[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: game freezes for a minute or two at regular intervals]

Disable the internet weather option.

(Thanks cast0r!)

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: error in "ikernel.exe"]

This information was found at http://www.forumplanet.com/planetblackandwhite/topic.asp?fid=1678&tid=39300.

Get the file "Stdole32.tlb" This is a core Windows file and should exist on your machine. Make sure that you if you get this file from another machine, the machine is
running the same operating system as the target machine.

(Thanks toppdogg_1!)

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: incorrect/screwed up textures, lockup when loading, random in-game freezes (for "Banshee" Owners)]

Information comes from this http://www.forumplanet.com/planetblackandwhite/topic.asp?fid=1678&tid=38282 thread. A big thanks goes out to BOTH TSM and The_Flashing_Blade. So if you ever see either of them on the street please don't mug them...well unless they have a lot of money on them at the time of course.

Latest VIA 4 in 1 drivers
Aureal Reference Drivers
3dfx Banshee reference 1.03.04 drivers

So the main thing here is: screw around with any and all drivers if you have a Banshee and hopefully you will come up with the correct combination!

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: none, try this for each problem you encounter]

This information comes from TSM (The "M" in TSM stands for "Really Smart Bastard") on the thead http://www.forumplanet.com/planetblackandwhite/topic.asp?fid=1678&tid=38625 at Planet Black and White.

>>>>>
If you've got an ATi-based graphics card,
check out:

http://www.rage3d.com

If you haven't already, it's a good site
geared towards ATi cards. :)

If your motherboard is based around a
VIA chipset, make sure you've got the
VIA drivers (VIA 4-In-1's) installed.

If you've got an Athlon-class processor
(Athlon 'Classic', Duron or Thunderbird),
with an AMD chipset (750, 751, 760)
check for drivers from AMD. :)

If you're running Windows 2000 Professional,
make sure you've got the W2K Service Pack 1
installed.

If you've got W2K, and a VIA-based motherboard,
make sure you've got the Microsoft Pre-SP2 AGP
Hotfix installed.

If you've got W2K and ATA100 drives, make sure
you've got the Microsoft W2K ATA100 patch
installed.
<<<<<

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: how to backup a game]

Despite what people may think you do *not* simply copy the /profiles directory to backup a game. You can use a utility called BWBackup obtainable at http://www.orbitirc.com/bwbackup.htm. Or if you're an adventours type here is the info you need to manually backup a game and the creature:

Solution: Most of this information came from this (http://www.forumplanet.com/planetblackandwhite/topic.asp?fid=1552&tid=35763) thread, I am just retyping it myself to make it a little bit easier to read

Back up your Profile (in the /Profiles directory) and your creature stats in the /Scripts/CreatureMind directory. The files you need from /Creature mind are the ones that have the .erc extensions. There should be one that is totally random and then one called "Physique(random)" where (random) is replaced with charecters generated on the fly by black and white when that file is created. Now after you reinstall, install it on a different computer, what ever you need to start a game with the EXACT SAME NAME as the one you started the backed up profile with. After you started the game quit the game and replace the profile directory created with the one you backed up. Next delete the files in /CreatureMind (the ones that are random, with the .erc extension) and replace them with the ones you backed up. Next comes the tricky part. Load up your favorite registry editor (or simply run regedit from the start/run menu from windows)

Go to the key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Lionhead Studios Ltd/Black & White/LHMultiplayer/Profiles/_y_o_u_r_p_r_o_f_i_l_e

where of course _y_o_u_r_p_r_o_f_i_l_e is the name of the profile you backed up. Now replace the string called "file" (or you may have to create one) with the location of the Creature Mind (that .erc thing) that you backed up. NOTE: Do not point to the Physique one!

(Thanks to AshkEnte)

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: random in-game crashes]

If you're running with a TNT2 Ultra then I have not yet found a definite fix for this, sorry. I spoke to someone and we tried a bunch of things together and still it was a no-go. He was fed up and went out and bought a Asus Geforece 2 Mx and the game ran fine. Not much of a fix, but if you got some spare cash then head on over to http://www.pricewatch.com and check out a new video card...a GF2MX is only about 70 bucks!

(Thanks Epic!)

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: creature will not go where you "action", can not attach leash to things]

Start a Skirmish game, mess around in it for a bit, and then go back to single player.

(Thanks Jason Halls of www.lanse.co.uk !)

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: how to set Black and White for only one processor]

Props go out to TSM for this information, this is verbatim from an e-mail he sent me.
>>>>>>
Here's the thread on the Planet Black & White forums where it discusses
where to set the affinity via a batch start file for Black & White..

http://www.forumplanet.com/planetblackandwhite/topic.asp?fid=1678&tid=38197

Also, here's the pertinant info on creating an Affinity-Setting Batch file
launcher for
Black & White..

Ah ha! I found it! :)

I checked this page:



And found this juicy lil tidbit for ya:

"Note on the priority for NT/W2000:
If you have a dual processor system (I do), you can set the affinity for
the game (Half-Life) to use only one processor. Then you can set Realtime
priority for half-life. Half-Life will get a totally free processor to play
on...and dont have to give away any resources. The operating system will
survive on the second processor."

