game crash causes reboot

[murrya]

Hi guys
just got SH3 today on dvd, installed and upgraded to 1.4 patch.
system meets all requirements, several times now for no apparent reason the sound becomes muffled and there is a hissing crackling sound louder than the game sound. when I try and exit the game back to windows desktop my computer reboots

Any thoughts greatly appreciated

murph

[Wolfram]

Which patch you use?

One is for Download version other is for Disk version either European or USA version....

[Gammel]

if you have realtek audio (alc650/850) onboard sound, there are new drivers out. (v3.76)
Maybe give them a try, work fine for me.
Uninstall old drivers first + set a system restore point if you´re on XP.

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/dlac97-2.aspx?lineid=5&famid=12&series=8&Software=True


if you know how to do, activate the bluescreen in winXP (instad of instand reboot crash behavior)
My english is too poor to explain how to do, maybe another user could help here.
The bluescreen maybe contains useful information for debugging.

[TreverSlyFox]

Yup, my first thought is you've DL the wrong patch version, there's 4 of them. Be VERY sure you've downloaded the patch v1.4b for DVD.

[Wolfram]

murrya

you may also want to post your system specs Gammel might be on the right track here with a possible issue with components also..

:arrgh!:

[murrya]

Hi guys
deffinately dlld the right patch
system specs as follows

Amd 3200
1 meg memory
geforce fx5500
soundcard c media ac 97
80 gb free on hd

thanks

[Wolfram]

OK murrya did you try the links Gammel provided? - drivers a good place to start.

Another thing that can help is check directx and sound out with dxdiag

go to start, run, type in dxdiag, ok or enter

go through each tab it will present some analysis on your Direct Draw and Sound.

[murrya]

hi guys
upload new drivers as suggested, but bno sound whats so ever, so did a system restore and now sh3 wont even start ,off to uninstall and reinstall

murrya

[Wolfram]

Still wondering about the dxdiag - did that check reveal anything?

Also found this thread you should read and try it. I scanned/skimmed it and it has a variety of possible solutions.

Go to:

http://www.subsim.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=29803

Personally I still think a driver somewhere is the culprit - update all component drivers. I have also heard some Nvidia vid cards are consistently being trouble but they can be fixed it seems with updates.

Again strongly urge you have a look at the above link and maybe rest of the stickies posted regarding tech issues.

g/l

:arrgh!:

[Wolfram]

http://www.subsim.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=30321


another good link

:up:

[murrya]

hi
updated everything, now game starts but when I start a mission it loads up and the graphics come up but the game is in "paused" mode and will not start

I am at a complete loss

murrya :rock:

[Wolfram]

:hmm: and you tried the stickies?

[murrya]

yep
murrya

[Wolfram]

:hmm: so if you are running other games/programs you do not have an issue.

You are running the correct version of the patch - 1.4b DVD USA. BTW you never mentioned if this is a USA disk - I am guessing it is.

All drivers are updated - Nvidia, Sound, CD/DVD and Chipset

You allowing StarForce to complete its disk check.

Also have you run the dxdiag?

Also I assume you using XP OS and DX9?

Also by chance you using something like Nero or other CD/DVD burning software? - I have heard of interface troubles with those programs in some cases....

Then:

Might be issue with patch download itself corrupted and or install of orignal game.

Have you uninstalled the game then tried just to run the unpatched version?

Nvidia again not my speciality for drivers and types. I run a ATi card and using Audigy 2zs sound.

But if you tried everything in the stickies related then issue sure sounds like it goes back to the disk and or the patch in use - especially if you have not other troubles with other games/programs.

If thus trouble starts with disk and you are allowing the complete install of the disk then it must be the disk if no other game has trouble.

Outside chance that beyond a bad patch download or corrupt install - the disk itself is bad - but I doubt that since you could not install if it were.

Running short of options other than you contacting UBi directly by phone or email with the program/PC in front of you.

My regrets but I am not a Tech guy by profession - this one is very strange since in the stickies the problem you describe is addressed and resolved.

Again if all components are good, no other program complaints then it has to be the disk itself and or the patch - I say uninstall completely, reinstall only the disk version of game w/o patch and try it again no patch just the straight game. BTW you have Quicktime installed right?

Again full install game only and try it, if you had no troubles with any other games or programs before this disk - it comes back to the disk.

I am confident if you desire UBi or the vendor would replace the disk.

Should it fail again contact UBi directly from their website:

http://ubi.com/us/support/default.aspx

Also try

http://www.silent-hunteriii.com/uk/home.php

Sorry this answer but it about all I can think of unless we can get someone like the Avon Lady or Onkel Neal or Berry or other of the masters here to respond.

g/l <g>

[Elder-Pirate]

@ murrya

You have a FX 5500, not sure what drivers you are useing but latley some of the newer Nvidia drivers are causing havoc with SH3 and some other newer sims/games. A BFG Tech guy told me ( I've a BFG FX 5950 Ultra ) that this earlier era of Nvidia cards to use 66.93 drivers as they are the most stable for a lot of these cards.

