Strange freeze in some games

MrBurns

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First i have to say, that i am from Austria and so my English maybe isnt perfect.

The following happens on some games: I get a total freeze and hear a strange sound. The onnly thing that helps is to press the reset button. Until now this was the case in Splinter-Cell and Tron 2.0 Multiplayer Demo. These games are the last ones I have installed. All other games run w/o problems.

Once I had an empty bluescreen (w/o a message) instead of the freeze in Tron. The only things on it where a white block (which normally contains the word "Windows") and a blinking cursor.

In Splinter-Cell this happens in the tutorial mostly after a short time. In the first mission its even worse: It also happens always when I change something in the in-game menu and continue the game afterwards.

In Tron this happens in the singleplayer-mode always at the same points, and in multiplayer-mode I dont even get a 3D-graphic, because it happens instantly after the team choice. I also want to mention, that this demo has a different game-mode enabled in singleplayer-mode than in multiplayer-mode.

My Software:

Win98SE
Directx 9.0A
Video-Driver: Detonator 44.03
BIOS: 08/05/2003
Chipset-Driver:1.37(?)

My Hardware:

AMD Athlon XP 2700+
Epox 8rda+
Thermaltake Volcano 7+
2x256 MB PC2700
Creative GeForce 4 Ti 4800 (4600 Chip)
Chieftech Case
WD 80GB/8MB HDD
16x48 DVD-ROM
20x10x32 Burner
 

Esso

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I always say this (especially since you're using win98) try formatting and see what happens. Win9x/ME seesm to just fall apart and corrupt itself over time.
 

MrBurns

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I scanned my system for viruses w/ different programs, because in a different forum someone said, that it maybe could be a virus:

I reinstalled mcAfee VirusScan, because it didnt work since the day I reinstalled windows (w/o formatting). I have version 5.0, and the support-period is over. So the last update was from 03/27/2003. I also tried to reinstall that update by copying the file to a different folder before uninstalling mcAfee, and afterwards renaming the old file in .old and replacing it by the new one again. I did this, because after the end of the support time you cant even download old updates. After that mcAfee said, that the scan-files were corrupt. Maybe there would also be a regidtry-entry needed for the updated scan.dat file. Because of this I had to use the original virus-database from 04/17/2000.

After that i scanned my HDD (all files, not only program files) w/ mcAfee and it found the virus "new win32" in c:\program files\CPUCool\CPUCool.exe. On the mcAfee web site, it said following about the virus "new win32": "This is a heuristic detection which indicates that a file is possibly a Win32 virus." . Because my virus database was very old (see above) I believed, that this could be an unknown virus, and deleted the file.

After this I updated AVG and f-prot, and scanned again w/ this programs, but they didnt find anything.

AMD Athlon XP 2700+
Epox 8rda+
Thermaltake Volcano 7+
2x256 MB PC2700
Creative GeForce 4 Ti 4800 (4600 Chip)
Chieftech Case
WD 80GB/8MB HDD
16x48 DVD-ROM
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MrBurns

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I have taken out the memory-module from bank 0. After that I made a few tests w/ Tron 2.0:


First I tested the singleplayer-mode. In the first try it ran a little longer, and in the than I got this error message on a Bluescreen instead of the freeze:

A fatal exception 0E has occurred at 0028:C0028C03. The current application will be terminated.

After I pressed a key, the screen became black, and only the reset-button helped. At the third try, I became the blank bluescrenn again.


After that i tried the multiplayer-mode again. I was even able to finish the first game (but it took only about 30 seconds), and after that i left the game to change something w/ the controls. As I tried to enter a game again, I got the freeze already at tzhe loading screen. After the reboot, the freeze occured again. At the third try something strange happened: Directly after the start the screen became dark at first and the frqamerate went down to approx. 0.5 fps. After this, the freeze occured again, but w/o the straqnge sound.


I remind you again, that in this demo a different game-mode is activated in the multiplayer-mode, than in the singleplayer-mode.



After that i also tested Splinter Cell in mission 1. the only change was, that I didnt heare the strange sound, and that there was a reboot instead of the freeze in one of the 3 tries.


I also tried to remove the other memory module, and to put the one I have removed before in the same place again. In Tron 2.0 all was like w/ two modules again. In Splinter Cell I can go sometimes even 2 or 3 times into the menu, bevore the freeze occurs.




After this I tried to deinstall directx (w/ directxbuster), reinstall the graphics drver w/ detonator desroyer in safe mode, and reinstall directx again. this didnt change anything.




I will try to get memory modules from a friend to test them.

