The "Ultimate Fix" for DH, AoD, IC and HoI 2 DD Arma for the AMD drivers issue

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Czudak X

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Ahoy, sailors.

Everyone (susceptible) knows that the games based on the ancient HoI 2 DD Arma engine (meaning: AoD, IC and DH, plus the first mentioned itself) crash on loading for an AMD graphic card users (I am one). Apparently AMD cleaned up their DirectX code for any version up to 9.0c and wrapped up stuff referring to those libraries, in the latest driver packages. Anyway, after Crimson v15.7.1 or so, issues began to occur.

Exactly two files, supplied with the each game's installation, are responsible for that behavior:

  1. T-carrier a-fire c-min d-ne.bmp
  2. T-carrier a-fire c-min d-sw.bmp

That's because they exceed the cap for any size dimension of 8192 pixels for a "texture", of any DirectX before 10 (including DirectDraw, on which the games' engines are based), venturing themselves into the almost 11000 pixels territory. Previously that worked by accident on AMD drivers. And it apparently still works by accident on nVidia/Intel graphic drivers.

I simply and decisively cut down those nuisances by half, to 5310 pixels (to maintain the pixel ratio for the each "frame" in the graphic file; the firing animations and their frames are repeated sequences, anyway, so it was logical to reduce by 50%) and the game loaded with no fuss. In every single title, mind you. And this way one can retain the original sprites. Works for Windows XP/7/8/8.1/10 and even for Wine emulation for Linux, plus all versions of AMD drivers.

***​

INSTALLATION:

1. Download the edited .BMPs from here.
2. Unpack the stuff into X:\Your AoD or IC or DH or HoI 2 DD Arma Installation Directory\GFX\MAP\UNITS\BMP\ and overwrite.
3. You're done and can now play the game.

OPTIONAL:

You can change the corresponding .SPRs files (they contain animation codes for the engine) now, but it's not required. If you wish to, open them up (Windows Notepad will be enough) and change the "Frames" value from 79 to 39 (in both files), then save. Do that if you want to match the amount of displayed frames (by the engine) with the amount of actual frames (of the edited .BMPs); otherwise you will see the animation being faster, but it's rather passable. Files (use "Search" function in your OS):

  1. T-carrier a-fire c-min d-ne.spr
  2. T-carrier a-fire c-min d-sw.spr

***​

ATTENTION!!!

If you beforehand applied the "Definite Fix" from this thread or any other solutions fixing this problem by changing any of the .BMP or .SPR files - you NEED to install fresh! Otherwise it WILL NOT work properly if you don't know what you're doing and/or have still any leftovers from the other fixes. You can always move saves between the installations.

That is all, comrades.

***​

CREDITS: @Zsar1 for the super important information and collaboration.

PS. Tagging @Inner Circle homeboy.

EDIT: Typos.
 
Last edited:

Timur Khan

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Very interesting - my .STR files were already set to 39 frames! :D But the best part is that the game actually works with this fixes, I can't even believe it, thank you so much!

This definetely should be added to the next patch for DH. ;)
 

der Kriegsherr

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Still doesn't work for me.

Tried this fix.

Tried to run in compatibility with Windows 8 mode.

Tried to reduce to 16-bit color.

Nothing works.

Same here. Even though I followed OP's directions to the letter.
 

Czudak X

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Just returned here to remind people this solution was superseded by native Darkest Hour Patch v1.05 and is now obsolete.

The fixed bitmaps from the DH v1.05 patch's installation sport better size ratio of repeated frames, and also can be used to fix the AMD drivers-connected CTDs in other affected titles (like Arsenal of Democracy, Iron Cross, and Hearts of Iron II Complete) as well. Verified this myself.

That is all. Good luck.