Couldn't initialize render device - fatal error

raklimok · September 2013

Before I start my story, I apologise for reposting this issue, not intending to spam but could not find a solution.
I have already read through each of these a few times and tried the different solutions within;

http://forums.unknownworlds.com/discussion/131384/how-to-make-a-good-tech-support-post
deleting options.xml
verifying game cache which yielded perfect

ran the techsupport and saved a zip folder, posting the logs/log file and dxdiag system info below
Date: 09/16/13
Time: 17:35:54:

Build 255
Windows 8 64-bit (build 9200)
Error: PhysX: Invalid Cuda context!
Steam initialized
Num displays: 1
Error: Couldn't initialize the render device.

System Information

Time of this report: 9/16/2013, 17:38:59
Machine name: CHILL
Operating System: Windows 8 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (9200.win8_gdr.130531-1504)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: p6-2429
BIOS: 8.15
Processor: AMD A6-5400K APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics (2 CPUs), ~3.6GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 5528MB RAM
Page File: 1638MB used, 4288MB available
Windows Dir: C:\windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.02.9200.16384 32bit Unicode

I still have the folder saved if something else from there is needed, just not sure what people need to see to determine what the problem might be.
I'm not very tech savvy. (edit: attached the folder)

Also checked these pages;
http://forums.unknownworlds.com/discussion/132355/couldn-t-initialize-the-render-device-error
http://forums.unknownworlds.com/discussion/131942/couldn-t-initialize-the

I have tried disabling steam cloud + deleting options and running again with no success. I did receive two different errors when trying things in different orders(sorry I don't remember what I did, was in the frustrated, kill with prejudice mode)

'steam was not able to sync your files for Natural Selection 2 with the steam cloud'

'steam cloud conflict' - Your NS2 files conflict with the ones stored in the steam cloud
at which point I was offered the options to either download to machine, or upload to cloud. Was not able to reproduce this one.

So if someone found the source of the issue in the tech info then fantastic, otherwise this is the 'story'

My system ran fine, had a few games installed, received NS2 as a gift, installed and was able to play without issue for a good few weeks. I was then hit by some adware, and not able to remove it I 'refreshed' my computer(options in windows 8 general PC settings). This deleted all my games and other installed programs. I decided to start with NS2, install went smooth(yes I also installed steam) and then I received that error.
At this point I made sure my system was up to date, deleted reinstalled NS2, tried the different solutions suggested and still no success.
I am currently a bit disheartened and pretty close to giving up, but would follow any given steps to the 'T' and hope someone can help me out here.
Thanks for reading this far.

GhoulofGSG9 · September 2013

Ok first i remember that somewhere was posted that the current version of the game has problems with apus and this will be fixed with the patch coming this week. But better wait for @Ironhorse to confirm this.

Steps i would do:

1. Update your graphic driver (quiet outdated)
2. Install DX9

IronHorse · September 2013

Ok so the good news is that you've run this game before on this machine, so we know its not some incompatibility issue. I would never recommend running an APU to play games with, let alone a competitive FPS, but that being said lets get on with some solutions:

I would follow what @ghoulofgsg9 said regarding those two items, and then i would go to your ATI catalyst control center and would look for a setting like "High performance" mode or something to that effect. It should look like this:

What's occurring is your video card drivers are not receiving the right hint from NS2 to utilize it your video card, instead its trying your ..well... "real integrated" chip thats insufficient(odd to answer it that way since both are technically "integrated" )

This has already been fixed for next patch.. but really all the fix is: is that hint sent to your GPU driver. You can manually ensure the setting is on yourself like in that picture shown above.
Goodluck and let us know.

raklimok · September 2013

So I did what ghoul suggested;
1. installed a new driver
2. already have the latest DX

I have also gone into the catalyst control centre but was unable to locate what you showed.
The centre only gives the options to see presets, performance, and power. I think I added NS2 to
the preset list, I chose the launch file from the NS2 folder but it still didn't run. I also don't see an option to alter the specific setting for that game anywhere.

