Game Crash - Prison Screen

[lamashtu]

My game has crashed to desktop at least half a dozen times. It only happens specifically when I go to the Prisoners screen after I have been playing for a while. Everything else, including the other tabs in the Intrigue area, has no problems. If I go to the Prisoners screen right when I start the game up, it has no problem. Every so often, I can go to the screen in the middle of gameplay, and nothing will happen. But, especially in the middle of wars, it is almost guaranteed to crash the game.


EDIT: I play with an unmodded Steam version, no DLC.

 

[AndrewT]

I don't believe others are seeing this. What version and checksum show on the main game menu? Also please post a dxdiag.txt (you can delete everything after the "Sound devices" section for brevity).

 

[lamashtu]

I'm not *entirely* sure what the checksum is, however the main menu shows: CK2 v1.04c (CPGP). I tried loading up some save games, trying to find one which was a good example of the crash - unfortunately, I didn't specifically label any save as being right before a crash and I have a lot of save files, so I couldn't find one reasonably quickly (not that it would be reproduceable anyway - as I mentioned, it doesn't crash until after a bit of playing) - however, I did notice that the (CPGP) changed to (ZPGP) and then (XPGP) as I was loading various saves. Switching between numerous saves is not an example of my regular playing behavior though.

Another possible piece of the puzzle: around the time that I noticed the crashes, I also noticed a change in the graphics of my screenshots (http://imgur.com/a/Kbz4K - as you can see, the national fonts were crisp and sharp to start with, but then it drastically deteriorated, much to my chagrin). It was also around the time that I changed the game resolution from 1920x1080 to 1024x768 and then back again. I thought the 1024x768 resolution was interesting because, when I exited the game, my entire computer's resolution had been changed to 1024x768 (it's normally 1920x1080) - I had expected the game resolution to be isolated solely to the game. I'm not entirely sure of the order of these various facts though - it was all around the same time.

DxDiag.txt:
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 4/8/2012, 22:18:09
Machine name: ADMIN-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.111118-2330)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Model: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) II X3 450 Processor (3 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 4096MB RAM
Page File: 2613MB used, 5575MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: ATI Radeon HD 5670
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x68D8)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_68D8&SUBSYS_200B1787&REV_00
Display Memory: 2806 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1014 MB
Shared Memory: 1791 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: W2253
Monitor Id: GSM56DD
Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (59.934Hz)
Output Type: HDMI
Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1119 (English)
Driver Version: 8.950.0.0
DDI Version: 11
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 2/14/2012 23:17:04, 957952 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-2B98-11CF-6870-0100BEC2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x68D8
SubSys ID: 0x200B1787
Revision ID: 0x0000
Driver Strong Name: oem23.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_Evergreen:8.950.0.0ci\ven_1002&dev_68d8
Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C
Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) 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_BOBVerticalStretch
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
{6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
{3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) 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_BOBVerticalStretch
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
D3D9 Overlay: Not Supported
DXVA-HD: Not Supported
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0892&SUBSYS_18490892&REV_1003
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 65535
Type: WDM
Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
Driver Version: 6.01.7601.17514 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 11/20/2010 06:44:23, 350208 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Microsoft
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0xF1F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

Description: Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0892&SUBSYS_18490892&REV_1003
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 65535
Type: WDM
Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
Driver Version: 6.01.7601.17514 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 11/20/2010 06:44:23, 350208 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Microsoft
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0xF1F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

Description: AMD HDMI Output (AMD High Definition Audio Device)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_1002&DEV_AA01&SUBSYS_00AA0100&REV_1002
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: AtihdW76.sys
Driver Version: 7.12.0000.7705 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 12/5/2011 15:47:30, 95248 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Advanced Micro Devices
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0xF1F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

 

[AndrewT]

around the time that I noticed the crashes, I also noticed a change in the graphics of my screenshots (http://imgur.com/a/Kbz4K - as you can see, the national fonts were crisp and sharp to start with, but then it drastically deteriorated, much to my chagrin). It was also around the time that I changed the game resolution from 1920x1080 to 1024x768 and then back again. I thought the 1024x768 resolution was interesting because, when I exited the game, my entire computer's resolution had been changed to 1024x768 (it's normally 1920x1080) - I had expected the game resolution to be isolated solely to the game. I'm not entirely sure of the order of these various facts though - it was all around the same time.