But then of course it sometimes depends on the rest of your system. :hmm:


I use 66.93 and SH3, FarCry are two that play whaaay better than any of Nvidia's newer drivers.

But then again thats my computer for yours may act way different.

Give them a try and see. :D


P.S. I didn't see Wolfram's above this post untill just now. He has some very good advice so give it a wirl. :yep:

[Wolfram]

Elder-Pirate

Thanks sir for stepping in here. I was not sure about the Nvidia drivers.

Words of wisdom. :know:

:arrgh!:

[murrya]

Hi guys
well Ive finally managed to get back to square one and installed the 66.93 drivers, the game now starts and runs, but still crashes to a reeboot in "extreme" moments like when I torpedo a ship and watch it explode on magnified view through the periscope or for example when doing the flak exercise and I blow up a sword fish and watch through the binnoculars. What happens is there is a loud continuous hissing static type noise and the speech from the crew seems to slow down, sometimes it will reboot straight away and other times it will let me finish the mission but when I quit the game my machine reboots

many thanks
murrya

[Wolfram]

:yep: its a start but I still have the same questions regarding:

Dxdiag - it also has a trouble shooting section itself; in a nutshell try reducing hardware acceleration - game is heavy and hard and it could just be that Nv card.

Again not a Nvidia guy but sounds like the driver is doing some good so maybe even a trip to the Nvidia site and serach their database.

But mostly posting here to keep this thread on the surface 'cause I am not the best Tech without some more knowledge of the your system, etc...

So was this a straight install without patch for example?

Or ? like, do you have all those other things I mentioned like DX9 and tried the troubleshooting the Dxdiag would suggest?

I want to help but not sure where to go next.

Hang in there we still may get some others to reply...besides the research.

:arrgh!:

[murrya]

Hi
ive done all the things mentioned thus far, directx shows no problems at all, the game seems to do this regardless of what patched version Im running (currently 1.4), Im fairly sure its the vid card so I will go and have a look at the nv site

will keep you posted

many thanks
Murrya

[Gammel]

After reading the tread it looks possible to me there´s some hardware error or a cooling problem possible.
Is it hot these days in the area you´re from?
Did you tried to run the computer with open chassy for testing?

Silent hunter is a very hardware expensive sim and can bring an up to date pc to it´s limit.

I´d like to go back to my suggestion about activating the bluescreen instead of the instand reboot at crash.

I´ll try to explain how to to:
go to the control panel in the start menue, click on "system" there, in the window that pop up go to "advanced setting". You´ll see now a field named "start and recover" or someting. Click it and you´ll see an option about what to for XP at crashing. Remove the marker "automatic reboot" and confirm with ok.

Another way to get to that setting is clicking right on your "my computer" icon at desktop, then click on properties, in the next window click "advanced" and then go to "start and recover".

Like i sayed my english is poor, i use a different OS (german win2k)
so it´s hard to explain for me. Hope you´ll make it. :)

When you succeed activating the bluescreen the OS will´ll give you some output when a crash occours and not just make an instand reboot. It could be helpful solving your problem.

here´s what you´d try next in short form:

-activate the bluescreen (and post the output here)

-try running the pc with open chassy (watch your temperature sensors)

-run some basic diagnostic software (memorytest, let 3dmark run for half an hour)

- get the tool "everest" for infos about your system. Good too for reading out sensor data.


http://www.lavalys.hu/products/download.php?pid=1&lang=en

[Gammel]

i did this screenshot a minute ago with the tool everest.
I´d like to see the same screen from your machine? can you do this?
(install the tool, ling is in last post, start it go to computer =>sensors, you´ll see a similar output. Make the screenshot by pressing the print key on your keyboard, open the picture with paint, Save as .jpg image (bitmap is too large) and upload it at
http://imageshack.us/

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/1143/everest0sg.jpg

[murrya]

hi there
Ive installed everest, but where does windows save the screen when ypu press print screen ?

MB running at 27 c (81f)
CPU 43c (109f)

i have activated blue screen and wiill go and see if I can make the machine crash

thanks
murrya

[murrya]

hi guys
done the crash thing, got the blue screen message as follows

BAD_POOL_CALLER
STOP:0X000000C2 (0X00000007 0X00000CD4 0X00000000 OX85B6D008)

Murrya

[Gammel]

Oh sorry murrya, forgot to tell you about that. The screenshots are not saved on hdd, they´re stored in RAM only.
So open paint, create a new document and then press "ctrl+V" or click
"paste" in the menu"
After that you can save the picture.

