Doom 3: BFG Edition Won't Start, Unable to Initialize OpenGL

Hey guys, I've been Googling for the past two days but I can't figure it out. I bought a retail copy of Doom 3: BFG Edition (which installs to your Steam anyway) and it won't run. I get an error saying "Unable to Initialize OpenGL" followed by this:

QA Timing INIT: 000072ms
D3BFG 1.1400 win-x86 Oct 5 2012 11:38:38
1994 MHz Intel CPU with MMX & SSE & SSE2 & SSE3 & HTT
4048 MB System Memory
1535 MB Video Memory
Winsock Initialized
Found interface: {F7346918-1A36-4A84-A455-ADE14DB2A297} Intel(R) WiFi Link 1000 BGN - 192.168.1.73/255.255.255.0
Found interface: {D52A54B1-4039-4DEA-AF75-2134680F17E2} Qualcomm Atheros AR8151 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (NDIS 6.30) - 0.0.0.0 NULL netmask - skipped
Sys_InitNetworking: adding loopback interface
doom using MMX & SSE for SIMD processing
enabled Flush-To-Zero mode
enabled Denormals-Are-Zero mode
------ Initializing File System ------
Loaded resource file _common.resources
Loaded resource file _ordered.resources
Loaded resource file _sound_pc.resources
Loaded resource file _sound_pc_en.resources
Current search path:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\DOOM 3 BFG Edition/base
C:\Users\Dima\Saved Games\id Software\DOOM 3 BFG/base
file system initialized.
--------------------------------------
WARNING: Unable to open resource file maps/_startup.resources
----- Initializing Decls -----
------------------------------
Couldn't open journal files
execing default.cfg
couldn't exec D3BFGConfig.cfg
couldn't exec autoexec.cfg
----- R_InitOpenGL -----
Initializing OpenGL subsystem with multisamples:0 stereo:0 fullscreen:1
...registered window class
...registered fake window class
...initializing QGL
...calling LoadLibrary( 'opengl32' ): succeeded
...using WGL_EXT_swap_control_tear
Shutting down OpenGL subsystem
...wglMakeCurrent( NULL, NULL ): failed
...shutting down QGL
...unloading OpenGL DLL
Initializing OpenGL subsystem with multisamples:0 stereo:0 fullscreen:1
...initializing QGL
...calling LoadLibrary( 'opengl32' ): succeeded
...using WGL_EXT_swap_control_tear
Shutting down OpenGL subsystem
...wglMakeCurrent( NULL, NULL ): failed
...shutting down QGL
...unloading OpenGL DLL
Unknown command 'vid_restart'
Unable to initialize OpenGL
Shutting down OpenGL subsystem
...shutting down QGL

No matter what I do, it errors out. Not admin mode, not compatibility mode... Here are my specs:

Alienware M14x
Intel Core i7 2630QM
1.5GB NVIDIA GT555M
4GB DDR3 1600 MHz
500GB 72000 RPM HDD
1600x900 display
Windows 8 RTM 64 bit

I reinstalled the game, redownloaded the entire thing just in case. I installed the latest NVIDIA drivers, which were released on 10/10 and updated for the BFG edition. I also installed the latest Intel drivers from Windows Update. My NVIDIA Control Panel is set to select the high performance card to run the game. Any ideas what I can do?

EDIT 10/19/12: I have found a solution! Someone on Steam forums posted part of it!

1. Navigate to C:\Users\*your username*\Saved Games\id Software\DOOM 3 BFG\base and find file "D3BFGConfig.cfg"
2. Open file with Notepad (I use Notepad++, great program) and edit line r_fullscreen "1" and set it to "3".
3. Go into game and set Monitor 3 resolution to your res.

It works for me, hope it helps!

 

i was thinking into buying an m18x, will this problem happen on it?

 

I really wouldn't know. This issue is rampant for all kinds of hardware, if you look at Steam forums. I still suggest Alienware laptops, they're amazing. This is definitely not an Alienware issue.

 

Yes, it will happen on the the m18x; don't buy Alienware, buy Sager, we NEVER have problems with our laptops... *cough* *cough* Enduro *cough*

lol jk, don't worry about it, it's probably not an issue that will affect all m18x's.

 

is this game really worth if if u have played the xbox version one?

 

not for 30 bucks. I don't understand the difference between this version and the original pc version. They're both HD, so why make a new HD version for pc also?

 

It was to me, for a bit of nostalgia. Especially with the originals not inside a Win95 emulator. Anyway, that really doesn't help fix the issue...

 

For the record, I can play DOOM 3: BFG Edition fine now, when I'm using my Alienware M14x display. As soon as I plug in an HDMI cable (to a 1080p monitor), it starts giving me the OpenGL error. Could be an issue with HDMI? Also my display is 1600x900 if it matters.

 

ok, it is one of the the Optimus bugs. it sounds like OpenGL is going nuts trying to output to an external through the IGP, this was a common problem with CAD apps too

 

I think so. Since the internal display is controlled by the Intel HD graphics, it works fine. But when the GT555M takes over (for external displays), it fails. So it's either a dedicated graphics card powering the display it doesn't like, or HDMI in general. Not sure yet. Someone on a different forum confirmed that he can play on the internal display, but not the external. With a GT540M.

 

HDMI go through the intel gpu. nVidia-intel-hdmi-monitor... so this can be a problem. try update intel driver.

 

On my Alienware, HDMI goes through the NVIDIA card. The internal display is hooked up to the Intel card.

 

I see, so this depends on the manufacturer...

 

manufacturer and even model.

 

Isn't that how Optimus works? Internal display always hooked up to Intel HD, external to dedicated graphics? On any laptop using specifically Optimus tech?

 

Found a fix! Posted in OP

 

dedicated is wired through the Intel IGP out to the internal LCD or external. Some laptops like the M17x allow you to turn off Optimus and use the dedicated GPU only.

 

My M14x has the GT555M wired through the Intel HD, which is connected to the internal monitor. However the HDMI port is controlled by the GT555M, you go into Windows and check the adapter, NVIDIA one shows up. Also I cannoy turn off Optimus.

 

I would just like to say I had the same problem today. I don't know why it started acting up, game was working fine a week ago. But if you change the "1" to "3" , doesn't work, and the message says switch back to "1", try switching it to "2". Worked fine for me.

 

Don't bother with Doom 3 BFG. It looks horrible.

Go with this instead and it's cheaper and it looks better than any game from Activision or Bethesda or Ubisoft.

Doom 3 + Silkmod 1.2 + Wulfen Texture Pack.

Guaranteed, this game looks better, technically more advanced than anything from Bethesda or Activision. And yeah, that includes Bethesda's failure, Rage.