Troubleshooting guide for Windows

Problems before entering the game

Installing and reinstalling

If you require a fresh reinstall, where all previous configuration details and files are removed, then you will need to do some manual clean up. You will need to manually delete previous configuration files.

First run the PlaneShift uninstall program (Add and remove programs).

1. Simplest way to find all PlaneShift files is to press the F3 key on your keyboard. The Windows Find dialog will be displayed.

From here you can inform Windows which hard drives to search and what to search for so in the search field, enter:

PlaneShift

Then, from Find's search results, delete all directories/folders called PlaneShift.

Take care not to delete the installation file you downloaded: PlaneShift-vn.n.n.exe

You are now ready for a fresh install.

2. Slightly more technical way is to run the PlaneShift uninstall program (Add and remove programs), then find your Windows Application Data directory/folder.

Open the file manager (explorer) and in the Address field type:

%AppData%

followed by the enter key on your keyboard.

This will open your 'Application Data' folder. For example:

c:\Documents and Settings\aUser\Application Data\

In there you will find the PlaneShift configuration and logs directory.

Either delete it or rename it to: PlaneShift-old

You are now ready for a fresh install.

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To update PlaneShift

From the Windows Start menu > PlaneShift > PlaneShift

If an update is available, the PlaneShift Launcher will prompt you. Select Yes from the prompt to update.

Updating may take a few minutes.

The updater can all also be run from the command line:

pslaunch.exe --console

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Graphics card drivers

Download the latest driver from the graphics card manufacturer's web site and install it.

NVIDIA: http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

AMD/ATI: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx

Intel: http://www.intel.com/p/en_UK/support/graphics/

Make sure Windows is using the correct driver. Windows has its own set of drivers which are sometimes set as factory defaults, even when the manufacturer's drivers are available. To ensure you are using the correct driver for your graphics card, see:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Video-cards-frequently-asked-questions

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/200435

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Black or grey screens

This suggests your graphics card is not adequate for running PlaneShift.

Another symptom of an insufficient Graphics Processing Unit is when creating a character for the first time, the application will apparently just exit.

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No audio

This message may be displayed when you start PlaneShift:

could not load plugin 'crystalspace.sndsys.renderer.null'

Start the PlaneShift Launcher from the Windows Start menu > PlaneShift > PlaneShift

Click the Settings button. From the Settings screen click: Audio

Select the check box: Enable sound

Set Sound Renderer to: OpenAl

If you still have no audio, set Sound Renderer to: Software

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Unable to connect to server

The following page will inform you whether the game server is accessible.

http://planeshift.zeroping.it/index.php?page=about_page

Check the Stats box for server status.

If the Total online is 0, this probably means administrators are updating software on the game server.

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In game bugs (after loading world)

Performance

1. Run the updater to ensure the PlaneShift software has the latest bug fixes installed.

2. Lag and poor performance can be improved by:

2.1 Updating your graphics card drivers.

2.2 Set your desktop colour depth to 24 or 32 bit, sometimes called 'true colour'.

Start button > Control Panel

Under Appearance and Personalization, click: Adjust screen resolution

From Advanced settings, click the Monitor tab.

Under Colors, select True Color (32 bit).

Click: OK.

2.3 Enable Adaptive Distance.

Start PlaneShift, log in. Then from the game's tool bar, click the Options button.

From the Options window, under the Graphics item, click Details.

Select the Adaptive distance check box.

Click: Save

2.4 Texture down sampling.

Edit psclient.cfg and change:

Video.OpenGL.TextureDownsample = 0

to

Video.OpenGL.TextureDownsample = 4

To find psclient.cfg, press F3 key on your keyboard and enter the following into the find dialog:

psclient.cfg 

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