So, if you have an SMP rig, and don't mind putting together
a small batch file, you can set the affinity for B&W..

the batch file would look something like this:

@echo off
Start /realtime runblack.exe


Hope this helps.. :)
<<<<<<

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: does not ask for registry key when installing]

If you had the warez version before and have now bought the game and it did not ask for a CD key then this is the key you need to edit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Electronic Arts\EA Games\Black and White\ergc
The value of the key is the registration number with no hyphens.

(Thanks Jim Gabris!)

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: crash when saving]

I got a mail from someone saying that they had the "crash when saving" bug that has been plauging people. He said he did all of these at once and it fixed his problem:

Changing from Detonater 11.0 drivers to the 7.58,
setting audio hardware acceleration to none,
and changing the AGP apeture size in the BIOS to 32mb.

(Thanks Richard Wingrove!)

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: lockup when loading, random in-game freezes]

Try the fixed .exe and the NO IP reg fix from www.gamecopyworld.com. I would suggest trying BOTH as Lionhead might be logging the IPs of people who use the cracked exe as well as pirated copies, though I doubt it. If the fixed .exe does work for you then you need to copy the "audio" directory on the CD onto you HD (keep the same directory structure). I might suggest this even if you aren't using the cracked .exe as I heard it can speed up the game. An alternative to using the fixed .exe would be to un-DMA your cd drive. Doing that would mean you wouldn't have to copy your Audio directory to your hard drive.

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: incorrect/screwed up textures, lockup when loading, random in-game freezes]

Uninstall DirectX and install an earlier version (7.0a comes on the Black and White CD). I have not tried this utility myself but someone I helped who was running WinME (even though it says its not designed for ME) said it worked fine. Be aware that since this messes around with DirectX microsoft DOES NOT authroize it. So use at your own risk and backup anything turly important to you. The DirectX uninstall utility can be found at http://www.the-ctrl-alt-del.com/utilities/dxun13.exe.

(note: If anyone reccomends a better DX uninstaller or one that works with Win2K please contact me at ExtraTrstl@umailme.com.

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: incorrect/screwed up textures, lockup when loading, random in-game freezes]

(Note: For Advanced Users Only!)
Set your AGP aperature size equal to how much memory you have on your video card. So if you have a 32MB card set the aperature size to 32MB.

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: incorrect/screwed up textures, lockup when loading, random in-game freezes]

(Note: For Advanced Users Only!)
Go into your BIOS setup. Set your AGP BUS speed to 1x

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: incorrect/screwed up textures, lockup when loading, random in-game freezes]

Go to Start-->Run
Type in "dxdiag.exe"
In one of the tabs (I will update this post when I find out the exact directions) there should be an option for AGP hardware acceleration. Set that to none.

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: lockup when loading, random in-game freezes]

Go to Start-->Run
Type in "dxdiag.exe" (without quotes)
In one of the tabs (I will update this post when I find out the exact directions) there should be an option for sound hardware acceleration. Move that slider all the way to the left (so it is set to none).

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: lockup when loading, random in-game freezes]

If you are running Win2K and have a Sound Blaster Live! then definitely try this fix, if you are running another OS then it probably won't help you much but you might as well try it:

Hit (windows key) pause or go to My Computer-->Control Panel-->System-->Device Manager Tab
Go to sound controllers and remove the SBLive! from your system. Reinstall it using the drivers found on the Windows CD and not Creative's drivers. There is a problem regarding SBLive's and Black and White. I have heard through the grapvine (so take this with a grain of salt) that EA/Lionhead ARE AWARE of the problem but WILL NOT fix it in the patch that should arrive fairly soon. Sorry folks.

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: freeze on "tips of the day" screen]

Run the game with the /noinetconn command:
Right click on your shortcut that you use to launch black and white, where it says "Target" add /noinetconn to the end. So you will end up with:
"C:\blahblah\runblack.exe" /noinetconn
(yes you do need the quotes or else it will think /noinetconn is an executeable that it will try to run)

This problem is because when you run Black and White it tries to send information to Lionhead/EA server. What kind of information I'm not sure (and if you do know then mail me at ExtraTrstl@umailme.com!), but if you don't have your 'net connection set to auto-dial and auto connect then there is a good chance it will just hang there. An alternate method to solving this problem would simply be to be connected to the internet when you run the game.

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: incorrect/screwed up textures, lockup when loading, random in-game freezes]

Fiddle with video options. Go to Start-->Programs-->Lionhead-->Black and White and click on setup. In the drop down box if it says "Direct3D T&L" then change it to "Direct3D HAL". Try chaning default resolutions and texture quality.

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: incorrect/screwed up textures, lockup when loading, random in-game freezes]

Install the newest drivers for your sound and video card. Try to stay away from reference drivers. However if you have the newest driver available from your vendor and your game still doesn't work then go to town and try every driver you can get your grubby little hands on!

If you're running a GeForce or a TNT card I would suggest getting the detonator drivers from http://www.nvidia.com. For older versions of the detonator drivers go to http://the-ctrl-alt-del.com/Drivers.htm.

For older version of Banshee drivers go to http://bansheedrivers.homestead.com (thanks The_Flashing_Blade!).

[most common problem(s) associated with this fix: none, try this for each problem you encounter]

Close all programs running in the background. Common culprits of messing with games are things such as anti-virus utilities. If you are having trouble playing multi-player then make sure to disable your firewall program and then try it. Ctrl+Alt+Delete everything except "Explorer" and "Systray" and then run the game.