AMD Athlon XP 2700+
Epox 8rda+
Thermaltake Volcano 7+
2x256 MB PC2700
Creative GeForce 4 Ti 4800 (4600 Chip)
Chieftech Case
WD 80GB/8MB HDD
16x48 DVD-ROM
20x10x32 Burner
 

MrBurns

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I have taken out the memory-module from bank 0. After that I made a few tests w/ Tron 2.0:


First I tested the singleplayer-mode. In the first try it ran a little longer, and in the than I got this error message on a Bluescreen instead of the freeze:

A fatal exception 0E has occurred at 0028:C0028C03. The current application will be terminated.

After I pressed a key, the screen became black, and only the reset-button helped. At the third try, I became the blank bluescrenn again.


After that i tried the multiplayer-mode again. I was even able to finish the first game (but it took only about 30 seconds), and after that i left the game to change something w/ the controls. As I tried to enter a game again, I got the freeze already at tzhe loading screen. After the reboot, the freeze occured again. At the third try something strange happened: Directly after the start the screen became dark at first and the frqamerate went down to approx. 0.5 fps. After this, the freeze occured again, but w/o the straqnge sound.


I remind you again, that in this demo a different game-mode is activated in the multiplayer-mode, than in the singleplayer-mode.



After that i also tested Splinter Cell in mission 1. the only change was, that I didnt heare the strange sound, and that there was a reboot instead of the freeze in one of the 3 tries.


I also tried to remove the other memory module, and to put the one I have removed before in the same place again. In Tron 2.0 all was like w/ two modules again. In Splinter Cell I can go sometimes even 2 or 3 times into the menu, bevore the freeze occurs.



After this I tried to deinstall directx (w/ directxbuster), reinstall the graphics drver w/ detonator desroyer in safe mode, and reinstall directx again. this didnt change anything.



I also got a memory module from a friend, but this didnt change anything.

AMD Athlon XP 2700+
Epox 8rda+
Thermaltake Volcano 7+
2x256 MB PC2700
Creative GeForce 4 Ti 4800 (4600 Chip)
Chieftech Case
WD 80GB/8MB HDD
16x48 DVD-ROM
20x10x32 Burner
 

marneus

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I would wipe & reinstall if you have the time... sounds like W98 going 'buggy'

Trust me I know what I'm doing... ooops, grab the cat...
 

MrBurns

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I have tried a memory modules from a friend, but it didnt help at all.



I also have this problem in now in a game I installed recently: System Shock 2 (you can download it for free). This game doesnt crash as often as the others, but sometimes something strange happens: The picture freezes and starts flickering (normally the picture doesnt flicker), and I dont here the sound. When this happens, I can still go into the menu. When I press "Continue" after that in the menu, the game crashes to the desktop. After that all games say eighter that my graphicscard is invompatible or that I need to install DirectX. When I reboot, everything is normal again. When I select "Quit to Main Menu" instead of "Continue" in the menu (I cannot quit directly), the desktop also appears, but I can restart this game or start another game afterwards.

Since yesterday I aslo have the freezes (the complete freezes, not the ones, I described before) in UT2003, but only in the map DM-2019, which is the graphically most demanding map I know. In single-player mode at 1025x768 and medium-high details I only get 55fps avarage and 2fps minimum. In DM-Inferno (most demanding default-map) I have about 60-70 avarage and about 6-9 minimum.



I ran sfc. I used the setting, that it should search for every changed or deleted file, and that it should search in all subfolders of the C:\WINDOWS folder. The onlyn thing I did was that I restored all deleted files, which where also at the win98-CD. I have also found a few other supicious files,and some of them where replaced by an older version number (some of them where replaced by the same version nuber, but w/ a different date, which was sometimes even older).


<b>The next part was edited because I had a few small errors in it</b>


Details on what I did w/ sfc:

I will use this format to write down file-informations:

path\filename|||date of previous file|size of previous file|version of previous file||date of current file|size of current file|version of current file|||file-description in the properties -> version window (sometimes translted from german)

Only when two files had the same date a different daytime, I also included the daytime in the date.

Note, that I also translated the foldername of C:\Program Files\Shared Files from the german name "Gemeinsame Dateien".

I didnt include any files, where I knew, that they werent important for the system.

For deleted files I will only use

path\filename|||date of file|size of file|version of file|||file-description in the properties -> version window

Because the restored version was always identical w/ the original vesion.


