Failed to create a graphics device. Exiting.

[Travington]

After upgrading to Windows 8.1(big mistake) I get this error message when trying to run Europa Universalis IV and Crusader Kings II.
I have made certain all my drivers are up-to-date, I have made certain that Directx is up-to-date, I have ran a repair on Microsoft Visual C++, and I have ensured all available Windows updates are installed but the problem persists. Another user solved this issue by uninstalling his graphics card(didn't know this was possible and cannot find any how-to's online for an Alienware 14 laptop). I have also not tried reinstalling the game as I am attempting to avoid this at all costs and am not sure how that would fix this issue.

Any help/advice is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 10/21/2014, 12:02:05
Machine name: RAGNAROK
Operating System: Windows 8.1 64-bit (6.3, Build 9600) (9600.winblue_r3.140827-1500)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Alienware
System Model: Alienware 14
BIOS: A03
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4700MQ CPU @ 2.40GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 7910MB RAM
Page File: 3058MB used, 6834MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 144 DPI (150 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.03.9600.16384 64bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

 

[AndrewT]

You've truncated that file before all the video driver info ... ?

From your Documents/Paradox/EU4/logs/ directory, post system.log .

Another user solved this issue by uninstalling his graphics card

The card or the driver? Uninstalling the driver is simple, and is in fact something we'll probably be looking at doing here. Uninstalling a physical card is usually impossible on laptops, as they are built in to the system board, they are not discreet cards per se.

 

[Travington]

Sorry about that.

[systemsettings.cpp:198]: System memory: 1024MB
[systemsettings.cpp:200]: CPU speed: 2394MHz
[systemsettings.cpp:207]: Number of processors: 8
[systemsettings.cpp:219]: CPU type: x86
[systemsettings.cpp:264]: OS: Windows 8 Build: 9200
[gfx_settings.cpp:25]: Loading settings for adapter 0, fullscreen=1, multisample=15
[gfx_settings.cpp:53]: Graphic Adapters:
[gfx_settings.cpp:58]: 0: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
[gfx_settings.cpp:72]: Using Adapter [0] to check for multi-sampling support:
[gfx_settings.cpp:83]: 2 samples supported.
[gfx_settings.cpp:83]: 4 samples supported.
[gfx_settings.cpp:83]: 8 samples supported.
[gfx_settings.cpp:98]: Using Adapter [0]:
[gfx_settings.cpp:112]: Failed to create a device [D3DCREATE_HARDWARE_VERTEXPROCESSING]... trying software.
[gfx_settings.cpp:124]: Failed to create device (Adapter[0])


I believe he said "card", I cannot find that particular post now to reference his quote.

 

[AndrewT]

[systemsettings.cpp:198]: System memory: 1024MB

EU4 or Steam are running in a compatibility mode. In Steam-eu4-properties-local files click on Browse Local Files. In there right-click on eu4.exe, properties, compatibility tab - undo ALL checkboxes in there, then click on "apply to all users".

Then go up the folder structure to the Steam folder, and do the same to steam.exe .

 

[Travington]

I unchecked all boxes for both steam.exe and eu4.exe in the compatibility tab but the issue persists. Here is the new error log;

[systemsettings.cpp:198]: System memory: 0MB
[systemsettings.cpp:200]: CPU speed: 2394MHz
[systemsettings.cpp:207]: Number of processors: 8
[systemsettings.cpp:219]: CPU type: x86
[systemsettings.cpp:264]: OS: Windows 8 Build: 9200
[gfx_settings.cpp:25]: Loading settings for adapter 0, fullscreen=1, multisample=15
[gfx_settings.cpp:53]: Graphic Adapters:
[gfx_settings.cpp:58]: 0: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
[gfx_settings.cpp:72]: Using Adapter [0] to check for multi-sampling support:
[gfx_settings.cpp:83]: 2 samples supported.
[gfx_settings.cpp:83]: 4 samples supported.
[gfx_settings.cpp:83]: 8 samples supported.
[gfx_settings.cpp:98]: Using Adapter [0]:
[gfx_settings.cpp:112]: Failed to create a device [D3DCREATE_HARDWARE_VERTEXPROCESSING]... trying software.
[gfx_settings.cpp:124]: Failed to create device (Adapter[0])

 

[AndrewT]

OK, that's better game can now use all available memory. But the video is still an issue ... I see it says it's an Intel 4600 video card; as it's a laptop does it perhaps have a dual video setup, so an nVidia or AMD card also? If so, you'll need to force eu4.exe onto the non-Intel card. With nVidia this is done in the nVidia Control Panel - 3D Settings area. Not sure about AMD.

Can we see the whole video section of dxdiag.txt please?

 

[Travington]

You are correct, I remembered downloading a driver for nVidia and after a quick search I am now looking at the "manage 3d settings" menu of the nVidia control panel but am unsure how to proceed.

 

[AndrewT]

You get a screen like this, yes?

https://mirillis.com/gfx/tutorials/hardware_settings/mirillis_action_nvidia_optimus_setup.jpg

From the droplist there select eu4.exe if it's listed there (if not click on the Add button and browse to it). In the droplist next to 2. select the nVidia option, then click on Apply.

 

[Travington]

I selected EU4, the nVidia processor, and applied.

Still not working, unfortunately. I applied the change to Steam as well for good measure to no avail.

Here's the new error log, seems like it's still trying to use the Intel card for some reason.

[systemsettings.cpp:198]: System memory: 0MB
[systemsettings.cpp:200]: CPU speed: 2394MHz
[systemsettings.cpp:207]: Number of processors: 8
[systemsettings.cpp:219]: CPU type: x86
[systemsettings.cpp:264]: OS: Windows 8 Build: 9200
[gfx_settings.cpp:25]: Loading settings for adapter 0, fullscreen=1, multisample=15
[gfx_settings.cpp:53]: Graphic Adapters:
[gfx_settings.cpp:58]: 0: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
[gfx_settings.cpp:72]: Using Adapter [0] to check for multi-sampling support:
[gfx_settings.cpp:83]: 2 samples supported.
[gfx_settings.cpp:83]: 4 samples supported.
[gfx_settings.cpp:83]: 8 samples supported.
[gfx_settings.cpp:98]: Using Adapter [0]:
[gfx_settings.cpp:112]: Failed to create a device [D3DCREATE_HARDWARE_VERTEXPROCESSING]... trying software.
[gfx_settings.cpp:124]: Failed to create device (Adapter[0])

 

[AndrewT]

I can only guess the nVidia driver installation hasn't gone well, and the game cannot find it. Somehow we still haven't seen the video card part of your dxdiag.txt , but I think this will be the latest driver (I assume you have a GeForce xxxM - mobile - of some description), download it and keep it somewhere handy like your desktop
http://www.geforce.com/drivers/results/78877

Now uninstall the nVidia driver from within Windows, and reboot your PC. It may come up with the Intel card only, or it might install the default Microsoft driver for the nVidia, I'm not sure - it doesn't matter anyway. Then install the nVidia driver by running that file you downloaded; you might have to reboot afterwards, I'm not sure.