Good you managed to post the bluescreen output, after looking trough the microsoft knowlegde base your error code
(0xC2 Stop error
Parameter 1 = 0x07 : Attempt to free a pool that was already freed)
can point to almost everyting possible :-j
included is the possibility of faulty hardware.

microsoft recomments further debugging with a memory dumb file (is created in your system root folder at crashing)
and the tool "Dumpchk.exe" that comes with the support tools on your XP - CD.

So let´s do some easier stuff first. Test your system memory
Download this iso image and create a bootable cd with a cd burning software of your choice (extract the file, go to "recorder" =>burn image" if your´re using NERO.)
http://www.memtest86.com/memtest86-3.2.iso.zip
Put the just burned cd in a drive where the computer is able to boot from, reboot and let run the test for some time (the longer the better) watch for error output.

[murrya]

just had a quick game to check the blue screen message after a crash, this time its different

BAD_POOL_HEADER

Im not sure abiut it being a memory issue as other games play ok

eg cod, farcry, enigma,il2 etc

Murrya

[Gammel]

but a memory test would not harm.. :-j

do you have any background software running, like antivirus, filesharing, soundmixer? If so quit it.

do you have a printer or scanner connected? the software running in the background does nasty things sometimes...quit it too.

[Wolfram]

Still could be memory issue also I did a quick search of the terms BAD_POOL_HEADER and CALLER.

Microsoft points to Win2K and 2003 Server OS. I think you said you using XP? Check out Microsoft anyway or Google the terms for related articles.

RAM however and or SP2 maybe an outside chance. Regardless of other games seems SH3 is very hungry program on your RAM and the RAM test Gammel posted (Memtest86) takes time but will show/reveal faults in the RAM.

Even if you Mobo and CPU temps are good the RAM itself maybe heating to a point it reveals a fault.

Also outside chance the video card a FX5500 (Nv) has some latent problems in its graphics RAM.

I think a call/email to either UBi or Nv still in order but as Gammel wrote this game is unusually demanding of components. Even with a 3.4 P4 2G Corsair and a X800XT PE vid card I can experience slow downs when I run time compression (SPOILER Warning - when game gets sluggish in x1024 I know a encounter is near ;) )

:arrgh!:

[Wolfram]

but a memory test would not harm.. :-j

do you have any background software running, like antivirus, filesharing, soundmixer? If so quit it.

do you have a printer or scanner connected? the software running in the background does nasty things sometimes...quit it too.

Hi Gammel & murrya,

yes that was one of things the Google of the terms showed printer and modem TCiP(?) related to BAD_HEADER/CALLER

:arrgh!:

[Wolfram]

Hey just another wild thought how updated is your DVD player drivers on this PC?

Also when it does the initial install do you get any below minimum requirements being detected by the install?

:arrgh!:

[murrya]

hi
no, everything on the instal screen meets the specs, nothing below minimum requirements, Ive uninstalled everything and reinstalled, Ive upgreded to patch1.4 and uninstalled all graphics drivers and gone right back to 6.4 drivers and working my way back up the drivers,

Game seems to be working, on my second patrol, sunk a cargo in the north sea , saved game no crashes as yet, having problems with the UZO (cloudy grey no image, game slows down) , saw an earlier thread about it so will sort it out.

Thanks for all the help (fingers crossed) I think weve got it beat

murrya

[Wolfram]

Hope things working out for you sir...

Maybe even experiment with different driver sets?

g/l <g>

:lurk:

[murrya]

exactly what Im doing
many thanks for your advice and time

murrya

[Elder-Pirate]

@ murrya

Have you tried this ?:

Start\Programs\Ubisoft\Silent Hunter lll \ Detection Tool

Your first will be:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y116/oleman/detection1.jpg

Your second will be:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y116/oleman/detection2.jpg

Your third will be:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y116/oleman/detection3.jpg

These are what mine looks like and yours should at least have the green check marks, any RED check marks probably means the problem.


Hopefully this will give you a clue incase you have not allready done so. :D

[kiwi_2005]

Your problem will be fixed once you update your graphics card. Im not talking about a update patch, im talking about REPLACING the card altogether. The FX5500 are not good performers and can't handle whats thrown at them in some games, Silent Hunter 3 is one of those games. Nvida tech once email me over a problem i had and told me the min spec card you should have for todays games is the FX5700 any card below it will give you problems in some games. so update the card even if you go for the FX5700 which are good cards.

If you can't update to a newer card, delete SH3 if u can't delete SH3 cos refuses to delete, i read in the start of this thread u had problems trying to delete, then just delete the folder altogether manually. Then open up "regedit" [Start - Run - regedit] go in and find the registry of SH3, where its found in ubisoft folder and delete that registry altogether. Reinstall SH3 and set all settings to low, in the system setup in the game, ie graphic bar right down to low. Your probably be able to play the game without any hiccups.
but wont have a pretty uboat to look at. :)