trying to cure screen freeze

[Hurricane]

Ive been away from AH2 for a few months now due to pc trouble but have managed to rectify most of them at last.  However there is one final problem to overcome. 
 
Aces high (and other games too) tend to freeze: it doesnt seem to make a difference how busy the game is (how many planes near by etc ) and it can happen in the 1st ten seconds before you take off or after half an hour of combat! The only solution at the mo is a full reboot.  and try again:

Ive replaced the graphics card several times (currently geforce6200, not brilliant i know but should be ok), reinstalled the games over and over again, checked the drivers, increased the available memory (1534ram available) tried every possible combination of settings for graphics and video! 

During another attempt to download ah2, I was rereading the processer requirement amd think I stumbled on the problem: AH2 needs 1ghz, I got 3.2ghz, it needs pentium4...I got celeron d, the cheep version. Could this be why just as the game gets interestin it freezes?  I cant think of anythin else it could be. Any suggestions?

[BaldEagl]

Not sure this will do it but try turning sound acceleration down to 3/4 in dxdiag and make sure anti-aliasing is turned down in your video card set-up.

[Hurricane]

Cheers, that did actually make it smoother running!  but it still froze up 2 mins after take off!

[fuzeman]

Look for any power saving settings. This is usually a laptop problem as they go overboard on saving those batteries but a desktop might have it set to save energy and be greener too.

When you changed video card did yo make sure to clean out any old remnants from earlier installations before you loaded the next one?

If you can post the top 1/3rd of your DxDiag report it may show somehting that our resident gurus notice.

EDIT- to see if it maybe resource related you can try lowering your texture size and see if that reduces or warms up the freezes.

[Hurricane]

ok ill try that



by directx report u mean this little lot?
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 4/22/2008, 00:20:37
       Machine name: YOUR-83235A9FD2
   Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: DIXONSXP
       System Model: Ei 313
               BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) D CPU 3.20GHz
             Memory: 1534MB RAM
          Page File: 303MB used, 3381MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 6200  
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 6200
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0221&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 128.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (16 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: SyncMaster 177N/710N,SyncMaster Magic CX711N
  Monitor Max Res: 1280,1024
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0011.6906 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 11/7/2007 07:00:00, 5770880 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 11/7/2007 07:00:00, 7429088 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4161-11CF-4A79-0B2000C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0221
        SubSys ID: 0x00000000
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Realtek AC97 Audio
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_0CF0105B&REV_60
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
         Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5900 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 12/15/2007 12:54:00, 3644800 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Standard
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 26, 25
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 26, 25
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: Realtek AC97 Audio
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
         Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5900 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 12/15/2007 12:54:00, 3644800 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x41
           Format Flags: 0xFFF

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
        DLS Path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\GM.DLS
     DLS Version: 1.00.0016.0002
    Acceleration: n/a
           Ports: Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
                  Realtek AC97 Audio, Software (Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal
                  Microsoft MIDI Mapper [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
                  Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
        Registry: OK
     Test Result: Not run

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
      Device Name: Mouse
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Keyboard
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: USB, Wireless Joystick
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x0583, 0x626F
        FF Driver: n/a

Poll w/ Interrupt: No
         Registry: OK

-----------
USB Devices
-----------
+ USB Root Hub
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x1106, 0x3038
| Matching Device ID: usb\root_hub
| Service: usbhub
| Driver: usbhub.sys, 8/4/2004 20:00:00, 57600 bytes
| Driver: usbd.sys, 8/4/2004 20:00:00, 4736 bytes

[Hurricane]

EDIT- to see if it maybe resource related you can try lowering your texture size and see if that reduces or warms up the freezes.

Just tried this, and if you recall a few moments ago in the TA a hurricane under the name of Jingo1 crash for no apparent reason whilst trying to get on your tail, which suggests it didnt work 

[fuzeman]

I do remember Jingo crashing. I'm not an expert on the Dx report so I'll let the onew who know comment. Good luck.

[Skuzzy]

The 6200 is a very, very low end video card/chip.  You really need to minimize resources in the game for it to have a chance.  Also the Celeron CPU is highly restrictive in performance as well when compared to a Pentium or Core2 CPU.

In the game's "Video Settings", set the "Maximum Texture Size" to 256.  Set the game resolution to 1024x768.  In the game itself, go to the Options->Graphic Details and check all the options that have the word "Disable" in them and move the detail slider more towards performance.

Next, you will need to make sure your background processes in Windows are under control.  See http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,71591.0.html near the bottom for more details about this.

[Wobbly]

I see you have onboard sound - take some of the load off the processor by buying a sound card

[Hurricane]

cheers guys, tried as much of that as i can, but it still freezes though it seems to run smoother and faster now (uptill it freezes of course!)

Just culling the number of processes running from 34 to somethin a bit more managable.

[Hurricane]

Ok So Ive taken all advice except the sound card (due to lack of cash!) and though the running of the game has improved and i can now get into the air for a few mins (long enuf to land a couple of kills even!) It still freezes inside of ten mins.

It seems more reluctant to do so tho, I can now hear things...like gunfire, vox messages, my plane crashing... but the image is still frozen.

Just a thought, would overclocking the processor by a smidgen help? Or is there something else I can try short of buying a new machine!

[BaldEagl]

Not exactly free but you might try adding a little RAM.  Not sure that will help but it won't cost a lot to try.

[Skuzzy]

If RAM is an issue, he has other problems.  1.5GB is plenty for the game in a properly configure Windows XP system.  Although it does sound like resource issues occurring.

[fuzeman]

I guess I'm kind of lucky with my system, it's definately low end.
I have an AMD athlon 2500+, ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, only 512Mb of ram, onboard sound, and onboard ethernet for cable and don't seem to have many problems running Aces High. I do use FS_autostart to clean it up before playing usually.
In my roughly 6.5 years of playing Aces High I've only loaded the game once, on my old 98se machine. Dr John at KickAss Gear loaded it up for me on this rig.
[ Hope I didn't just jinx myself. ]

[Hurricane]

I've just checked my BIOS and apparently my processor is running at 41c/107f.....this seems a little hot, could this by why im having problems?