Defaults? (Corrupted gameengine.ini)

[nerex]

Essentially: I changed my graphics settings and after a few seconds of gameplay was greeted with a black screen. First alt+tab and alt+tab back fixed this.. but then Mirror's Edge completely froze up.

Now: Whenever I launch the game, after the EA logo I am greeted with a black screen. Sound still goes on and I can "navigate" the menu but without seeing, its hard to change settings.

Since there's no safe mode exe or reset to defaults I tried to manually edit gameengine.ini in order to get rid of the values I thought caused the black screen.

Sadly I didn't make a safety copy of the ini and am now posed with a problem: The game prompts me to reinstall to get the .ini back but in a steam install/uninstall the .ini settings are kept.... What can I do to get the .ini back to default? Would it be okay to ask for a default .ini or at least its text? I'm sad I barely got to finish the training mission and now can no longer play the game...

If it helps:
Purchased from: Steam
PC Setup: AMD Phenom, standard clocked 2.5 GHz x4
Video: ATI Radeon HD 3870(Manufactured by sapphire)
OS & Drivers: Windows XP 32 bit, latest ati drivers and physX.

Any input at all would help,
~nnx

[YGG-Shiro]

Hope I dont get in trouble for this. Heres the original ini, starting with the #.

# Don't modify this file. If you do, your game may not start.
[URL]
Protocol=unreal
Name=Player
Map=Entry
LocalMap=Entry
TransitionMap=Entry
MapExt=changeme
EXEName=unreal.exe
DebugEXEName=DEBUG-unreal.exe
SaveExt=usa
Port=7777
GameName=Default Game Name
GameNameShort=DGN

