If you get palette shifting (odd colors) when you start the standard resolution Fallout or Fallout 2, on a Windows Vista or Windows 7 system running Aero, you need to edit the following file under your Fallout directory(s).

Note: On Windows 7 you MUST allow yourself to access these files as by default Windows 7 will NOT allow you to modify anything under Program Files. Just go to properties on the gamesas folder, uncheck the read only box. Then go to security and give yourself (users) FULL CONTROL.

Edit the following file in Notepad. Be careful not to save it as ddraw.ini.txt... notepad may try to add the .txt extension for you !!! select All Files from the dropdown list when saving to avoid this.

DDRAW.INI

Look for the section in the file as follows:

;XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
[Graphics]
;Set to 0 for 8 bit fullscreen
;Set to 4 for dx9 fullscreen
;Set to 5 for dx9 windowed
;dx9 modes cause some corruption of movies
;A dx9 mode is required for any graphics related script extender functions to work (i.e. fullscreen shaders)
;Modes 1, 2 and 3 are no longer supported
Mode=0



Now, change "Mode=" to "Mode-4".

Save the file and start the game normally.


Your "odd color" problems will go away!


PS You can also change the RESOLUTION of the game in this file as well. use at your own risk though! Changing resolution to something like 1024x768 will make it look better on most LCD monitors, however, it WILL cause issues with the VIDEO files contained in the game.



Enjoy.

Strange as I never had this problem myself. Also I never had problems with editing anything under program files either since I'm always in Administrator (I know its not a safe idea oops!). *Shrugs shoulders* I'm on 7 RC right now so not sure if maybe it was in the beta that things were different (never installed any games really in 7 beta).
I told the Overseer of Vault 13 I'd give everything to save everyone, and so I did, I saved them all. Since then I've felt loneliness.

I have the original Fallout (the big boxed version, not the new version in the double pack.) And I don't seem to have a file called DDRAW.INI though I do get the odd colours. I tried creating the file and it made no difference, also tried a few of the other suggestions posted in the other Fallout thread still no change. Any one got any idea how I can fix it, as I really want to play the game.

LeChimp,
What OS are you running on?

Windows 7. Build 7100. The latest RC version.

Edit: And I have a Nvidia GeForce 8500 GT card.

We haven't tried the original games under Win7... I'll do some research, but we don't have a copy of Win7 at this time.

If anyone out there has Win7 and has successfully run Fallout, we'd be interested in hearing from you.

pax,
-Chris

FYI: I have the latest Windows 7 build 7600. I'll load The OS as soon as I get the chance and try fallout on it but you might have to wait a couple of days for the answer since I have more pressing issues that need my time at the moment.

Thank you, Farid. Much obliged.

Thanks Farid. I hope you get it working, without the colour glitches.

And thanks to Chris also.

After installed Windows 7 Build 7600 64bit( Nvidia 7900 GTO with latest 64bit drivers v190.38 Asus P5E3 Deluxe C2 Quad 9450@3.2Ghz/ 1600 Mhz DDR 3) here are my findings and workarounds/solutions:

The default installed version of Fallout 1 does display palette shifting color thrashing in the movie playback unless you set the Fallout desktop shortcut(right click/properties/compatibility tab selecting win 95/winxpsp3 and 256 colors ) to run in 256 colors thereby allowing the movies to playback in their native 256 colors but unfortunately the game will also play in its lowest color palette.

There is no default DDRAW.INI file in the Fallout folder of the original Fallout CD and creating one and placing it everywhere in the gamesas folders does nothing to resolve the issue.

If you want to solve the issue you can run the rapidshare linked "FalloutW.zip" Freeware Fallout1 v2.1 Hi Res Patch fix( Big Thanks to its creator "Mash" Matt Wells ).( Can't attach it here due to file size limit of 256k, It's 1mb zipped)

I've added the setting "COLOUR_BITS = 8" to the Movies section of file "f1_res.ini" to set the movie display palette to 256 colors. I have the game set to run at max 16 bit color with a screen resolution of 1400x1050 which you may have to modify but this is my preferred setting for me in terms of highest res without squinting/straining my eyes on my 28In 1080p HD Widescreen Monitor.

You may also have to disable visual themes and modify other compatibility mode settings for Fallout to run
properly.

If you installed Fallout in the default location you should go to

C:\Program Files\gamesas\Fallout\

and place the patch files under the Fallout subfolder overwriting everything after you have made copies of original files and docs in case you want to revert. The attached modified Falloutw.exe executable needs to be used if you running on a 64 bit system since execution of Matt's patch errors out on my 64bit Win7.

Let me know if it works out for you.

http://rapidshare.com/files/262565951/FALLOUTW.zip.html

FYI: File might be limited to 10 max downloads so hurry up and get it. Now I gotta go barbecue some Lamb Kabobs so I'll be away for quiet a while. Later.

Thanks Farid i'll try it when i'm next on Windows 7. I had to backtrack to XP as i've been having hard drive issues at the moment.

Ok i've just tried it on my dads machine which is running Windows 7, and it seems to run alright. Thanks Farid.

Old thread is quite old. I recently picked up a copy, expecting it to play on 7, But the pixelation was the same for me. Is there somehow you re-upload that? I'd love to get this working. (Trent's Fix did not work for me)

Here is the Win 7 fix again:

http://rapidshare.com/files/372429854/FALLOUTW.zip

I have tried every method on this thread and still cant make it work right I tried changing the mode=0 to mode-4 but it tells me access is denied even though i allowed everything in security, and i tried to patch but couldnt make it work. if anyone has any help please post back or if you can email me at KennethAKeene@yahoo.com thank you very much

Ok i recently downloaded Fallout 1 and 2 though steam and im using windows 7.

It seems i do not have a folder in where i can use the patch to fix the color issue. And there is no DDRAW.INI anywhere on my computer.

Is there perhaps another way to fix this? It happens for both fallout 1 and 2, but it dosnt happen with the brotherhood of steel tatics game

Where are you looking? Steam games are usually stored in ,

C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps

If you have a 64bit system it could be,

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps

The folders to look at are "common" and one that is your Steam username if present in the \steamapps folder. You should find a list of all your downloaded Steam games including the installation folder in one or both of those folders.

And welcome to the forums!

Where are you looking? Steam games are usually stored in ,

C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps

If you have a 64bit system it could be,

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps

The folders to look at are "common" and one that is your Steam username if present in the \steamapps folder. You should find a list of all your downloaded Steam games including the installation folder in one or both of those folders.

And welcome to the forums!

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!
I put the patch into fallout, and when i ran the patch program at first it said it was already instaled, so i uninstaled it, then reinstaled it and changed my resolution to 1600X900 and all those color problems in the intro are gone. Thanks.

Though the patch only seems to work with fallout 1 and not fallout 2, as i did the same things for the second game and there was no change.

Is it generating an error or anything like that for Fallout 2 when trying to patch?

Nope, no error or message of any sort that would indacate something went wrong. It just didnt work, and everything is as rainbow sprinkly as before.