Nothing but problems- Trainz 2010

ChicoGoya

New member
SOLVED- Nothing but problems- Trainz 2010

Hey everybody

I just purchased Trainz Simulator 2010 as a DVD, and I’ve had nothing but problems. After 6 hours, 3 re-installs, and scouring the forums for any solution, the only train I’ve seen so far is the one on the box. I’m going to do my best to explain my problems without going on mini rants.

First, here’s my system:
27” iMac w/ 2.93 Ghz Intel Core i7
Windows 7 Home 64-bit run through Boot Camp
8Gb RAM
ATI Radeon HD 4850

Pretty much nothing works. I’m able to open the program, but it doesn’t look like assets, textures, anything is loading. While running a scenario, only the topography loads. No textures, no trains, no scenery. The same happens with Surveyor. No tutorials either. In fact, in my latest re-install, there were no buttons on the main menu at all!

I’ve tried both the initial build (42203) and the SP3 build to no avail. My graphics drivers are up to date, my Boot Camp is up to date, system is up to date…nothing. I’ve tried running under OpenGL and DirectX. I documented my last re-install in hopes to find the problem.

1) I’m the Administrator for my computer, I switched off my internet, and closed down anti-virus and firewalls.

2) As I’m installing, I get a message telling me that “TrainzUtil.exe has stopped working”. The install still finishes however.

3) After first launching Trainz, it tries to “Update the Trainz Database”. Just as it finishes “Checking modified assets”, I get “TrainzUtil.exe has stopped working” again. The “Updating Trainz Database” continues, but “TrainzUtil.exe” continues to pop up as not working.

4) When I try using the Trainz Diagnostic Tool, it gets stuck on verifying OpenGL drivers. When this happens, everything pauses, and I get another popup stating “MVHDiag MFC Application has stopped working”. Trainz Diagnostic Tool shuts down after that.

5) Finally, Content Manager doesn’t even open.

My initial thought is it all starts with detecting OpenGL. Trainz Diagnostic Tool should be detecting it, but for some reason it’s not. From here, the problems just cascade downwards. Since Content Manager is dependent on finding OpenGL, Trainz can’t update its database, thus no assets loaded. How can OpenGL not be detected if I have the latest drivers?

Perhaps it’s something with TrainzUtil.exe? I don’t know…I’m really at a loss.

It has been so frustrating and a waste of 6 hours. I really would like to get this working, so if anyone is able to help, it would be greatly appreciated! Thank you all in advance, and I apologize for the lengthy post.

UPDATE 1/28/11- Scroll to the last post to see my solution. Make sure you know what type of graphics card you have and download the right drivers. Imacs may use mobility cards, thus need mobility graphics drivers. However, you won't know it's a mobility card by looking at the system profile. Check other forums to see what type of graphics chip you have.
 
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My initial thought is it all starts with detecting OpenGL. Trainz Diagnostic Tool should be detecting it, but for some reason it’s not. From here, the problems just cascade downwards. Since Content Manager is dependent on finding OpenGL, Trainz can’t update its database, thus no assets loaded. How can OpenGL not be detected if I have the latest drivers?

I'm not aware of a similar problem. Your post is very concise, and contains everything one could ask to solve the problem, thank you. It does sound like OpenGL is at the core of your problems, but let's not blame it on the software just yet! What do you know about your GPU? Does it have any history of problems, overall? Have you tried running in DirectX?
 
My initial thought is it all starts with detecting OpenGL. Trainz Diagnostic Tool should be detecting it, but for some reason it’s not. From here, the problems just cascade downwards. Since Content Manager is dependent on finding OpenGL, Trainz can’t update its database, thus no assets loaded. How can OpenGL not be detected if I have the latest drivers?

Are you sure you have the latest drivers? Microsoft ones are usually crippled, hence why I wouldn't try them, unless the come in via the updater. I would go to ATI and download/install their drivers as they are almost gaurenteed to have the OpenGL part included.
 
Perhaps if you try in "options" (1st screen when you start the game) to use DirectX instead of OpenGL to run the game, you might get TS10 to work. Its worth a try :wave:.

Other than that, as said above, use a new, current (or perhaps a not so new one which sometimes might work better) ATI/AMD video card driver with your PC.

Cheers

VinnyBarb
 
Thanks for the quick replies and suggestions!

