Halo: Combat Evolved: Target line parameters and troubleshooting shortcuts (830487)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Halo: Combat Evolved

SUMMARY

You can use command line parameters to customize the startup process for Microsoft Halo: Combat Evolved and to resolve or to diagnose certain problems that may occur when you try to start or to play the game. This article lists the command line parameters and explains how they work.

MORE INFORMATION

The following table lists the command line parameters that you can use to start Halo: Combat Evolved and the reason why you may want to use them. Microsoft Product Support will not troubleshoot issues that only occur when you use command line parameters. To manually add parameters to the command line in the Halo shortcut, follow these steps:
  1. Right-click Start, and then click Open or click Open All Users.
  2. Double-click the Programs folder.
  3. Double-click the Microsoft Games folder.
  4. Double-click the Halo folder.
  5. Right-click the Halo shortcut icon, and then click Properties.
  6. Click the Shortcut tab.
  7. In the Target box, press END, press the SPACEBAR, and then type the parameter that you want to use. If you want to use an additional parameter, press the SPACEBAR, and then type the next parameter. As an example, the following sample command line includes several parameters:

    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo\halo.exe" -novideo -vidmode 800,600,85

    Note Parameters are not case-sensitive.
  8. Click Apply or click OK.
ParameterDescription
-? Display a list of all parameters.
-nosoundTurn off all sound.
This can be used to diagnose an error or an issue if an error or an issue is related to the generation of sound. If you use this parameter and it resolves your issue, it is best to update your sound drivers or your hardware.
-novideoDisables video playback.
This can be used to diagnose an error or an issue if an error or an issue is related to the playback of movies. If you use this parameter and it resolves your issue, it is best to update your video and sound drivers to make sure that you can play back the opening content.
-nojoystick Disables joysticks, gamepads and other gaming input devices. This may be used to slightly increase performance because Halo will not be polling or actively looking for game controller input. This can also be used to diagnose an error or an issue if an error or an issue is related to the connection of gaming devices. If you use this parameter and it resolves your issue, it is best to update your gaming device drivers.
-nogamma Disables adjustment of gamma.
Gamma can be adjusted in game to make the display either darker or lighter. If you cannot correctly see the screen after you make an adjustment, you can use this parameter to start the game in a state that you can return gamma to a usable level.
-noSSE Disables SSE and 3DNow! Optimizations.

Note This will severely decrease performance for some computers.

This can be used to diagnose an error or an issue if an error or an issue is related to the advanced instruction set of your CPU. If you use this parameter and it resolves your issue, you may want to consider having your PC serviced by your manufacturer.
-useffForces the game to run as if the computer's video solution is a "fixed function" card.
A fixed function card does not support Pixel Shaders and graphics typically will be simpler and blockier.

Examples of fixed function chipset include but are not limited to the following:
  • GeForce (256) SDR
  • GeForce (256) DDR
  • GeForce (256) Ultra
  • GeForce (256) Quadro
  • GeForce2 MX
  • GeForce2 MX 200
  • GeForce2 MX 400
  • GeForce2 Go 100
  • GeForce2 Go 200
  • GeForce2 Go Quadro2 MXR / EX / Go
  • GeForce2 GTS
  • GeForce2 Pro
  • GeForce2 Ti
  • GeForce2 Ultra
  • GeForce2 GL Quadro2 Pro
  • GeForce4 MX 420
  • GeForce4 MX 420 -8x
  • GeForce4 MX 440
  • GeForce4 MX 440 SE
  • GeForce4 MX 440 -8x
  • GeForce4 MX 440SE -8x
  • GeForce4 MX 460
  • GeForce4 410 Go
  • GeForce4 420 Go
  • GeForce4 420 Go 32M
  • GeForce4 440 Go 64M
  • GeForce4 Quadro 200/400
  • GeForce4 Quadro 500XGL
  • GeForce4 Quadro 550XGL
  • nForce 220
  • nForce 420
  • nForce2
  • Radeon 7500
  • All in Wonder Radeon 7500
  • Mobility Radeon 7500
  • Mobility Radeon 7500 GL
  • Radeon 7200
  • Radeon 64 DDR
  • Radeon 32 DDR
  • Radeon LE
  • Radeon 7200
  • All in Wonder Radeon
Note Because of the limitations, fixed function cards typically have lower performance in Halo: Combat Evolved than cards that support pixel shaders.

