Red Alert 2 works, but not Yuri's Revenge

[Aprime]

Okay, so here's how it goes.

 

I have Windows 8.1 and an Nvidia GFX setup.

 

I install the game through TFD using my original serial keys.

 

I install CNCNet and configure my game through the settings menu of the application.

 

I run all of these programs as administrator.

 

I check the graphics patch option and set the resolution to 1920x1080, I also check the NoCD option.

 

I do this RA2 as well as YR.

 

Red Alert 2 starts fine on its own. The only thing that causes problems with it is alt-tabbing (black screen).

 

Yuri's Revenge doesn't. The application starts, then I get sent back to the desktop. If I try to tab back into it I get a black screen. No audio can be heard but the applications remain active in the task manager.

 

I've tried the standalone graphics patch offered on the XWIS forums. The only effect of which was to kill my game and forcing me to reinstall both RA2 and YR (DirectX fix).

 

I've tried multiple configurations through CNCNet to no effect on YR whatsoever (but the INI gets altered, I can confirm).

 

I've tried running it in Windowed mode but that only causes it to crash (forced 16bit because otherwise it refuses to even try).

 

I've run the program in compatibility mode (7 to 95) to no effect.

 

I have no issues running TS/FS using the fixes provided by this app.

 

I'm not using a cracked/no-CD RA2MD exe. I have however tried it to see if it would fix anything.

 

Stretchvideo is off.

 

Earlier on it would actually start through the client. However, I was getting unbearable stuttering that I wasn't otherwise getting with RA2. This stuttering was affecting the gameplay of whoever had a match with me. It had nothing to do with my Internet connection, it appeared to be processor lag, the sort I shouldn't get with my monstrous machine and that I certainly do not get in any other C&C title. It's only when I started looking into potential fixes that it stopped working altogether. I've managed to get RA2 to work normally again afterwards but YR remained unplayable.

 

At this point I'm at a loss. None of the potential fixes I've looked up work and what makes it weirder is that RA2 works fine.

 

Any ideas?

 

[Aprime]

...I'm guessing this is a mystery to everyone?

 

What boggles my mind is it's only affecting YR.

[Nyerguds]

Did you try the back buffer option in the game's config ini?

[Aprime]

Did you try the back buffer option in the game's config ini?

 

Are you serious

 

After all this time and trouble this was my issue?

 

It worked.

 

Any reason I needed it on for YR but not RA2? Hell I think vbuffer on was giving me problems on RA2.

 

EDIT: Um, dafuq, it stopped working again.

 

Here's what it does: I'll launch it and it sends me straight back to the desktop. The app doesn't stop, I have to manually stop it. It's like it tries to default to a lower res. but the system won't let it or something.

 

[MultiPlayer]
PreferredGameTypeID=1
PreferredScenarioIndex=0
Locale=0
StoreNick=yes
PhoneIndex=-1
WOLLimitResolution=no
LastNickSlot=-1
Color=2
ColorEx=-1
Side=Americans
SideEx=-1
GameMode=1
PortBase=1257
PortPool=36301

[Multiplayer]
GameMode=1

[Options]
NoCD=Yes
GameSpeed=1
Difficulty=0
CampDifficulty=0
ScrollMethod=0
ScrollRate=3
AutoScroll=yes
DetailLevel=2
SidebarCameoText=yes
UnitActionLines=yes
ShowHidden=yes
ToolTips=yes

[Video]
AllowVRAMSidebar=No
VideoBackBuffer=Yes
Windowed=No
UseGraphicsPatch=Yes
ScreenWidth=1920
ScreenHeight=1080
StretchMovies=No

[Audio]
SoundVolume=0.700000
VoiceVolume=0.700000
ScoreVolume=0.300000
IsScoreRepeat=no
IsScoreShuffle=no
SoundLatency=9
InGameMusic=yes

[Network]
Socket=65535
NetCard=0
NetID=ffcf,ffdf,ffcf,

[skirmish]
GameMode=1
ScenIndex=0
GameSpeed=1
Credits=10000
UnitCount=10
ShortGame=yes
SuperWeaponsAllowed=yes
BuildOffAlly=yes
MCVRepacks=yes
CratesAppear=yes
Slot01=6,-2,-2
Slot02=1,-2,-2
Slot03=1,-2,-2
Slot04=1,-2,-2
Slot05=1,-2,-2
Slot06=1,-2,-2
Slot07=1,-2,-2

[LAN]
GameMode=1
ScenIndex=0
GameSpeed=1
Credits=10000
UnitCount=10
ShortGame=yes
SuperWeaponsAllowed=yes
BuildOffAlly=yes
MCVRepacks=yes
CratesAppear=yes
Slot01=2,-2,-2
Slot02=2,-2,-2
Slot03=2,-2,-2
Slot04=2,-2,-2
Slot05=2,-2,-2
Slot06=2,-2,-2
Slot07=2,-2,-2

[WonlinePref]
GameMode=1
ScenIndex=0
GameSpeed=0
Credits=10000
UnitCount=10
ShortGame=yes
SuperWeaponsAllowed=yes
BuildOffAlly=yes
MCVRepacks=yes
CratesAppear=yes
Slot01=2,-2,-2
Slot02=2,-2,-2
Slot03=2,-2,-2
Slot04=2,-2,-2
Slot05=2,-2,-2
Slot06=2,-2,-2
Slot07=2,-2,-2

[serialDefaults]
CallWaitStringIndex=3
InitStringIndex=-1
DialMethod=T
Baud=-1
IRQ=-1
Port=0h
Compression=0
ErrorCorrection=0

[intro]
Play=no

 

Edit: after a bit of messing about and clicking the app furiously (I was actually calmed, I just figured 'hey, it resized my windows again, maybe I should try something out') I managed to have it to launch. Seems it's completely ignoring the settings I give it for resolution. Strange, to say the least.

 

BTW, when I said it worked, I only got to the menu, I didn't try starting a game or whatever. But yeah, clearly, judging by the window size if I try to force it into windowed mode, it's not accepting my res entry.

 

Got it to work in Windowed mode (it switches res going from the menu to the game), gameplay speed seems slow and it crashes after a few minutes.