Fixed Bug 3.0 Beta 7 Flashing Screen when escaping from MA3

maddox1059 · 12-03-2008, 03:59 PM

Hi Jim,

Great work to start with...I have a small isssue with the newest vesion 3. Every time a press the escape key or the Enter key to leave Marine Aquarium 3 to get back to my original screen, the screen actuallu black out for a fraction of a second and does that 3 times before showing my previous screen. Other than that, it is running very smooth. Here's my config:
Window Vista HP 32 bits
NVidia GeForce 9600GTX 512M
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.40GHz
Intel(R) 955X PCI Express - 2775
3G Memory
Thanks

Edgar · 12-03-2008, 05:01 PM

The fix is to set the screensaver to match the desktop settings.
If your desktop is 16bit 1024x768, then it is best to set the screensaver display the same settings.

The screensaver tries to automatic figure that out but is not always successful depending on the graphic driver.

maddox1059 · 12-05-2008, 03:22 PM

Thanks Edgar, but I've tried few different options making sure that I got the same display option on the desktop than the MA3, and it's still doing that same little bug...!

fozzy · 12-12-2008, 10:22 AM

i have this too.. on two PCs (the ones in the sig).
Need to check the third (nvidia laptop)

It looks like a frequency size change... i am already using on both systems the windows resolution and color depth.

Definitely not a showstopper but on some sytems it happens.

The Old Man · 12-14-2008, 06:35 AM

For info, I've had it on all the MA3 betas so far too. Mine is set to match the desktop settings of 1680x1050 at 60hz on a Samsung 2253LW 21.5" screen. When I exit to desktop, there is a pretty horrendous flickering for a second a two, then its okay. It flashes about 3 times. I have an Nvidia 8800GT display card on Vista 64bit Home Premium.

Edgar · 12-14-2008, 01:58 PM

Note that it isn't just the size that has to match, also the color resolution. Make sure that if the desktop is at 32bit resolution, that the screensaver is also 32bit resolution.

Jim Sachs · 12-14-2008, 05:08 PM

On my Vista machine, even if everything matches, it still has 3 major black-flashes before exiting. On my XP machines, it smoothly exits when the resolutions match, but has the normal amount of rebuilding when they don't.

Racer-X · 12-14-2008, 09:20 PM

Same here. Black flashes before exiting.

Vista 32 bit
Nvidia 8600GT in 1920 x 1200 x 32bit mode. Serenescreen set to same resolution and depth.

feldon34 · 12-15-2008, 08:49 AM

Which is really funny when you think about it because Vista is supposed to be running entirely in DirectX all the time. That's why it's so slow but has the pretty graphics everywhere. Why it would be LESS graceful exiting a DirectX application is beyond me.

philosopher · 12-15-2008, 10:28 AM

I have the same flashes (vista 64bit). And I've had them right from the start. I've always assumed that they are supposed to be there.

Originally the screen saver started up slowly enough for me to be able to notice that Vista was switching into its "Windows Vista Basic Color Scheme" mode.

Vista does this for certain programs. For example whenever I use the "Fireworks" graphics application Vista switches. And I get the same "flashing" behaviour with Fireworks.

I've never looked into why it needs to change modes. But I believe the screen saver is causing Vista to switch.

I don't see a need for this to be fixed. But if it is deemed a "bug" then I think looking into Vista's Basic Color Scheme mode will lead to the resolution.

Edgar · 12-15-2008, 11:47 AM

So this is a Vista only problem. That explains it.
I guess a fix will require more research on Vista.

philosopher · 12-15-2008, 01:55 PM

Yes, this is Vista only and quite frankly I don't consider it a problem. It's a built in behaviour and can happen for a number of different reasons as explained here:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...a017c1033.mspx

So I'd mark this as "not a bug" and leave it at that. Perhaps an entry should be made in a FAQ somewhere since I'm sure at least a few questions will be curbed before taking up someones time that way.

Jim Sachs · 12-17-2008, 12:05 PM

I may be able to do a work-around for the Vista flashing problem. When the program exits from a window, there's no flash. So it's possible that if I switch from Fullscreen to Windowed mode an instant before exiting, there will be less trauma while the system re-adjusts itself.

Racer-X · 12-19-2008, 06:51 PM

I no longer have the flashes when exiting when using the 7k beta.

Jim Sachs · 12-19-2008, 07:31 PM

Hooray!

fozzy · 12-20-2008, 03:54 AM

looks good on both PCs

cjmaddy · 12-20-2008, 03:56 AM

But now we all get a black window as MA3 closes down?...

.... We have to put up with Vista's problems, even when we don't have Vista! .....

maddox1059 · 12-20-2008, 03:30 PM

As far as I'm concern, this is now working fine...! The Black screen only shows for about 1/10 of a second, so no more flashing screen...! Thanks

12-03-2008, 03:59 PM	#1
maddox1059 Registered Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 4	Flashing Screen when escaping from MA3 Hi Jim, Great work to start with...I have a small isssue with the newest vesion 3. Every time a press the escape key or the Enter key to leave Marine Aquarium 3 to get back to my original screen, the screen actuallu black out for a fraction of a second and does that 3 times before showing my previous screen. Other than that, it is running very smooth. Here's my config: Window Vista HP 32 bits NVidia GeForce 9600GTX 512M Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.40GHz Intel(R) 955X PCI Express - 2775 3G Memory Thanks

