Older games not working
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 11:33 pm
Hey guys! Long time since I've posted on here, but I'm having some odd issues and wondered if anyone has experienced them before.
I've had my laptop since May, and I distinctly remember playing NFS ProStreet, Undercover, and Shift on here quite frequently in the summer. I haven't changed anything on the PC, just occasionally done the forced Windows updates.
Now, those games won't start. Like I get a black screen, and it gets stuck. I thought it had to do with my new dual monitor for some reason, but I unplugged the monitor and they still wouldn't start. It only seems to affect those games (I had issues with Test Drive Unlimited last night but I fixed that, somehow).
I'm running a Dell XPS with an NVIDIA 1650GTX graphics card alongside the built-in Intel 630 graphics. I've updated the drivers on both, and tried forcing each game to start with either card, and nothing has changed. I just played the two Truck Sim games, NFS Heat, as well as DiRT 4, so I'm assuming there isn't anything wrong mechanically since those tend to be somewhat demanding games.
I've also tried disabling my antivirus, but that also did not change anything. The only thing I can think of is that I moved ProStreet and Undercover from my external hard drive to my internal SSD via an uninstall/reinstall process (Shift was already on the SSD). It doesn't make sense that it wouldn't work because of the SSD, especially with Shift having been on the SSD the whole time.
Any suggestions? I'm starting to remember why I don't like PC gaming lol
EDIT: I should add that none of these games are on Steam. The install files were copied from their discs to my external hard drive (I haven't had a laptop with a disc drive in years), but that never caused issues earlier with this XPS or with my last Inspiron.
EDIT 2: Its really odd that its just those games that dont work. Underground 2 and Most Wanted work fine. So does NFS 3 ( from 1998) and Midtown Madness 2 (although I can't get it to play on my second monitor)
I've had my laptop since May, and I distinctly remember playing NFS ProStreet, Undercover, and Shift on here quite frequently in the summer. I haven't changed anything on the PC, just occasionally done the forced Windows updates.
Now, those games won't start. Like I get a black screen, and it gets stuck. I thought it had to do with my new dual monitor for some reason, but I unplugged the monitor and they still wouldn't start. It only seems to affect those games (I had issues with Test Drive Unlimited last night but I fixed that, somehow).
I'm running a Dell XPS with an NVIDIA 1650GTX graphics card alongside the built-in Intel 630 graphics. I've updated the drivers on both, and tried forcing each game to start with either card, and nothing has changed. I just played the two Truck Sim games, NFS Heat, as well as DiRT 4, so I'm assuming there isn't anything wrong mechanically since those tend to be somewhat demanding games.
I've also tried disabling my antivirus, but that also did not change anything. The only thing I can think of is that I moved ProStreet and Undercover from my external hard drive to my internal SSD via an uninstall/reinstall process (Shift was already on the SSD). It doesn't make sense that it wouldn't work because of the SSD, especially with Shift having been on the SSD the whole time.
Any suggestions? I'm starting to remember why I don't like PC gaming lol
EDIT: I should add that none of these games are on Steam. The install files were copied from their discs to my external hard drive (I haven't had a laptop with a disc drive in years), but that never caused issues earlier with this XPS or with my last Inspiron.
EDIT 2: Its really odd that its just those games that dont work. Underground 2 and Most Wanted work fine. So does NFS 3 ( from 1998) and Midtown Madness 2 (although I can't get it to play on my second monitor)