Aces High Bulletin Board
Help and Support Forums => Technical Support => Topic started by: Urchin on January 13, 2002, 07:31:42 PM
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Why the HELL does AH keep locking up on me? I've exhausted EVERYTHING I know, and I still can't find a solution.
I have a T-bird 900 with 256 MB of 133 Mhz ram. I have a 32 MB Geforce 2 video card (more on that later). I HAD a onboard soundcard that I thought may be causing the problem (it wasn't), now I have a Soundblaster Audigy sound card. I am using Win98 2nd edition.
My NIC, video and sound card are all on seperate IRQ's, with nothing else on them. I have the latest sound and video card drivers (not that it seems to matter, more on that later).
The problem SEEMS to be video related, at least I think. With the older 12.41 drivers, I get some minor 'freezes' that last a couple seconds, then the game plays normally. The game seems to lock up about once an hour with these drivers. With the later 21.xx drivers and 23.xx drivers, I get no minor freezes. However, the game seems to lock up more frequently, perhaps every 45 minutes. These times are rough estimates, I locked up 3 times within 5 minutes earlier tonight (lockup, reboot, start AH, lockup, reboot, start AH, lockup, reboot, say the HELL with AH).
I don't know WHY it locks up like this. I've pretty much eliminated the following.
Heat- Sure, I guess it COULD be heat, but then my computer would be locking up all the time. It doesn't. It locks up when I play AH. That is the ONLY time it locks up. I have probably 100 other games (not that I play them all regularly). I play Everquest and the new Wolfenstein on a fairly regular basis... NO lockups whatsoever. It also doesn't lock up when I am just surfing the Internet (which I have had happen before on a different computer that WAS overheating).
Bad memory- Again... it COULD be bad memory, but why would it be AH specific in that case? I had a stick of bad memory in this computer once, it locked up within 10 minutes of booting up, no matter WHAT I was doing.
Soundcard/Sound card drivers- Locked up with my old sound card, locks up with my new one... I think this eliminates that as a cause. Also doesn't lock up with anything else...
IRQs- well, I set up my NIC, video, and sound cards on seperate IRQs, so I don't think it is this either.
Background progs- Nothing else running. Well, that isn't quite true. I have the Saitek software running, which I need to use my joystick, and I have the new Soundblaster software running, which I need running to change the volume (which couldn't be causing the problem anyway). I sometimes have Roger Wilco running, which causes longer lockups (5 seconds or so) if it can't find a channel. Game locks up regardless of whether RW is running or not.
Anything else anyone can think of? I can't think of anything, and I am getting SERIOUSLY pissed off over this. Any help would be appreciated. I have 14 disco's in 10:45 hours. 11 in flight and 3 in the tower. ALL of them were lockups. Make that 15 discos. And 16 and 17.... something is SERIOUSLY wrong with either AH in general, or the baltic map in particular... where I've had SIX whoopee lockups in the space of a whoopee HOUR.
This is a HARD lockup also, cntrl-alt-del doesn't do a THING except make my computer go "beep beep beeep", which is coming out of the computer speaker, not my headphones.
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bump......................... ........
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I'd updating DX to 8.1 and reloading your video card drivers to begin with. There is a bug with nVidia drivers I've noticed, playing an OpenGL game (RT Castle Wolfenstein is open GL) and then launching a Direct X game (Aces High is one) without rebooting will result in blue screens.
If RTCW doesn't cause lockups, I'd rule out heat as well. Do any of your other games use a joystick? If AH is the only one, the joystick software could be to blame.
Another likely culprit is a corrupted .res terrain file. (Since you say the baltic locks up a lot.) You can safely remove these from your AH terrains folder and it will redownload them when you log in. This would be a good thing to try.
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I've got DX8.1, video drivers were installed after it. I *think* that it may be a corrupted terrain file, but it doesn't lock up ALL the time. I tried it again and flew in Baltic for about an hour without locking up last night.
Oh, and I get no blue screens, just hard lockups.
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Sounds like it may be your "cpu to agp" controller driver. IF you install the VIA 4-1 drivers w98 may not update the correct file and you may have to manually do it.
http://www.viahardware.com
Hope this helps.
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OK, I may have found a problem that I didn't look for the first time. My NIC and something called "Via Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller" are on the same IRQ. Could this be causing my computer to lock up while playing AH? It is the only game I use a joystick with, so that may be why nothing else locks up the computer.