[Engine.Engine]
NetworkDevice=IpDrv.TcpNetDriver
ConsoleClassName=Engine.Console
GameViewportClientClassName=Engine.GameViewportCli ent
LocalPlayerClassName=Engine.LocalPlayer
DataStoreClientClassName=Engine.DataStoreClient
Language=int
bAllowMatureLanguage=FALSE
GameEngine=Engine.GameEngine
EditorEngine=Editor.EditorEngine
UnrealEdEngine=UnrealEd.UnrealEdEngine
Client=WinDrv.WindowsClient
Render=Render.Render
Input=Engine.Input
Canvas=Engine.Canvas
TinyFontName=EngineFonts.TinyFont
SmallFontName=EngineFonts.SmallFont
MediumFontName=EngineFonts.MediumFont
LargeFontName=EngineFonts.LargeFont
SubtitleFontName=EngineFonts.MediumFont
WireframeMaterialName=EngineMaterials.WireframeMat erial
DefaultMaterialName=EngineMaterials.DefaultMateria l
EmissiveTexturedMaterialName=EngineMaterials.Emiss iveTexturedMaterial
GeomMaterialName=EngineMaterials.GeomMaterial
DefaultFogVolumeMaterialName=EngineMaterials.FogVo lumeMaterial
TickMaterialName=EditorMaterials.Tick_Mat
CrossMaterialName=EditorMaterials.Cross_Mat
DefaultUICaretMaterialName=EngineMaterials.Blinkin gCaret
SceneCaptureReflectActorMaterialName=EngineMateria ls.ScreenMaterial
SceneCaptureCubeActorMaterialName=EngineMaterials. CubeMaterial
RandomAngleTextureName=EngineMaterials.RandomAngle s
RandomNormalTextureName=EngineMaterials.RandomNorm al
LevelColorationLitMaterialName=EngineMaterials.Lev elColorationLitMaterial
LevelColorationUnlitMaterialName=EngineMaterials.L evelColorationUnlitMaterial
RemoveSurfaceMaterialName=EngineMaterials.RemoveSu rfaceMaterial
EditorBrushMaterialName=EngineMaterials.EditorBrus hMaterial
DefaultPhysMaterialName=EngineMaterials.DefaultPhy sicalMaterial
TextureStreamingBoundsMaterialName=EditorMaterials .Utilities.TextureStreamingBounds_MATInst
TerrainCollisionMaterialName=EngineMaterials.Terra inCollisionMaterial
TerrainErrorMaterialName=EngineMaterials.MaterialE rror_Mat
TerrainMaterialMaxTextureCount=16
TerrainTessellationCheckCount=6
TerrainTessellationCheckBorder=2.0
TerrainTessellationCheckDistance=4096.0
BeginUPTryCount=200000
bStaticDecalsEnabled=True
bDynamicDecalsEnabled=True
bForceStaticTerrain=False
LightComplexityColors=(R=0,G=0,B=0,A=1)
LightComplexityColors=(R=0,G=255,B=0,A=1)
LightComplexityColors=(R=63,G=191,B=0,A=1)
LightComplexityColors=(R=127,G=127,B=0,A=1)
LightComplexityColors=(R=191,G=63,B=0,A=1)
LightComplexityColors=(R=255,G=0,B=0,A=1)
ShaderComplexityColors=(R=0,G=255,B=100,A=1)
ShaderComplexityColors=(R=0,G=255,B=0,A=1)
ShaderComplexityColors=(R=63,G=191,B=0,A=1)
ShaderComplexityColors=(R=127,G=127,B=0,A=1)
ShaderComplexityColors=(R=191,G=63,B=0,A=1)
ShaderComplexityColors=(R=255,G=0,B=0,A=1)
bUsePixelShaderComplexity=True
bUseAdditiveComplexity=True
MaxPixelShaderAdditiveComplexityCount=300
MaxPixelShaderOpaqueComplexityCount=100
MaxVertexShaderComplexityCount=100
TimeBetweenPurgingPendingKillObjects=60
bUseSound=True
bUseTextureStreaming=True
bUseBackgroundLevelStreaming=True
bSubtitlesEnabled=True
bSubtitlesForcedOff=FALSE
ScoutClassName="Engine.Scout"
DefaultPostProcessName=EngineMaterials.DefaultScen ePostProcess
DefaultUIScenePostProcessName=EngineMaterials.Defa ultUIPostProcess
ThumbnailSkeletalMeshPostProcessName=EngineMateria ls.DefaultThumbnailPostProcess
ThumbnailParticleSystemPostProcessName=EngineMater ials.DefaultThumbnailPostProcess
ThumbnailMaterialPostProcessName=EngineMaterials.D efaultThumbnailPostProcess
bOnScreenKismetWarnings=TRUE
bEnableKismetLogging=FALSE
AllowShadowVolumes=TRUE
ShadowVolumeLightRadiusThreshold=1000
ShadowVolumePrimitiveScreenSpacePercentageThreshol d=0.25
bEnableVSMShadows=False
bEnableBranchingPCFShadows=False
bAllowBetterModulatedShadows=True
ShadowFilterRadius=2
DepthBias=.012
ModShadowFadeDistanceExponent=.2
CameraRotationThreshold=45.0
CameraTranslationThreshold=10000
PrimitiveProbablyVisibleTime = 8.0
PercentUnoccludedRequeries = 0.125
MinTextureDensity=0.0
IdealTextureDensity=13.0
MaxTextureDensity=55.0
bDisablePhysXHardwareSupport=True
DemoRecordingDevice=Engine.DemoRecDriver
bPauseOnLossOfFocus=FALSE
MaxParticleResize=0
MaxParticleResizeWarn=0
NetClientTicksPerSecond=200
bCaptureCharacterLighting=false
PhysXGpuHeapSize=32
PhysXMeshCacheSize=8

[Engine.StreamingMovies]
RenderPriorityPS3=1001
SuspendGameIO=True

[Engine.ISVHacks]
bInitializeShadersOnDemand=True
DisableATITextureFilterOptimizationChecks=True
UseMinimalNVIDIADriverShaderOptimization=True
PumpWindowMessagesWhenRenderThreadStalled=False

[Engine.GameEngine]
bSmoothFrameRate=TRUE
MinSmoothedFrameRate=22
MaxSmoothedFrameRate=62

