Screen freezes with Win 2k

[UncleBuck]

  I am getting continues system freezes when i reach the hanger area ofline.  My system is Celeron 500 128 Meg SD100, Riva TNT 32 meg, Soundblaster Live, all running on Wndows 2000 Pro.  Does anyone have any suggestions.  I have already tried turning off the triple buffer, my frame rate increased but I was still getting teh system freeze at the hanger and only at the hanger.  I also have a Sidewinder FFB Joy stick.  thanks in advance for the help.

               Uncle Buck
         AKA VTAS_VLAD, AOD_UncleBuck

[Ripsnort]

BUCK, do a forum search within and you'll see other win2k probs. addressed.

[Lephturn]

Be sure you have the latest sound and video drivers.  Hit Windows Update and make sure you have SP1 and all of the latest "compatability updates".

Also, I recall there was a patch out for Win2k on VIA chipsets... can't recall exactly.  Check on the sidewinder site, I think that's where I saw it.

------------------
Lephturn - Chief Trainer
A member of The Flying Pigs  http://www.flyingpigs.com


"My P-47 is a pretty good ship, she took a round coming 'cross the Channel last trip.
Just thinking 'bout my baby and lettin' her rip, always got me through so far."
 - Steve Earl

[UncleBuck]

  I think I found the problem.  Not enough ram.  Does anyone know how much RAM Aces high requires?  I am running Win 2k Pro with 128 meg.  I checked task monitor and it shows nearly 70 meg used on required services.  Is 50 Meg enough?

             Unclebuck
   AKA VTAS_VLAD, AOD_Unclebuck

[thufir]

Precisely the point I've been pondering.
What kind of processes do you have running?
Having Task manager running sucks resources as well, to be sure.
I wondered what your symptoms were compared to mine. If you would be so kind, check out the thread /Win2k frame rate unplayable/ in this same BB. I hope we can put our heads together and figure this out.
Cheers

[Lephturn]

Well, any 3D game will need a bunch of RAM to run properly.  The problem is that Win2k will suck up a LOT more RAM than 98 will.  Like double.

IMHO, 128 Megs of RAM is required just to run Win2k itself at decent speed.  I would want 256 Megs to play games on it.

------------------
Lephturn - Chief Trainer
A member of The Flying Pigs  http://www.flyingpigs.com


"My P-47 is a pretty good ship, she took a round coming 'cross the Channel last trip.
Just thinking 'bout my baby and lettin' her rip, always got me through so far."
 - Steve Earl

[UncleBuck]

That's the plan, I want to upgrade just hemming and hawing on the price of a couple 128 sticks.  I know when in doubt with NT of any kind add more ram.  I  shut down every process that it would allow, if it let me shut it off I did and I was still sucking up 70 Meg just in OS.  If I get the ram and it works I will definitely let you know.  How much Ram are you running Thufir?  I play, rarely anymore, Fighter Ace and since I went to Win 2k that gives sudden reboots and sys lockups.  I believe all of this is related to lack of Ram.

                 UncleBuck

[Dhog]

Uncle Buck,
FYI, check my post on other message about screen freezes; I run Win2k Server on 200Mhz PentPro w/128Meg RAM with no adverse affects. As I type this, AH is running in backround, getting approx 20-25fps... just went in and died once to test it. My task manager shows memory usage as 38k available with 27k in System Cache. My CPU usage is showing 100%, but doesn't seem to be slow responding. Keep in mind, I have several things running in backround including this session of Netscape.
I admit that frame rate drops to 10-15 fps while on the runway, but once airborne I'm at 20+ fps.

Dhog

[UncleBuck]

Well I bit the bullet and bought another 128 meg stick.  Should be here this weekend, so I will see if it helps.  I am using quite a bit more of my Sys mem, near 70Meg to run just Win 2k.  I will have to look at teh config again and maybe re-install the OS.

                   UncleBuck

[Buckwheat]

I play w2k with 64 megs only. N it runs just fine 60-74 fps. with 733mhz v5, I'm dual boot so games are on 10gig side of my disk by themselves under w2k (20gig balance of disk is w98) testing w2k before I convert my offices to it.

[This message has been edited by Buckwheat (edited 11-11-2000).]

[UncleBuck]

thanks Buckwheat.  I get FR in the 20's I can play but only for about 2 mins then it locks up.  I do not know what is going on.  I am now running 192 meg, so i am really at a loss.  I was going to install DirectX 8 tonight and see if it helped.  

                  UncleBuck

[Lephturn]

Be sure to grab Dirext X 8 for your Win2k box.  It gave me a marked improvement in speed on Win 2k.

Of course, it helps if you can get video drivers that support it as well.  Look for updated drivers to go with DX 8 from the manufacturer.

------------------
Lephturn - Chief Trainer
A member of The Flying Pigs  http://www.flyingpigs.com


"My P-47 is a pretty good ship, she took a round coming 'cross the Channel last trip.
Just thinking 'bout my baby and lettin' her rip, always got me through so far."
 - Steve Earl

[UncleBuck]

Will do , I tried updating everything from Soundblaster , and the 6.83 detonator drivers for win 2k for my Riva tnt 32.  Ill give it a try tonight I am getting antsy, getting tired of FA real fast.

                  UncleBuck

[UncleBuck]

Well that didn't work.  I am now out of ideas except to re install the entire system.  I have upgraded my RAM to 192 meg, I have removed all non-mandatory programs from running (services) Upgraded to DirectX8, and re-installed Aces high several times including eleting all and re downloading. All of this and i still cannot get it to work.  I can get in the game ut within a minute or so it locks up the entire CPU.  

 Specs:  Intel Celeron 400, Nvida Tnt ultra 32, Soundblaster live,192 meg of ram, Direct8X, SideWinder FFB, and thats it.

  If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

                UncleBuck

[Dhog]

Uncle Buck,
Be very careful about "deleting and reinstalling" programs in any Windows system but in particular in Win2K. Whatever you do, do not just delete the files or directories. Always use the uninstall option that comes with the program, or use the Control Panel's "Remove Programs" applet. You probably know this, but one of your comments made me think. If you have done such a thing, your registry may be just so much hash now. I would reinstall Win2K from scratch and follow the above rule religiously from then on.

My $0.02 worth

Good luck,
Dhog