I recently decided to go back for my 3rd run through SOF2 SP, but I've run into a serious problem. That problem is the c++ runtime error that crashes the game and leaves the desktop gamma all bright. Also in the game the screen flickers (it's not the lightning). I've read through the forums and found several topics about this and the conclusion was that it's the newer nvidia drivers that are causing this. When I played the game in the beginning I was using the 29.42 drivers and all was well.  Since then, as we all know, nvidia has updated their drivers and these newer drivers give better performance and are required for many of the new games on the market, but SOF2 doesn't like 'em.  

Is there a way to fix this problem through the vid card settings?

Is Raven going to address this issue?

Will there be anymore patches for SOF2?

Does Raven really expect their customers to degrade their drivers just to play SOF2?

And which version of the nvidia drivers are you using ?

There is a moto - "if it aint broke dont try and fix it".

Just cos nvidia update their drivers every 5 minutes doesnt mean you have to use them.
I am sure you are aware they only ever post the good ones on their web site.
Most of the other versions available on the www are beta/s and not officially supported by nvidia.

42.01 work ok if you want to try them.

I have the exact same problem!  
Im using a 9700pro with the latest drivers from ATI, all other drivers/patches are up to date.

Is there a fix out there for this?

Also i have run Wiser2 and it says everything ok???

Any fix of that nature would have to come from the people making the drivers. Only makes sense.
It's not very practical to expect game developers to "fix" a game when it's the drivers that are obviously the problem.
Go back to the ones that worked.

i have never had a driver which worked from recieveing my 9700 pro new from the box?

I personally dont think it is a driver issue because the single player has never worked correctly since i got my 9700pro new on 1st drivers,
Other people who have nvidia cards are having the same problems with different drivers,
My old mx440 worked fine! im not going to put that back in!

I have run wiser2 and everything is fine??

Ive been trying to play more than five minutes of SofII with to no avail. Ive tried everything that i and anyone i know can think of but continue to be plagued by this c++ runtime error. I am running a nvidia driver ( mx440 ), but know others with similar system who have no problem, and i had the same problem with my original intel82845G card.  Is there a fix for this , and am i just missing the obvious?  

When i had my mx440 i was using the 41.09 drivers from nVidia and that was fine!
But i know people who have exactly the same drivers what i had and r still getting the error!
Surely this cant be a driver issue!!!!!!

A couple of points here:

1) If you want to play a DOS game or WIN95 game on XP with the new graphics cards - well, good luck. I've noticed that the CPU's are soo fast nowadays that the speech packs for older games have problems - The animation for the characters mouths move SOOOO quickly, the animation is finished, but there is still 3 mins of speech playing - you know what I mean? So, the developers will not (in general) update the game for new developments in hardware/software. There are of course a couple of exceptions - Command & Conquer went from DOS to Windows 95 version, but thats because the revisions were still being made during the change over.

2) Sometimes we have to look at the hardware. I know that the game runs fine on a GF4 440MX. Jetway graphics cards are not as good as Gigabyte ones. The architecture of the board is different (the CHIP is the same). So, it doesn't run on YOUR 440MX, but works fine on my mates 440MX... This is where you have to use the manufacturers SPECIFIC released drivers. Its a pain in the £"$& but thats life there. It could be that the new drivers cannot work correctly for that specific board - it runs the chipset, but the board has a resistor that is stopping the correct voltage going through.....

Quote

I am running a nvidia driver ( mx440 ), but know others with similar system who have no problem, and i had the same problem with my original intel82845G card.

If you have the same problem using different graphics cards (even different chipsets), then you may find that you have a mainboard issue. The NORTHBRIDGE chipset on your mainboard may be causing problems (it controls the AGP). My suggestion here would be to update the mainboard drivers (don't settle for the Windows drivers. If you are using a VIA chipset, update the 4in1 drivers. Go to the VIA chipset page for those. If using an ALi chipset, or SiS, etc.... well, I don't know all the sites. My best advice - go to the mainboard manufacturers website and check the drivers they post or the links.

Also, probably not related, but make sure you have latest DIRECTX.

GOOD LUCK.

All of my drivers including mobo etc r up 2 date!
I honestly dont think this is a driver issue!
People with totally different pcs are having the same error!
  D@mn this error    

Greetings, all. I'm new here, and I'm new to SoF2. Love the game. When it works.

I especially like the OICW, even though the grenade-cannon is a little less effective than its real-life supposed ability--the arch is a little high. Hey, it still makes a Kick-@$$ Sniper Rifle.

Anyhow, on to the problem... I'm running two systems, one using Windows 98 Second Edition, and one running Windows XP Home Edition. Both are using the Nvidia XFX GeFore 4 MX-440-SE. Only the machine running Win98SE is connected to the net, though, so only it has the updated drivers. the XP machine is not connected, and has the shipped drivers. Both machines are experienceing the same exact problems.

The game runs fine for about two days, or five missions, which-ever comes first.
Then it gets choppy, for one mission.
Then, poof. It crashes, flashes, bangs, and booms.
No More Game, No More Windows, No More Nothing.

Computer Specs;
EMachines Model W1700 Running Windows XP Home Edition;
AMD XP Athlon 1.47 Gh Processor, 512MB DDR 2100 RAM, XFX GeForce 4 MX-440-SE 64MB DDR 2100 RAM Onboard--running Old(Shipped-With) Drivers, Onboard Audio, DirectX 8.1 shipped with Video Drivers.
SOYO piece-to-gether Running Windows 98 Second Edition;
AMD XP Athlon 1.47 Gh Processor, 256MB DDR 2100 RAM, XFX GeForce 4 MX-440-SE 64MB DDR 2100 RAM Onboard--running new(Downloaded, from official site) Drivers, C-Media Sound Card, DirectX 9 or Latest.
More Specs available upon Request, if needed.

If the video drivers are the problem, then whats up, here?

The Demo, from the Return to Castle Wolfenstein - Game of The Year Edition Disc, works fine.

I was told it may be the screen resolution--'run the game in 640x480, with 16bit colors'--but this did no good, either. Not to even mention the fact that XP does not even SUPPORT that low of a resolution.

Any Help Would Be Much Appreciated. Several Sleepless Nights Have Gone Into Self-Help Attempts...To No Avail.

Thanks In Advance, To Anyone An' Everyone.