New install, Sage GUI window resolution unusable!

[hogburgs]

Installation of SageTv vr. 6.5.9 OK.
When I launch Sage, the GUI window resolution is so low that I cannot see the full window contents. Resizing the Sage GUI window doesn't change anything. I cannot configure Sage. There is also a lot of weird video artifacts.

The details:
My goal is to set up my old Dell computer to use as an emergency backup if my main server goes down.

This is a clean install of XP Home on a newly formatted drive, NTFS.
Installed SageTv first before anything else so there should not be conflicts.
Installed best legacy driver for the video card, see below.
My computer display resolution is Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz), all other windows display correctly, its only the Sage GUI window thats got a problem.
I uninstalled Sage 6.5.9 and installed an old version, 6.3 but no change.
I HAVE NOT copied over any of the files in the Sage directory, all original from install.
This is the second hard drive and Windows fresh install, same results.

Edit:
I added a .bmp
If I put Sage to sleep, when I restore Sage from sleep, for just a fraction of a second, the contents of the GUI window are scaled correctly. Then the contents "flip" to the low resolution and I can only see / access the upper left portion of the contents of the GUI window. This is consistent.


Please help.
Thanks,
Ken

I ran DirectX Diagnostic tool so here is the system information.

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 6/13/2009, 10:33:41
Machine name: SAM
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: XPST500
BIOS: PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0
Processor: Intel Pentium III, ~490MHz
Memory: 256MB RAM
Page File: 145MB used, 474MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_002D&SUBSYS_000110DE&REV_15
Display Memory: 32.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Dell P780
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6177 (English)
DDI Version: 7
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 7/15/2004 11:42:00, 3740032 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: No
WHQL Date Stamp: None
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 7/15/2004 11:42:00, 2459712 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-436D-11CF-4F6B-0B20B4C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x002D
SubSys ID: 0x000110DE
Revision ID: 0x0015
Revision ID: 0x0015
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: n/a
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: All tests were successful.
D3D7 Test Result: All tests were successful.
D3D8 Test Result: All tests were successful.
D3D9 Test Result: All tests were successful.

[hogburgs]

I cannot use SageTv GUI, and I have a problem that may be fixed if I could disable 3D acceleration. The problem is I cannot even get to the advanced settings window in Sage detailed setup.

Is there a setting in the Sage properties file I can change?
Like from true to false.
I looked at the properties file but don't see a way.

My problem is described at:

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42443

Please help.

* merged *

[Opus4]

You can set ui/accelerated_rendering=false in the appropriate properties file. (Appendix A in the SageTV PDF manual.)

Are DirectX and the video card drivers up to date? I don't know what the latest DirectX is, but is 2004 really the latest driver for the video card, or is that not the real date? Is Java up to date?

Oh, and attached images are easier to look at & are smaller when they are jpg... or at least something other than bmp.

- Andy

[gplasky]

Your card doesn't support DirectX 9.0 c correctly. Disabling the 3D acceleration may help but a new video card will help even more.

Gerry

[hogburgs]

Thank you both so much for your help. Both answers led directly to the solution of my problem.
I have come to the conclusion that this old Dell box will never allow me to use Sage to watch TV on the PC, but I never do that anyway.

Andy, turning off 3D acceleration in the properties file gave me a working Sage GUI window, as long as the Sage service was stopped. I was able to configure my HDHomeRun tuner.

Once that was done I was able to quit the GUI, start the Sage service, and enjoy a working Sage system out at my TV with my Sage extender!

I now have a backup system I can use if my main server is down.

Thanks again,

Ken