"Couldn't Change To Fullscreen" Boot Error?

[SpacePioneer]

Hi, i had a few questions regarding an error i've been getting.

 

When ever i try and run COH's, i get this error message and then the game tries loading and simply fails...

 

 

This all started when i took a month break for the holidays to see family and in the process i purchased a new Graphics card, upgrading from a R9 280 to a GTX 1060. I played for roughly two weeks in "Safe Mode" because of the boot error. Now with the recent update, there's no longer a safe mode and i'm forced to figure out what my options are exactly? Any help will be greatly appreciated!!

 

(((I've found the cause to my issues located in my last response at the bottom of the page titled "Update")))

Edited January 8, 2020 by SpacePioneer

[Ago]

When you continue, does it start the game? 

 

If not, here's what you can do:

-- Open Tequila, click the Options button (don't launch anything yet.)

-- In Launch Parameters, type the following:

-screen 800 600

-- Start the client.  Before Logging In, click Options and set the graphics to "Windowed" instead.

 

If this works, there's a cleanup step: next time you open Tequila (or if it's still open), clear the Launch Parameters in the Options panel.

[SpacePioneer]

Hi, thanks for the quick replay Tahquitz!

 

 Sadly, there's no change. When i start the client it displays the same error message of not being able to boot in fullscreen. I understand it's as simple as playing in windowed mode, but i can't seem to even boot the game all together. I've also done a fresh re-install before hand. Besides that, i'm sort of clueless without being able to adjust ini. files. Have any other ideas? Also, thanks for the help!

 

Edit:

I have an idea of what created the problem to begin with and i'm in the process of fixing said problem. If i remember correctly, i may have been running the game on two different monitors. My main 16:9 1920x1080 and a side monitor which is SVGA 6:10 1440x900. It's currently not connected because i'm in the process of ordering a VGA to Displayport cable.

Could this be solved by booting the game on the SVGA 16:10 monitor? Could it really be that simple, because 800x600 is SVGA?

 

 

 

Edited January 8, 2020 by SpacePioneer

[Ago]

Thinking that might be it.  If the DisplayPort plug is still in, Windows might be thinking there’s two screens because VGA doesn’t really pass EDID well to tell the operating system that a screen is off, let alone the resolutions it can support.

 

Guessing Windows 8/8.1 from the screenshots.  PC Settings, does Displays show two displays?  Disable the missing one for now and try it then.

[SpacePioneer]

Correct, i have Windows 8.1, but it only displays the primary 1920x1080 monitor. The other monitor isn't connected because i upgraded to a new graphics card which doesn't support DVI-24+5, but Dual-Link DVI-24+1 (Also VGA to Displayport). So, i'll have to wait for the cable to be shipped in order to test my theory of running the game on a 16:10 aspect ratio. Then from there, set the game to windowed rather than fullscreen. I'm hopeful it'll work, but i have my doubts as well.

 

Thanks again for helping me troubleshoot this issue i'm having, bless you!!

Edited January 6, 2020 by SpacePioneer

[Number Six]

Have you tried borderless mode? That lets you select the monitor up front and runs full screen (but technically as a window) at your desktop resolution.

[SpacePioneer]

I assume you mean in the in-game options menu and by selecting from Fullscreen, Borderless Windowed, and Windowed. My problem is that my game wont even post/boot through the client. It fails and gives me an error message saying, "Couldn't change to fullscreen", then it tries to boot the game in windowed mode at 800x600 then fails to run at that resolution because i'm on a 16:9 1080p monitor and not a 16:10 (or 4:3) 900p monitor. The reason for it failing to load with a different dimension is what's concerning to me, most games would load even if the dimensions aren't correct. You could simply fix it in game. Sadly, i cannot boot the game to get to that step. I'll have to wait for a cable i ordered to come in and connect my 1400x900p monitor to boot the game on that monitor then switch it to Borderless Windowed. At least i think this will solve this little but annoying bug.

 

I'm open for an alternative solutions if my theory flops. I do appreciate the help and welcome any ideas or advise!

