Random CTD's

[Traks]

Technical Problem

I have a technical problem that I need your help with please.

Game Version & Patch (incl. publisher):
HOI2 1.1

Computer, CPU & speed:
AMD 2500Mhz
SiSoftware Sandra

Processor
Model : AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2500+
Speed : 1.83GHz
Model Number : 2500 (estimated)
Performance Rating : PR2655 (estimated)
Type : Standard
L2 On-board Cache : 512kB ECC Synchronous, Write-Back, 16-way set, 64 byte line size

Mainboard
Bus(es) : ISA AGP PCI IMB USB i2c/SMBus
MP Support : 1 CPU(s)
MP APIC : Yes
System BIOS : Phoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG
System : VIA Technologies, Inc. KT400A-8237
Mainboard : KT400A-8237
Total Memory : 1GB DDR-SDRAM

Chipset 1
Model : VIA Technologies Inc VT8377 Apollo KT400/A/600 CPU to PCI Bridge
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 166MHz (332MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 1GB DDR-SDRAM
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 166MHz (332MHz data rate)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Plug and Play Monitor
Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200 with AGP8X

Physical Storage Devices
Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive
Hard Disk : Maxtor 6Y080L0 (76GB)
Hard Disk : WDC WD200EB-00BHF0 (19GB)
CD-ROM/DVD : LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1213S (CD 63X Rd, 31X Wr) (DVD 8X Rd, 4X Wr)

Logical Storage Devices
1.44MB 3.5" (A : N/A
Hard Disk (C : 7.8GB (1.7GB, 22% Free Space) (NTFS)
Hard Disk (D : 9.8GB (2.8GB, 29% Free Space) (NTFS)
Hard Disk (E : 892MB (892MB, 100% Free Space) (FAT32)
Hard Disk (F : 5.4GB (662MB, 12% Free Space) (FAT32)
New volume (G : 67GB (13GB, 19% Free Space) (NTFS)
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse : Logitech USB Wheel Mouse
Human Interface : Logitech USB Wheel Mouse

MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : MPU-401 Compatible MIDI Device
Device : Standard Game Port
Device : Vinyl AC'97 Codec Combo Driver (WDM)

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Professional (Win32 x86) 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 2)

Video (brand, model, driver, memory):
GeForce Ti4200, 64Mb, driver version 5.6.6.4

DirectX Version:
9.0c

Other:

I read the stickies but I still have the following problem:
<Game randomly crashes. I tried reinstalling Windows, but the same problem continues. Older games like Heroes of Might and Magic 3 do not crash at all, also other applications do not crash, and I suspect this is due to latest DirectX (it started couple of months ago, around time when DirectX9.0c was installed).>

 

[Rey]

My advice for you is too install the latest video driver (71.84):

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_71.84.html

Since yours might not be compatible with DirectX 9

 

[Traks]

My advice for you is too install the latest video driver (71.84):

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_71.84.html

Since yours might not be compatible with DirectX 9

I installed them today, right after posting this.
Still crashes continue. Now I disabled sound just for test.

Ok, my results. I returned to DirectX 9.0b retaining newest video drivers.
It greatly increased stability from 10-15 minutes to about 1.5 hours.
Now I also rolled back video drivers and am testing stability again. Right now seems that 2 hours is least that can be achieved, probably even much more.

 

[Castellon]

Okay let's try some standard things.
1) Rename the AVI folder to AVI_back
2) Set the color depth to 16BIT
3) Turn off everything in the background like E-mail/ICQ/Messenger, Virus protection and everything in the system tray beside the clock.
4) Update your Windows, update your Video card drivers and audio card drivers. Then repeat steps 1-3.

 

[Traks]

Okay let's try some standard things.
1) Rename the AVI folder to AVI_back
2) Set the color depth to 16BIT
3) Turn off everything in the background like E-mail/ICQ/Messenger, Virus protection and everything in the system tray beside the clock.
4) Update your Windows, update your Video card drivers and audio card drivers. Then repeat steps 1-3.

I like step 1 very much, I'll keep it.
As for other steps, they don't help.
But I came to conclusion that there is problem with my video card - I put in older card, and left for test for the whole night. There were no problems. Then I put my card back, and it crashed shortly after. So I will take the card to diagnose it and see the results. I'll post update at the start of next week.

 

[Castellon]

Please run a DirectX Diagnostic:
Start menu –Run - then type Dxdiag, then select each tab across the top of the window, and run the tests on each tab. Then select “Save All Information” button in the lower right of the window. This will bring up a dialog box to allow you to select a name for the file where the information will be saved. You can save it right on the desktop as this will make it easy to find. Then copy the contents of that file from the start to the heading that says “DirectX components” then paste what you have copied into a post in this thread.

 

[Traks]

Please run a DirectX Diagnostic:
Start menu –Run - then type Dxdiag, then select each tab across the top of the window, and run the tests on each tab. Then select “Save All Information” button in the lower right of the window. This will bring up a dialog box to allow you to select a name for the file where the information will be saved. You can save it right on the desktop as this will make it easy to find. Then copy the contents of that file from the start to the heading that says “DirectX components” then paste what you have copied into a post in this thread.

It's Ok, no need for that. As I said, problem was with video card. It is overheating, and I'll let other people figure out what to do.

 

[Castellon]

Okay.