Random crashing from games within XP

[Artois28]

Hi guys,

I have a Athlon 3200+, 1Gb Ram, X800XT PE graphics card, Audigy 2ZS sound card, runn
ing XP pro. I recently formatted my 200 Gb HD and re-installed everything I have.
Everytime I try to play Oblivion, Homeworld 2, Battlefield 2, ad naseum, the games radomly crash. Sometimes there is just a black screen, sometimes re-boots, sometimes just freezes the screen and occasionally an error message saying there is a problem with a driver. However, I have completely new drivers on everything.
I know it's only gameplay but it's one of those knawing problems that is winding me up...

I am fairly advanced with PC problems, but this has me stumped...ANY help would be extremely welcome...

Many thanks in advance,

Artois28

 

[linney]

Any clues in the Event Viewer?

Can you check out how it runs if you login as any other user in Normal Mode?

Any errors logged in the Event Viewer can be expanded by double clicking on the error line.

Take any event error I.D. number and search for it on these sites.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr.../prodtechnol/winxppro/support/EE_winxppro.asp

http://www.eventid.net/events.asp

Also check any "Information" line that mentions "savedump" and you should find reference to "recovered from a bug check". This is the Stop Error that caused your problem.

You can also turn off "automatically restart after an error" so it will just halt at the fault and display the full Stop Error and blue screen.

Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties .
On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery .
Click to clear the Automatically restart check box under System failure , and then click OK . The error message on a blue screen should remain on the screen so you can record the error information.



If the error occurred after installing a device driver or application, try using Safe Mode and removing the driver or program.

To check your RAM.

http://www.memtest86.com/

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

To check your Hard Drive.

The drive manufacturer will have free diagnostic software to check your drive for problems.

To check conflicting software.

310353 - How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

316434 - HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310560&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650

Will check your computer for spyware and adware.




Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Select both boxes.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

DirectX: Description of the DirectX Diagnostic Tool

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;190900&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

263039 - Games: How to Troubleshoot Display Issues

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;263039&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Support Center Games

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;gms&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Support Center DirectX (Home User)

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;drx&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Try the games troubleshooter at this site.

http://techchat.ea.com:4080/rnw/helpwinxp-index.html

http://techsupport.ea.com/troubleshooting/winxp/

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

You also need to ensure your temps aren't getting to high, those will cause you to crash also. Gaming especially causes the hardware to run hard therefore run hot.

 

[Amos43]

Although your hardware looks pretty new, you should look for firmware upgrades for your chipset and video card. These are fairly often overlooked updates but can cause serious problems - like crashes or freezes.

Did you overclock any of that gear?

Good luck.

 

[BadBigBen]

Also set the AGP APERTURE SIZE in the BIOS SETUP to at least 128mb...

as mentioned earlier, TEMPERATURE is the killer, so check your airflow and fans (if they function correctly, etc.)... to test if it is TEMP related, open up the CASE and direct a ROOM FAN onto the MOBO blowing in cooler air, if the PC still crashes then it is not TEMP related...

also update DX9 to the latest version, or atleast to the APR release ...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."