Help! Bernard's in my computer!

[Dan0859]

First, as a newbi, I want to say how helpful this forum as been for me, as far as learning and understanding the game. Now, for my problem. I bought SH3 about a month ago, as a download. I downloaded it, installed the patch, and everything was fine. Yesterday, when I tried to play, the game would load, but as soon as my mission started, it would freeze, and nothing would work. I've tried deleting it (including the file in My Doc's, and did a search to delete anything else labeled "sh3"). I reloaded the game, downloaded the patch again, but nothing helps. Both careers and single missions do the same thing. They load and start, but after 30 sec. to a minute, they freeze. I tried the delete-reinstall routine about 5 times, without any luck.
I even tried to go back to Direct2Drive, and buy another copy, figuring I'd delete the old ZIP file and start completely over. Well, I can't even do that. Their policy is that you can buy the game only once. That, I totally don't understand. Plus, they won't refund a purchase of a game. Any help would be appreciated!

[Deep-Six]

Bernard is not half of it. First and for most I need to have your syst specs.

Then we can go from there. NOTE: they need to be as specific as possible.

Your friendly neighborhood PC tech.

[Dan0859]

OK, I have an Averatec 6200 notebook. Yea, I know, but I'm overseas, and I couldn't bring a desktop unit with me. Specs are as follows:
AMD Athlon chip, 1.8 GHz
2 GB RAM
32 MG video card (hrdwired, can't be changed)
18 MG free on hard drive
Windows XP home
If I didn't list something you need, let me know. Thanks

[stabiz]

I really cant see the game working on a 32 meg graphics card.

[VIICDriver]

Did it ever work? Did it work well?

It has to be something with the video. Did you just install a mod or something before this happened, new vid drivers, new sound drivers?

Chuck

[Dan0859]

The game worked for about a month. Sometimes the colors were off, but it ran without a problem. I didn't do any mods or change anything, so that's why I don't understand what happened.

[The Munster]

Have you had a smell like of burning Cabbage ?

[John Channing]

A few problems here.

First your processor is a little on the light side, but would be adequate under other circumstances. However, with a laptop I am guessing it has on-board sound, so the processor is having to deal with some very complex sound files as well as everything else. A 32 meg video card is a problem too. But I think the real problem is the amount of available hard disk space. You would need a lot more than that for Windows and SH3 to operate happilly together.

However, try turning Sound Acceleration down to zero...

Start >>> Run >>> dxdiag >>> "Sounds" tab and move the slider all the way to the left. If that works great! Remember, however, if you play any other games on the laptop the slider can get re-set to Full.

And save often!

Good luck.

JCC

[VIICDriver]

Good advice, know nothing of laptops here except I hear they are not typical gaming material.

Chuck

[mookiemookie]

I would try deleting all the non-essential programs and files on your hard drive. Free up as much space as you can, and then adjust your virtual memory settings. (I'm going to avoid giving you specific suggestions on what size to use on your virtual memory size, as its a very contentious subject amongst computer geeks).

That's about the only thing I can think of when something used to work, but now it doesn't, and you haven't changed anything about it.

[Corsair]

Originally Posted by VIICDriver

Good advice, know nothing of laptops here except I hear they are not typical gaming material.

Chuck

Laptops today are no problem, I run all games on mine, using it at home as a central unit with external keyboard and screen, 1.8M Centrino, 1Gb DDR and 128Mo video card.

[P_Funk]

How big is your page file Dan? With a limited system that is one of the things you can control. An inadequate page file combined with barely workable specs would make for issues.

Related is whether it stopped working when you ran out of HD space.

[stabiz]

Originally Posted by Corsair

Laptops today are no problem, I run all games on mine, using it at home as a central unit with external keyboard and screen, 1.8M Centrino, 1Gb DDR and 128Mo video card.

Yes, but on low settings. Games like the new Splinter Cell require shader model 3.0, and only new/newer GPU`s have that.

The thing is, if you want a computer to play games on, get a desktop, since a laptop with the same specs will cost you way more.

[Corsair]

Originally Posted by stabiz

Yes, but on low settings. Games like the new Splinter Cell require shader model 3.0, and only new/newer GPU`s have that.
The thing is, if you want a computer to play games on, get a desktop, since a laptop with the same specs will cost you way more.

1. Why would I ever get a game like the new Splinter Cell ??
2. It's the same with desktops, if you want to run the last games, you always have to upgrade (Have been thru the process for 20 years...)
3. Now I decided I only buy games minimum 6 months after they come out, which means they are usually half price, the patches are out to make them almost bug free and the community mods are available and I am very selective about what I buy.
4. I have enough games already to keep me busy for the next 5 years... I am still playing OFP with mods, I will fly IL2/PF on high settings for a while, F4AF as well, and SH3 certainly for a long time (with high settings). As I am also still playing Combat Mission Pbems, and Virtual Skipper 4 online, Company of Heroes waiting, where would I find the time to play new games???

And I can carry my laptop and play wherever I am...

Just to say that it's possible...

By the way congrats for your films, loved each one of them...

[Corsair]

Just forgot to add to the list Dangerous Waters where I just until now scratched the surface and which will also surely keep me busy for a while, and I just remember I have at least 50 skirmish maps I didn't try yet in W40K Dawn of War...
By the way my son just bought a laptop with AMD Core Duo, 2 Gb DDR and 256 M Nvidia video card and I could bet it can run most of the games.
Once again I don't pretend it's the best, but just to say it is quite possible. When you have a life where you are a lot on the road (like me...) it can make sense. When I come home, I just plug in my TFT screen and external keyboard/mouse.