Ultimate fixes/troubleshooting guide for Dark Souls PC

A comprehensive guide of Dark Souls' bugs, fixes and workarounds is available here: http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Dark_Souls:_Prepare_to_Die_Edition

It includes a large number of fixes including:
Durante high resolution patch
ATI/AMD performance
network settings
controller fixes

If you discover a new fix, please add it in, no account required.

I will have to give this a read. Thanks for the post.

This doesn't solve my issue.

vyktar wrote:This doesn't solve my issue.

Well that's a shame.

Could you tell us what your issue is?


Also check to see if it is mentioned in the PC resources thread if you haven't already.

Nice to see my GFWL Live fix is moving around to other Dark Souls PC players

I'm having a lot of trouble getting the game to run on my computer. I'm wondering what exactly is going on, if anyone can help me. Once I'm actually in the game, it's running at something like 10-15FPS, and it is incredibly difficult to play.

I doubt it has anything to do with my laptop itself, considering the specs on it are pretty high.

I'm running on 6GB of Ram, Geforce GT 640M with 2GB dedicated VRAM, and Intel Core i7-3610Qm Processor. I'm running windows 7 home premium 64 bit. I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong, or the game isn't using my nvidia graphics card, and is stuck using the integrated card.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hey you still on? I could probably help you with that easily.

Revan, there is a thread you are needed in, a man keeps getting force signed out of the game. This mission, should you choose to accept it...

EDIT: Why did I post this in a thread instead of sending you a PM.

Haha yeah just got back on was going through a lot of threads.

Accepted. *Something in background self-destructs*(Don't want my computer too )

IKOUP: Just PM me or leave me a post here when you get back or something an I'll help you out.



Guess I shouldn't double post....

Okay so firstly the easiest way to start it with your preferred option is just right click on the shortcut/application and choose 'Run with Graphics proccesssor' then choose the Nvidia one.

This will just run it with that for this time only. But do that and check if it fixes your FPS issue. If it does I'll show you how to make that automatic for Dark Souls.

If not... Then I'll try something else

I can't find the option to open with the nvidia graphics card. :/ Right clicking it isn't opening any options to run it with the graphics card, that I can see.

Is there a live chat that I can get going with you? It would probably be significantly easier haha.

Got skype?

Yes sir, I'm gonna send you my name via inbox.

Smart move, never keep your Skype info out in the open on a forum.

When I launch the game through steam it takes several minutes for it to actually run. I'm stuck with a black screen in a window that's not answering, although I hear the Windows Live sounds going on behind it as my profile is logged in and whatnot. When it's done the game runs absolutely perfect without issues.

Got any idea what's taking so long for the game to start?

Maybe someone should buy me the game on steam, make it eaiser to fix all these problems

Hahaha, anyway.... Well as it's still working for you that's great even if it does take ages to start.

- Are you using Nvidia control panel settings? If so try to disable any that are overriding the default game settings.

- Try disabling Vsync.

- If there is a start-up section ie Logos and cutscene etc. Try see if you can disable it via game settings or .ini modifications.

- Oh and try playing in your monitor's native resolution if you aren't already.

Ummm that's what I can think of atm, let me know if anything works.

Thank you, Revan, I somehow got it to boot much faster than before. I don't really know what I did, I changed some settings around in the nVidia control panel (disabling vSync, for one), but that didn't have any effect. At first, anyway.

A couple of tries later and it boots up in just a matter of seconds, even after I've shut down and restarted the computer. I then flicked all of the settings back to how they were before, and it still works just as well.

I don't know what happened, but I'm glad it did. Perhaps it's one of those problems where it helps just to talk about it. Thank you.

Montante wrote:Thank you, Revan, I somehow got it to boot much faster than before. I don't really know what I did, I changed some settings around in the nVidia control panel (disabling vSync, for one), but that didn't have any effect. At first, anyway.

A couple of tries later and it boots up in just a matter of seconds, even after I've shut down and restarted the computer. I then flicked all of the settings back to how they were before, and it still works just as well.

I don't know what happened, but I'm glad it did. Perhaps it's one of those problems where it helps just to talk about it. Thank you.

No problem, glad to be of help.
If you get any other problems, you know who to talk to

I downloaded a cracked version for a try, liked the game and actually bought it. Now goes the funny part - for some reason I can run a cracked version like no problem, but running the legit one is not possible. I tried to start it with Steam, and get just 2 processes running - DARK SOULS.EXE (0% CPU time) and DATA.EXE (25% CPU time sharp). It woun't even show any window. Just 2 processes stuck.
Any ideas how to fix this stuff? Waiting 15 minutes already... No progress.

Kinda hard to know without much information.

What operating System are you using?
Are you using any of the mods for the game, such as the resolution one?

- Check to see if Steam is trying to update it?

- Try run it as an administrator.

- Try disable(or put into a gaming mode) your anti-virus and then launching the game.

Anti-virus was blocking it. Disabled - and it roxx like hell
Thanks for the tip!

No problem. Glad to help 8)

hi guys, i have a little problem,
the game will slow down after 1 or 2 hours of playing, the only way is to restart my pc.
i guess its because of poor memory allocation, is there any way to fix this? something like a external program?
i have 3 gig ram, ati 5400, using dsfix and dsmfix mods. and using 1024* 728 resolution (the game didn't start at 800 * 600 :p), playing offline.
thanks in advance .

Hi Omega!
Hope you run MS Windows XP/7?
Give it a try checking the size of your Page File. You can check it rightclicking on My Computer -> Properties -> Advanced tab -> Performance section Settings button.
Navigate to Advanced tab and take a look at the Virtual Memory section. Recommended size of paging file for your case would be 4500MB. If it is less - feel free to change it to a bigger one (not more than 6000MB is recommended). Don't forget to press "Set" button after changing the file size, so it applies. Then reboot and another run to check if game still slows down.



P.S. Please note that page file will occupy space on your hard drive, meaning that you need to have enough free space to let the trick work.

hmm i swear i posted my answer but somehow something goes wrong i think :S

thanks veradox, but i already have maximum page file (4095 mB) i squeezed all i could from my pc
hmm then i guess its the end huh, i must live with it .
thanks anyway