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I'm having a very similar problem which is like your except my system CTDs a LOT now (new system) I noticed my GeForce 3 and thos PCI to USB thingys are on IRQ11 this could be causing the problem considering I have a USB keyboard, mouse and jostick.
How would I move these things to another IRQ?
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gf3 should have its own irq so should sblive
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try reinstalling DX8.1 AFTER video card drivers.
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I dont use my comm port so I took IRQ 3 and assigned that to a card. I also do not use a printer so I took that one as well (IRQ 4 I think?).
It might still be a memory problem. AH uses alot of RAM and it might only show up when stressed. I had bad RAM that caused lock-ups in anthor game but never bothered AH. I replaced it w/a Stick from Crucial and never had a problem since.
xBAT
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You can try setting the defaults in your bios. Also you may try to reseat all of your hardware and cables. If they are not sitting right that could cause the issue.
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Here's my IRQ report
Still getting lock ups/CTDs i'm getting really tired of this
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IRQ CONFLICTS/SHARING
IRQ 4 VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 4 VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 4 VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 5 Creative SB Audigy
IRQ 5 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
IRQ 11 NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200
IRQ 11 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
IRQ 12 NDC 10/100 Fast Ethernet PCI Adapter(MX-A)[MX987x5]
IRQ 12 PCI OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
IRQ 12 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
IRQ 14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
IRQ 14 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller
IRQ 15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
IRQ 15 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller
IRQs
0 System timer
1 (free)
2 Programmable interrupt controller
4 VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
4 VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
4 VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
4 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
5 Creative SB Audigy
5 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
7 Printer Port (LPT1)
8 System CMOS/real time clock
9 SCI IRQ used by ACPI bus
10 MPU-401 Compatible
11 NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200
11 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
12 NDC 10/100 Fast Ethernet PCI Adapter(MX-A)[MX987x5]
12 PCI OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
12 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
13 Numeric data processor
14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
14 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller
15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
15 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller
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Just curiouse but why do you have your keyboard, mouse and joystick on usb? Have you tried it without the usb and plugging into the ps2 and gameports?
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Originally posted by Aurelius
Just curiouse but why do you have your keyboard, mouse and joystick on usb? Have you tried it without the usb and plugging into the ps2 and gameports?
i'm using the same keyboard, mouse, joystick setup as my old computer (and it didn't give me problems then). My keyboard hs a PS/2 option for it, my joystick is usb or gameport but it works better USB and my mouse is USB only
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Have you checked to make sure that the connections on all of hte usb are tight and not loose. If the old system worked just fine then look at some of the differences between the two. Software wise and Hardware wise. Have you unchecked everything in msconfig so there is no programs running in the background. Also what are your system resources at? They should be at least 88% or higher. Your report looks fine.
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I did fry a CPU originally when i built this system and had to get a new CPU, could it be possible I damaged the motherboard and it is causing these problems?
I also noticed that all the games i'm having problems in are Direct3D games
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Yes. Either the vid card itself the port or yes the motherboard herself. How did the CPU get fried on the first goround?
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Originally posted by Aurelius
Yes. Either the vid card itself the port or yes the motherboard herself. How did the CPU get fried on the first goround?
The Heatsink became detached (wasn't secured COMPLETLY)
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Oh it's locking up too.
My friend says if i go into BIOS and upp the voltage a bit it should help.
I'm running a 300Watt (or volt or whatever they use to measure) Power supply BTW
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Soviet if you have SB live in your system, I'd get rid of acpi - my box just wouldnt run with acpi enabled.
Urchin: if AH is the only game that uses joystick, I'd reckommend trying another game with your stick to see if the lockups repeat. If they do then its probably the saitek software..
Soviet: You can move things to different irq's by plugging them to another PCI slot - if you have ACPI disabled. If its enabled, acpi will remap your irq's and pretty much mess everything up. SB live is known for its picky nature on irq's. It doesn't like to share..
SB live is also known to cause big problems with motherboards that have the amd760 + via686B combination chipset.. I had one of those (KG7) and after fighting with it for a month I returned it and changed it to this KT266A board.. I've been very happy with this board and it's rock stable with the exception of via service pack 4.36 which messed my W2k up. 4.37a works great though.
