AH locking up

[Sh00ter]

Ok here's the deal...... I tried to play AH the other day and all of a sudden my system started locking up. When I tried to go in game I would get to the tower then it would freeze forcing me to do a manual shut down. (press the power button and hold it).

I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the game, but no joy. I tried newer drivers and no good, older drivers same thing. I downloaded the game again and no good.
So I did a format of my system. Took Windows XP out and tried it with Win 98 SE and the same thing. Re-installed Win XP and no good either. Did another format, installed Win 98 again.
I'm runnin the 30.xx series drivers for my GeForce3 card (so no conflicts with drivers optimized for the FX cards), a SB Audigy sound card, and a fresh install of AH.

When I try to play off-line I get an "invalid model number" error. I tried to up a plane and it crashed my system. I tried it on-line and still I lock up in the tower after about 3 seconds or so.

I have also turned down hardware acceleration in my video settings and Direct X 9.0b for sound.

Any ideas??

(I also have run multiple virus scans and come up clean)

HELP!!!

[Skuzzy]

Could you send me your DXDIAG output?

[Roscoroo]

(I also have run multiple virus scans and come up clean)


that doesnt mean that you dont have a bug nessesarily.
it could be a hardware problem too (but doubtful)

are you getting errors CTDs ect in other games ,programs ???

[Sh00ter]

Roscoroo I just lock up when I try to play a graphics intensive game. Other than that everything works fine. I tried to play Jedi Academy and the same thing..after a couple of minutes in game it locks up.
I'm wondering if my video card is about to croak. It IS a first gen GeForce 3 after all. :-)

(Edit: kause I kaint spel)

[humble]

Hmmmm....

It sounds to me like you've got voltage issues of some kind...

It could be your video card but I'd bet either your motherboard or power supply is going...both will cause your system to lock up or CTD under high loads. I've run into issues exactly like your describing on older workstations I've grabbed from business for other uses once we upgrade em. Unless you have a really good "6 strata" MB it'll go after 3-5 years of use.

I just had to swap out PS on wife's system...this is my old AW3/AH bta rig with P3 500 and sdram and geforce video card...went wacky...has a good board so swapped out power supply from other old box...runs prefectly again.

[Sh00ter]

You may be right Humble. I have already ran into a problem with power supply before. Actually 3 times...course I found out it was because my system was sitting on the carpet and developing a static charge and then releasing it through the case and killin the power supply. I moved my tower to my desk top and have had no problem since. But any time I've had problems with my power supply it just up and dies.
My MB is a gigabyte ga7vrx and my power supply is...I forget. But I know it's a 400 watt supply.
CRAP this is getting aggravating. :-) I'm in computer hell and my pc is the dude with the pitch fork. :-(
I'm sure Bill Gates is behind this. He's the anti-christ.  hehehehe

[zmeg]

Sounds to me live your vidio fan deid.

[Roscoroo]

thats what i was starting to think ... a hot video card or weak power supply.my old p-3 w/ the giga bite me mb would lock and then die ... it was a bad mb on that one .

[Sh00ter]

OK folks here's something I just discovered.
I installed speed fan and I was looking at it when I noticed this:
On my power supply settings:
on my -12v setting it is actually reading -6.03V
on my -5v setting it is actually reading -2.64V
on my +5v setting it is reading 4.81v.

This is sitting on desk top. I ran Nortons to get the little animated globe in the corner of the Norton's window and my -12V dropped all the way down to -4.3V!! my -5V dropped to -1.9 V!
I think my power supply is croaking...am I correct in this assumption?

Thanks for all the help and tips!

[Roscoroo]

yeppers its the ps .