; mostly copied from 2k4
[Engine.DemoRecDriver]
AllowDownloads=True
DemoSpectatorClass=Engine.PlayerController
MaxClientRate=25000
ConnectionTimeout=15.0
InitialConnectTimeout=200.0
AckTimeout=1.0
KeepAliveTime=1.0
SimLatency=0
RelevantTimeout=5.0
SpawnPrioritySeconds=1.0
ServerTravelPause=4.0
NetServerMaxTickRate=30
LanServerMaxTickRate=30

[Engine.PackagesToAlwaysCook]

[Engine.StartupPackages]
bSerializeStartupPackagesFromMemory=FALSE
bSerializeStartupPackagesFromMemoryCompressed=FALS E
Package=DefaultUISkin
Package=EngineMaterials
Package=EngineFonts

[Engine.PackagesToForceCookPerMap]

[Core.System]
MaxObjectsNotConsideredByGC=0
SizeOfPermanentObjectPool=0
StaleCacheDays=30
MaxStaleCacheSize=10
MaxOverallCacheSize=30
AsyncIOBandwidthLimit=0
CachePath=..\%GAME%Game\Cache
CacheExt=.uxx
Paths=..\Engine\Content
ScriptPaths=..\%GAME%Game\Script
FRScriptPaths=..\%GAME%Game\ScriptFinalRelease
CutdownPaths=..\%GAME%Game\CutdownPackages
CutdownPaths=..\%GAME%Game\Script
ScreenShotPath=..\%GAME%Game\ScreenShots
LocalizationPaths=..\Engine\Localization
Extensions=upk
Extensions=u
TextureFileCacheExtension=tfc
Suppress=Dev
Suppress=DevAudio
Suppress=DevBind
Suppress=DevBsp
Suppress=DevCollision
Suppress=DevCompile
Suppress=DevComponents
Suppress=DevCooking
Suppress=DevDataStore
Suppress=DevGarbage
Suppress=DevKill
Suppress=DevLoad
Suppress=DevNetTraffic
Suppress=DevPath
Suppress=DevReplace
Suppress=DevSave
Suppress=DevSound
Suppress=DevStats
Suppress=DevTick
Suppress=DevUI
Suppress=DevUIStates
Suppress=DevUIStyles
Suppress=DevUIAnimation
Suppress=Input
Suppress=Inventory
Suppress=Localization
Suppress=LocalizationWarning
Suppress=PlayerMove
Suppress=DevSHA
Suppress=DevShaders

[Engine.Client]
DisplayGamma=2.2
MinDesiredFrameRate=35.000000
InitialButtonRepeatDelay=0.2
ButtonRepeatDelay=0.1

[WinDrv.WindowsClient]
AudioDeviceClass=ALAudio.ALAudioDevice
MinAllowableResolutionX=0
MinAllowableResolutionY=0
MaxAllowableResolutionX=0
MaxAllowableResolutionY=0
MinAllowableRefreshRate=0
MaxAllowableRefreshRate=0
ParanoidDeviceLostChecking=1
AllowJoystickInput=1

[Engine.Player]
ConfiguredInternetSpeed=10000
ConfiguredLanSpeed=20000
PP_DesaturationMultiplier=1.0
PP_HighlightsMultiplier=1.0
PP_MidTonesMultiplier=1.0
PP_ShadowsMultiplier=1.0

[ALAudio.ALAudioDevice]
MaxChannels=32
UseEffectsProcessing=True
TimeBetweenHWUpdates=15
MinOggVorbisDurationGame=20
MinOggVorbisDurationEditor=4
DeviceName=Generic Software

[IpDrv.TcpNetDriver]
AllowDownloads=True
ConnectionTimeout=30.0
InitialConnectTimeout=200.0
AckTimeout=1.0
KeepAliveTime=0.2
MaxClientRate=15000
MaxInternetClientRate=10000
RelevantTimeout=5.0
SpawnPrioritySeconds=1.0
ServerTravelPause=4.0
NetServerMaxTickRate=30
LanServerMaxTickRate=35
DownloadManagers=IpDrv.HTTPDownload
DownloadManagers=Engine.ChannelDownload
NetConnectionClassName="IpDrv.TcpipConnection"

