I didn't report this issue before because I thought it was isolated to System Shock2 and a problem with my PC. Now this problem with Intel Codecs also occurred on Thief2. Both System Shock2 and Thief2 said that "Intel Codecs" were required to run the games. I was hesitant to install them because I didn't have an Intel CPU, but rather an Athlon. But it said that it was "required" so I installed them. Both of the games installed and fired up ok, but after the game level loading screen reached 100%, the screen went black, and the sound designated for a Windows "exclamation" played. I knew that an error report window had popped up, but the screen was completely black, not letting me read the report! This happened for both games. I also have another IBM Netvista with a pentium 3 800Mhz CPU, so I figured that perhaps the "Intel Codecs" wouldn't make a fuss if they were installed on that system instead, being an Intel. I was wrong-the exactly same thing happened. What's even more annoying about it is that they are both extremely high-praised games, and I want to get in on the action. What a pain. I'm wondering if anyone else has encountered this problem, or what exactly "Intel Codecs" are. Please help-I love System Shock! Feel the schwartz

For thief 2 try this... http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75031#texturememory For SS2, try this... http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60930#videos Sure it's not Indeo codec btw? To see the error try hitting Alt+Tab, Control+Alt+delete, Windows key, Control+Esc, maybe one of those will work. Does your event log say anything? Please help survivors of Hurricane Katrina. www.redcross.org

Thanks for responding. Yes, I'll try doing those modifications posted on the two sites you suggested, and yes, I'm 110% sure it's not Indeo codec. I'll also try those key combinations again, however if I have a feeling they didn't work before, but it's been a while; past key strokes are fleeting. Remember I don't have XP on this particular PC, so where would I find the event log? Win98se often doesn't create an event log, so hopefully the game made one itself...I'll snoop around the hard drive for one anyways. Thanks. Feel the schwartz

LOL, didn't notice your name Mitch. Don't mean to sound like a broken record, but there is no event log in Win98, unfortunately. Those codecs are probably to play cutscene and intro videos. You may also want to try running windows update, and downloading any CODEC packs and any other updates for Windows Media Player. Please help survivors of Hurricane Katrina. www.redcross.org

Before my latest HD format and OS reinstall, I had the latest version of media player, it made the system a little unstable, and I didn't really get any use out of it(like any benefits over the older version). I'm happy with the media formats I can run at the moment. The only problem I have media-wise is that I can't play certain video compression formats (e.g. one avi plays but another doesn't). But that's a common problem with PC video, I just view them on another PC or convert them. Anyways, the intro movies play fine, with both System Shock2 and Thief2. Just as long as my games' media work, that's fine with me...and in this case it does. But if it's needed or worst comes to worst, I'll try upgrading MP. Thanks again. Use da schwartz

You should be able to install the codec pack without upgrading WMP. At the very least try that. Please help survivors of Hurricane Katrina. www.redcross.org

"...install the codec pack ..." Do you mean the Intel Codecs needed for System Shock2, or codecs included with WMP? If the latter, how is that possible? Just curious. BTW, the Intel Codecs needed for Thief2 are the same for System Shock2 because when I installed SS2, it didn't ask for me to install them, because I had Thief2 already installed, of course. Just in case you'd want to know that later. The fix for Thief2 worked! The one about removing the ";" from the line ";safe_texture_manager" in the "user.cfg" file. Excellent. However, editing System Shock2's "cam.cfg" file by adding "safe_texture_manager" to the bottom didn't work. Fortunately, the fixed exe (there a link to it on the site you gave) did allow the game to run. Unfortunately, I have a different problem with the gameplay mechanics; I hope you're somewhat familiar with SS2. In the inventory screen (hitting "tab" or "i"), it's impossible to select or drag items. It is therefore imposible to use collected items in some necessary ways, like dropping or moving to and from hand(s). I have a feeling that this is the fixed exe's fault because something like this happened with another fixed exe(nocd) I had for the Sims2; clicking did nothing while in Build Mode. I'll keep trying different variations of that "safe_texture_manager" edit in the meantime. Thanks. May da Schwartz be wit you