Edited January 6, 2020 by SpacePioneer

[boggo2300]

4 hours ago, SpacePioneer said:

I assume you mean in the in-game options menu and by selecting from Fullscreen, Borderless Windowed, and Windowed. My problem is that my game wont even post/boot through the client. It fails and gives me an error message saying, "Couldn't change to fullscreen", then it tries to boot the game in windowed mode at 800x600 then fails to run at that resolution because i'm on a 16:9 1080p monitor and not a 16:10 (or 4:3) 900p monitor. The reason for it failing to load with a different dimension is what's concerning to me, most games would load even if the dimensions aren't correct. You could simply fix it in game. Sadly, i cannot boot the game to get to that step. I'll have to wait for a cable i ordered to come in and connect my 1400x900p monitor to boot the game on that monitor then switch it to Borderless Windowed. At least i think this will solve this little but annoying bug.

 

I'm open for an alternative solutions if my theory flops. I do appreciate the help and welcome any ideas or advise!

obvious question, but have you tried running the client with the -screen 1920 1080    switch?  I'm just guessing here, but I suspect it's trying to run as the extended desktop "phantom resolution" that windows creates when you extend desktop over multi monitors,  the 800 600 switch is going to cause hiccups because it's not a native mode of your monitor.

 

Just had another thought, have you reconfigured the display setup fully in windows to make sure windows itself doesn't still think your second monitor is still there even though it's disconnected? ie do you still have the software for the r9 still installed? which may be confusing all concerned?

Edited January 6, 2020 by boggo2300
new thinks!

[SpacePioneer]

Yes, and yes. I've tried -screen 1920 1080 and my default resolution is set to 1920x1080 in windows. Although, you may be onto something. I've thought about it myself, but I used "Display Driver Uninstaller" or DDU to uninstall my old drivers and cleaned all the assets related to AMD's Crimson and R9 280. But....That would make a lot of sense for the conflict. I'll keep tinkering and perhaps give my drivers another cleaning with DDU.

 

Thanks for the obvious but fresh idea!!

[Number Six]

8 hours ago, SpacePioneer said:

I'll have to wait for a cable i ordered to come in and connect my 1400x900p monitor to boot the game on that monitor then switch it to Borderless Windowed. At least i think this will solve this little but annoying bug.

 

I'm open for an alternative solutions if my theory flops. I do appreciate the help and welcome any ideas or advise!

I'm not sure if that will solve it. The message you're seeing is just a warning, not a fatal error, and the game is switching to Windowed mode. So if you can't start it even in windowed mode, I doubt any of the fullscreen options will work.

 

Try adding -console to your startup parameters in the launcher and see if you can screenshot the top of that console window where it shows specs and video card information.

[SpacePioneer]

[SpacePioneer]

Update:

 

Cleaning my drivers with DDU had no effect...

 

As a side note,

I setup my other 1440x900p monitor and the game boots flawlessly. My theory was correct to a point and here's what i mean.

 

I've come to the conclusion that this is a priority issue by windows 8.1 with VGA monitors. I've yet to fix the issue, but the reason for the crash or failure to boot the game is because the game wants to boot on the number "1" display. In my case, it was disconnected during troubleshooting. So, this isn't a resolution issue per-say. For example, i have an issue with VGA on windows 8.1 wanting to ALWAYS be the number 1 display, not necessarily the Primary display, that's the key here. I have my number "2" display (1920x1080) LCD set to primary, but windows will not allow it to become my number 1 monitor. It's a tad confusing, but this only happens with VGA inputs. I'm sure i'll find a solution in time.

 

Thank you all for your time and helping me troubleshoot!

 

Back up and running!

Edited January 8, 2020 by SpacePioneer

[SpacePioneer]

Miscellaneous

• Added a new command line parameter: -gfxreset
  • This will cause the game to reset all graphics settings and launch the game in windowed mode.
• Added some safety checks to game startup to ensure the game will not try to run borderless or on a monitor that's no longer connected.

You guys are amazing! Thank you!