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angelmb · Aug 1, 2009, 04:19 PM

Computer is iMac 24" Aluminum, GPU is sucky ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro.

Launching this PC game 'Braid', display is rotated 90º clockwise. I though downloading ATI's drivers would help, but man, what a pain.
Firstly, screen goes black (actually sort of "grey as no signal is being displayed") and I have no option but to shutdown the iMac with the power button.

Don't despair… yet. Lets give it another try. Now it is some NET 2.0 framework which the installer is asking for. OK, I download it. Time to try the ATI setup again.
It does start but once it seems is ready to finish, it yells something about it was not able to find the right hardware to install these drivers… Needless to say I do download the right drivers for this ATI Radeon card.

So the game is still freaking rotated (and an user is left agitated).
Time to despair.

ghporter · Aug 1, 2009, 04:46 PM

Roll Back to the Previous Version of a Driver will fix it for you. Once you follow the instructions to get into the wizard, you'll be given a calendar to choose how far back to roll. Choose a date that is far enough back that you're SURE nothing involving the video card was installed. This should fix everything.

I have an issue with many games, especially the high-end "hardware specific" ones that go outside the Windows APIs to "accelerate" their graphics. They often diddle with hardware in ways that shouldn't be diddled with, and that can cause major problems. A 90º rotation of the display is very minor-at least you can see something!

angelmb · Aug 1, 2009, 05:49 PM

Thanks Glenn, but I have to wonder… back to what version?. I mean, this is a fresh XP SP3 where the issue was already present after installing the game, and AFAIK the latest ATI drivers didn't get installed (I can't see any ATI panel control and stuff like that.) Well, I can give it a try and report tomorrow.

seanc · Aug 1, 2009, 07:46 PM

Interesting - I usually on witness this on Intel graphics based systems, so I don't expect it to work.

Try CTRL + ALT UP or DOWN arrow. Left and right will change the orientation as well.

Great way to confuse somebody and have them log a call with their IT person

ghporter · Aug 1, 2009, 08:12 PM

I didn't get that the issue was there before the game... Have you tried reinstalling the drivers from your Leopard disc? It sounds like if that doesn't work, and seanc's suggestion doesn't work, it will be time to reinstall Windows...

angelmb · Aug 2, 2009, 01:33 AM

Not exactly before the game but before (trying to) install the ATI drivers, timeline applies:

- Braid game looks like fun, let's start Boot Camp and check it out. Boot Camp was running some CPU intensive 3D CAD apps until now without any issue.
- installed, half the journey is done.
- hum, it launches with the image rotated, weird, might I need to install ATI drivers over Boot Camp drivers.
- drivers can't be installed… I'm getting great feelings toward ATI, XP or dear whoever firstly thought pc gaming was a great idea, bored after trying for one hour. Mood: I [heart] nvidia.

THEN, I found there is also a Mac demo available, so might be that be the solution… It wouldn't surprise me at all.

ibook_steve · Aug 3, 2009, 11:33 AM

Download and install the Catalyst Control Center (CCC) from ATI. This software will give you plenty of control (a bit too much control IMO), but you should be able to fix the problem with it.

Or just get the Mac version. Braid's the first Mac game I've purchased in years. It's awesome.

Steve

angelmb · Aug 3, 2009, 04:58 PM

I had downloaded ATI's CCC but it was not able to install… it says something about not finding the right hardware to install the software. Weird.
I ended downloading the Mac demo, no problem at all.

Thanks to all of you.

sek929 · Aug 3, 2009, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by seanc

Interesting - I usually on witness this on Intel graphics based systems, so I don't expect it to work.

Try CTRL + ALT UP or DOWN arrow. Left and right will change the orientation as well.

Great way to confuse somebody and have them log a call with their IT person

My g/f once called me in tears because her screen was rotated 90º and she was working on a term paper, I couldn't help her except telling her to rotate her LCD manually. She later found the real cause on a site entitled "Useless Windows Functions."