Newbie Needs Console Help!!!

Taoraven · Post by **Taoraven** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:44 am

I just recently purchased Morrowind, as well as a new computer. As far as I can tell, I have no compatibility issues, nor installation Issues. However, I cannot access the console window from my game. Is there a command line I need to start the game with in order to enable it? If so, can anyone give me a little help on how to do said action? I have read throughout this forum, and haven't had any luck finding anything.
No, my keyboard is not international.
Yes, I have uninstalled and re-installed multiple times now.

My Computer:
Pentium D 3.0 Ghz
1 GB RAM
Nvidia GeForce 6800
SoundBlaster X-Fi Series
Windows XP Media Center Edition

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:04 pm

You just need to hit the tilde (~) key. That brings it up. Hitting the ~ key again closes it.

Taoraven · Post by **Taoraven** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:11 pm

No Such Luck

Ummm.... that's what the problem is! I have hit the ~ key multiple times. I have hit it as `, I have hit it as ~, I have hit just about every key on the keyboard and it won't come up. I have saved my character, uninstalled and re-installed the software, all to the same conclusion that something is wrong with my game! So, my question is again, is there something I have to do to enable it first, because the ~ key doesn't work, and my keyboard is not international. I appreciate any help on this!
A

Lestat · Post by **Lestat** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:22 pm

If you have a French or Belgian keyboard, I think it's the ² key.
On a normal (external) keyboard, it's the key underneath the Escape key (left of 1), on a laptop keyboard, if there is no key to the left of 1, I think it's usually the key left of the spacebar (between alt & spacebar).

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:18 pm

Taoraven, did you hit SHIFT before hitting the ~ key? Because the key has to be in the shifted position to get the console. Otherwise, it's the ` key.

Loredweller · Post by **Loredweller** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 4:27 am

fable wrote:Taoraven, did you hit SHIFT before hitting the ~ key? Because the key has to be in the shifted position to get the console. Otherwise, it's the ` key.

It's always worked for me without any Shift, though.
There's something from Official Bethesda FAQ, mayhap it could help?

Bethesda Softworks FAQ wrote: FAQs

MORROWIND : WINDOWS XP : RESOLUTION 15400
Q: How do I access the console in the game?
A: To access the console in the game, press the ~ (tilde) key on the keyboard. For a complete list fo the console commands, type help in the console NOTE: The Tilde key should be to the left of the 1 key on the top row. If you are in the UK, and have your keyboard configured for the UK, the key is not going to be the same. To get to the console, press the ` (grave accent) key top left of keyboard, instead of the ~ (tilde) key. (That's where the tilde is on a US keyboard).

Taoraven · Post by **Taoraven** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 12:36 pm

A Little More Help!

Ok... I thank you all for your input. However, I know my way around a computer, and I certainly know how to read. I have tried all keys on the keyboard, as well as trying them with the SHIFT key. I had done this before posting my original thread. As I said before- it is not an international keybaord! I thank you all for your help, but you are suggesting things that I have tried NUMEROUS times before deciding to post. That is why I came here! I don't know if maybe the .ini file is missing a thread or not, but if someone out there actually knows what is going on here, please help. Do not bother if all you are going to tell me is to hit shift, or `, or ~, or tell me I have an international keyboard. I do know how to edit the .ini file, but I have no clue as to what the thread would be, or if it is even there. Like I said, I have tried the obvious... please don't reply telling me to try it again. I do know that i have one of the newest edition of windows xp. Maybe there's a complication there? Thank you again!
A

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 12:54 pm

People here are generally helpful, and in this case they were only trying to troubleshoot. It's like when you go to the doctor, you'll be asked a lot of questions, and possibly subjected to tests, just to rule some things out.

So... no need to get all heated...

Now, I don't know if this applies, but what type of keyboard do you have? I'm not talking about whether or not it is international, I'm asking you how technologically advanced it is. For example, if it is not simply plug-in and play, but actually came with an installation disc, chances are that you need to programme your keyboard to respond to certain keyboard commands. When I bought my Logitech keyboard a couple of years ago, I could not initially use the console or any other standard keyboard commands. I had to programme my computer and keyboard to do so. I wish I could help you further with this, but I don't recall what I did exactly.

Taoraven · Post by **Taoraven** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 1:37 pm

Keyboard?

Ok.... My keyboard is the one that came with my new dell computer. It is part of a wireless package(w/ mouse) with media center controls. It did come with an installation disc, but I did not have to install the drivers, they were preinstalled. I don't know if this helps, but the `, or ~ key works in all other programs I have tried(Word, Notepad, etc.) So, I am stuck. I will try putting the installation disc in when I get home, but I don't see how that would affect the game if the key works on all other programs.
A
Sorry to get so heated earlier, guess you guys didn't know that I am not computer illiterate.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 3:18 pm

On the very slimmest off-chance, is there a line in your Morrowind.ini file that says something to the effect of "Cheats=0"? I've never heard of this before, and my INI file doesn't have it, but it does appear in some other games. If it's present, try changing it to Cheats=1.

