Author Topic: What's causing Screen Freezes? (Read 260 times)

zipity · « **on:** July 16, 2002, 04:23:05 PM »

I thought about posting this under 'bug reports' but don't have a specific instance (more like 10-12 seperate instances) to refer to so thought it would be better here.

I'm hoping someone at HTC is collecting data and will soon tell us the cause of all these screen freezes. Is it a sound card, video card or system (cpu, memory) problem? In v1.09, my system (1.4 ghz-pIV, 256M mem, Geforce II - 64mb, 80+ GB drive, cable modem) didn't experience any freezes and only 1 or 2 discos. Since v1.10 has been released, I discoed a handfull of times but am experiencing screen freezes almost every night. The last freeze causing a non-refundable loss of 200 perks when my ME-262 froze up about 30 seconds after takeoff.

I don't really care about the loss of perks ( snif, snif

) but I am really missing the stable game environment. HT, I can't say enough good things about the work your guys are doing fixing bugs and getting new features out the door but I haven't heard or read anything regarding these freezes. Is it being investigated? Should we be looking at our systems to provide you with any additional info? Any acknoledgement of this problem would be greatly appreciated.

thanks.

poopster · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2002, 07:39:24 PM »

Zipity, you've probably explored this avenue but if not.. It "may" be a cawinkeedink with the new release. Heat causes the majority of screen freezes. Have you eliminated that possiblility ??

Some of the early Geforce 2 MX cards do not come with a fan. WB will cook one in less than 5 minutes like clockwork. If it does have a fan make sure it's working, make sure ALL the fans are working. If it doesn't have a fan, you need one. If it does and is working the easiest way to eliminate the possiblility of heat being the problem is to take the cover off the side of the box and turn on a portable fan blowing into the case and see if that eliminates the freeze.

Heat was the problem with my last rig. Eliminate that possible cause ( easy fix ) and move on to other things.

I'm the "fan man"

Six eighties, three hard drive fans with a case temperture of 75 degrees, Cpu 96..

But you have to yell over the noise

crowMAW · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2002, 09:47:06 PM »

I think it is a more common problem than can be accounted for by heat. My number of discos due to screen freezes and boots to desktop is up ten times what I experienced last tour. And I've experienced two screen freezes while practicing offline, so I know it is not internet related. My squaddies have also been reporting a lot more boots to desktop and screen freezes.

I do hope HTC recogizes that there is a problem and is working on a solution.

llbm_MOL · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2002, 09:57:48 PM »

I've had three lockups since 1.10. I never had any lockups with previous releases with my present PC. Its not heat. My new Antec case with bookoo fans in it say's it aint the heat. Also my cpu heat program say's I'm haveing cool runnings:)

I play allot so three lockups really doesn't bother me other than I lost the kills I had scored(6 on both sorties). It seems to happen when low to the water looking at some one I just shot down hitting the water, or when I am hitting the water(third lockup).

All three lockups froze my screen and caused me to reboot all three times.

I'm running a Xp1900 cpu, Asus q818b MB, SB Audigy soundcard, ATI Radeon 7200 64MB DDR. 512 sdram 133mgh front buss.

LLB OUT!@!!!!

BD · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2002, 10:06:03 PM »

I have also had about five freezes since 1.10 came out. My system hasn't changed at all, and neither has the weather.

I strongly suspect something to do with the update, but I haven't been able to identify any common element on screen or with the sounds.

poopster · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2002, 10:57:55 PM »

Quote

My new Antec case with bookoo fans in it say's it aint the heat.

