Error! Could not create primary and back surfaces.

A bit of necromancy here but what can I say, saw the LP over at the codex and had a bit of an urge to replay this one.

Since my primary platform these days is linux, I tried running it under wine (1.1.42), turns out it doesn't work at all and I've been unable to find a solution.

Next up, VirtualBox! Installs fine, runs fine... in a window. If you try to run full screen the forementioned error appears.

Anyone came up with a workaround? I really really don't feel like booting into Windows just to play the game, especially since I have other linux-only apps that I run all the time...
 
Har har, I got it to work!

Ok, here's how it's done:

Using VirtualBox with a Windows XP SP2 Pro guest installed, video acceleration enabled.

1. Reboot guest OS and start it in safe mode. Install guest additions and make sure to check 3D acceleration option.

2. While in safe mode, install Wined3D application (download here: http://www.nongnu.org/wined3d/), check the first option only.

3. Navigate to windows/system32 folder, locate ddraw.dll. Next to it you will find the ddraw.dll.backupsomethingorother. Rename ddraw.dll into fdraw.dll and remove the backupsomethingorother portion of the old file, making it ddraw.dll again.

4. Open bos.exe using a hex editor, search for ddraw, replace with fdraw and save the file.

5. Test the game, display modes should work now.

Before doing this I installed the game, patched to 1.27, applied no-cd patch and the multiple resolution patch.
 
DexterMorgan said:
Har har, I got it to work!

Ok, here's how it's done:

Using VirtualBox with a Windows XP SP2 Pro guest installed, video acceleration enabled.

1. Reboot guest OS and start it in safe mode. Install guest additions and make sure to check 3D acceleration option.

2. While in safe mode, install Wined3D application (download here: http://www.nongnu.org/wined3d/), check the first option only.

3. Navigate to windows/system32 folder, locate ddraw.dll. Next to it you will find the ddraw.dll.backupsomethingorother. Rename ddraw.dll into fdraw.dll and remove the backupsomethingorother portion of the old file, making it ddraw.dll again.

4. Open bos.exe using a hex editor, search for ddraw, replace with fdraw and save the file.

5. Test the game, display modes should work now.

Before doing this I installed the game, patched to 1.27, applied no-cd patch and the multiple resolution patch.
Click to expand...

Hey Tito, could you help me with some tactics problem? My problem is this: I have only one save and that one is somewhere near the middle of the game and my characters are in the CPF vs. PFC special encounter, and I cannot exit from it. All of the characters stand on the green exit grid, but nothing happens. I tried restarting the game and reinstalling , but nothing helped. What do I do?
 
DexterMorgan said:
Har har, I got it to work!

Ok, here's how it's done:

Using VirtualBox with a Windows XP SP2 Pro guest installed, video acceleration enabled.

1. Reboot guest OS and start it in safe mode. Install guest additions and make sure to check 3D acceleration option.

2. While in safe mode, install Wined3D application (download here: http://www.nongnu.org/wined3d/), check the first option only.

3. Navigate to windows/system32 folder, locate ddraw.dll. Next to it you will find the ddraw.dll.backupsomethingorother. Rename ddraw.dll into fdraw.dll and remove the backupsomethingorother portion of the old file, making it ddraw.dll again.

4. Open bos.exe using a hex editor, search for ddraw, replace with fdraw and save the file.

5. Test the game, display modes should work now.

Before doing this I installed the game, patched to 1.27, applied no-cd patch and the multiple resolution patch.
Click to expand...

Haha, this is a ridiculous hack... But ridiculously smart, because it fixed the "surfaces" glitch for me. I was running Tactics in VirtualBox (XP on Linux host) and having the same issue, but now all is well.

In fact, I registered for the forum just to reply with thanks. :) Good work, NMA!
 
Okay, I had a similar problem after installing the high resolution patch by Mash. I kept getting the message and crash whenever I changed to 1920x1080 resolution, then I figured out it didn't happen when I selected 32-bit, only when I selected 16-bit. So that may help as well.
 
possible fix for win8

requiem_for_a_starfury said:
Do you mean 98 second edition, or ME? Either way update your video card drivers, update to the latest direct x etc.

Make sure that you've got no programs running in the background that might not of shut down correctly. FOT sometimes locks up for me at start up when my browser or explorer didn't close down properly or if FT Tools crashes etc.

Or you can try running some of these options in the command line.

-m no music
-s no sound
-3 use direct x 3
-7 use direct x 7
-g use windows gdi

i.e.

c:\program files\14 degrees east\fot\bos.exe -7
Click to expand...

This quote was the most help for me.
On confirming that a shortcut with -s worked as advertised I tried -g (assuming -7 is the default and therefore useless).
-g just switches it to window mode and works as if -w is entered.
-3 did it for me opening FOT in full screen 800x600. All I did then was go to graphics and put it all the way up to 1920x1080.

Now working in full again (Cutscenes are a little sluggish).
Win 8.1 at latest version and steam version of FOT on fresh download + install.

FYI i had the same error as described where dd7 draw fails then bos.exe crashes.
 
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