CivIII and Windows

[fittstim]

Did I install CivIII wrong or is there something amiss with the ability to use Windows OS and CivIII simulataneously?

What I mean is that when I start CivIII, the entire screen is filled with the game (no little bar across the bottom and no way to reduce the game to see the desktop).

Normally this wouldn't bother me because you can press that little Windows Symbol key on the keyboard to get access to the desktop. However, if I do this during a game and try to actually start another program, the CivIII program immediately disappears. No crash, no error message, just POOF, no more CivIII.

I'm running a P4 -1500 with 256M RAM and the Swedish version of WindowsXP.

Anyone else experience something similar and is there a way to fix this?

[zulu9812]

I don't understand the problem: nearly all games fill up the entire screen. Unreal, Max Payne, Ghost Recon, SMAC, CTP2, Red Alert - they all do this. And why are you trying to start another program whilst running CivIII anyway? Besides, if you don't feel like using the windows key, just Alt-Tab to the previous window.

[vondrack]

Well, I can imagine reasons for launching other application while playing Civ... quick-checking one's email is an example.

However... the behaviour described is rather strange. I have checked this with my installation and yes, Civ3 fills the whole of the screen, of course (which is perfectly fine with me). When I press Alt+Esc (works the same as that Windows symbol key), the taskbar and the start menu of WinXP appear, but Civ3 remains visible in the background. If it disappears on your system, it may be an issue with DirectX drivers of your graphics card. However, I believe Civ might still be there, just not being visible... what happens when you press Alt+Tab to cycle through running applications?

[reefer addict]

ive had no problems running other programs during a civ3 game. i hit the window key, then hit the desktop button on the task bar and my desktop appears. i can still access civ3 on the task bar and/or bring up say the editor to fix a newly discovered problem . and this is with my girlfriends 64ram p.o.s. comp.

[Alex]

Originally posted by reefer addict
ive had no problems running other programs during a civ3 game. i hit the window key, then hit the desktop button on the task bar and my desktop appears. i can still access civ3 on the task bar and/or bring up say the editor to fix a newly discovered problem . and this is with my girlfriends 64ram p.o.s. comp.

Wow, I barely could run civ3 on my old 64 ram comp...

[Panag]

hi ,

civ3 is a game that is not made to run other programs next to it , .....

and in a way it should not be different , you need all your concentration with the game , ....

have a nice day

[Sheik]

try these:

Change your video resolution to 1024x768, with 16-bit color.


Shut down any other applications that you may have running on your system such as screen savers, virus scanners, etc.


Turn down video hardware acceleration in the Windows control panel.


Update your video card drivers.