Author Topic: pc locking up in Aces High (Read 846 times)

cp52 · « **on:** January 03, 2002, 02:15:00 PM »

Often, when I switch views (use hat switch) my pc locks up to a black screen and I have to restart. Doesn't do it all the time, for instance I flew for over 3 hours on New Years Day but now can't go over 5-10 minutes. Does this offline and on-line.
Have used DirectX 8, 8.1 and 7 with no noticeable difference. Used both 12.41 and 21.83 non-detonator WHQL Nvidia drivers for video. Have tried F1, F2 and F3 views- frame rate is fine.
pc info:
Dell Optiplex GX1 with Pentium III- 450 mhz.
384 mb RAM. NVIDIA TNT2 video card with 32 mb RAM.
Hard drive has 5 gig free out of 12 gig. Scanned, defrag'd recently.
Roadrunner cable modem connection.
Help!!!!! Thanks.

Eagler · « **Reply #1 on:** January 03, 2002, 03:34:00 PM »

make sure you don't have an irq conflict, maybe your NIC card and sound ...

also you may want to try an older video driver. the 7.68 is a good one to start with.

good luck

cp52 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 03, 2002, 04:57:00 PM »

Not pc knowledgeable- can someone look at these and see if I have a conflict?
00- system timer
01- keyboard
02- programmable interrupt controller
03- Com 2
04- Com 1
05- Crystal PnP Audio System CODEC
06- floppy disk controller
07- ECP printer port- LPT1
08- System CMOS real time clock
09- NVIDIA RIVA TNT Model 64 (TNT2 video card)(PCI card)
09- IRQ holder for PCI steering
10- doesn't show
11- Ethernet NIC
11- Intel PCI to USB Universal host controller
11- IRQ holder for PCI steering (repeat of 9?)
12- pc2 mouse port
13- numeric data processor
14- Intel PCI bus IDE controller
14- primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
15- Intel PCI bus IDE controller
15- secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
Thanks!

[ 01-03-2002: Message edited by: cp52 ]

bloom25 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 03, 2002, 05:44:00 PM »

The IRQ holder for PCI steering is only a placeholder, it isn't actually a device. That's not a problem.

You only have one potential conflict, and that's between your NIC card and USB controller. If you use a USB joystick and/or mouse than this could be an issue. If you do, does the problem occur offline as well? (If you can disconnect your internet service during the test that would be even better.) If the problem is online only a conflict could be causing your problem. Updating your NIC drivers could potentially fix it, as could moving the NIC to IRQ 10, which appears to be free.

Given that list I'd say the problem lies elsewhere. Since your screen turns black (which isn't normal) I'd say your video card *may* be overheating. AH certainly would push your system to the limits with that TNT2 M64 card. It sounds funny, but trying playing AH with the side of the case off and a fan blowing into the case. This will help cool the system down and determine if heat may be the problem.

kbman · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2002, 03:35:00 AM »

I think the problem is those later Detonators on that old card. I would definitely remove all your vid drivers and reinstall the 7.78s which are fast and stable on TNT IIs. I would also really try to get that NIC on IRQ 10 if possible, but that takes a good bit of fooling around. Remember to go to standard VGA driver and then purge the registry of old drivers before loading new ones.And bloom is right about that card...it's an M64 and can probably barely run the game on that system even when well tweaked.Good luck.

kbman

Lephturn · « **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2002, 07:20:00 AM »

I think KBMan's on the right track.

If you are on Win 9x, you want the 7.78 drivers for that card, and nothing else. Trust me, I've been through them all with the TNT2 chipset.

If you are on Win2k you want the 7.58's.

I'd bet you dollars to doughnuts that's the problem. Those later detonators are just not designed for the TnT2 level chipsets.

Eagler · « **Reply #6 on:** January 04, 2002, 10:45:00 AM »

yes

use the 7.78's and try to give each device it's own IRQ

cp52 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 04, 2002, 01:57:00 PM »

Installed 7.78 drivers for my Win98SE. Rebooted a couple of times. Tried again and lasted less than 3 minutes in AH before black screen. Noticed that my cable modem acted like it still had a connection. Have always had sound but cannot affect black screen or sound using USB joystick (Saitek x36) or keyboard keys. Does that sound like the video card?

Eagler · « **Reply #8 on:** January 04, 2002, 03:08:00 PM »

Try playing offline with the NIC card pulled out

If that works try installing the NIC card in different slot to change it's IRQ

If it doesn't work can you take the sound card out or disable it and try again.

It a trial and error process at this point.

If its heat issue, try it with case open and fan blowing on your motherboard to see if it changes anything..

cp52 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 04, 2002, 06:36:00 PM »

Well, I'm up in caveman graphics (640 x 480- like the cavemen's pc's). Its better than nothing. After the last post I tried that and it works. Will keep messing with things. Thanks for all of the Help!!!

cp52 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2002, 07:36:00 AM »

I was up for a few hours then the same thing again. Never had these problems before the last patch but I must be the only one. Not sure if I can play this game, will look at other flight sims to see if they will work.

214thCavalier · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2002, 09:37:00 AM »

OK personally i think it could be the X36 causing your problems.
I say this because in the past i suffered exactly the same symptoms and many discos because of it.
Have you setup a profile for AH or downloaded one ?
My symptoms were it could be 10 mins or 2 hours before a problem but when it occured it was always when using a hat switch and usually whilst moving the stick as well.
PC would totally crash or even reboot, eventually i decided to alter the programming of the profile, timing values and experimenting with different ways of achieving the desired command.
Of course if you have not programmed a profile or DL one to use with AH then its probably not gonna be this

Anyway in the command editor for hat views in the section "press" you want the lower case button of choice, in the "repeat" section leave it blank and in the "release" section you want the upper case part of the command only, timing for all will be zero.
I realise it may not be the fault or cure for you but it sure cured it for me, so has to be worth checking it.

Blindman · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2002, 03:35:00 PM »

I have same vid card in my old dell rts400 (also did it on my new AMD sys when that card was in there), i find my system will lock up if i have roger wilco running (only started when 1.08 came out)

might disable RW and see if that cures the problem

cp52 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2002, 07:52:00 PM »

Thank you for suggestions!
Tech support also suggested X36 software was the problem. (BTW, have not installed RW so I can rule 1 thing out.)
Killed AH, Nuked Saitek stick & uninstalled software, scanned & defragged hard drive. Reinstalled AH and tried to use a different stick- Logitech Wingman Extreme USB and Windows recognizes it, it checks out fine there. AH shows it but when I select it and take off offline- AH acts like I'm still flying using the mouse? Same thing was happening on the Saitek at the end, AH wouldn't use the joystick selected. No Saitek software installed, Saitek not plugged in.
I may have messed this up beyond all fixing?
Eagler- am afraid to mess with the NIC card. I'm not too good with pc's and don't want to screw up my Roadrunner connection.
Ditto with sound card. If I can ever get the joystick to work will try fan!
Have no clue as to how to change IRQ's.

[ 01-07-2002: Message edited by: cp52 ]

214thCavalier · « **Reply #14 on:** January 08, 2002, 03:50:00 AM »

Have you gone into AH setup and told it to use your replacement joystick ?