[IpServer.UdpServerQuery]
GameName=ut

[IpDrv.UdpBeacon]
DoBeacon=True
BeaconTime=0.50
BeaconTimeout=5.0
BeaconProduct=ut
ServerBeaconPort=8777
BeaconPort=9777

[TextureStreaming]
PoolSize=250
HysteresisLimit=30
DropMipLevelsLimit=24
StopIncreasingLimit=18
StopStreamingLimit=12
MinFudgeFactor=1
FudgeFactorIncreaseRateOfChange=0.5
FudgeFactorDecreaseRateOfChange=-0.4
MinRequestedMipsToConsider=11
MinTimeToGuaranteeMinMipCount=2
MaxTimeToGuaranteeMinMipCount=12
UseTextureFileCache=FALSE

[StreamByURL]
PostLoadPause=6.0

[Editor.EditorEngine]
LocalPlayerClassName=Editor.EditorPlayer
bUseSound=True
bSubtitlesEnabled=True
GridEnabled=True
SnapScaleEnabled=True
ScaleGridSize=5
SnapVertices=False
SnapDistance=10.000000
GridSize=(X=16.000000,Y=16.000000,Z=16.000000)
RotGridEnabled=True
RotGridSize=(Pitch=1024,Yaw=1024,Roll=1024)
GameCommandLine=-log
FOVAngle=90.000000
GodMode=True
AutoSaveDir=..\Engine\Autosaves
InvertWidgetZAxis=True
UseAxisIndicator=True
MatineeCurveDetail=0.1
Client=WinDrv.WindowsClient
CurrentGridSz=4
bUseMayaCameraControls=True
bPrefabsLocked=True
HeightMapExportClassName="TerrainHeightMapExporter TextT3D"
EditorOnlyContentPackages=EditorMeshes
EditorOnlyContentPackages=EditorMaterials
EditorOnlyContentPackages=EditorResources
EditPackagesInPath=..\Development\Src
EditPackages=Core
EditPackages=Engine
EditPackages=GameFramework
EditPackages=Editor
EditPackages=UnrealEd
EditPackages=UnrealScriptTest
EditPackages=IpDrv

[UnrealEd.UnrealEdEngine]
AutoSave=True
AutoSaveTimeMinutes=10
AutoSaveIndex=0
PackagesToBeFullyLoadedAtStartup=EditorMaterials
PackagesToBeFullyLoadedAtStartup=EditorMeshes
PackagesToBeFullyLoadedAtStartup=EditorResources
PackagesToBeFullyLoadedAtStartup=EngineMaterials
PackagesToBeFullyLoadedAtStartup=EngineFonts
PackagesToBeFullyLoadedAtStartup=EngineScenes
PackagesToBeFullyLoadedAtStartup=EngineResources
PackagesToBeFullyLoadedAtStartup=DefaultUISkin
PackagesToBeFullyLoadedAtStartup=Engine_MI_Shaders

[Engine.DataStoreClient]
GlobalDataStoreClasses="Engine.UIDataStore_Strings "
GlobalDataStoreClasses="Engine.UIDataStore_Images"
GlobalDataStoreClasses="Engine.UIDataStore_GameRes ource"
GlobalDataStoreClasses="Engine.CurrentGameDataStor e"
GlobalDataStoreClasses="Engine.UIDataStore_Session Settings"
GlobalDataStoreClasses="Engine.UIDataStore_Fonts"
GlobalDataStoreClasses="Engine.UIDataStore_Color"
GlobalDataStoreClasses="Engine.UIDataStore_Gamma"
GlobalDataStoreClasses="Engine.UIDataStore_Registr y"
PlayerDataStoreClassNames="Engine.PlayerOwnerDataS tore"
PlayerDataStoreclassNames="Engine.UIDataStore_Play erSettings"

[Engine.UIDataStore_SessionSettings]
SessionSettingsProviderClassNames="Engine.SessionS ettingsProvider_GameInfo"

