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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
If you have a firewall then you need to know that PlaneShift requires the outbound port: 7777
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