Halo 1 & 2 for PC
This topic has moved here: Subject: SOLVED! SEE FOLLOWING POST Halo Chat not working ; startup vid han...
  • Subject: SOLVED! SEE FOLLOWING POST Halo Chat not working ; startup vid han...
Subject: SOLVED! SEE FOLLOWING POST Halo Chat not working ; startup vid han...
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Halo (Version 1.07) has been working fine, then I did a security/sanitization upgrade. Now problems occur with Halo (not Half-Life2, though)

Problem symptoms:
- Initial startup logo lingers for an extended time (>45 sec)
- Startup videos that follow hang before starting (screen all white)
Running Halo in safe mode and modifying refresh rate to 70Mhz seems to temporarily fix this hang.
- Once I'm in the game, all the features seem available *except* halo chat information. When I type "T" to talk, I see the grey'd chat box, but no text appears. I do *not* see any kill info or other's chat info

OK, this problem occurred after I did the following upgrades (see below for details):
- Windows Update upgraded to the most recent security, etc.
- ATI driver upgrades were listed in the Windows Update...I reluctantly checked them...sigh...they are from February 2005, is all they said
- I upgraded from Norton 2004 to Norton 2005

After the problem occurred, I did the following (none fixed it):

- Opened up Norton to make sure there was no blocking of ports. I had a few instances at first, but now there is no interference from Norton according to its logs (I've turned their logging up high)

- Downgraded ATI drivers to Catalyst 4.2 (what I was running before) using the ATI removal tool first (removes everything ATI from the system)

- Upgraded to the latest ATI drivers (Catalyst 5.7), removing prior one with same tool

- Tried a few in between (Catalyst 5.6, 4.3) all with the same effect (BTW, half-life2 works with all!)

- Saw that with earlier versions of Halo, there were problems with strings.dll that caused chat to not work. I tried those "fixed" versions of strings.dll (downloaded from microsoft update site specifically for this purpose), and these seemed to be incompatible with 1.07 of Halo.

- Upgraded to the latest DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

- reinstalled Halo a few times (always upgrading to 1.07)

- Tweaked the "refresh rate" between 60,70,75,85 (using NEC Accusync 70, can support 1024x768 at 85Hz)

- Tried the lowest quality/highest performance settings on the ATI board

- Ran halo.exe -novideo (same problem)

- Ran halo.exe -safemode (same problem)

Details about system info and upgrade info for initial problem below.
Can anyone help???

=========== System info ==================
Operating System: Windows 2000 Professional (5.0, Build 2195) Service Pack 4
System: Dell Computer Corporation/OptiPlex GX260
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.00GHz, ~2.0GHz
Memory: 510MB RAM
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Card name: RADEON 9600 SERIES (9600XT)
Chip type: ATI RADEON 9600 Series AGP (0x4152)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
======================================

- The following windows updates:
======= Windows 2000 update ====================
. 814078: Security Update (Microsoft Jscript version 5.6, Windows 2000, Windows XP)
. Q329115: Security Update (Windows 2000)
. Update Rollup 1 for Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (KB891861)
. Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (KB833989)
. Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (KB883939)
. Cumulative Security Update for Outlook Express 6 Service Pack 1 (KB897715)
. ATI Technologies Inc. display software update released on February 22 2005.
. Update Rollup 1 for Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (KB891861)
. Security Update for Windows 2000 (KB901214)
. Security Update for JView Profiler (KB903235)

[Edited on 7/17/2005]

  • 07.17.2005 2:59 PM PDT
Subject: Halo Chat not working SOLVED
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Hey...I've had this problem for almost a week and right after I posted to Bungie, I found the solution to my own problem.

This fixed chat problem *and* the video hang issue.

BEWARE of the latest MS Updates! They seemed to munge my MSXML stuff.

I have NO idea why my repeated searching around microsoft, google, etc., didn't reveal this before.

Hope this helps someone else.

See Microsoft Knowledgebase Article: 838993
"Chat and text display issues in Halo: Combat Evolved"
Method 1 + Method 2 fixed the problem.

Here it is:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;83899 3
====== Text below =========
SYMPTOMS
When you play a multiplayer game of Microsoft Halo: Combat Evolved, you may experience both of the following symptoms: • When you use the keyboard to chat with other players, nothing appears in the chat window.
• When you kill another player, you see just "Player Name" over the crosshairs instead of "You killed Player Name."

Back to the top

CAUSE
This issue may occur if the Microsoft XML Parser files are not correctly installed.
Back to the top

RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, use the following methods, as necessary, in the order that they appear in.
Back to the top

Method 1: Reinstall the Microsoft XML parser
1. Quit Halo: Combat Evolved.
2. Insert the Halo: Combat Evolved CD into your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then hold down the SHIFT key to prevent the program from starting automatically.
3. Click Start, and then click Run.
4. In the Open box, type CD Drive:\Redist\msxmlenu.msi, and then click OK.
5. Follow the instructions to install the Microsoft XML Parser files.
If the issue continues, go on to the Method 2.
Back to the top

Method 2: Register the XML .dll file
1. Quit Halo: Combat Evolved.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type regsvr32 msxml4.dll.
4. Click OK.
If the issue continues, go on to the Method 3.
Back to the top

Method 3: Install the latest update for Halo: Combat Evolved
To download and install the latest update for Halo: Combat Evolved, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/games/halo/downloads.asp (http://www.microsoft.com/games/halo/downloads.asp)
Note You must be logged on as an administrator of the computer to successfully install any updates for Halo: Combat Evolved.
Back to the top

Method 4: Create new user account in Microsoft Windows XP
1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click User Accounts.
2. In the Pick a task box, click Create a new account.
3. Type the name that you want to use for the account, and then click Next.
4. Select administrator as the account type, and then click Create Account.
5. Log on by using the newly created account, and then test the game.

  • 07.17.2005 3:55 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

You could just type in -novideo instead of -console that could of fixed it.

  • 07.17.2005 6:19 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Actually, -safemode includes -novideo
Yes, that solved any vid hanging problems (by avoiding video), however, it never fixed the chat problem. Doing the microsoft xml reinstall, however, fixes both.

I'm not clear why the xml business has anything to do with causing the intro video's to hang...

  • 07.17.2005 9:35 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

novideo speeds up the loading process.
you should maybe try this


-console -novideo -nojoystick -nogamma -use11

what i use!

nojoystick - so the game doesnt waste time looking for one.
no gamma- basically what it says you cant adjust your gamma its set to normal.
use11 - basically using a good card. just speed it up if you have REALLY GOOD CARD and dont need all the neaty pretty.

  • 07.17.2005 11:09 PM PDT