I purchased Heroes V - Limited Edition a year ago, and it ran just fine on my computer. I loaded the first couple of patches and it continued to work. Then I loaded the last couple of patches more recently and the game started to get iffy, sometimes working sometimes not. Now it does not work at all. I get the first "splash" screen, I hear a little alert beep, and then it just freezes. If I hit Ctrl-Alt-Del, I see a something called "DB Error" in the Task Manager window plus a blank, "no name" task running. I have read some of the many pages in this forum and tried some of the suggestions with no success. Why does this game not run? Thanks for any help you can give me. My machine is easily up to spec. Here is the DxDiag:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 6/3/2007, 20:34:21
Machine name: ZERBY2
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: INTEL_
System Model: D865PERL
BIOS: BIOS Date: 01/22/04 10:36:47 Ver: 08.00.10
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 1022MB RAM
Page File: 894MB used, 1568MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: RADEON 9800 PRO
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: RADEON 9800 PRO AGP (0x4E48)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E48&SUBSYS_00021002&REV_00
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor: SyncMaster 997DF/927DF/997MB/927MB/927DFI/927MBI
Monitor Max Res: 2048,1536
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6618 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 6/7/2006 16:09:10, 260096 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
Mini VDD Date: 6/7/2006 16:08:56, 1580544 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-0D08-11CF-686A-0820A1C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x4E48
SubSys ID: 0x00021002
Revision ID: 0x0000
Revision ID: 0x0000
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV8_B ModeWMV8_A ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Emu10Kx Audio [B800]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0002&SUBSYS_80671102&REV_0A
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0290 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 6/8/2003 20:44:22, 494384 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Creative
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

Description: Modem #0 Line Playback (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID:
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 81
Type: Emulated
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
WHQL Logo'd:
Date and Size:
Other Files:
Driver Provider:
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24D5&SUBSYS_A0008086&REV_02
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: smwdm.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3630 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 6/2/2003 16:42:14, 578304 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Analog Devices
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: Yes
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): Yes
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

Your bios is way too ancient(old).
Go onsite of esupport.com for sending them a complete analysis of the current situation of your PC. Small charge for a huge upgrade.

Get yourself a 256Mb Video Card. It is highly recommended to have so.

Visit Microsoft.com and, use the Microsoft Update feature for downloading all latest drivers for Video and Sound devices. The list of updates and upgrades should be quite long. I hope you have broadband, it is now, quite required for proper internet browsing and data transfers(downloads and uploads).

quote:

Originally posted by Patenaudeluc:
Your bios is way too ancient(old).
Go onsite of esupport.com for sending them a complete analysis of the current situation of your PC. Small charge for a huge upgrade.

Get yourself a 256Mb Video Card. It is highly recommended to have so.

Visit Microsoft.com and, use the Microsoft Update feature for downloading all latest drivers for Video and Sound devices. The list of updates and upgrades should be quite long. I hope you have broadband, it is now, quite required for proper internet browsing and data transfers(downloads and uploads).

Okay, I had to wait until I had a little time to investigate and do the BIOS update. The BIOS update is now done: I went through the motherboard manufacturer's (Intel) website and got the latest (2005) BIOS for my board. It made absolutely no difference; Heroes V still refuses to run.

My machine is up to date per the automatic Windows update feature (except I've chosen to not update to Explorer 7 because of incompatibility with another application), so there is no help there. I have also updated my video card drivers fairly recently direct from ATi (Catalyst 1.2.2349.28584).

My video card is still a very good unit, even if it is not the latest and greatest. Before going off and spending $85 - $135 on a new 256Mb video card that probably won't solve the problem, I'd like to have someone give me specific fixes for the problem. My machine CAN RUN this game and has done so in the past. How do I find out what the actual problem is now?

Well, I don't have a clear solution for you, sorry, just some general comments.

First, one thing to know is that Nival upped the system requirements pretty much with every patch. So it might be that your system was up to the system req needed when you installed the game, but now after the patches your system is under speck. Again, simply because the system req changed, not because there is a problem with your computer.

It might however also be that the problem is not at all with Heroes as such, but with something you installed after installing heroes. For instance, certain programs for copying CDs/DVD's let H5's anti copy security kick in and basically the game won't work not because H5 doesn't work on your computer, but because H5 doesn't work on your computer because it detects a copying program.

It could also be that it's actually an update from Windows that is causing the problem. I forgot which it was, but some people mentioned that after doing a windows update and installing a certain Windows file, H5 would no longer run. They had to uninstall that file to have H5 run again.

