new survey

[Sub_Boy]

Hi all,

For those who have a constant crash to desk top problem, I would like to know how often this happens, every hour, hour 1/2, what, and how often do you save the game to keep down your amount of lost campaign progress in the event of a crash.

Yesterday I re-installed the game, patch & TM, and now it crashes every couple of hours of play, very frustrating.
I have owned this game since it's release, and have never been able to complete one patrol, let alone the campaign.

So the survey questions are;

1) How often does it crash on you?
2) How often do you save the game to miminize lost campaign progress?
3) Finally, how many here have actually finished the campaign, with few issues or not.

BTW my incentive for this post, is that SH-4 just crashed on me moments ago.

Cheers Sub_boy http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/compsmash.gif

[lane2512]

I'd like to answer Sub_Boy but it doesn't crash on me.....not since 1.3 anyway. The only crash that I have had since then was from a corrupted sound driver (caused by a different application).

[DRAGONFIRE_Sr]

I hate to say it but, I'm with lane, I havent had any crashes in ages. I have yet to finish a campain though. You may need to update your chipset drivers for your motherboard. Also, if you haven't done this already, make sure your CTD's are not due to heat. My son's FX-60 in a cheap mid tower case tends to overheat when he is gaming. I need to add some more fans to his box to help it cool off.

Just some random thoughts from a balding fat man! http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/typing.gif

[tambor198]

Agree with the other guys. Can't remember the last time I've had a CTD. SHIV has been running very well for me lately. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/25.gif

[dgrayson]

With TTM1.65 I went from 08DEC41 to VJ day. No CTDs were encountered. Have been playing TTM1.75 for a week or so and am in 09JAN44 from a 01JAN43 start. Not a single CTD.

I save when I am done for the night.

[Sparhawk81]

1) I'm with the other guys, too... I can't remember last time I had a CTD... since Patch 1.4 it has been running smooth, with all TM versions

2) Quite often, 2 or 3 saves per patrol, sometimes more

3) Haven't finished a campaign, yet...

Bear in mind that Patch 1.4 makes some graphical changes, too IIRC... thus, if you're having frequent CTDs after this patch, I would suggest you to at least update your video drivers, and see what happends

[lane2512]

Sub_boy...

Post your system specs?

Run a dxdiag report and maybe the problem will be identified there. It could be something as simple as turning off AA, or Vsynch. Updating a driver....but really is hard to help you with the problem you are having without something to work with.

Also when in the game are you playing, type sub...etc etc...

All that info helps other forum members (especially ones more technical then I) in offering suggestions to get it running sooth.

[Sub_Boy]

Hi all, Hi Lane,

Lane you asked me my system specs and they are as follows;

Windows XP Home Edition
Pentium 4, 3.4 Ghz
2 gigs ram
Ati Radeon X600 256 meg card, with 2.0 shader support,
07.9 Catalyst driver package (2007 issue)

BTW I purchased this computer new in spring 2006, its getting old, but not there yet as far as running SH4 is concerned, and SH3 has the rare livable bug, and runs fine no crashes.
I'm not sure if the video drivers are current, I'll check Ati's driver site, but I have updated them at least twice since I bought the computer.
I run "dxdiag" once in a while, so far shows all ok.

Note though there is one continuing issue when I run the windows "error log".
It repeats over, and over under the Source heading that "atimtag", than under the Discription heading to the right, that "CRT invalid display type" error. looks like this;

Date Source Discription
Today atimtag crt invalid display type

My monitor is a Samsung LCD, not CRT, and it works fine.
The error log is the only place it sees it as a CRT??
I have investigated how to correct it, short of reinstalling the video driver, but havn't yet as so far it hasn't created any issues that I can see.
Does anybody know or heard what this issue is,and if so does it presnt a problem, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks Sub_Boy http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/compsmash.gif

[pookapotamus]

The only chrashes I get are from me running the sub in to an island while in time compression. http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[CapnScurvy]

Sub_Boy, I have had Windows errors appear taking me back to desktop. Simply defraging the hard disk took care of the problem. Getting all those pieces of the game together is no small feat, having them scattered throughout your hard disk is just asking for trouble. Good computer "house cleaning" before and after any large download or installation will make a difference!!

[shadow_858]

I've never had a CTD with SH4. The vast majority of these are either caused by overheating issues or mod conflicts.

[Sub_Boy]

Originally posted by CapnScurvy:
Sub_Boy, I have had Windows errors appear taking me back to desktop. Simply defraging the hard disk took care of the problem. Getting all those pieces of the game together is no small feat, having them scattered throughout your hard disk is just asking for trouble. Good computer "house cleaning" before and after any large download or installation will make a difference!!