That could be a video driver issue, but you have quite a recent one. There is a slightly newer one, which you may as well try http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/radeonaiw_vista64.aspx

That aside, it looks to me like an overheating or game installation problem.

- Please report the temperatures of your CPU and video (GPU) 1/ before starting the game up and 2/ after say 20 minutes' play. If your PC's vendor has given you no way of reading temperatures, Google for and install SPEEDFAN.

- try a complete clean reinstall:
-- If this is Steam: uninstall the game from Steam and move any valued save games elsewhere. Manually delete the CK2 directories from under the Steam AND MyDocuments folders, now reinstall the game via Steam.

-- If GamersGate: Move valued save games elsewhere, and uninstall the game. Manually delete the CK2 directories from where GG put them and from MyDocuments. Reinstall the game , download 1.04c patch again and apply it.

I did notice that the (CPGP) changed to (ZPGP) and then (XPGP) as I was loading various saves.

This is entirely normal and nothing to do with your problem.

 

[lamashtu]

OK. I:
Downloaded/installed the latest driver.
Backed-Up the Save and Screenshots Files
Uninstalled CK2
Deleted [My Documents/Paradox Interactive/Crusader Kings II] and [Steam/steamapps/common/crusader kings ii]
Reinstalled CK2
Noted the temperature of the CPU and graphics card
Started CK2 back up and saved a game to recreate the saved games folder (incidentally, I noticed that the saved folder structure for that save was [save games/Jimena/file] - my previous saves had been saved to the root [save games] directory rather than to a dynasty folder. I thought it was a nice new touch)
Moved my old saves back, and loaded up my latest one.
Played.
Crashed.
Played.
Crashed.
Noted the temperatures immediately after crashing.

ORIGINAL TEMP:
CPU: 29-31 degrees C
Graphics: 36-37 degrees C

IMMEDIATELY AFTER CRASHING:
CPU: 43 degrees C
Graphics: 48 degrees C
(Source: Speccy, by Piriform)

I'm pretty sure that it's not a temperature problem, though. Otherwise, I assume that the entire game would be unstable. This only occurs under one particular circumstance - opening the Prisoners tab after the game has been running for a while.

 

[AndrewT]

Yes, you're right, that temp is well within spec. However the fact that your video starts going wrong does indicate a driver or hardware problem, to me.

I did have one idea - maybe imprisonment is associated with a sound unused elsewhere, and that sound file is causing it. Try disabling all sound by editing settings.txt to say master_volume=0 and see if you still get the crash.

If you do, just zip up a problem save and upload it to any public file hosting site, and paste a link to it here. Hopefully some kind soul will try that game in their machine and see if they get the same issue.

 

[lamashtu]

Turned sounds off, game still crashed.
Reinstalled my OS (though I copied/pasted over the information in the steamapps folder rather then re-downloading and installing it all over again - but I had already uninstalled/reinstalled CK2 for you previously, so I assumed that the problem couldn't be in there).
Reinstalling the OS fixed the graphical problem with poor font fidelity, as I assumed it would.
However, after playing the game for 3 years on chevron-3 speed, the game again crashed on me. Specifically, it occurs when I click on the Intrigue screen and the Plots sub-menu is showing. Then I click over to the Prisoners sub-menu from the Plots sub-menu, and the game crashes. If I stayed on the Prisoners sub-menu, the game would probably never crash. And I don't know if it would crash if I started on the Revolt Risk sub-menu because I never use that screen. It only crashes after I've been playing for a while. And it *may* only crash if I am, or have been in, wars while playing - I don't know, because I hardly ever go a year without war.

I posted in the general forum, asking if people would play the save and report whether they could reproduce the crash, but didn't get any answers. I guess I'll try in here, though you seem to be the only one who looks at these posts ^_^

Fortunately, as long as I have autosave on for every 6 months, and I only check my prisoners around January or July, it's not a big problem. Well, CHKDSK ran automatically twice on my previous OS installation this week, the first time it's ever done that automatically without my manual go-ahead, and I can only assume that it's because the crashes were messing something up. But that's what CHKDSK is for - to keep things from staying messed up.