A lot of talk and not much help, right?
Well, I would suggest a ˜simple' test. Uninstall Heroes 5 (after saving your save games and character info) and then reinstall H5 without any of the patches. Try the game and see if it works now. If it does then you know that it's not any installed windows file that is causing the problem. Now try installing the patches again and see where the trouble start. Who knows, a full reinstall might actually cure the problem.
Btw, make sure that you get all the patches, at the moment we are up to patch 5.

H.W.

It is very important that you uninstall the much older version of DirectX9.0c and Download from Microsoft.com's web-site's newest version of DirectX9.0c SDK (June 2007)and install it pronto. That version just got released as of last week btw.

Now, go into the Display function within Control Panel and force your Display resolution to 1280x1024 at (32bit High) refreshing at (60hz only)
If you still can not go up a few more notches upto this display resolution, you will have to invest into a new 256Mb. vid. card.

Once you have reinstalled the game, download and install patch 1.4 only. Patch 1.4 will provide a link called 'Check for Updates'. Use that link to get patch 1.41 and once more for patch 1.5.

Okay, it took a while because of a bug while uninstalling Catalyst and waiting for ATI to get back to me. Did a complete uninstall per their instructions and installed latest Catalyst and drivers (package deal). Upgraded DirectX 9.0c to latest revision (June 2007). Tried to run Heroes V as is, patched all the way to v1.5. NO GO. Did the exact same thing, "DB Error" and splash screen lock up.

So, I uninstalled the game, and reinstalled. The game DID RUN (at v1.0), but errored out when I started up a saved game. I ran the 1.4 patch. The old "DB Error" came back and lock up. I uninstalled, reinstalled, and patched with 1.1. The game DID RUN (at v1.1), and I was able to play through a battle and save a the game progress without problem. I will download patches 1.2 and 1.3 and see how that goes. So far it looks like the problem lies with v1.4 and up. Grr, argh.

Has anyone ever said that upping the system requirements with a bug fix patch is a load of BS? That's pure Bait & Switch.

"Here's this great game, and it will run on your system since you have the minimum requirements."

"The game had a few bugs, so here's the fix for them...oh, but you can't run the game anymore because we changed our minds about what hardware is needed. But if you upgrade your PC, everything should be fine!"

Geez

quote:

Originally posted by garryu:
"Here's this great game, and it will run on your system since you have the minimum requirements."
Geez

No game ever runs on the minimum requirements. That's enough to run the installer.

If you would like to run the game I suggest you get the h5 tweaker from maps 4 heroes and use the tweaker to disable many graphics functions that currently prevent the game from working on a weak graphic card.

I really get tired of people thinking I have a low power system that is only at the minimum requirements. NOT SO. I meet the RECOMMENDED requirements with the exception of having a 128Mb video card, not a 256Mb. When I got my Radeon 9800 Pro video card three years ago, I compared its performance to 256Mb cards, and it was better--FAR better in some cases--to similar price 256Mb cards. Regardless, that cannot be the reason that the game now freezes at the frickin' splash screen, for Pete's sake. So anyone trying to tell me that the problem lies in my very capable Radeon 9800 Pro card just doesn't know enough about what's going on.

And I wholeheartedly agree with garryu. It is damned ridiculous to sell someone a product for $50 with certain system requirements that have been met, then patch that game's many bugs and change the system requirements. That leaves me with a $50 disc that is a damn coaster to put my glass on now. Should I spend 2 or 3 or 4 times the cost of the game to upgrade my computer? Ridiculous. I'll just play Heroes 3 when I need a fix. Now that's a good game.

quote:

Originally posted by PhoenixReborn06:

quote:

Originally posted by garryu:
"Here's this great game, and it will run on your system since you have the minimum requirements."
Geez

No game ever runs on the minimum requirements. That's enough to run the installer.

If you would like to run the game I suggest you get the h5 tweaker from maps 4 heroes and use the tweaker to disable many graphics functions that currently prevent the game from working on a weak graphic card.

Phoenix, that doesn't work for me. My problem is at the splash screen when the game tries to start. My computer can run the game, and has done so in the past for much of the game's campaign, just fine at patches below 1.4. When I patch it to 1.4 or higher, it locks up at the splash screen. Absolutely no one here has a clue as to why. What's the best way to contact UbiSoft directly???

quote:

Originally posted by Zerbicon:

quote:

Originally posted by PhoenixReborn06:

quote:

Originally posted by garryu:
"Here's this great game, and it will run on your system since you have the minimum requirements."
Geez

No game ever runs on the minimum requirements. That's enough to run the installer.

If you would like to run the game I suggest you get the h5 tweaker from maps 4 heroes and use the tweaker to disable many graphics functions that currently prevent the game from working on a weak graphic card.

