Graphics Problem

[universeman]

I'm not sure if this should go here or in the Hardware section, so feel free to move it.  I recently upgraded from a 64 MB GeForce 440 MX to a 128MB Radeon 9000, bought secondhand.  Anyway, everything works great, and FS2004 looks better than before, except for the fact that when set on anything other than 'calm weather,' there is a blue band that appears at the distance that visibility is set at; it's hard to describe, a picture would be better, but I'm not sure how to take one.  Bascially, instead of there being fog or mist or haze, like what you see when you select 'rainy' or 'stormy,' there's just a solid blue wall around you (it even looks like clear sky), at about 3 miles or 5 or 10, depending on how far out visibility is set at.  Needless to say, it's very annoying.  I've got the most up to date drivers, and have tried all card settings, but there is no difference.  Hopefully someone can help me out here.

[universeman]

Does anyone have any ideas?

[BFMF]

There's a setting somewhere in your video card settings that deals with that. Find an option called 'Table Fog Effect', or something like that and untick or tick it

It's been many years since I've had an ATI video card so I my memory may be a little hazy

[universeman]

I don't seem to have an option labelled Table Fog.  Is there another way I can turn it on or off?

[BFMF]

Did you look through your advanced video settings?

[universeman]

Yes, I checked my card's Catalyst Control Center, plus any video related options and windows that XP has; I can't find anything related to table fog.

[universeman]

Has anyone else here ever had a problem like this, and if so, did you manage to fix it?

[JBaymore]

I wonder if you have a texture file missing?

best,

......john

[universeman]

For haze depth and visibility?  Is that even a texture file?

[universeman]

Okay, I found what I think is the problem in the display.cfg file...the entries relate to the various graphics cards that are supported, and some have entries for table fog...I added my own card, plus the table fog=1, but it still doesn't work...is there something I'm missing that I'm supposed to type in there?

[universeman]

Does anyone have any ideas?  Cause I'm out of them at last.  

[universeman]

Ah well, guess I'll have to figure it out myself.

[FridayChild]

The problem you describe reminds me of how the horizon looked like in FS98. I used to reduce that at a minimum by dimming the visibility setting. I think maybe your graphic card handles the fog effects in a non standard way, or at least in a way FS2004 doesn't like.

[eno]

You don't give us the rest of your specs ........  How FS9 looks isn't just down to your graphics card.

[Graycat]

Heya Universeman,

At one time I had the same exact problem with FS 2004.  Three things that I can recommend to resolve this issue:

  1.)  Since you are running Windows XP make sure that you have the SP2 upgrade installed.  This upgrade fixes some Graphics Card display issues.  Also the Windows .Net Framework is necessary to install and use some drivers.  You can get both of these at Microsoft's website if you don't have them.

  2.)  Go to http://guru3d.com/ or http://www.ati.com/ download and install the latest Graphics Card drivers.  What you probably want is the latest version ATI Radeon Catalyst 5.10 Windows XP driver.  To my knowledge, this driver is compatible with all ATI hardware.

  3.)  Using Windows Explorer, locate the FS9.cfg file.  First open Windows Explorer and at the top menu bar click Tools --> Folder Options then click the View Tab.  Look for a radio circle button that says "Show Hidden Files and Folders."  Click to select this option then click OK.  

Now open C:\Documents and Settings\(~your Name)\Application Data\Microsoft\FS9 and look for the FS9.CFG file.  It is very important to first make a backup copy of this file!  Next look in the text and see if there is a section like this:

[DISPLAY.Device.ATI Radeon 9000 .0]
Mode=1024x768x32

If you have a generic display device listed then change it to the above specific Graphics Card.  If you don't have this entry at all then Copy/Paste this at the end of your FS9.cfg file.  Save the FS9.cfg and then exit.

These tweaks will not only rid you of that annoying blue line but also improve your framerates.