Well, I recently acquired Q3, and when I came home and wanted to play, I got this rather annoying error:

Q3 1.11 win-x86 Nov 24 1999
----- FS_Startup -----
Current search path:
E:\Quake III Arena\baseq3\pak0.pk3 (3539 files)
E:\Quake III Arena/baseq3

----------------------
execing default.cfg
execing q3config.cfg
couldn't exec autoexec.cfg
...detecting CPU, found Intel Pentium III

------- Input Initialization -------
Initializing DirectInput...
Couldn't set DI coop level
Falling back to Win32 mouse support...
Joystick is not active.
------------------------------------
----- Client Initialization -----
----- Initializing Renderer ----
-------------------------------
----- Client Initialization Complete -----
--- Common Initialization Complete ---
Winsock Initialized
Opening IP socket: localhost:27960
Hostname: exs_net
IP: (I took this out. You ain't finding my IP :P)
Working directory: E:\Quake III Arena
Couldn't write q3config.cfg.
----- R_Init -----
Initializing OpenGL subsystem
...initializing QGL
...calling LoadLibrary( 'C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\opengl32.dll' ): succeeded
...setting mode 4: 800 600 FS
...using colorsbits of 32
...calling CDS: ok
...registered window class
...created window@0,0 (800x600)
Initializing OpenGL driver
...getting DC: succeeded
...GLW_ChoosePFD( 32, 24, 0 )
...23 PFDs found
...GLW_ChoosePFD failed
...GLW_ChoosePFD( 16, 24, 0 )
...23 PFDs found
...GLW_ChoosePFD failed
...failed to find an appropriate PIXELFORMAT
...restoring display settings
...WARNING: could not set the given mode (4)
...setting mode 4: 800 600 FS
...using colorsbits of 16
...calling CDS: ok
...created window@0,0 (800x600)
Initializing OpenGL driver
...getting DC: succeeded
...GLW_ChoosePFD( 16, 24, 0 )
...23 PFDs found
...GLW_ChoosePFD failed
...GLW_ChoosePFD( 16, 24, 0 )
...23 PFDs found
...GLW_ChoosePFD failed
...failed to find an appropriate PIXELFORMAT
...restoring display settings
...WARNING: could not set the given mode (3)
...shutting down QGL
...unloading OpenGL DLL
...assuming '3dfxvgl' is a standalone driver
...initializing QGL
...WARNING: missing Glide installation, assuming no 3Dfx available
...shutting down QGL
----- CL_Shutdown -----
RE_Shutdown( 1 )
-----------------------
GLW_StartOpenGL() - could not load OpenGL subsystem



Anyway, as you can see in the last bit, it's having a spaz because I don't have a 3Dfx card; but I've seen Quake III running on nVIDIA cards before, so I know there must be a way.

My current card is a nVIDIA Riva TNT2 Model 64 32MB: nothing special, I know, but it should handle Q3A alright.

Any help would be appreciated :)

Welp, if the problem is getting it to detect your 3d card, then I'd have to say that either the card is defective or that you need to update the drivers on it. Either way though, I'd suggest getting rid of the TNT2 and upgrading to a shiny Geforce 2. They're quite cheap now that the Geforce 3 is out, but are still one of the best top end 3d cards out. Try and find one that's around $100 bucks or less. Oh, and the difference between all the Geforce 2 cards out there is really just the free games you get with em' ;p. All of them run at exactly the same speed, it just matters what drivers ya got on em'.

On the other hand, you could return Q3 and get UT which is a better game anyway, and has a much higher compatibility rate! At least IMO :D Err, yeah, I'll shut up now.

Neither of which is an option, as I'm flat broke, so has anyone got any free software help? :p

ExS, I had almost the same problem, just update Quake 3 Arena to a newer version, it should work fine.

I did man but i just sold it like half hr ago or i could have givin it to u if u need ne thing just ask me or Send me a PM n i will see what i can do