If you are getting errors while installing the game, here are some things to try...

First, check the CDs for dirt or scratches. Sometimes a simple cleaning will do. Also, try to manuall[y] copy the contents of the CDs to your HD or try installing on another machine. These things will help pinpoint where the problem is.

Another known issue is that there is a conflict between the VIA chipset and certain SoundBlaster cards. If you are using a motherboard with a VIA chipset and have a SoundBlaster card, be sure to install the latest 4in1 drivers from VIA's site, as well as the latest drivers for your soundcard. If problems persist, you can physically remove the soundcard from your computer, install NeverWinter Nights, then replace you soundcard.

Dave McGruther
Client Care Specialist
BioWare Corp.

The following suggestion applies to those who are unable to successfully install the Play Disk. It is not valid for those encountering difficulties during the installation of Install Disk 2.

If your install errors out during the Play Disk, but you are able to manually copy the entire CD to your hard drive without error, try the following:

• Perform a 'Minimum Install' of the game.



• Create an 'ambient' folder inside your Neverwinter Nights folder if one does not already exist. Copy the contents of the 'ambient' folder on the Play Disk to this folder.



• Create a 'movies' folder inside your Neverwinter Nights folder if one does not already exist. Copy the contents of the 'movies' folder on the Play Disk to this folder.



• Create a 'music' folder inside your Neverwinter Nights folder if one does not already exist. Copy the contents of the 'music' folder on the Play Disk to this folder.



• Copy the contents of the 'data' folder on the Play Disk to the 'data' folder that is in your Neverwinter Nights folder.



• Open the nwn.ini file that is in your Neverwinter Nights folder.



• Find the following line: (where X represents some drive letter) AMBIENT=X:ambient and replace it with AMBIENT=.ambient.



• Find the following line: (where X represents some drive letter) MOVIES=X:movies and replace it with MOVIES=.movies.


• Find the following line: (where X represents some drive letter) MUSIC=X:music and replace it with MUSIC=.music.



• Save this file.



• Try running the game.

If the game will not launch, here are some things to check:

First, certain programs running in the background will interfere. The big ones to look for are media players such as Real Player and QuickTime, CD Burning Software like Adaptec Easy CD Creator, CD Image Mounting Software like [Daemon]-Tools. In the case of [Daemon]-Tools, this needs to be completely disabled and removed from your system as it interfears with the CDs copy protection software.

Debuggers, decompilers and emulators may cause the game to exit.

Realmode CD ROM drivers (DOS) may cause the game to exit.

Errors in User.exe, Explorer.exe, Kernel32.exe or GDI.exe indicate a need to update Internet Explorer to 5.5 or higher.

The game must be run as an administrator on Windows 2k or higher (related to copy protection as well).

If you are running the Intel Ultra ATA 6.1 driver you'll need to ugrade to the 6.2 driver. This is only if you're using an Intel motherboard though.

I found this on the AMD Site:

Description of Issue

An issue has been identified that could result in the corruption of video data shared between AGP graphics adapters and AMD Athlon™ or AMD Duron™ family processors, including the AMD Athlon™ MP, mobile Athlon™ 4, and AMD Athlon™ XP processors, when running Microsoft Windows®2000 Professional, Windows®2000 Server, or Windows®2000 Advanced Server. This issue is independent of system chipset and has been observed when running Ziff-Davis 3D Winbench™ 2000 and Mad Onion 3DMark™ 2000 in benchmarking mode. Note: This patch is not needed for Windows XP.

Solution

AMD and Microsoft have worked together to identify a patch that involves adding a key to the registry. To add the key run the registry key installation file below or add the registry key as detailed in Microsoft KnowledgeBase article Q270715. AMD recommends that AMD Athlon™ and AMD Duron™ family processors, including AMD Athlon™ MP, mobile AMD Athlon™ 4, and AMD Athlon™ XP processor users with AGP graphics adapters running Microsoft Windows®2000 Professional, Windows®2000 Server, or Windows®2000 Advanced Server install this patch.

There is a patch on AMD's website. I don't know if this will help anyone, but probably can't hurt too much.

If you are playing through the official campaign and are told you have an invalid character when trying to load a new chapter, I'd like you to email your player.bic file. You will find this file in each savegame directory. Please use the most recent savegame you have.

Email this player.bic file with the subject of INVALID CHARACTER to:

invalidcharacters@bioware.com

Any other emails sent to this address will be deleted.

UPDATE: The issue with Bards has been identified. Please don't bother sending in your character if he/she is a Bard. Also, if you have used any cheat codes, or character editors, etc., DO NOT send your character in. Dave McGruther
Client Care Specialist
BioWare Corp.

Greetings:

Here the top issues that BioWare and Infogrames are working on together. We have been working on these issues ever since they were brought to our attention. Here is the list of the top issues.

• SecureROM.



• Bad STRREF issue when connecting to GameSpy.



• CD Key unauthorized only on certain servers.



• Invalid Character in singleplayer.

Derek French
Bioware Corp.

Hi all,
Thanks again for the help finding the issues with the invalid characters. Now it's time for the modules that can't be loaded or edited any more.

Please compress the modules using something like WinZip before sending them as they are quite a bit larger than character files. Send them with the subject of CORRUPT MODULE to:

corruptmodules@bioware.com

With your help, we should be able pinpoint and repair this strange issue quickly!

Dave McGruther
Client Care Specialist
BioWare Corp.