Help for a real noob
 

Sorry in advance if this is in the wrong spot. I'm not very good with computers so am hoping someone can help.

Playing SH3 is no problem, but when I installed the GWX2 patch, it takes a very long time to load and when it finally sets up, the computer reboots - with no blue screen or anything. There is no warning, it is as if I have pushed a reset button.

I have 1 GB of RAM
2Gz processor
Radean X300 graphics card with latest drivers
Windows XP

There is a .dmp file for windows minidump, but I'm not sure how to attack it here (or even if that is a good idea). Any help sorting this out would be really appreciated

Thanks!

You may need some more RAM. If you can bump it up a little it will help. The processor should just be able to cope. I don't know about the Video card, how much on board RAM does it have? Someone else will post soon enought to tell you anything alse that may help.

Welcome aboard and don't be afraid to post. We don't all bite!:arrgh!:

Welcome aboard
You need to install the GWX2.0 on an unchanged, fresh install of SHIII, patched to 1.4b.
You also need to make sure the GWX 2.0 files are not bad, by checking the "checksum" .
A good idea is to also delete the SH3 folder in your "my documents" folder before installing the GWX 2.0 program.
If this doesn't work, check back, and we will get you up and runnig.

Welcome aboard! Hope that Irish's advice work. If it doesn't others will come up with a solution. :D

Welcome to SUBSIM :up: aj906

Looks like you got some good advice, good luck with it.


RDP

Many thanks to everyone for the kind words and help!

But.....

I did the complete uninstall and re-install but the same thing happens. It's about a 90 second load to the main menu then a 7min 30 sec load time to the mission (the quicker of the three loads I've tried). Then about a minute into the mission the computer just reboots with no blue screen, warning or otherwise.

The graphics card has 128MB of DDR over an above the 1Gb of RAM already installed.

I never had a problem playing SH3 (no mods, but patched to the latest) - its only since the introduction of GWX2

Thanks again for the help

Oh... and what or how do I "checksum"? :oops:

The checksum is a hash function that verifies that the file that you download is indeed the correct and complete file. Probably a good idea to do it with these problems. I believe JonesSoft has one on his page in the download section that you can get. How the checksum actually works and does its job is derived from number theory and cryptography, kinda complicated to complain how it works; just that it creates an electronic fingerprint in which files distributed electronically can use to compare and make sure that their copy is the same as the source.

Even on a really fast computer GWX can load (relative to stock SHIII) slowly, since you aren't getting a blue screen its unlikely hardware related (like a bad driver) so something is failing at some point in the loading process. The event log should have some useful information as to what's killing your machine. Look for any stop errors in the system and application logs and cut and paste em, or save the logs and post em so we can look at em in whole.

Are you loading GWX directly or using SH3 commander?

Thanks for the heads up Tessa. The checksum comes up clean. As for the event logs..where would I go finding them

(You can assume I am completely incompetent and ignorant with computers so feel free to dumb down any and all info you offer to the lowest level)

I have the same RAM
I have a 1,8GHz
I have a ATI Radeon Mobility X300
Win XP

Game runs "playable" just loading is a bit lame but that is the matter of the HDD drive,too.

I have ordered 2GB ram already nad get them today :smug: or tomorrow :smug:

Only time problems really occur is when I have to keep the scopes near the water line... the blurring etc. slows the game down getting a good solution (OLC GUI) is tricky.. but I see ot sportive and as a kind of simulation of bad sight etc. (or a drunken kaleun :lol: )

To completely rule out an install problem:
unistall everything, including the SH3 folder using a good install program such as Revo uninstall http://www.revouninstaller.com/
reinstall SH3 and patch it to 1.4b (Some of the newer SH3DVDs are already patched and come without StarFarce)
Then reinstall GWX2.0
I would also check out the Omega drivers, if you can get one for your video card. (google "Omega Drivers"}.
Finally, before you lode the game, stop all unnecessary programs and processes. FSAutostart is a free program to do this and there are several other very low cost programs also. This will free up RAM.
Make sure you have virtual RAM set to "let windows decide".
If this doesn't work, I don't know enough about computers to help you any further, and some guru with have to take over helping.
If it works, please post back, as this might help somebody else in the same fix. :know:

The hardware should be enough. I used to run GWX on a 1,8 Ghz, with a Radeon 9800Pro and 1 Gig Ram.

Seems like a drivers problem. Are there any other similar crashes/anomalies?

Welcome aboard aj906 http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/9708/piratebf4.gif

If you don't get sorted by reverting back to earlier drivers, try the following additional measures.

When you've deleted the SH3 folder from C/MyDocs, use the SH3 disc to perform the uninstall operation, then d/l regvac (it's a free programme).....this should purge your systems registry of any unused or duplicate files.

The advice from Irish is sound.....my advice is simply intended as an additional aide. http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/9...humbsuprw5.gif

Many thanks for the help...

I did what Irish said and again, nothing. I checked the event logs for the time and it noted:

The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. The bugcheck was:
0x1000008e (0xc0000005, 0xbf1c393c, 0xf6bd7a14, 0x00000000).

There is a dump file for this but I can't open it.

I've just searched your bugcheck and came up with this : :hmm:

http://www.tuneupadvisor.com/fix-error-code.aspx

Could be something or nothing......here's hoping it helps.

Many thanks for the help guys, but still the same issue - the RegCheck just alows me now to stay in game for 3 mins instead of the previous 1 :damn:


I might have to take the thing down to one of the computer dealers in town and get them to have a look at it - maybe put in a new graphics card as well