12-03-2008, 05:01 PM	#2
Edgar Prolific/SereneScreen Developer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Norwalk, CA Posts: 513	The fix is to set the screensaver to match the desktop settings. If your desktop is 16bit 1024x768, then it is best to set the screensaver display the same settings. The screensaver tries to automatic figure that out but is not always successful depending on the graphic driver. *Edgar Tolentino* Prolific Developer www.prolific.com www.LifeGlobe.com

12-12-2008, 10:22 AM	#4
fozzy Registered Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Italy Posts: 32	i have this too.. on two PCs (the ones in the sig). Need to check the third (nvidia laptop) It looks like a frequency size change... i am already using on both systems the windows resolution and color depth. Definitely not a showstopper but on some sytems it happens. testing on: ATI Radeon mobility X2300 - Intel(R) 946GZ Express Chipset Family

12-14-2008, 01:58 PM	#6
Edgar Prolific/SereneScreen Developer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Norwalk, CA Posts: 513	Note that it isn't just the size that has to match, also the color resolution. Make sure that if the desktop is at 32bit resolution, that the screensaver is also 32bit resolution. *Edgar Tolentino* Prolific Developer www.prolific.com www.LifeGlobe.com

12-14-2008, 05:08 PM	#7
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,816	On my Vista machine, even if everything matches, it still has 3 major black-flashes before exiting. On my XP machines, it smoothly exits when the resolutions match, but has the normal amount of rebuilding when they don't. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

12-05-2008, 03:22 PM	#3
maddox1059 Registered Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 4	Thanks Edgar, but I've tried few different options making sure that I got the same display option on the desktop than the MA3, and it's still doing that same little bug...!

12-14-2008, 06:35 AM	#5
The Old Man Registered Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 33	For info, I've had it on all the MA3 betas so far too. Mine is set to match the desktop settings of 1680x1050 at 60hz on a Samsung 2253LW 21.5" screen. When I exit to desktop, there is a pretty horrendous flickering for a second a two, then its okay. It flashes about 3 times. I have an Nvidia 8800GT display card on Vista 64bit Home Premium.

12-14-2008, 09:20 PM	#8
Racer-X Out for a spin Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: SF bay area Posts: 382	Same here. Black flashes before exiting. Vista 32 bit Nvidia 8600GT in 1920 x 1200 x 32bit mode. Serenescreen set to same resolution and depth.

12-15-2008, 08:49 AM	#9
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,947	Which is really funny when you think about it because Vista is supposed to be running entirely in DirectX all the time. That's why it's so slow but has the pretty graphics everywhere. Why it would be LESS graceful exiting a DirectX application is beyond me. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

12-15-2008, 10:28 AM	#10
philosopher Registered Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 86	Windows Vista Basic Color Scheme I have the same flashes (vista 64bit). And I've had them right from the start. I've always assumed that they are supposed to be there. Originally the screen saver started up slowly enough for me to be able to notice that Vista was switching into its "Windows Vista Basic Color Scheme" mode. Vista does this for certain programs. For example whenever I use the "Fireworks" graphics application Vista switches. And I get the same "flashing" behaviour with Fireworks. I've never looked into why it needs to change modes. But I believe the screen saver is causing Vista to switch. I don't see a need for this to be fixed. But if it is deemed a "bug" then I think looking into Vista's Basic Color Scheme mode will lead to the resolution. Sincerely, S. Justin Gengo "Out of chaos comes order." Nietzsche

12-15-2008, 11:47 AM	#11
Edgar Prolific/SereneScreen Developer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Norwalk, CA Posts: 513	So this is a Vista only problem. That explains it. I guess a fix will require more research on Vista. *Edgar Tolentino* Prolific Developer www.prolific.com www.LifeGlobe.com

12-15-2008, 01:55 PM	#12
philosopher Registered Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 86	Windows Vista Problem Yes, this is Vista only and quite frankly I don't consider it a problem. It's a built in behaviour and can happen for a number of different reasons as explained here: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...a017c1033.mspx So I'd mark this as "not a bug" and leave it at that. Perhaps an entry should be made in a FAQ somewhere since I'm sure at least a few questions will be curbed before taking up someones time that way. Sincerely, S. Justin Gengo "Out of chaos comes order." Nietzsche

12-17-2008, 12:05 PM	#13
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,816	I may be able to do a work-around for the Vista flashing problem. When the program exits from a window, there's no flash. So it's possible that if I switch from Fullscreen to Windowed mode an instant before exiting, there will be less trauma while the system re-adjusts itself. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

12-19-2008, 06:51 PM	#14
Racer-X Out for a spin Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: SF bay area Posts: 382	I no longer have the flashes when exiting when using the 7k beta.

12-19-2008, 07:31 PM	#15
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,816	Hooray! Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

12-20-2008, 03:54 AM	#16
fozzy Registered Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Italy Posts: 32	looks good on both PCs testing on: ATI Radeon mobility X2300 - Intel(R) 946GZ Express Chipset Family

12-20-2008, 03:56 AM	#17
cjmaddy Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 7,854	But now we all get a black window as MA3 closes down?... .... We have to put up with Vista's problems, even when we don't have Vista! .....

12-20-2008, 03:30 PM	#18
maddox1059 Registered Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 4	Flashing Screen when escaping from MA3 As far as I'm concern, this is now working fine...! The Black screen only shows for about 1/10 of a second, so no more flashing screen...! Thanks