Shot in the dark -- Bad_Pool_Header

[E25280]

Taking a shot in the dark here . . .

Ever since the updates coinciding with the release of the Brewster and I-16 that were causing so many people trouble with video settings, I will get a BSOD when attempting to play another game off of a DVD format disk. (I played this game for months before without problem.) The BSOD says Bad_Pool_header, then says it could have something to do with new software settings regarding textures or shadowing.

The only updates that I know of to any texturing or shadowing features have been due to the AH updates.

The more obvious event of a hardware problem seems to be ruled out by the following factors:
1) My computer has two disk drives.  I get the same error regardless of which disk drive I try.
2) The disk drives continue to play all other disks just fine, both games and movie DVDs.  Only this one game causes the error.

The event of a damaged disk seems ruled out by the fact that I was able to install and play the game on my brother's computer without a problem.

So, the basic question is, could the AH video settings be "spilling over" and interfering with the other game?  If so, is there a way to change the video settings so that I can play the other game without FUBARing AH?

Probably a silly / basic question for many of you, but I fully admit to being completely compooter stoopid.

Thanks.

[Delirium]

So, the basic question is, could the AH video settings be "spilling over" and interfering with the other game?  If so, is there a way to change the video settings so that I can play the other game without FUBARing AH?

I don't know much about your problem, admittedly, but you could always change the video settings to a set definition instead of 'application controlled'. You would know instantly if video settings were 'spilling over' (which I have never heard of btw).

I know playing some older DirectX games prior to playing AH used to make AH go crazy but I haven't played anything that isn't set at DX9 as a baseline in a very long time.

[Skuzzy]

If a video card is left in an unknown state after quitting the game, it could be a number of things.  However, first to verify if that is the case.  After exiting the game, turn off the computer.  Start it up again, if the problem still exists, the game did not leave it in that state as powering off the computer would clear it.

If the problem does clear up, then please post a DXDIAG output.

[E25280]

Turning off the computer then starting again did nothing to fix the problem.  Putting in the disk from a fresh start up still caused the BSOD.

The one thing I realized I hadn't done (duh) was to try to uninstall the other game and reinstall it.  So this morning, I uninstalled the game, and my computer did not crash when I reinstalled it.  It now appears to be working normally.

I guess my stooopididy isn't limited to computers . . . Sorry for wasting your time.

[Delirium]

Out of curiosity, what game was it?

[E25280]

Out of curiosity, what game was it?

Oblivion by Bethesda Softworks.

[E25280]

Although apparently, I was too quick to call the problem solved.

Right after making the last post, I noticed the disk was sitting on the top of the desk.  I asked the wife if she took it out since I hadn't remembered doing it last night.  She said she had to because every start-up she tried earlier today gave her a BSOD.

Since it worked yesterday, I tried uninstalling the game, then putting the disk in -- unlike yesterday, it does not bring up the install screen, it gives me a BSOD instead.  Tried several times, both drives, same result.

Any further suggestions as to what to try?

[Chalenge]

This can be caused by bad CDs (or DVDs) bad drivers for your CD/DVD driver and/or a power supply that is about to give up the ghost.

[E25280]

For what it's worth:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 10/5/2009, 19:12:23
       Machine name: D486Q251
   Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
       System Model: Dimension 8300               
               BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A05
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 1534MB RAM
          Page File: 358MB used, 2565MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 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 6800 GT
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 6800 GT
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0045&SUBSYS_96601462&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 256.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (85Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9371 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 10/22/2006 12:22:00, 4527488 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: n/a
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 10/22/2006 12:22:00, 3994624 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4305-11CF-4953-6AB600C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0045
        SubSys ID: 0x96601462
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
 Deinterlace Caps: {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: 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
                   {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: 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
                   {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: 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
                   {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: 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
------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
      Drive: C:
 Free Space: 111.4 GB
Total Space: 152.5 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: WDC WD1600JD-75HBB0

      Drive: D:
      Model: SAMSUNG DVD-ROM SD-616E
     Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.5512 (English), 4/13/2008 13:40:46, 62976 bytes

      Drive: E:
      Model: _NEC DVD+RW ND-2100AD
     Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.5512 (English), 4/13/2008 13:40:46, 62976 bytes

Video Compressors:
WMVideo Encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,,
WMVideo8 Encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,,
MSScreen encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,,
WMVideo8 Encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,,
WMVideo9 Encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,,
MSScreen 9 encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,,
DV Video Encoder,0x00200000,0,0,qdv.dll,6.05.2600.5512
Indeo® video 5.10 Compression Filter,0x00100000,1,1,ir50_32.dll,5.2562.0015.0055
MainConcept (Sonic) MPEG Video Encoder,0x00200000,1,1,sonicmcevmpeg.ax,1.00.0000.0014
MJPEG Compressor,0x00200000,0,0,quartz.dll,6.05.2600.5822
Cinepak Codec by Radius,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.5512
Intel 4:2:0 Video V2.50,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.5512
Intel Indeo(R) Video R3.2,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.5512
Intel Indeo® Video 4.5,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.5512
Indeo® video 5.10,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.5512
Intel IYUV codec,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.5512
Microsoft H.261 Video Codec,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.5512
Microsoft H.263 Video Codec,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.5512
Microsoft RLE,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.5512
Microsoft Video 1,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.5512