Thanks for the advice Capnscurvy, but I did all that in this order when I was having TM install problems two days ago;

shut down anti virus
removed SH4,all patches, every thing.
defragged disc.
re-installed SH4, patch 1.4 (only).
defragged again.
rebooted pc.
than installed TM 1.7.5 using dgrayson's mod installation guide.
defragged again.
rebooted pc.


All sucessful now game play wise, except for crash problem.
I've always been over cautious when installing pc games, plus patches, to save doing it twice.

Cheers Sub_Boy

[lane2512]

Something that you might look into (if you already haven't)....refresh rate on your monitor and game need to match. I had this come up early in the process. The game defaults to 75hz, and my monitor was running at 60hz, and that was causing the game to hang-fire on me.

[tambor198]

Two things I can add that I haven't seen suggested is before installing SHIV is making sure that you don't install game to the default directory in Program Files, install it directly to your C: drive. Second is after you finish installing SHIV make sure you reboot your computer. This helps settle things in the Registry.

Further help can be found here (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=107783&highlight=installing+SHIV).

[CapnScurvy]

Looks like you did everything right Sub_Boy!! Tambor's suggestion of rebooting after the installation isn't a bad idea either, the registry is a funny piece of work. One other note about the hard disk, when did you last run Windows Scandisk to check and fix disk errors? Maybe there's a bad sector that doesn't like to hold information.

[Sub_Boy]

Originally posted by tambor198:
Two things I can add that I haven't seen suggested is before installing SHIV is making sure that you don't install game to the default directory in Program Files, install it directly to your C: drive. Second is after you finish installing SHIV make sure you reboot your computer. This helps settle things in the Registry.

Further help can be found here (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=107783&highlight=installing+SHIV).

Hi Tambor,

Now theres somthing I didn't do, didn't know.
I allowed everything to install in to the default path(s), program files & my documents folder.
What are the chances thats the issue because other than the crash problem, all seems to work well.
Hate to re-install again, but will if I have too.
Would the path issue be an issue with SH3 as well, just curious?

Cheers Sub_Boy

[Sub_Boy]

Originally posted by lane2512:
Something that you might look into (if you already haven't)....refresh rate on your monitor and game need to match. I had this come up early in the process. The game defaults to 75hz, and my monitor was running at 60hz, and that was causing the game to hang-fire on me.

Hi Lane, I just checked my ATI control center.
My desktop is set to a maxinum refresh rate of 60 hz.
But in "Display Options" I have my 3D refresh rate override set to "disabled".
Also in "Monitor Properties" the box labeled "Monitor attributes" shows a "maxinum reported refresh rate" as being 75hz, with "use extended display data " checked to ON.
Hope these settings are correct, as it looks to be a "let the application decide" situation.

Not sure if these settings are problem.

Cheers Sub_Boy

[snakeyez77]

1) How often does it crash on you?

Pretty darn often. I'm running patched 1.4 and TM 1.7.5 and some ROW mods. I blame Vista. Whenever there is a crash it's the old "SH4 has stopped responding, please wait while we check for a solution" thing. When does it happen? It CAN happen a) when I switch from one area to another, like from the deck to the control room b) when I save (which is really irritating) c) when I load a bad save or d) at random.

2) How often do you save the game to minimize lost campaign progress?

I save while on the surface away from anything graphically challenging while stopped. I do this very very often, usually after sinking something.

3) Finally, how many here have actually finished the campaign, with few issues or not.

I started with a Balao class sub (don't recall the year) and have made it to mid 1945 now so the end must be soon. Then I'm going to restart completely maybe from the earliest point.

[pacace_063]

I haven't had any crashes on my rig with SH4 that I can remember (post patch 1.4 of course). You may want to check your video settings.... first try at optimal performace and see how well it runs then switch to optimal quality and see if it runs or seizes. My guess is that your computer is experiencing an overload and seizing up.

[OpiesEye]

Sub_Boy there is an updated friver for your video card, you might want to install it.

PS...No crashes for me.

[alieneddiexxx]

I don't get CTD when in-game. I get them loading saved games. CTD at the please wait screen after the progress bar runs across.

[Sub_Boy]

Hi All,

Thanks for the input.
Looks like most of you are not having CTD problems.

I will check for driver, bios updates today, see what luck I have.
Checked for sound driver updates yesterday all is current there if you consider the latest driver was released in June 2005, lol.

Cheers Sub_Boy

[swamprat69er]

[quote]Something that you might look into (if you already haven't)....refresh rate on your monitor and game need to match. I had this come up early in the process. The game defaults to 75hz, and my monitor was running at 60hz, and that was causing the game to hang-fire on me.[quote]

Thanks Lane, you just solved my only crash since I started this game last October.