First off, let me say that I have combed every forum I can find to find solutions to this. The farthest I have gotten in the game is seeing the opening movie of the Ebon Hawk and then crashing. Often I do not even get past, or even to, the character creation screen. The PC freezes solid with a black screen.
Let me know if I have missed anything or you have any other solutions
Things I have tried so far:
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The last three and newest Catalyst drivers including 4.9 which some people were swearing by. Each previous version was removed using a scrubber to get rid of all traces. I also tried Omega and DNA drivers.
Updating Sound Card and Via chipset drivers
Disabling Movies and editing the swkotor.ini file as suggested by Lucas Arts
renaming wnaspi.dll
disabling Anti-virus, virtual drives and any other startup programs that would even remoteley impact KOTOR
disabling AA,VS, dropping resolution and visuals to minimum
Reinstalling Windows XP
I am sure there are numerous other things I have done that I no longer care to remember.
My system specs are all good:
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AMD 2500
768 mb RAM
VIA chipset, KT333
Radeon 8500 128 mb ram - not the $%^& LE version. The non LE 8500 still way outperforms their lowest RECOMMENDED (not required) card, the 9200.
40 GB free on the install drive
The PC is spyware free and has no issues running ANYTHING else
Observations:
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-Lucas Arts support site is of no use at all
-A game should not require me - or the numerous other ATI owners - to jump through hoops or wait 2 months for a patch after I laid down a lot of cash for it.
-No wonder PC gaming is dieing when this type of product is given to us. The average user has no idea how to use the start button never mind update a driver.
- It is not ATI's fault. Lucas Arts and Obsidian should have thoroughly tested it to make sure it was stable on all platforms.
-For a game that runs on a Engine that is the same as the old game it sure has many bugs. And when you consider your average PC is now much more powerful than the XBOX it was written for I cannot understand any excuses
- I can tell you I will not put down cash for Lucas Arts upcoming Star Wars RTS or Obsidians Neverwinter Nights 2 despite the fact they are my two favourite franchises.