Phoenix, that doesn't work for me. My problem is at the splash screen when the game tries to start. My computer can run the game, and has done so in the past for much of the game's campaign, just fine at patches below 1.4. When I patch it to 1.4 or higher, it locks up at the splash screen. Absolutely no one here has a clue as to why. What's the best way to contact UbiSoft directly???

Here is my position here:

I have an Athlon 64 3000+ running at a mere 1.8Ghz and, my video card is an ATI Radeon 9550 with a GPU using 256Mb of Reserved Mainboard RAM
+ as of today, I am running Win Vista Home Basic Upgrade over my ex-Win XP Home SP2.

All of my drivers are fully updated up to late 2006/mid 2007.

According to my ATI's newest driver, my video card is, now, the equivalent of the X1050 type of GPU and chipset.

The game is running fine at v.1.5 and, at v2.1 of H.o.F.(expansion).

I also happen to have the monitor's graphics quality at 1280x1024 (32bit) (60hz) and, having the total of 1,524MB of Mainboard RAM as well.

I have a slower main core processor and, an ancient Mainboard dating late 2002/early 2003.

My game and most of the other programs work as a charm(so far). So, I do think that the PC and the game are perfectly fine. I do not think that it's user is getting the point here. Get my draft here buddy?

quote:

Originally posted by Patenaudeluc:
<snip>

My game and most of the other programs work as a charm(so far). So, I do think that the PC and the game are perfectly fine. I do not think that it's user is getting the point here. Get my draft here buddy?

Well, no, I don't quite get your drift. I've made all the updates, latest BIOS, latest DirectX, latest ATi Catalyst, latest everything. As you point out, my machine is technically better than what you have. I've uninstalled the game and reinstalled the game. So why won't the game run? Why does no one know what "DB Error" means? Why is there no help? What do you suggest? I've done everything you suggested, and it didn't matter in the slightest. Are you implying that I should wipe my hard drive, start over, and everything will work okay? Why should I do something drastic, time consuming, and/or expensive only to be disappointed once again?

When you up-date the software your previous saved games will give you problems unless you start them from the beginning. In other-words; start all-over-again once you patched.

quote:

Originally posted by mechnic:
When you up-date the software your previous saved games will give you problems unless you start them from the beginning. In other-words; start all-over-again once you patched.

That's a good thought, but the error ("DB Error") happens at the splash screen as the application tries to launch, before I am close to loading or starting a new game.

I'm now finding that at patch 1.3 I get the "DB Error" as a popup, but I can right click and close it repeatedly, maybe 4 times in a row and get the game to launch. At patch 1.4, it no longer works to close the "DB Error" (using ctrl-alt-del, Task Manager)...it just keeps coming back and never allowing the game to launch.

quote:

Originally posted by Zerbicon:

quote:

Originally posted by mechnic:
When you up-date the software your previous saved games will give you problems unless you start them from the beginning. In other-words; start all-over-again once you patched.

That's a good thought, but the error ("DB Error") happens at the splash screen as the application tries to launch, before I am close to loading or starting a new game.

I'm now finding that at patch 1.3 I get the "DB Error" as a popup, but I can right click and close it repeatedly, maybe 4 times in a row and get the game to launch. At patch 1.4, it no longer works to close the "DB Error" (using ctrl-alt-del, Task Manager)...it just keeps coming back and never allowing the game to launch.

Sounds to me like your files are not getting put/copied in the right place. You should have a data folder in the Ubisoft/Heroes of Might and Magic V. check to see if it's there. If it is then the program is not finding it; which would lead me to beleive that you installed it on flash drive or on a portable drive.

quote:

Originally posted by mechnic:

quote:

Originally posted by Zerbicon:

quote:

Originally posted by mechnic:
When you up-date the software your previous saved games will give you problems unless you start them from the beginning. In other-words; start all-over-again once you patched.

That's a good thought, but the error ("DB Error") happens at the splash screen as the application tries to launch, before I am close to loading or starting a new game.

I'm now finding that at patch 1.3 I get the "DB Error" as a popup, but I can right click and close it repeatedly, maybe 4 times in a row and get the game to launch. At patch 1.4, it no longer works to close the "DB Error" (using ctrl-alt-del, Task Manager)...it just keeps coming back and never allowing the game to launch.

Sounds to me like your files are not getting put/copied in the right place. You should have a data folder in the Ubisoft/Heroes of Might and Magic V. check to see if it's there. If it is then the program is not finding it; which would lead me to beleive that you installed it on flash drive or on a portable drive.

It also sounds like a thorough Clean Disk session could help out his Hard-Drive out of useless clutter and, a thorough Defrag Disk is quite in order right after the patching processes have been through up to 1.5 here.


