lockups

[turt21]

GAme gets to Loading Terrain then locks.

[Skuzzy]

Your computer may be running out of resources.  Note the amount of available OS memory in the DXDIAG output.  Right at 3GB.  This is the result of running a 32 bit OS as it cannot address more than 4GB of physical RAM at a time.

If you have a lot of background processes (should be around 30 to 34 when at the Windows 7 desktop) then resources can get depleted quickly.

Different terrains will require different levels of resources.

[Bizman]

Dang! I took a look at the report and only noticed that the hardware is pretty decent but didn't notice the OS being 32 bit! For Windows 7 it's somewhat of a rarity at least for what I've seen.

Turt21, to get the most out of your hardware the only cure is to reinstall Windows as the 64 bit version. It will wipe everything off so copying your personal files to an external disk is essential before doing that.

Another potential issue is your video card. Using that you'll have to minimize all eye candy for smooth gameplay and you'll still have issues. That used to be a good card but Father Time is a merciless bastard.

[turt21]

Is it possible to install the 64bit version over the present install or does it require a reformat. Everything is backed up

[Skuzzy]

You are pretty much going to have to do a clean install to change from the 32 bit version to the 64 bit version.  Everything, at the OS level, is different.

BEFORE you proceed, be sure to gather up all the 64 bit drivers for the peripherals (sound card, video card, motherboard chipset drivers and so on...) in your computer.  It will make things a bit easier.

[Bizman]

You'll find the most important drivers on your motherboard support site by the exact model. Chipset first, then LAN and video card. The rest can be downloaded after you've got the new installation up and running in case you forget something.

Also before starting the reinstalling procedure check that you have your Windows license at hand! If you can't find the sticker, there's plenty of programs that can reveal the currently used license code. The same code is used both for 32 and 64 bit versions. You'll need the code for downloading the 64 bit installation package at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7