I recently reinstalled Oblivion on my Windows 7 PC, applied the 1.2 patch, then loaded the DLCs. Upon running the game, it wouldn't work. I reinstalled the game, this time running the Shivering Isles patch after installing Oblivion and the DLCs. The game is now playable but it seems to be stuck in a low quality setting. Texture quality is lousy and I am not getting any in-game effects. I am running an AMD 6850 video card, so it can definitely handle the graphics.

On the off chance I had bad drivers, I fired up Starcraft II. It loaded up with high quality graphics running normally.

I am prepared to re-install the game, but if anyone has any idea what could be causing this?

P.S. Does anyone know why the Shivering Isles version of the Oblivion 1.2 executable patch doesn't add the 'visual quality' buttons, like the Oblivion 1.2 patch does?

In the console, try "tlb". See if that makes a difference.

I will try that. Thanks.

I have the same problem with my 5770 -- the game auto detect thinks it is an older card (Nvidia FX57xx series) that had shader issues causing Beth to release the ULtra low quality setting that disables most of the in game effects) might be the same sort of thing you are running into -- I have to use the launchers preset buttons each time to reset it (seems there are a few settings that do not have in game adjustments that only the presets will turn back on !) -- Unfortunately the presets did not exist on game launch and the newest 1.2.0416 patch also removed them so luckily I had a copy left from the intermediate patches which does have them.

http://www.4shared.com/file/0DM-Kr8s/OblivionLauncher.html and use it to launch the game and select Ultra - high from the preset and see if that helps ! (It works for me until each time the auto detect runs again - each time the video drivers are updated)

Using the TLB console command helped a lot, but there is still something off when I am out in 'the wild'. Terrain textures are blocks (you can see distinct boundaries between snow and bare rock areas near Bruma, for example) and the road/path textures are non-existent.

I will be trying the oblivion launcher mentioned in JDFan's post. Hopefully between both of your suggestions my graphics issues will get cleared up.

Thanks again for both your prompt responses.

Yeah, in very low mode, the roads are missing, among other stuff. Anyways, if that launcher mentioned in JDFan's post is the same one I use, then it should work. It brings back the quality options in the launcher that the SI patch took out.