I have found some deleted files which could be restored:

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DPLAY.DLL|||05/05/99|56KB|4.03.00.1096|||Microsoft DirectPlay

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DPSERIAL.DLL|||05/05/99|48KB|4.03.00.1096|||Serviceprovider for Microsoft DirectPlay Modem

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DPWSOCK.DLL|||05/05/99|40KB|4.03.00.1096|||Microsoft DirectPlay Network ServiceProvider

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DX3J.DLL|||05/05/99|320KB|4.79.2725|||Microsoft® DirectX for Java

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DXMASF.DLL|||05/05/99|428KB|6.01.05.0130|||Windows Media-Sourcefilter

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MMEFXE.DLL|||05/05/99|153KB|6.01.05.0122|||Microsoft Multimedia Controls Effects Library


I have also found some deleted files, which I couldnt restore, because they werent on the Win98-CD:

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\D3DRG16F.DLL|||07/01/97|71KB|4.02.00.1054|||N/A

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\D3DRGBF.DLL|||07/01/97|98KB|4.02.00.1054|||N/A

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\tinybar.exe|||04/16/03|28KB|1,0,0,1|||N/A


I have also found some files, which where replaced by older versions:

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DXTMSFT.DLL|||04/06/03|447KB|6.01.05.0124||08/29/02|343KB|6.00.2800.1106|||DirecX Media -- Image DirectX Transforms

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DXTRANS.DLL|||04/06/03|177KB|6.01.05.0124||08/29/02|183KB|6.00.2800.1106|||DirecX Media -- DirecX Transform Core


I have found one file, where the Date was newer, but the version was older. The (changed-)date was identical w/ the created-date.

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PROCTEXE.OCX|||05/05/99|69KB|6.01.05.0122||08/29/02|74KB|6.00.2800.1106|||Intel Precedual Textures


I have also found some files, where the version-number didnt change (or is unknown), but the date changed, and sometimes also the size. I dindt include files, where the new date wae 07/12/03, because on this day I have reinstalled my browser:

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VIDX16.DLL|||05/05/99|10KB|N/A||12/12/02|10KB|N/A|||N/A

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\QUARTZ.VXD|||05/05/99|6KB|4.00.501||12/12/02|6KB|4.00.501|||quartz Virtual Device (Version 4.0)

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\iowp9858.vxd|||06/27/01 19:38|9KB|N/A||06/27/01 18:38|9KB|N/A|||N/A

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\vgart.vxd|||03/20/03|25KB|1.0.26||05/02/03|25KB|1.0.26|||GART (AGP) services VxD

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSISYS.VXD|||04/29/03|11KB|4.03||07/06/03|11KB|4.03|||System Information for Windows 95

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MCIQTZ.DRV|||05/05/99|12KB|4.00.96.0729||12/12/02|12KB|4.00.96.0729|||Active Movie MCI Driver

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\D3DPMESH.DLL|||05/05/99|100KB|4.06.02.0436||01/08/99|88KB|4.06.02.0436|||Direct3D Progressive Mesh DLL

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\D3DXOF.DLL|||05/05/99|116KB|4.06.02.0436||01/08/99|100KB|4.06.02.0436|||DirectX Files DLL

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSVCRT.DLL|||05/04/01|285KB|6.10.8924.0||03/19/03|285KB|6.10.8924.0|||Microsoft (R) C Runtime Library

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\Mmsvcp60.dll|||08/29/00 00:00|393KB|6.10.8972.0||08/29/00 04:19|285KB|6.10.8972.0|||Microsoft (R) C++ Runtime Library

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\atl.dll|||08/29/02 |73KB|3.00.8449||03/25/99|73KB|3.00.8449|||ATL Module for Windows (ANSI)

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\D3DRM.DLL|||05/05/99|436KB|4.00.02.0436||01/08/99|427KB|4.00.02.0436|||Direct3D Retained Module

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS\cdralvsd.vxd|||04/20/03|20KB|5.3.2.31||07/13/03|20KB|5.3.2.31|||Roxio CDRAL Virtual Device

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS\Acbhlpr.vxd|||04/20/03|40KB|1.01||07/13/03|40KB|1.01|||Adaptec's Callback Helper for Windows 9x

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\drivers\Entech.vxd|||02/11/99 10:01|7KB|N/A||07/13/03 11:01|7KB|N/A|||N/A

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\drivers\PciBus.vxd|||11/16/01 15:23|10KB|N/A||11/16/01 16:23|10KB|N/A|||N/A


I also want to say, that all files, where the version was older than the previous one or where the version where identical, but the date of the file was older than of the previous one where directX files. I have installed and deinstalled directX 8.1 and 9.0A several times because of the problem I have now or because of previous problems. The only file w/ an older version where I am not sure if it is a directX-file, is C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PROCTEXE.OCX, which is descibed as "Intel Precedual Textures" in the properties -> version window. This file has a newer date, but i dont think, that this date says anything, because it is identical w/ the "created"-date.