Note Forcing the game to run at an earlier shader version that your display adapter can support may increase performance while reducing visual quality.
Trying to force the game to run at a later shader version than your display adapter can support causes the game to default to the highest shader level that your hardware supports.
-use11 Forces the game to run as if the computer's video solution is a Shader 1.1 card.
Vertex and pixel shaders are used to create the complex objects and characters that can be displayed in Halo: Combat Evolved. If a card supports shaders it will generally be faster to use them instead of using fixed functions. Halo: Combat Evolved will automatically select the best shader level for your system depending on your hardware and drivers.

Examples of Shader 1.1 capable chipsets include but are not limited to the following:
  • GeForce3
  • GeForce3 Ti 200
  • GeForce3 Ti 500
  • GeForce3 Quadro
  • GeForce4 Ti 4600
  • GeForce4 Ti 4400
  • GeForce4 Ti 4200
  • GeForce4 Quadro 900XGL
  • GeForce4 Quadro 750XGL
  • GeForce4 Quadro 700XGL
  • GeForce4 Ti 4800
  • GeForce4 Ti 4200 -8x
  • GeForce4 Ti 4800SE
  • GeForce4 Quadro 980XGL
  • GeForce4 Quadro 780XGL
  • GeForce4 4200 Go
Note Forcing the game to run at an earlier shader version that your display adapter can support may increase performance while reducing visual quality. Trying to force the game to run at a later shader version than your display adapter can support will cause the game to default to the latest shader level that your hardware supports.
-use14 Forces the game to run as if the computers video solution is a Shader 1.4 card.
Examples of Shader 1.4 capable chipsets include but are not limited to the following:
  • Radeon 9200 PRO -8x
  • Radeon 9200 -8x
  • Radeon 9100 IGP
  • Radeon 9000 PRO
  • Radeon 9000
  • Mobility Radeon 9000
  • Mobility Radeon 9000 GL
  • Radeon 8500
  • Radeon 8500 LE
  • Radeon 8500 DV
Note Forcing the game to run at an earliest shader version that your display adapter can support may increase performance while reducing visual quality.
Trying to force the game to run at a later shader version than your display adapter can support will cause the game to default to the latest shader version that your hardware supports.
-use20Forces the game to run as a Shader 2.0 card.
Examples of Shader 2.0 capable chipsets include but are not limited to the following:
  • GeForce FX 5800 Ultra
  • GeForce FX 5800
  • Quadro FX 3000
  • Quadro FX 2000
  • Quadro FX 1000
  • GeForce FX 5600 Ultra
  • GeForce FX 5600
  • GeForce FX 5900 Ultra
  • GeForce FX 5900
  • GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
  • GeForce FX 5200
  • Radeon 9800 PRO
  • Radeon 9800
  • Radeon 9700 PRO
  • Radeon 9700
  • Radeon 9600 PRO
  • Radeon 9600
  • Radeon 9500 PRO
  • Radeon 9500
Note Forcing the game to run at an earlier shader version that your display adapter can support may increase performance while reducing visual quality.
Trying to force the game to run at a later shader version than your display adapter can support will cause the game to default to the latest shader level that your hardware supports.
-safemodeDisables as many advanced graphics and sound features as possible.
This can be used to diagnose an issue that is hardware related. You may also enter Safe Mode by starting the game by pressing the CTRL key, and then clicking the Continue in 'Safe Mode' button when you are prompted to. The -safemode parameter is a combination of the following individual parameters:
  • -nosound
  • -novideo
  • -nojoystick
  • -nogamma
  • -useff
  • -width640
-window Runs the game in a window.
-width640 Forces the game to run at 640x480. This command may improve performance at the cost of visuals.
-vidmode w,h,r Forces the game to run at width, height, update.
This command can be used to reset the game to a width, height, and update rate that your computer and monitor can work with if you set them incorrectly in the game. The following are two example uses of this parameter:
-vidmode 800,600,60
-vidmode 800,600,85
-adapter xForces the game to run full-screen on a particular display adaptor in a multiple monitor setup.
This can be used to send the game to a particular card and monitor combination if you have a multi-monitor setup.
-port xServer port address used when hosting games.
This can be used to create a custom shortcut for a particular server.
-cport xClient port address used when joining games.
This can be used to create a custom shortcut for a particular server.
-ip x.x.x.xServer IP address used when you have multiple IP addresses.
This can be used to create a custom shortcut for a particular server.
-timedemoRuns four movies and writes out timedemo.txt in the folder where Halo is installed. Note This command will overwrite your current Campaign save.

While the Timedemo.txt file may be used to measure performance it is not a true representation of the frame rates that you will see in the game. The -timedemo command was designed as a development tool and not as a benchmark for Retail Product Performance.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/16/2005
Keywords:kbui kbinfo KB830487
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.