Heya, so i bought this pack on sale and tropico one works mostly okay (i can't switch to the highest resolution in game for some reason but thats about it)

But Tropico 2 won't launch at all. It crashes with an error saying "Direct Draw Initialization failed"

I'm running windows 7 64 bit, i've checked that my drivers are up to date, i've tried re-enabling direct draw 3d acceleration (which i disabled for the infinity engine games), changing settings in the ini file, changing permissions and running in compatibility mode - nothing seems to help. If anyone has any ideas I could sure use some, cause i'm out :)

Well, as it is complaining about a DirectX item and with your OS being Win7, my first thought is at your DirectX versions.

Windows 7 has DirectX10 and DirectX11, but also has DirectX9.0L for compatibility with older software. However, 9L is actually missing some components so it's best to download the DirectX9.0C redistributable from Microsoft's site to fill in the gaps. Don't worry, DirectX9, 10 and 11 are distinct from each other so you can have all three, they won't interfere with each other. Also, the redistributable is updated every now and then. The latest is dated June 2010.

So, have you installed the DirectX9 redistributable? If not, I'd recommend you do so. Link is below:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=3b170b25-abab-4bc3-ae91-50ceb6d8fa8d

Oh, as for Tropico 1 graphics settings, are you using software mode or hardware mode? I've read some have issues with the hardware mode and that there is no actual visible difference between them. The hardware mode just being a way to allow increased performance by allowing the hardware to handle the graphics, but with modern machines being much faster now, the software mode runs fast enough anyway.

hmm no change :(

And tropico 1 - i seem to only be able to select software mode for some reason...

Re-install graphics drivers (or get latest ones)? What's your graphics card?

Hmm, reading further, I think it may be because Windows 7 has DirectDraw disabled by default (because of newer DirectX having taken it's place) but it can be re-enabled.

Firstly, try running the game in various compatibility modes and as administrator. You can also try changing your desktop's colour depth, resolution and turning off visual themes, Aero interface, etc.

If none of these work then I think we need to look into how to re-enable DirectDraw.

UPDATE: If the above doesn't work then run your dxdiag (use the Start Menu search box, just type it in and then run the application when it shows up in the results). You may have to run as an administrator, I'm not sure. Once you've got DXDiag open, go to the Display tab and take a look at the messages about DirectDraw and Direct3D and see if they are enabled or disabled. They may have an option to enable them if they are disabled.

ah so no help with admin mode or compatibility modes and all that. But you are right. seems the issue might be that Direct draw is disabled atm (according to dxdiag) and direct 3d is showing partially. No option to change them though.

Nvidia GT220 graphics card if that helps.


Oh, i'm running 64 bit as i said, and i just ran dxdiag (with the "for 64bit option") and direct draw and direct 3d are both showing enabled. Hmm... interesting. But this pack is supposed to be 64 bit compatible right? so any thoughts? I'm well and truly stumped now :p

Ah nevermind sorted it. Directx SDK to the rescue, fiddled with some settings and eventually got it working . Thanks a bunch guys :)

Cool, glad you got it sorted. So, just to clarify, in 32-bit mode DXDiag reported DirectDraw and Direct3D as enabled but in 64-bit mode they were disabled and partially enabled?

And yes, I've since found out that on Vista and Win7 (basically since DirectX10) the disabled/enable buttons for these have been removed, though if you get an old version of DXDiag then you can enable them with it but I don't know if this works in 64-bit.

I take it, then, that the DirectX SDK allowed you to re-enable them and also change the hardware acceleration?

I just bought the Tropico reloaded pack, and installed it. But when I try and open, the screen goes black like it is loading, then it just reverts back to my desktop. There is a tab at the bottom showing like it is open, but nothing is. What can I do to play? I am running windows 7 64 bit