Taoraven · Post by **Taoraven** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 3:28 pm

Morrowind.ini

I haven't seen that line in the .ini file. In fact, there's no line in the .ini file that specifically lists cheats. Should there be one? If it should be, where would I place it in the file? Thanx
A

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 3:46 pm

[QUOTE=Taoraven]I haven't seen that line in the .ini file. In fact, there's no line in the .ini file that specifically lists cheats. Should there be one? If it should be, where would I place it in the file? Thanx
A[/QUOTE]

No, there shouldn't be--I thought I made point clear, in my last post. But I want to rule out any possibility, however vague, that might be causing you problems. That's so you can actually play and use the console, too.

Have you got any other program running in the background that could be assigning another value to ~? When you're not in Morrowind and hit the ~ key, does it bring up another program's screen?

Taoraven · Post by **Taoraven** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 4:04 pm

~ Key

Nope... when I'm playing I make sure nothing else is running. And unless the ~ key has been assigned to something before I bought the computer, then it currently is not. However, I have been to another couple morrowind sites looking at mods and .ini files. I happened to notice someone's "tweaked" .ini file. In looking thru it, I noticed that the part of the file labeled [MenuStates] is about twice as long as it is in my .ini file. I wasn't sure if they had tweaked this too, but I have copied and pasted the file to notepad, and will try running the game under it to see if it changes anything. Hopefully this will allow me to use the console, without changing the game completely. From what I can tell, the new file only deals with FPS changes, Level up messages, and the look of the sky...? Probably some other minor changes too.... but nowhere did it say it had done anything to change the menus. We shall see. Thanx again everyone for their help.... sorry I was a little "snippy" earlier, but its frustrating when you're told to fix something, you have to try something you've already tried a dozen times before... with the same results. But, then again- you did not know that!
A

Taoraven · Post by **Taoraven** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 12:00 pm

Still No Luck!

Well, I still have had no luck, no matter what I have tried, in bringing up the console window. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling the keyboard drivers and software. I'm still in the english(US) style, and no such luck. I have tried different .ini files- still no luck. I have tried every key on the keyboard, both normally and with the shift key, and still can't bring it up. Has anyone ever encountered a problem like this before? I thought maybe it had something to do with the .ini file, but it is apparently not that. Oh well, I guess I'm not supposed to use it then. Let me know if anyone comes up with a new idea on what is wrong! Thanks,
A

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 12:14 pm

This is certainly strange. I'm going to move the thread to the Tech forum, and leave a redirect. That should get you two forums' responses for the price of one.

Taoraven · Post by **Taoraven** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 12:29 pm

Baffled

Thanks, fable. Maybe someone out there has encountered this problem before. Its all new to me. Like I said, I'm fairly new to the game.... but it would be nice to be able to use the console like the instructions said. I've tried everything... and it just doesn't come up!
A

Loredweller · Post by **Loredweller** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 12:00 pm

The Last Hope

Try ask (you may have to register here to post, IIRC, but it's free) in either Morrowind Cheats, Hints, and Spoilers forum or Hardware and Software Issues (both are The Elder Scrolls forums) There is also Search facility though not very good.

Loredweller · Post by **Loredweller** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 12:09 pm

Oh, and by the way. Have you tried to add US locale and keyboard to your configuration and reloaded to it (setting US location as the default one) when going to play?

Taoraven · Post by **Taoraven** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 9:27 am

US Keyboard

Yup... tried that a couple of times. I didn't realize there were three styles of US Keyboards. Anyway, neither of them work. I'm thinking I might just have a screwed up game, although there is nothing wrong with the actual gameplay or construction set.

puja21 · Post by **puja21** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 1:01 am

problem might be wireless MC keyboard

I came across this board through a search engine, after having the same exact problem with other games.

Although I don't play this particular game, I have also lost the tilde functionality in all my fullscreen games. For example: in "Far Cry," I cannot access the console. I know enough to have tried all the solutions above.
I have also seen this in the game "Mafia" and several others, all of which utilize the tilde to enter cheats similiarly. None of the bulletin boards for those games could give me a solution, but when I needed to get in my bios the other day, I remembered something that may solve the problem.

I should also note that my keyboard is also a wireless media center keyboard (MS brand). It has its drivers imbedded in the Windows MC Rollup 2 and interacts w/ the computer using the MC remote's IR receiver.

I had installed the same games on both of my laptops and the consules for each functioned correctly with the tilde key. I think the problem must have to do w/ the nature of an IR keyboard that is specifically designed for MC.... this is b/c, upon trying (unsuccessfully) to access my bios during startup, I remembered having had the same trouble with "extraneous" keys (the function keys, the on-board mouse pointer, tilde) not functioning during startup in the past... When I thought about it: I have never been able to access safemode or the bios edit screen using this keyboard because those keys are unresponsive until Windows has completed booting.

I WAS able to do so using an old USB keyboard. However, I don't have that keyboard anymore. I had only used it to install the OS when I built this system back in December. At the time, I just assumed all keys would function normally always- after I installed the OS & the drivers for the wireless MC keyboard, but I never even thought to try it...

I am going to try a cheap USB keyboard once again to see if that is a solution, but if you have one and can confirm this in the meantime- do so & post back.