 'official' refresh rate for my current screen mode is 72Hz, but it doesn't complain about 75Hz, so that's what I use normally (when Windows doesn't keep choosing to arbitrarily default back to 60Hz)

Oneiromancer
Level: Legendary Smitemaster

Rank Points: 2936
Registered: 03-29-2003
IP: Logged

So, if you change the refresh rate when DROD isn't open, does it work okay? I mean, it seems like a lot of graphical programs would have issues with changing the refresh rate while they were running, but what do I know...

Game on,

____________________________
"He who is certain he knows the ending of things when he is only beginning them is either extremely wise or extremely foolish; no matter which is true, he is certainly an unhappy man, for he has put a knife in the heart of wonder." -- Tad Williams

mrimer
Level: Legendary Smitemaster

Rank Points: 5120
Registered: 02-04-2003
IP: Logged

I saw this same thing today too, in fact. I'm betting that after a screen change that display memory might have changed, and DROD is suddenly writing to different (i.e. the old) display memory, so drawing updates are no longer visible on screen. That's just a hunch...not sure whether it's true, or whether it's a situation that's easy to detect or fix.

____________________________
Gandalf? Yes... That's what they used to call me.
Gandalf the Grey. That was my name.
I am Gandalf the White.
And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide.

StuartK
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 564
Registered: 06-10-2003
IP: Logged

It would be a good fix. I won't be the last noob to try this, given the way XP deals with monitor refresh rates. And just to reiterate, upping the refresh rate causes a blank screen (recoverable, but could catch people out) but reducing it will crash DROD.

trick
Level: Legendary Smitemaster
Rank Points: 2580
Registered: 04-12-2003
IP: Logged

Does this happen in other SDL apps as well, or is it just DROD ? If you don't have any other SDL games, you could get some from the list at www.libsdl.org

Speculation time.. If the problem is that this changes the video memory, and if it generates an SDL_ResizeEvent, it might be possible to fix by polling for that and calling SDL_SetVideoMode again. I'm not sure if it does, though, and the SDL_ResizeEvent might be disabled since the DROD window isn't resizable. Also, it would only work if windows doesn't call other parts of DROD while the screen is (temporarily) unavailable, which it probably will.


[Edited by trick on 09-19-2003 at 12:50 AM GMT: stuff]