hello all, im new to this game. checked all the forums, didnt see an answer that worked (switched to open GL, and reduced screen size to 600x800) using a dell latitude laptop, around 1ghz processor, 512 MB ram, will post dx diag results here in a sec...anyhow. the problem is this: when i start up, the screen stays black, with red "freckles" floating across, and a sun that moves counter clockwise across the screen occassionally. let it run for 7 rotations, no changes. nothing comes up. stays like that. what am i doing wrong please? I alkso ran all the DX video tests, all succesful. using the latest greast directx drivers. any suggestions? email me at james_sterling@email.com if ya do. thanks

Card name: ATI Mobility 128 AGP 2X (DELL)
Manufacturer: ATI
Chip type: M3 33MHz(AGP)
DAC type: Internal DAC (350Mhz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4C46&SUBSYS_00B11028&REV_02
Display Memory: 8.0 MB
Current Mode: 800 x 600 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Res:
Driver Name: atidvai.dll
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.1028 (English)
DDI Version: 8
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 8/17/2001 09:56:00, 268160 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: atimtai.sys
Mini VDD Date: 8/17/2001 07:48:40, 281600 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-0F06-11CF-9C77-B120A7C2C835}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x4C46
SubSys ID: 0x00B11028
Revision ID: 0x0002
Revision ID: 0x0002
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: n/a
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled

them: this is not spam email!
me: this is not a denial of service attack!

Could you do a cut and paste from your errors log in the Vendetta folder? That might give some clues.

Do you hear music when this is going on, or silence?

Is there any way you can update the video drivers for your laptop? According to what you posted here the drivers are from 8/17/2001.

They've fixed lots of problems since then. Maybe that will help VO.

Well, he wont be able to use standard ATI drivers with it being a dell, But shleg if you know your service tag, you can easily get an update from dell.com.