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well i just upped the vcore voltage and i'm getting A LOT less crashing and lock ups. My friend said his falcon 4 kept locking up (this was a while ago he just built a new system and all he played was falcon 4) he then upped the vcore voltage after a suggestion and it went away. Guess the equipment is power hungry or something
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Go into the bios and disable the serial, paraelle ports, comm ports. If your GF3 card is apg change the sequence form pci/agp to agp/pci.
Waht kind of MB do you have?
May try installing the via 4-1 drivers???
http://www.viahardware.com
:)
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Originally posted by SpyCatcher
Go into the bios and disable the serial, paraelle ports, comm ports. If your GF3 card is apg change the sequence form pci/agp to agp/pci.
Waht kind of MB do you have?
May try installing the via 4-1 drivers???
http://www.viahardware.com
:)
I have a Shuttle Ak31 (rev 3.1) Kt-266A mobo
yes i tried the 4-1 drivers, so far the power thing is seeming to work hope it stays that way
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Soviet you shouldn't have to raise any voltage unless you're overclocking your computer. If it doesn't run at default voltage there's a good chance it will die on you any day in the future.
I'd return it.
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Originally posted by mrsid2
Soviet you shouldn't have to raise any voltage unless you're overclocking your computer. If it doesn't run at default voltage there's a good chance it will die on you any day in the future.
I'd return it.
The Mobo or the Graphics card?
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CPU.
Even the geforce shouldn't require any additional voltage..
I've heard this issue also before with certain motherboards.. If you recently bought this mobo I suggest you switch it to a kt266a board which will run stable. Once unstable -> always a pain in the ass. This is what I've learned from experience :)
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The CPU wasn't the one i fried, i returned that, this one is good.
I have a Shuttle Ak31 (rev 3.1) Kt-266A mobo btw with 4 in 1 drivers
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OH MY GOD it's still up to it's crashing please god tell me what to do, i can stil return the parts everything except the CPU. I'm really about to go crazy over this please tell me what to do
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Its real hard to tell since you had the fry. Some of the other hardware could have been affected to the point it iwll work but now give you problems. Have you tried wiping your os?I know this is annoying but its the last thing to do before looking at the returning the hardware.
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I had a problem with lockups with ny nvidia mx200 64 meg vid card. Resolved it by lowering the AGP aperature in my bios. Just my 2 cents.
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I've decided to just say screw it and return it if it's not stable i don't want it. I'll go back to the old workhorse :) until I can afford to buy one from Dell or something
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I would at least wipe it, reinstall the drivers, AH and NO other software. If you still get problems then you are looking at hardware. But I know how frustrating it can be. Just ask the clock on my wall that used to be a motherboard!!!!
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Originally posted by Aurelius
I would at least wipe it, reinstall the drivers, AH and NO other software. If you still get problems then you are looking at hardware. But I know how frustrating it can be. Just ask the clock on my wall that used to be a motherboard!!!!
Ok i'll try reinstalling windows and everything, if it still occurs i'm returning everything (cause I have to get a RMA before the 20th)
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I'm not sure if this could help,it has helped me before tho :)
goto
start/settings/control panel/sounds n multimedia/audio/advanced/performance..and turn the hardware accel slider down 2 notches,it doesn't affect your sound much and it solved ALL my crashing probs :)
Steely
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Well, here are some more things that the problem ISN'T.
AGP Aperture size- Went all the way up to 128, all the way down to 8. Locked up anyway.
AGP 4x Mode- Locked up on and off.
Saitek Software- Updated the software to version 3.0, locked up.
4in1 drivers- downloaded the latest ones, locked up.
Oh, and I'm now up to 22 in-flight disco's (lockups) in a cool 20:32.
This doesn't count the 5 or 6 times it has locked up while I was in the tower.
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Bloom:
I get that blue screen you mentioned right after I shut down my internet browser and fire up AH. I have checked my system resources after being online and note that with everything else off and nothing running in the background, my resources are down to 87% (down from 94% when I first boot my PC).
I have a GeForce 2 Ti vid card 933 mhz P-III 381 MB Ram
I have overclocked the vid card by 10% and it is stable. But, I have nothing going on like what Urchin describes.
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Im sure its mentioned in here somewhere but have you tried to go to the archive sight for nvida and use an older set of drivers?
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Two more things it isnt-
DirectX- Downloaded and installed (or reinstalled I should say) DX 8.1 from Microsoft.com. Locked up still.
Sound card IRQ- Moved the sound card to a different PCI slot, it is no longer on the same IRQ as the USB controller. Locked up still.