@Zerbicon: Could you delete your previous and older DXDIAG, do a newer one(with all the changes you would have made since), Copy and Paste it again here for us to distinguish the changes and try to help the best we can at finding out where you would have missed some so-called non vital areas. Please.

quote:

Originally posted by mechnic:

quote:

Originally posted by Zerbicon:

quote:

Originally posted by mechnic:
When you up-date the software your previous saved games will give you problems unless you start them from the beginning. In other-words; start all-over-again once you patched.

That's a good thought, but the error ("DB Error") happens at the splash screen as the application tries to launch, before I am close to loading or starting a new game.

I'm now finding that at patch 1.3 I get the "DB Error" as a popup, but I can right click and close it repeatedly, maybe 4 times in a row and get the game to launch. At patch 1.4, it no longer works to close the "DB Error" (using ctrl-alt-del, Task Manager)...it just keeps coming back and never allowing the game to launch.

Sounds to me like your files are not getting put/copied in the right place. You should have a data folder in the Ubisoft/Heroes of Might and Magic V. check to see if it's there. If it is then the program is not finding it; which would lead me to beleive that you installed it on flash drive or on a portable drive.

I do have a "data" here C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\Heroes of Might and Magic V Collector Edition\data. It has several *.pak files and some downloaded maps in it.

I have not used a flash drive or portable drive for any Heroes V related transfers or installations.

Thanks for continuing to try. :-)

quote:

Originally posted by Patenaudeluc:

It also sounds like a thorough Clean Disk session could help out his Hard-Drive out of useless clutter and, a thorough Defrag Disk is quite in order right after the patching processes have been through up to 1.5 here.


@Zerbicon: Could you delete your previous and older DXDIAG, do a newer one(with all the changes you would have made since), Copy and Paste it again here for us to distinguish the changes and try to help the best we can at finding out where you would have missed some so-called non vital areas. Please.

Working on the CleanDisk. I have to deal with a family of four users on this computer and the usual lack of time for long tasks. I did delete a large number of files. Will do a defrag next. I appreciate the continuing attempts on your part to help, but I would really like specific troubleshooting.


Latest dxdiag:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 6/26/2007, 23:16:36
Machine name: ZERBY2
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: INTEL_
System Model: D865PERL
BIOS: BIOS Date: 02/13/05 22:02:08 Ver: 08.00.10
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 1022MB RAM
Page File: 811MB used, 1650MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: RADEON 9800 PRO
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor AGP (0x4E48)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E48&SUBSYS_00021002&REV_00
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor: SyncMaster 997DF/927DF/997MB/927MB/927DFI/927MBI
Monitor Max Res: 2048,1536
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6698 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 5/17/2007 20:57:53, 268288 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
Mini VDD Date: 5/17/2007 20:57:34, 2164736 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-0D08-11CF-9869-0820A1C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x4E48
SubSys ID: 0x00021002
Revision ID: 0x0000
Revision ID: 0x0000
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV8_B ModeWMV8_A ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Emu10Kx Audio [B800]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0002&SUBSYS_80671102&REV_0A
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0290 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 6/8/2003 20:44:22, 494384 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Creative
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

Description: Modem #0 Line Playback (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID:
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 81
Type: Emulated
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
WHQL Logo'd:
Date and Size:
Other Files:
Driver Provider:
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24D5&SUBSYS_A0008086&REV_02
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: smwdm.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3630 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 6/2/2003 16:42:14, 578304 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Analog Devices
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: Yes
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): Yes
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

Go on the web for esupport.com , download-install to the desktop the Bios Agent Application. Run it and send it back to them. A rep. will contact you in a few days time for a deal onto selling you a 2007 Bios for your specific PC components and mainboard.

In the time and, after doing that, visit Driveragent.com and, do a scan of all your drivers currently installed. That will show you how far back in red your PC is with its drivers integrity and age of obsolescence.

Does this speaker sound system in the 5.1 surround sound type?

Can you force your video/display card's resolution up to 1280x1024 (32bit-High) (60Hz's refresh rate)?

When you throw your disk1 play/install disk in your PC's CD optical drive, could you just click onto the EXIT button of the splash window/menu and use/click onto the Desktop's Icon for properly launching the HoMM5 game?

If you can answer all these questions by yourself for your own family, I am sure that it will appreciate your conformity to the extreme help I have been giving you for the past week or so.

Good Luck.

@Zerbicon try this:
Do a reinstall of the game.
Make sure no files are left in the game dir.
Mods or maps from earlier versions may crash the game. I know they can cause it happened to me.
Also perphas when you ran the game previously had the Hyper-Threading of your processor turned off?
Try to disable it from BIOS. (look in your motherboard manual for how-to).
Also did you add more ram to the computer or changed any other part? Video/Motheroboard/Processor since you ran the game previously?