AMD Athlon XP 2700+
Epox 8rda+
Thermaltake Volcano 7+
2x256 MB PC2700
Creative GeForce 4 Ti 4800 (4600 Chip)
Chieftech Case
WD 80GB/8MB HDD
16x48 DVD-ROM
20x10x32 Burner<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by MrBurns on 07/20/03 05:22 PM.</EM></FONT></P>
 

Skipper007

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I had a similar problem with a lot of Quake 3 based games on my old machine. Turned out that I had a slightly faulty motherboard that was corrupting some files over time. I'm not saying that's what you have, but it is a possibility.

Oh, and how expensive are PCs in Austria?
 

MrBurns

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I know, that Splinter Cell is based on the Unreal-engine (I dont know which version of the Unreal-engine). I dont know, what engine the other games, where I have the problem use.

The price in € (Euro) is about the same as the price in $ in the USA. Note that 1€~1.1$. The reason why PCs are more expensive in the EU now is the strong €. When 1€ was 1$, the price was about the same.

AMD Athlon XP 2700+
Epox 8rda+
Thermaltake Volcano 7+
2x256 MB PC2700
Creative GeForce 4 Ti 4800 (4600 Chip)
Chieftech Case
WD 80GB/8MB HDD
16x48 DVD-ROM
20x10x32 Burner<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by MrBurns on 07/20/03 01:53 AM.</EM></FONT></P>
 

Skipper007

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I'd have to agree with some of the other people who have replied and say that you should try to reinstall Windows 98. If you decide to reinstall, try putting a minimum of drivers and software on at first and test the games that have problems. Then start to add software and drivers back in so if you can see if any one program is causing problems.
 

MrBurns

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Once I was able to get back to Windows from a freeze (it wasnt a complete one, but one, where the fps got down). I have monitored a few things graphically w/ CPU Cool and System Monitor, and the only thing that changed was the CPU-usage, which nearly stayed at 100% after the fps-drop.



What I monitored:

<b>CPU-Cool:</b> Voltages (v-core, v-dimm, +5V, +12V) System-Temp, CPU-Temp

<b>CPU-Cool + Sysmon:</b> CPU-usage, free memory, swapfile-size,

<b>Sysmon:</b> files system:Written bytes/sec, files system:read bytes/sec, memory-mangement:damaged in swapfile, memory-mangement: removed pages, memory-mangement: disk-cache size (limited to 96MB because of performance)


AMD Athlon XP 2700+
Epox 8rda+
Thermaltake Volcano 7+
2x256 MB PC2700
Creative GeForce 4 Ti 4800 (4600 Chip)
Chieftech Case
WD 80GB/8MB HDD
16x48 DVD-ROM
20x10x32 Burner
 

darkat

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I've read your specs but no mention of what kind of power supply and the amount of wattage, most freezing problems I've encountered have are due to generic or low wattage power supply's, or you may also need to update your motherboard drivers.
 

MrBurns

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I have a chieftech 360W PSU:

Input:
230V x 5A = 1150W
115V x 8A = 920W

Output:
+3.3V x 28A = 92.4W
+5V x 35A = 175W
+12V x 17A = 204W
-5V x 0.3A = 1.5W
-12V x 0.8A = 9.6W
+5VSB x 2A = 10W
------------------------------------
sum = 492.5W
max. output +5V,+3.3V = 220W
max. output +5V,+3.3V,+12V = 340W
max. total output = 360W


I never hab problems w/ my voltages. when I dont oc, my +5V was always over 4.87V, and even when I oced my Athlon XP 2700+ tp 2403MHz (default=2166), I still have more than 4.78V. I know this, because I had CPUCool set to alarm me, when it gets lower than these voltages. It is normal, that the +5V rail is a little bit under 5V, and some people even have under 4V, and there computer still runs (but not very well), so I dont think, that 4.78V is a problem. I have alos monitored the other voltages, but none of them was too low. +12V always stayed a little bit over 12V.

AMD Athlon XP 2700+
Epox 8rda+
Thermaltake Volcano 7+
2x256 MB PC2700
Creative GeForce 4 Ti 4800 (4600 Chip)
Chieftech Case
WD 80GB/8MB HDD
16x48 DVD-ROM
20x10x32 Burner