[DevOptions.Shaders]
AutoReloadChangedShaders=True

[StatNotifyProviders]
XmlStatNotifyProvider=false
CsvStatNotifyProvider=false
StatsNotifyProvider_UDP=true
PIXNamedCounterProvider=false

[StatNotifyProviders.StatNotifyProvider_UDP]
ListenPort=13000

[RemoteControl]
SuppressRemoteControlAtStartup=False

[LogFiles]
PurgeLogsDays=2

[AnimationCompression]
DefaultCompressionAlgorithm=AnimationCompressionAl gorithm_BitwiseCompressOnly
TranslationCompressionFormat=0
RotationCompressionFormat=1

[IpDrv.OnlineSubsystemCommonImpl]
MaxLocalTalkers=1
MaxRemoteTalkers=16
bIsUsingSpeechRecognition=false

[IpDrv.OnlineGameInterfaceImpl]
LanAnnouncePort=14001
LanQueryTimeout=5.0

[OnlineSubsystemPC.OnlineSubsystemPC]
ProfileDataDirectory=..\%GAME%Game\SaveData
ProfileDataExtension=".ue3profile"

[OnlineSubsystemLive.OnlineSubsystemLive]
LiveSystemLinkPort=14000
LanAnnouncePort=14001

[Engine.StaticMeshCollectionActor]
bCookOutStaticMeshActors=TRUE
MaxStaticMeshComponents=1000

[Engine.StaticLightCollectionActor]
bCookOutStaticLightActors=TRUE
MaxLightComponents=1000

[LiveSock]
bUseVDP=True
bUseSecureConnections=true
MaxDgramSockets=64
MaxStreamSockets=16
DefaultRecvBufsizeInK=256
DefaultSendBufsizeInK=256

[CustomStats]
LD=Streaming fudge factor
LD=FrameTime
LD=Terrain Foliage Time
LD=Foliage Render Time
LD=Terrain Smooth Time
LD=Terrain Render Time
LD=Decal Render Time
LD=Terrain Triangles
LD=Foliage Instances
LD=Decal Triangles
LD=Decal Draw Calls
LD=Static Mesh Tris
LD=Skel Mesh Tris
LD=Skel Verts CPU Skin
LD=Skel Verts GPU Skin
LD=30+ FPS
LD=Audio Memory Used
LD=Total CPU rendering time
LD=Total GPU rendering time
LD=Occluded primitives
LD=Projected shadows
LD=Visible static mesh elements
LD=Visible dynamic primitives
LD=Texture Pool Size
LD=Physical Memory Used
LD=Virtual Memory Used
LD=Audio Memory Used
LD=Texture Memory Used
LD=Vertex Lighting Memory
LD=StaticMesh Vertex Memory
LD=StaticMesh Index Memory
LD=SkeletalMesh Vertex Memory
LD=SkeletalMesh Index Memory

[MemorySplitClassesToTrack]
Class=AnimSequence
Class=AudioComponent
Class=AudioDevice
Class=CylinderComponent
Class=DecalComponent
Class=DecalLifetime
Class=DecalLifetimeAge
Class=DecalLifetimeData
Class=DecalLifetimeDataAge
Class=DecalManager
Class=DecalMaterial
Class=Field
Class=Font
Class=Level
Class=Material
Class=MaterialInstanceConstant
Class=MaterialInstanceTimeVarying
Class=Model
Class=ModelComponent
Class=MorphTarget
Class=ObjectReferencer
Class=ParticleModule
Class=ParticleSystemComponent
Class=PathNode
Class=RB_BodyInstance
Class=RB_BodySetup
Class=ReachSpec
Class=SkeletalMesh
Class=SoundCue
Class=SoundNode
Class=StaticMesh
Class=StaticMeshActor
Class=StaticMeshComponent
Class=Terrain
Class=TerrainComponent
Class=Texture2D
Class=UIRoot