Oh, Aurelius, yes. I have tried the 7.78s (which cause insane stuttering on my system and it stills locks up), 12.41 (which runs the best on my system, no stutters at all, but it still locks up, 21.81 (I think) with these I get little quarter to half second lockups every couple minutes, and it still locks up, and 23. something (whatever the latest drivers are), which do little lockups like the 21's do and yes, still lock up.
I think I've utterly and completely eliminated video card drivers as the source of the lockup.
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Didya try the sound accelaration thingie? :)
it doesn't sound like much but i had nothing but crashes after 1.08,the patches released by HTC at the time helped but the only thing that solved it for me was sound acceleration.
Give it a go,at least eliminate it :)
Steely
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AM tryin the sound acceleration thing now.. dropping it 2 notches left me with a horrible static noise, so I'll try dropping it one.
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Well, the sound acceleration prooved somewhat odd. I dropped it two notches and got HORRIBLE static. I upped it a notch and played offline for about 90 minutes with no problems.
I went online with the sound acceleration set to 3 notches and did not lock up once over the course of 90 minutes or so. Instead, I just CTD'd about 6 times. I'm trading one thing I don't want for another. I guess my options are either lock up every 10 minutes, CTD every 10 minutes, or play AH and have constant loud static blaring through my earphones instead of what should be there.
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Remove sound blaster software,install sound drivers ONLY!,u do not need all that other crud,try through speakers not headphones,fiddle sound accel,i think we narrowing it down :0
PS if all else fails,get a Gametheater :)
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Well, now AH has stopped working completely. Online or offline, it locks up hard within a minute of starting it up. I've put sound acceleration back up and down with no effects. All of my other games are working COMPLETELY FINE....
Uninstalled AH, then downloaded a 'fresh copy' and installed it, it still locked up within a minute of starting it up.
I am completely positive that it isnt heat, because I got a desk fan and it is blowing into the open side of my computer now.
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Did u remove all the cruddy liveware software and install drivers only? :)
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no, but I don't see how that would be affecting AH at all, to be honest.
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Have you considered a reformat and reinstall of your entire system. I know it can be a PITA but sometimes it's the easiest way to fix a problem like your having. If you do this just reinstall windows, hardware drivers and AH and try it. If it locks like this then I would suspect something hardware related. If AH runs ok like this then add back your other programs one at a time untill you have a problem or perhaps everything will be fine. Sometimes when installing or uninstalling other programs your system gets corrupted and causes problems for unrelated programs.
DES
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I may do that, as a last resort. I hate reformatting the drive because as it stands now, my computer is working. AH is not working. If I reformat the drive, I may get to the point where niether my computer nor AH is working.
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Originally posted by Urchin
I may do that, as a last resort. I hate reformatting the drive because as it stands now, my computer is working. AH is not working. If I reformat the drive, I may get to the point where niether my computer nor AH is working.
Urchin, for the last week or 2 AH ahs been doing the samething
to me, lockup hard and have to reboot to get out. i bought new video card thinking it might have been that, it wasnt i still get the locks. nothing has changed in my system for about 2 months, xcept the new video card and that was after this started.
there is no 2 things that happen to make it lock, its totally
random when it happens. i uninstalled AH, defragged, and installed Ah fresh , same result. its like something on the server
side is causing it, cause there are serveral people this has started
happening to in AH lately. i can go almost whole day with no locks
or like now ive had 6 in last 2 hours.
whels
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Well, it started online only, but now it locks up offline as well. Doesn't seem to do it nearly as often, but it didn't ever used to lock up at all. Still it is good to know that it isnt just me that has been having a lot of trouble with it lately. That kinda makes me hope that it is something about AH that changed to cause it (which can be changed BACK I hope). I've been averaging a lockup every 35-40 minutes or so, and I didn't have any for the first week and a half or so of this tour. So I think that really means I'm averaging a lockup every 10-15 minutes (which dovetails with my real average if I were to get on and play).
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Well, I don't know what it is, but I have a pretty fair idea of what it isnt. There is just about no way in hell this is a problem with my computer. EVERY OTHER GAME I HAVE WORKS JUST FINE (BTW, I've got about 100 other games, so this is no idle comment). This problem started about a week and a half, two weeks ago maybe. Up until then I had NO problems with lockups or disconnects. Check my stats tour every other tour, I've NEVER had MORE disconnects than I've had HOURS PLAYED!
