Dark Messiah Steam Version "mm.exe has stopped working"

[graefchen]

I have bought the Steam version of Dark Messiah. When I try to start the multiplayer I get the message "mm.exe has stopped working" and nothing else happens. I have tried numerous fixes, like verifying the integrity of the game cache, copying around binkw32.dll and adding mm.exe as a exception to my antivirus-program, updating my graphicscard-drivers trough steam, but no luck. Now I have come here, searching for help. I have attached my dxdiag to help you solving this problem.

[Blín D'ñero]

Hello graefchen.
I could not find anything about a Foxconn Cinema II B7, but this one comes close: https://www.foxconnchannel.com/ProductD ... -us0000477
these boards are typically built for HTPC: watching movies. That's why they only bear HD audio chips.

What you need to play games like DM multiplayer is a DX compatible audiocard. Either PCI-e or PCI.
Which one? On your very new board, and with Windows 7 you don't want to stick something old. So it's going to be at least an X-Fi. But not Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme because it can't do EAX 5.
If you can get this one: Creative SB X-Fi Titanium that would be perfect.

[graefchen]

So I need to buy a new soundcard to play this game? I don´t think I could fit it into my motherboard, because my graphicscard takes up so much space. And I don´t want to play the multiplayer, only the singleplayer. How it is possible that I can play every other game with my computer, only this ceases to work for me?

[Blín D'ñero]

I have bought the Steam version of Dark Messiah. When I try to start the multiplayer I get the message "mm.exe has stopped working" and nothing else happens. [...].

...


"Every other game", could you name them? Not every game requires a DirectX 9 supporting soundcard, but Dark Messiah does.

A PCI-e card would fit in the pci-e x1 slot above your videocard. And, as i said, you have a PC that is built for cinema functions, not for gaming.

Maybe your HD-audio chip is capable, maybe it is just a matter of the settings...

[Blín D'ñero]

But i can't rule out other causes. Could you:

1. In the Search box (just above the Start button) type:
   regedit
   hit Enter.
2. Navigate to the key
   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Source\mm]
   you see in the picture below, and highlight it.
   
   
3. Right-click on the key > Export...
   In the Name box, type for instance:
   Valve_Source_mm-key
   In the Filetype box leave it at 'Registryfile (*.reg)'.
   Click Save.
   It is by default saved into the Documents folder.
4. In your Documents folder, find this .reg file.
   Right-click on it > Open with... select Notepad. Put your cursor into the text, select all then copy and paste it into your post.

---

And a question: is your monitor connected via DVI or HDMI?

[graefchen]

This is the content of the registry:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Source\mm\Settings]
"AutoConfigVersion"=dword:00000001
"ScreenWidth"=dword:000002d0
"ScreenHeight"=dword:00000500
"ScreenWindowed"=dword:00000000
"ScreenMonitorGamma"="2.2"
"mat_forceaniso"=dword:00000000
"mat_picmip"=dword:00000001
"mat_trilinear"=dword:00000000
"mat_vsync"=dword:00000000
"mat_forcehardwaresync"=dword:00000001
"mat_parallaxmap"=dword:00000001
"mat_reducefillrate"=dword:00000000
"r_shadowrendertotexture"=dword:00000001
"r_rootlod"=dword:00000001
"r_waterforceexpensive"=dword:00000001
"r_waterforcereflectentities"=dword:00000001
"mat_antialias"=dword:00000000
"mat_specular"=dword:00000001
"mat_bumpmap"=dword:00000001
"mat_hdr_level"=dword:00000000
"VendorID"=dword:000010de
"DeviceID"=dword:00000402
"DXLevel_V1"=dword:00000050
"key"="1234567890123"
"mm_fxquality_level"=dword:00000001

And my monitor is connected via DVI.

[Blín D'ñero]

Did you change graphics card recently? After you installed the game?

Your settings in registry are wrong, have nothing to do with the Radeon 5850/70 you currently have, but with a Nvidia 8600GT... wassup!?

[graefchen]

Maybe I should have told you a bit more. I have tried numerous fixes, including adding these settings to the registry. Before this, there wasn´t even a folder mm, this is most likely the cause of this discrepancy. Sorry for that.

[Blín D'ñero]

Those settings are completely wrong, and for an old nVidia card. But manually creating registry keys won't work anyway. Either the installation succeeds, or it fails. When it succeeds it creates the correct settings during the initial run of the game.

[Blín D'ñero]

1. Uninstall both singleplayer and multiplayer from Steam library. (Later you will download them anew)
2. Then navigate to your Steam directory and in *your STEAM directory\steamapps\*your account*\*, delete the folders
   dark messiah might and magic single player
   dark messiah might and magic multiplayer
   (because Steam does not really remove them)
3. In Steam directory, delete your ClientRegistry.blob
4. You have set Steam (in Preferences) to not start up with Windows.
5. Reboot the PC
6. In Registry delete:
   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Source\mm]
   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Steam\Apps\2100]
   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Steam\Apps\2130]
7. Reboot the PC.
8. Launch Steam.
9. Start downloading Dark Messiah singleplayer again.
10. Launch the game.