[ConfigCoalesceFilter]
FilterOut=%GAME%Engine.ini
FilterOut=%GAME%Editor.ini
FilterOut=%GAME%Input.ini
FilterOut=%GAME%Game.ini
FilterOut=%GAME%UI.ini
FilterOut=UnrealEd.int
FilterOut=Editor.int
FilterOut=EditorTips.int
FilterOut=UnrealScriptTest.int
FilterOut=WinDrv.int
FilterOut=XWindow.int

[MemoryPools]
FLightPrimitiveInteractionInitialBlockSize=512
FModShadowPrimitiveInteractionInitialBlockSize=512

[SystemSettings]
; NOTE THAT ANY ITEMS IN THIS SECTION WILL AFFECT ALL PLATFORMS!!!
StaticDecals=True
DynamicDecals=True
DynamicLights=True
DynamicShadows=True
LightEnvironmentShadows=True
CompositeDynamicLights=False
DirectionalLightmaps=True
MotionBlur=false
DepthOfField=True
AmbientOcclusion=True
Bloom=True
QualityBloom=True
Distortion=True
DropParticleDistortion=False
SpeedTreeLeaves=True
SpeedTreeFronds=True
OnlyStreamInTextures=False
LensFlares=True
FogVolumes=True
FloatingPointRenderTargets=True
Trilinear=False
OneFrameThreadLag=True
UseVsync=False
UpscaleScreenPercentage=True
Fullscreen=False
AllowD3D10=False
EnableHighPolyChars=False
SkeletalMeshLODBias=0
ParticleLODBias=0
DetailMode=2
ShadowFilterQualityBias=0
MaxAnisotropy=4
MaxMultisamples=1
MinShadowResolution=32
MaxShadowResolution=512
ResX=800
ResY=600
ScreenPercentage=100.000000
SceneCaptureStreamingMultiplier=1.000000
FoliageDrawRadiusMultiplier=1.000000
ShadowTexelsPerPixel=2.000000
TEXTUREGROUP_World=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLODSize=4096,L ODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_WorldNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLODSi ze=4096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_WorldSpecular=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLODSiz e=4096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_Character=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLODSize=40 96,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_CharacterNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1,MaxL ODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_CharacterSpecular=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLO DSize=4096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_Weapon=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLODSize=4096, LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_WeaponNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLODS ize=4096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_WeaponSpecular=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLODSi ze=4096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_Vehicle=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLODSize=4096 ,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_VehicleNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLOD Size=4096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_VehicleSpecular=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLODS ize=4096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_Cinematic=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLODSize=40 96,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_Effects=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLODSize=4096 ,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_Skybox=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLODSize=4096, LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_UI=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLODSize=4096,LODB ias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_LightAndShadowMap=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLO DSize=4096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_RenderTarget=(MinLODSize=1,MaxLODSize =4096,LODBias=0)

[nerex]

Thank you SO much, YGG-Shiro.
This worked wonders. Ironically, a bit after I got it to run again I got a message from steam support:

For anyone with the same problem, also running ME from steam, just run validate files and it should recreate the .ini if the .ini is deemed broken, if the settings just provide a black screen it won't do it, but if it outright causes an error it would've fixed it.

Of course the copy & pase default ini is much faster.
Thanks again everyone and thanks for the quick response!
~nnx

[YGG-Shiro]

Oh yeah, Steam will replace any broken files if you just verify them. I probably should have said that first!

If you get black screens in Steam games, just delete the folders containing the game's .ini files, and verify them again.

[Sibilante]

Sorry for the bump, but I've been having trouble with a phrase called "MyDocumentsSubDirName" in the DefaultEngine.ini file. A message comes up saying ME can't find it. Any idea how I can fix the problem? Thanks!

[Sibilante]

It's been a couple of days - anyone there? Thanks in advance for answering...

[Nadine]

Sorry I have been Ill for a few week. I dont see why people change there engine.ini file.

Best you could do is try and set it back to default.

[Sibilante]

Thanks for the reply, I guess. Told me nothing I didn't already know. Anyone have a solution to the problem (the mydocumentssubdirname problem specifically)?

Thanks,

-Max