Author Topic: What is up with the crashes?? (Read 967 times)

Brenjen · « **on:** April 28, 2006, 07:55:06 PM »

I have never had a problem with AH crashing & locking up until the recent move. Now I can't even play the *BLING-BLANGIN-HOSSINFEFFIN* thing. It's sort of irritating to pay for something you can't use. I cut my cable tv drop down into the street over something similar. I have talked to a few other people who are having the same trouble.

So what is going on Skuzzy? Was there a windows update or joystick driver released around the same time you guys did the move causing all these problems or was it the move itself? I could swear I didn't change anything on my PC ( I don't allow automatic updates etc. ) and these crashes only started happening to me the day of the move. I have even un-installed & re-installed AH with no luck.

I need someone more PC savvy than myself to toss some ideas my way before I have a brain aneurysm.

Meatwad · « **Reply #1 on:** April 28, 2006, 08:20:34 PM »

smooth as a baby's butt here

Brenjen · « **Reply #2 on:** April 28, 2006, 09:26:39 PM »

Meatwad, what OS do you use? What JS ( if any ) do you use? And did you log into the MA so you could play DURING the move? ( I did )

Anyone else that replies either with or without a problem if you could include this info it may help to narrow it down if I can find what we have in common or not in common for those with no problems. I'd like to solve this without giving Skuzzy more burdens than he already has.

Thanks folks.

Docc · « **Reply #3 on:** April 28, 2006, 10:00:56 PM »

I was on during the move when lag reached a new record in delays...up to 4 minutes between screen updates. No problems since other than less lag.

I use XP Home, old analog CH joystick with pedals, no firewall or antivirus (this computer is strictly for gaming), FA autostart. I run a defrag every month and a scandisk every week.

Intel 3.06P4
ATI X800 video
Soundblaster 128
1 G ram

I currently reside in Malaysia and the only problems I see with the game are problems with my net hops in LA and Dallas using pathping and tracert.

My guess due to you seeing that message ( AH has encountered a problem....) is that you have corrupted files or a stick programming problem (if you are using a stick that uses not-in-game software for functions. Run a good antivirus scan and delete and reinstall AH

Docc · « **Reply #4 on:** April 28, 2006, 10:14:33 PM »

Another thing....your OS may be confused or corrupted. I assume you are using XP. After a defrag followed by a scandisk, try reinstalling XP over your existing copy but when it asks you if you want to repair or install choose repair. Then visit Windows update and download all the critical updates. You won;t lose any data or files this way like you would by reformatting.

Brenjen · « **Reply #5 on:** April 28, 2006, 10:20:21 PM »

Quote

My guess due to you seeing that message ( AH has encountered a problem....) is that you have corrupted files or a stick programming problem (if you are using a stick that uses not-in-game software for functions. Run a good antivirus scan and delete and reinstall AH

Yeah Docc I'm thinking corrupted files or drivers too; but like I mentioned in the OP I already re-installed AH clean. It has crashed on me without my joystick profile loaded ( should I unplug it & try?? ) & I use ESET NOD32 so I know I'm virus free ( 99.99999% sure anyway ) I also use ad-aware regularly & defrag like clockwork as soon as I see a red line instead of blue. My net status is always steady as a rock too. I looked at the "event viewer" & it's full of error Application hung messages for AH since the day of the move...I just don't get it. I'll try un-plugging my X-52 & deleting the software ( I have used this stick with this PC since march trouble free ) I don't use this PC for much more than games & E-mail either; I probably get in the browser less than three hours a week & those times are regular sites like Newegg & E-bay.

Brenjen · « **Reply #6 on:** April 28, 2006, 10:22:38 PM »

I've been putting off a repair install of XP but I may have too.

Docc · « **Reply #7 on:** April 28, 2006, 10:30:31 PM »

I think you can eleiminate the move as the cause of your problems. you might just have some hardware in the process of going bad. If it is a bad sector on the HD a repair of XP will cure it and buy you some time to buy a new HD. That previously good and now bad sector might have XP files on it that AH uses.

The only website my game computer visits is the AH main arena...absolutely nothing else. This computer is not my game computer.

Meatwad · « **Reply #8 on:** April 28, 2006, 10:38:54 PM »

I run XP pro. During the move I didnt log in since I wasnt able to. But before and afterwards it is fine to me. Have you done any recent spyware/adware/virus scans lately?

EDIT - I seen you scan regulary. My guess is to do a format of the hard drive and reinstall XP. Always works for me when this computer gets hosed

Brenjen · « **Reply #9 on:** April 29, 2006, 12:22:21 AM »

This PC is basically new ( since march of this year ) so I doubt it's hardware; I ran western digitals hard drive tool when all this started & it gave my hard drive a clean bill of health. Since I don't run Windows updates & all my problems started when the move took place....I just can't reason what else it could be, I think windows freaked out for some reason over it. I just don't know, I did a repair install of XP ( I hate doing that ) & have AH running now with my X-52 plugged in & the profile running; I'm going to leave it on overnight & see what happens.

The Fugitive · « **Reply #10 on:** April 29, 2006, 10:20:12 AM »

I don't think your problems have anything to do with the move either. This most recent move ....office relocation.... only moved the servers that have the HT web page, score pages, this message board, and the loggin information. Once you log into the game, your on another totally different server that WASN'T moved. So if your crashing while in the game, your on the same server that you were on for the past few months, that one hasn't changed or moved.

I would do the "re-install" of windows that was suggested above and try for a "repair" before I did a re-formate.... hate reformating

takes all dang day to get it back together, and ya always forget to back something up!

I'd also check the processes you have running (CNTRL, ALT, DELETE), and make sure nothing was snuck in there eating your CPU cycles. Start the game, ALT, TAB out, bring up the processes window. AH should take 99% of your cycles.

Brenjen · « **Reply #11 on:** April 29, 2006, 10:53:37 AM »

Quote

would do the "re-install" of windows that was suggested above and try for a "repair"

As I noted in the previous post above yours, I already did that. I left AH running all night long & when I got up this morning it had crashed again...but the event viewer indicated it may have crashed only minutes before I checked on it.... I'm going to run it again today to test it further, if it will stay stable for eight hours that's an improvement.

I'm completely aware the game server was still connected; you can't inter-act with something that's not connected to the internet.

I was not of the impression I was riding inside a server in the back of a beat up pick-up truck with side boards while Skuzzy flirted with questionable women & drank Corona in the front seat.

( allthough that does sound like something I would do )

Oh B.T.W I check my processes regularly as well, Not counting the task manager itself; there's twenty processes like clockwork. I just find it so strange that no other program is having problems or showing the slightest sign of a glitch, just AH & it's ALWAYS just AH, it was the same with my other PC, AH buggy & everything else was fine.

Docc · « **Reply #12 on:** April 29, 2006, 11:16:54 AM »

Are you using the same downloaded copy of AH when you reinstall? I've had to download the game up to 3 times each update before I get a copy that works. Downloading the update only and installing it usually causes problems on my game copy so I download the whole game each update.

Brenjen · « **Reply #13 on:** April 29, 2006, 11:42:06 AM »

Interesting observation Docc. I downloaded fresh off the website & always do when I am forced to re-install AH; I don't have a CD or a saved copy on my PC. I wonder why you would need to D/L two or three times to get a solid install? Makes me think it's AH & not my PC or Windows even more than I already do.

*edit: I also disable my anti-virus prior to downloading & installing;)

Docc · « **Reply #14 on:** April 29, 2006, 11:52:29 AM »

It all depends how on whether or not you have packet loss while downloading. With the status of the net these days it's very easy to get an incomplete copy.