I'm not aware of a similar problem. Your post is very concise, and contains everything one could ask to solve the problem, thank you. It does sound like OpenGL is at the core of your problems, but let's not blame it on the software just yet! What do you know about your GPU? Does it have any history of problems, overall? Have you tried running in DirectX?

Are you sure you have the latest drivers? Microsoft ones are usually crippled, hence why I wouldn't try them, unless the come in via the updater. I would go to ATI and download/install their drivers as they are almost gaurenteed to have the OpenGL part included.

Perhaps if you try in "options" (1st screen when you start the game) to use DirectX instead of OpenGL to run the game, you might get TS10 to work. Its worth a try :wave:.

Other than that, as said above, use a new, current (or perhaps a not so new one which sometimes might work better) ATI/AMD video card driver with your PC.

Cheers

VinnyBarb

I've had no problems in the past with the graphics card or drivers. I've installed over 20 games from Steam and DVD in the past with no issues. But I think most of these games used DirectX.

I switched between both DirectX and OpenGL mode. OpenGL mode won't launch the program at all. DirectX will launch, but nothing shows up.

I definitely know the Windows driver updates are not up to par. I always try to update from the ATI website when I remember. Unfortunately, I do have the latest drivers.

http://download.ts2009.com/patch/42203_to_44088.exe

This is the latest patch for your build number.

If you use the search feature above and put boot camp in have a look at the replies. It appears the latest version of boot camp is a problem.

I patched to this version on my first re-install and more stuff disappeared. It seems that regardless of the version, Trainz should still run. I can't imagine Auran shipping a product that's broken to begin with.

Yes, I've seen the threads on boot camp updates. I guess I had some hope someone found a workaround or solution. I fear my struggle may be coming to a bad ending. :(

There's still a couple things I want to try. First, I read something about a program that will show which version of OpenGL is installed. And maybe I can find a workaround where I can bypass the Boot Camp drivers and use the ATI drivers...something like that :p

If anyone else has more suggestions, keep them coming! I don't like being defeated! :)
 
Try and find the previous version of Bootcamp? Someone must have got it somewhere, it's not obvious on the Apple site though.
 
Running TRAINZ on a MAC is never easy. Hopefully someone who has been successful in doing so will come to the rescue.

tomurban
 
Success! :clap:

Turns out I didn't have the right graphics drivers afterall. While reading a random forum about Boot Camp and OpenGL, I read that iMacs use a mobility card, not a desktop card (somehow I think I knew that at one point). Strangely, there's no indication that it's a mobility card in either the Mac OS or Windows system profiles. This whole time I've been updating with the wrong drivers! Actually, I fixed another persisting problem with blotchiness with these drivers as well. :P

Looks like mostly everything is fixed. No random "(Insert program here) has stopped responding". OpenGL is detected. Content Manager opens. Assets are loaded. I even got about 2 min of train time with scenery, textures, and trains at 3am when I checked to see if the install worked.

There's still no Tutorials button, but I won't complain. I'm doing alot better than before! Fingers crossed there won't be any more problems!

Thanks for the responses and suggestions! I'll probably be back in the future, but at least the questions will be related to driving trains and building worlds! :Y:
 
Success! :clap:

Turns out I didn't have the right graphics drivers afterall. While reading a random forum about Boot Camp and OpenGL, I read that iMacs use a mobility card, not a desktop card (somehow I think I knew that at one point). Strangely, there's no indication that it's a mobility card in either the Mac OS or Windows system profiles. This whole time I've been updating with the wrong drivers! Actually, I fixed another persisting problem with blotchiness with these drivers as well. :P

Looks like mostly everything is fixed. No random "(Insert program here) has stopped responding". OpenGL is detected. Content Manager opens. Assets are loaded. I even got about 2 min of train time with scenery, textures, and trains at 3am when I checked to see if the install worked.

There's still no Tutorials button, but I won't complain. I'm doing alot better than before! Fingers crossed there won't be any more problems!

Thanks for the responses and suggestions! I'll probably be back in the future, but at least the questions will be related to driving trains and building worlds! :Y:

This is great news, and a great FYI regarding the drivers.

Don't you hate it when you fix something just before you go to bed! That always happens to me. I'll bust a nut all night trying to get something to work, and just before I can't keep my eyes open any longer, let alone the fact I have to work the next day, I get the thing working.

John
 
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