This is friggin ABSURD. I am a proponent of the "something has to have changed to change the behaviour of this program" school. NOTHING changed on my end. That leaves either a change in the software (and I don't believe HTC had any D/L's available lately), or in the hardware on HTC's end. No, I've got no idea how something screwy on that end could make me CTD or lockup, but I CANNOT find a problem of ANY KIND on my computer. I've changed video settings, RAM settings, sound settings (SOUND CARDS!), updated drivers for EVERYTHING, got the new Via 4 in 1's. It isnt heat buildup, there is nothing wrong with my RAM (or my video card, or my CPU, or anything else as far as I can determine).
Sure, I can buy it is a hardware failure of some kind. What I CAN'T buy is that it is some sort of Aces High specific hardware failure. That doesn't make ANY sense to me at all. The EXACT same hardware works fine one week, and doesn't work at ALL the next week? Furthermore, that exact same hardware has always worked fine with every other game, and continues to do so. Hardware failure? I don't think so.
Heat? How? EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS FINE. I've got a whoopee desk fan blowing into the side of my computer now, if my video card was overheating I think it would be overheating when I was doing something OTHER than playing AH. Hell, the new Wolfenstein has WAY better graphics than AH does, I can't believe that AH would make it overheat if it can pump out Wolfenstein graphics for hours on end.
I'm baffled, fed up, and really really pissed off. I just don't understand why ONE whoopee game wont work NOW, when it has worked FINE for almost a whoopee year.
Well, I almost feel better now. If anyone can think of anything that hasnt been mentioned yet, feel free to post it.
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I also have been getting lock-ups starting about a week ago. Things have been running fine up until then. The screen freezes and the keyboard locks up. It happens about every 2nd or 3rd flight. The framerate seems to drop, then it just pauses.
I uploaded the new version of CashMan a few weeks ago, and I have been using the "Games" profile for about the last week. Tonight I reset my profile settings to what I had before upgrading Cashman and it seemed to have stopped the lock-ups. I get short graphics pauses now and then, but no lock-ups.
Gunner
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Urchin i have
900 Tbird
abit KA7A-RAID via based mobo(latest 44in137v(a) and new bios)
512MB 133 Mhz mem (running 100MHz)
Hercules prophet GF2 MX 32mb (driver no. 4.12.01.0752 (Detonator 7.52)
Soundblaster Live! 1024 (4.06.00.0624)
Win98SE
40GB 100UDMA HD (hotrod ata controller latest)
saitek cyborg 3d usb (drivers with starup disc but NO software)
very similar to you i think?
heres a list Id go through:
if every ither game works then its AH specific whether its driver conflict or software related so you do the simple thing:
what did you change at around the time it started locking behaviour? if you can remember REMOVE it all and sweep registry of anything that has its name :)
a newest sound driver? new video card? new windows essentials update? the via 4in1 driver update? if they changed something for the worse remove them again.
whatever it was try to remember the old driver numbers.
if you cant remember or forgot Id first do this:(after a scandisc or defrag)
Unintstall AH completely (save your preferences views etc)
Uninstall Soundblaster drivers and software packages
go to registry and remove all AH or soundblaster stuff you can find(BE CAREFULL PLEASE :))
remove video card drivers too (see website for info on how to do it PROPERLY and fully. (my guess is an old driver may be your problem, you can get resistry sweep programmes for GF2 stuff i think)Uninstall saitek software (not drivers)
switch off...
remove your sound card and try a new pci slot.(recommend 3 or 4 slot)
remove your memory and replace carefully and make sure its fully bedded in
restart comp..
instal YOUR OLDEST(within reason) CERTIFIED drivers for your video card..restart, instal Directx8.1a,restart....everything fine? restart again and then...
instal soundblaster DRIVERS ONLY not the full live! stuff.....
restart, install directx8.1,RESTART(cannot emphasise enough the times a fresh restart can help avoid strange conflict problems when installing multiple drivers )(often it needs 2 to get everything working fully)
chk everything is ok (ie IRQs conflict free etc)
all ok?......
install latest via 4in137v(a) drivers.....restart
chk a few games..ok?. restart the BUGGER :)
INSTALL OUR BABY aces high :)
(make sure your settings are all ok then check out as many graphic intensive games you can see if you get stutter when certain affects are present? ie smoke, lens flares etc? if they all ok play AH online.....(offline is not the place to test really)
everything good?........... (if not start trying even older drivers than 12.XX)(I use 7.52 detonators!!!! they work fine with AH so i havent bothered to change them but remember do the change in drivers properly and clean off old crap :))
good luck mate
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Sorry if I missed it... but you do have an up-to-date virus scanning system right?
