Troubleshooting Planescape: Torment in Windows Vista / Windows 7
Version 1.04

[Update 4th Nov 2010]: For those with the GOG version of Planescape: Torment, there is a guide at GOG on installing Planescape: Torment.

First, please try the Microsoft's KB article on 'How to troubleshoot program compatibility issues in Windows Vista'.

If the Nameless One is walking backwards, turning Software Mirroring off in Display options in the game may fix it. [ source ].

There are more graphics related pointers in this thread and this thread, as well as a nVidia fix for characters walking backwards. Having slowdown issues and slow framerates, see this thread. For those with ATI cards with

If it doesn't work, identify the error and click below

1. Video Crashing (display errors, can't even start game)
2. Audio Problems
3. Crashing when Exiting Mortuary
4. Low Resolution

Video Crashing

According to a post by Locqlynn at Gamespot's forums, you can run the game under Vista by simply setting your Hardware Acceleration to none.

He writes:

i'm using vista 32x, on a 8600m gs nvidia card

i had problems with the fog of war, it was big and blocky,, then when i would try and cast a spell i got a nvlddmkm display error

well i fixed it

just uninstall your graphic card drivers, restart, then vista will download a generic vga driver, and bam, it works

no problems right now,, but if i find any, i'll report here

happy gaming

However, SKARDAVNELNATE (on the same link), claims it is the same as disabling hardware acceleration:

Sounds like you got the same result as disabling Hardware acceleration.

The way to accomplish this, as referenced in this KB article, is by follows:

1. Open the Display item in Control Panel. To do this, click Start, type desk.cpl in the Start Search box, and then click desk.cpl in the Programs list.
   
2. Click Display Settings, and then click Advanced Settings. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
   
3. Move the Hardware Acceleration slider to None.

Note that this will impact other game performances heavily. Once you are done with the game, or if you want to engage in a graphics intensive game (e.g. Unreal 2004), you will need to move the slider back to Full if not you will have problems with newer games.

However, if you are running Vista 64-bit, FrankDaegas has reported that hardware acceleration cannot be disabled. The workaround as he posted:

Fixing magic crash on Vista 64
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Vista 64 rig with 8800 (tried a few drivers) will not allow me to set the graphics acceleration bar down; it states that my "current display driver does not allow changes to be made to the hardware acceleration settings".

To play the game I set the following in Torment.ini:

Quote:
Translucent Shadows=0
SoftSrcKeyBltFast=1
SoftBltFast=1
SoftSrcKeyBlt=1
SoftBlt=1
SoftMirrorBlt=1

This allows me to play the game moderately (no extreme slowdown, crashes, mouse-hand problems or apparent graphical glitches). I haven't played far tough (just to the circle of 5 mages in the cottage in Alley Of Dangerous Angles where I killed the ring-seeker to start a magic fight).

Still I would like to hear any idea's on how to enable this slider; Google didn't turn up much.....

Still not fixed? There are more measures you can try here.

Audio Problems

Some users have been reporting issues of character voices and selection sounds not playing. GreatGobo from Gamebanshee's forum shares a solution on this

Character voice/selection fix on Vista
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I did a bit of hunting but didn't find a solution posted for the sound issue that I was having in Vista. The game has been working fine except for character voices and selection sounds not playing. I just now found the fix for me and thought I'd share it.

I'm running Vista with a Creative Labs sound card. Mine happens to be a X-Fi based card, The issue lies in the fact that Microsoft made non-passive changes to the sound sub system in Vista. For the details, visit the link at the bottom of the post. It also will provide the download that will fix the issue. If you have a card supported by the ALchemy project, install ALchemy. When you run ALchemy, add a new game giving it a name along with the following registry path (with out the quotes) "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Cur rentVersion\App Paths\Torment.exe\Path". Accept the rest of the default setting and select ok.

After doing this, start up the game and all should work well hopefully. It did for me anyway.

Here's the link. Good luck.
Home - ALchemy

Now you should be able to run Planescape: Torment in Vista without any problems. Do let us know below in the Comments if you know of additional pointers.

Crashing when Exiting Mortuary

From Jason's post in Bootstrike Forums

Game Crashing on entering the Mortuary

Sometimes, when you try to re-enter the mortuary, the game crashes about 1/4 of the way through loading. To work around this, get your party members to kill you while you're in the Hive. You will appear on the second floor of the Mortuary. Or talk to Pox.

Low Resolution

Install the Widescreen MOD By The BIGG. Allows play at previously unsupported resolutions, like those of widescreen monitors and works in Windows XP and Windows Vista.

Note that only the resolution is changed - the font size remains the same (becomes smaller in higher resolution). More details here

This document is Copyright(©) 2001-2009 by G.Ganesh.

Last Updated 29th September 2010