Antec ROCKS

Pop the side cover once a week and vacuum

Skorpyon · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2002, 11:12:51 PM »

sorry, but it ain't the heat. Since 1.10 release, crashes to desktop have become routine. I've eliminated every other cause I can think of on my end, but I too have gone from hardly ever (practically never) disco'ing, to 4 times in a 10 minutes span. It varies from flying for 20 minutes, saddling up, and discoing, to discoing 3 times in a row from the tower while trying to find a fight. I can do any other graphic intensive game all day, with no probs, and AH used to be the same, but the new version is somehow not stable compared to previous versions. I've been around since beta, and this is the worst it has been that I can remember. From my standpoint, gripes about the map, etc., etc., etc., however valid, are nothing compared to this problem. I can't stay connected long enough to explore the varying fields, etc. enough to get to know the map, not to mention having any fun flying/fighting. I would like to hear if there are any "official" thoughts on what the problem might be, or if it is even considered a widespread enough problem that it is being addressed. HTC.. waddya say? Pleeeease give us a hint... the crack supply is tainted, and I'm going through withdrawals! Please tell me there is a light at the end of the tunnel (and I don't mean the freight train bearing down on my pathetic self).

Vortex · « **Reply #7 on:** July 17, 2002, 06:40:47 AM »

I came across a thread somewhere (Bug forum perhaps, I don't recall right now?) that suggested if you're using Mitsu's sounds that that might be the problem. This was more for the CTD's though rather than the freezes. If you're using that sound pack you might want to remove it and try with the original sound files, just to see what happens.

tshred · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2002, 06:49:09 AM »

Strange indeed. I used to have the crash bug lock up before the last patch. Never had a CTD.

But immediately after the last patch, the second sortie I had the screen freeze! Logged back in and promptly CTD'd. Had it happen a couple more times that night, but that was it. The next day everything was fine, no more crash/lock ups and not another CTD to this day. Very strange indeed. Can't explain why it only happened the first day of patch 2.

ts

gatso · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2002, 07:19:08 AM »

I was getting lock up/screen freezes every 30 mins or less after 1.10 came out. Bit the bullet, got all the latest drivers and firmware for all my hardware and went back to Win2000. I Haven't had a lock up since then.... touch wood. BTW anyone had problems with Win2000 basic install? I was getting all sorts of graphical problems in AH until I installed SP1.

Gatso

XP1600+
GF3 Ti200 128mb
256mb DDR

LePaul · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2002, 08:44:12 AM »

My only freezes/disconnects are when Aces High switches over to (or from?) UDP...I can see the chat buffer moving fine and all, then, bam, desktop

Its happened twice, hasn't happened since Sunday

gofaster · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2002, 09:21:14 AM »

I know its not heat related - my screen has locked up on my first flight, well before anything is hot enough to cause any damage. The last version of AH was stable with only a few discos, but since the latest releast I'm getting more discos and screen freezes that I didn't get before the update.

If I wasn't so addicted to the game, I might actually go back to playing CFS2 and NASCAR Racing 2002.

zipity · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2002, 10:07:07 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by tshred
Had it happen a couple more times that night, but that was it. The next day everything was fine, no more crash/lock ups and not another CTD to this day. Very strange indeed. Can't explain why it only happened the first day of patch 2.

ts

I've noticed also that some days seem to be worse than others. I'll go for a day or 2 without a freeze, then have 3 or 4 in an hour. Strange.

Apache · « **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2002, 10:12:30 AM »

Like BD5, mine are attributed to the UDP switch. Sometimes I get the message before the lockup, sometimes not.

Kirin · « **Reply #14 on:** July 17, 2002, 11:28:42 AM »

Had some serious lock-ups since 1.10 as well. Screen freezes, hard boot necessary!!! Definately not heat related. First, I don't have any lockups in any other games (some more CPU intense), secondly so many people are expierenceing it just now, thirdly I had a lockup with Apar last night - now how big is the chance that 2 compis overheat at the same time? (check the bug forum) We shot down a formation of B17s, when the last went down both our comps locked up hard... weird!

system specs:
AMD Athlon 1.1G - 512MB SDRAM
GeForce 3 Ti200 - NVidia Dets 29.92
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz (gotta love this one!!)
HOTAS Cougar