Also, how do you connect to the Internet? Have you tried removing your network card if you have one and running offline? I've had lots of strange problems from a bad NIC.
You've tried the 4-in-1's, tried the 7.78 nVidia's... etc. Just one question... if you use the 7.78's, does the problem still manifest exactly the same? I know it gives you stuttering or something, but if changing drivers modifies the bad behaviour you are seeing, that would suggest the problem lies in the video sub-system.
This could be a hardware problem, even though other games work fine. It's not likely, but it's possible.
I think I'd try the video driver route again, and after that start removing cards one at a time. Failing that, a clean install of the OS might be in order. I know everything else works.... but I'm just trying to come up with ideas for you. This one is very odd.
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No, with the 7.78s the problem still came the same way. I just got stuttering too lol. I *think* I fixed it. I had D/L'ed the updated soundblaster Audigy software instead of the driver. I d/l'ed the driver and installed it, and I've only locked up once so far. I'm hoping and praying that one was a fluke, I've gotten in about 4 hours so far with only that one lockup (which is about 10 times better than it was doing).
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Damn.. no I didn't fix it.
Just got 3 lockups, all in a row.
I went out and bought a new stick of ram and a new video card, just so I could eliminate those as causes. They were not the cause of the lockups. I ran a full scan with a new copy of Norton Antivirus 2002, I have no viruses on the computer. It looks like I have no choice but to reformat the drive and start over.
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Well, it still isnt working. I changed out my RAM and video card, it still locks up.
New video card is a Geforce 2 titanium 64 Mb card.
I've tried the following drivers with it and it still hardlocks within anywhere from 45 minutes to 45 seconds. 23.11,22.50,22.40,21.83,21.81,12.41,7.92.
I'm reformatting the HDD now and reinstalling windows. Wish me luck.
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Start with the 7.78 drivers first. You don't want to go backwards with the driver versions, it can cause some problems. Forget the stuttering and such, just troubleshoot the crash bug for now. You might even want to use the 7.58's to start. Other issues aside, those drivers have been the most absolute rock-stable Detonators I've every used. Put them on and don't screw with it until you have tried EVERYTHING else. Then start stepping up version by version with WHQL certified Dets. But again, start with the lowest most stable ones, and step up slowly from there as a last resort. I'd be sure to put your AGP apature size to 128 as well with that card, but I don't think it will be the cause of your problem. Make sure that after you get Windows installed and running, you do the VIA 4-in-1's and then go to windowsupdate.microsoft.com and do every update you can find. Do them all, including DX8 before you even bother to install AH. Also use the Audigy drivers that you get from MS, as they seem to be later versions than the ones on Creative's sites (or so I'm told).
This sounds more and more like a strange hardware problem to me, but we'll see I guess. Unfortunately if it's not RAM or video, we're left with sound and.... mainboard. Inspect your mainboard very very carefully for problems. Look for discolored or bulged capacitors, or anything else that doesn't look perfect on the board. Take some time and go over it with a magnifying glass, especially the capacitors (small cans mounted vertically) and make sure everything looks fine in there. I've had some buddies lately who's boards have fried a few capacitors that started doing strange toejam.
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And you still use your joystick only for aces high?
Maybe your stick is the reason behind the crashes.
Try borrowing another stick from a friend and see if it crashes your box too.
Btw Soviet: Shuttle is more or less notorious for their product quality / reliability even though the KT266A version did get good reviews. If I were you I'd change it for Abit, MSI or Epox. From which Epox is the king in speed.
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Reformatted the HDD, installed Windows, DX8.0, drivers, and AH (and Civ3). Ah works perfectly now.
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I'm glad to hear it,repost in a week and let us know how you are going :)
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I had the same problem 1 year ago, I tried everything (meaning everything).
this kept on for about 2 or 3 months while trying to figure out the problem.
I could also play other games than AH and had no problems there.
So i bought a new video card and boom the problem went away ?
guess my video card didnt like AH lol.
the videocard i changed was a hercules 3dprhophet gforce2 32mb card, and I got a gainward gforce2 ultra card instead.
No change in the other hardware, so my problem musta been the videocard somhow.
airguard