GhoulofGSG9 · September 2013

raklimok wrote: »

So I did what ghoul suggested;
1. installed a new driver
2. already have the latest DX

I have also gone into the catalyst control centre but was unable to locate what you showed.
The centre only gives the options to see presets, performance, and power. I think I added NS2 to
the preset list, I chose the launch file from the NS2 folder but it still didn't run. I also don't see an option to alter the specific setting for that game anywhere.

There is a system_options.xml in %APPDATA%/Natural Selection 2/ . In your case the game is somehow crashing even before it creates a default option file. Do you have any other graphic card next to your apu, because only then the list Ironhorse posted is there. Could you maybe create another tech_support.zip so we can see if anything changed.

raklimok · September 2013

here is an updated tech support file. Between this one and the last one, I had reset my computer to default, updated it completely and installed NS2 and the updated driver.

GhoulofGSG9 · September 2013

This in dxdiag.tx :

Driver Version: 12.104.0.0

should be this after graphic driver update:

Driver Version: 13.200.11.0

raklimok · September 2013

I tried installing that driver again from your link, sadly, the game still won't play. I have attached another tech file. For some reason the file wont attach. any ideas? I would really like to play.

IronHorse · September 2013

Have you gone through all the settings in your ATI catalyst control center, looking for anything about switchable graphics or high performance etc?

raklimok · September 2013

conspiratycon1 wrote: »

I mean that ive no clue of how to change the XML value

<?xml version="1.0"?>
-<options> -<system> <build>255</build> <runs>14</runs> </system> -<graphics> <device>D3D9</device> </graphics> </options>

this just did the trick. found in the most recent 'render device' thread

And yes I have Iron, there is no option that your describing.

raklimok · September 2013

whoops I thought I quoted the whole thing, in anycase here is the link

http://forums.unknownworlds.com/discussion/132425/ns2-couldnt-initialize-the-render-device#latest

GISP · September 2013

Dunno if it relates to the problem, but have you tryed changing away from <device>D3D9</device> to <device>D3D11</device> or <device>OpenGL</device> ??

GhoulofGSG9 · September 2013

raklimok wrote: »

conspiratycon1 wrote: »

I mean that ive no clue of how to change the XML value

<?xml version="1.0"?>
-<options> -<system> <build>255</build> <runs>14</runs> </system> -<graphics> <device>D3D9</device> </graphics> </options>

this just did the trick. found in the most recent 'render device' thread

And yes I have Iron, there is no option that your describing.

But that guy had a second gpu next to the Intel HD, its a total different case, but of cause you can try as gisp said to replace D3D9 with D3D11.

Redmondt · September 2013

Hi
I've the same problem as raklimok. I already read every post in this thread but I couldn't find a solution.
One of my questions is how do i find the thing in thee catalyst control center which was posted by IronHorse.
If you have any solutions for me please try to explain them to me as easy as possible.
In the attachement is the Tech_Support file of my game

Confused · September 2013

@redmondt,

The first thing I would do is update your graphics driver. It is a couple years old.

When that is done, I would also remove the file at: %appdata$/Natural Selection 2/system_options.xml.

If it still doesn't go, make a post and we can give a few other things to try.

Redmondt · September 2013

Thanks for the help, but my game still has the same error

IronHorse · September 2013

@redmondt
Then try the often suggested fix of changing it from D3D9 to D3D11 or vice versa.

@raklimok Weird.. so APUs need DX11 to run, not DX9.... very very weird.

Redmondt · September 2013

@IronHorse
Thank you very much for your help, the game runs pefectly now.

Jolian · July 2015

Same original problem.

Tried changing D3D9 -> D3D11; game starts, flickers a bunch, crashes.

It's worked great many times before. ATI Radeon 7850

Couldn't initialize render device - fatal error

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