SH4 crash on trying to go or look outside; programmer help needed | Forums

[Lorance]

SH4 crashes when I try to go or look outside. The intro video runs just fine, the sea and sky and ship details are stunning, explosions and smoke and everything. Then the game loads, and I can play the missions all day long if I don't try to look or go outside. If I do (to go to the bridge, use a gun, or man the periscope), black goes the screen, off goes the music, and I get an "APPCRASH" error message. If the introductory (exterior) visuals are great, how come I can't get any exterior visuals at all while playing the game?

Here are the crash details, for version 1.0.0 and after latest patch (version 1.4.0). Can a programmer ID the issue from this data (and suggest a cure)?

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: SH4.exe
Application Version: 1.0.0.0
Application Timestamp: 45e519c7
Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 00189c39
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.2
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: a2d4
Additional Information 2: bbcb1bf15d6511abaa3002ac69938f2f
Additional Information 3: 3521
Additional Information 4: ef7ee952d6d37b0fb1d7d0460d32f272

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: SH4.exe
Application Version: 1.4.0.0
Application Timestamp: 4743033b
Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 00189c39
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.2
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 52a0
Additional Information 2: 0202fcf2838cfd0098bd86d10d4bc1fb
Additional Information 3: cedf
Additional Information 4: c2b350dd1b6c1655edd726d33430aebc

Many thanks for any/all responses.

[Lorance]

SH4 crashes when I try to go or look outside. The intro video runs just fine, the sea and sky and ship details are stunning, explosions and smoke and everything. Then the game loads, and I can play the missions all day long if I don't try to look or go outside. If I do (to go to the bridge, use a gun, or man the periscope), black goes the screen, off goes the music, and I get an "APPCRASH" error message. If the introductory (exterior) visuals are great, how come I can't get any exterior visuals at all while playing the game?

Here are the crash details, for version 1.0.0 and after latest patch (version 1.4.0). Can a programmer ID the issue from this data (and suggest a cure)?

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: SH4.exe
Application Version: 1.0.0.0
Application Timestamp: 45e519c7
Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 00189c39
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.2
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: a2d4
Additional Information 2: bbcb1bf15d6511abaa3002ac69938f2f
Additional Information 3: 3521
Additional Information 4: ef7ee952d6d37b0fb1d7d0460d32f272

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: SH4.exe
Application Version: 1.4.0.0
Application Timestamp: 4743033b
Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 00189c39
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.2
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 52a0
Additional Information 2: 0202fcf2838cfd0098bd86d10d4bc1fb
Additional Information 3: cedf
Additional Information 4: c2b350dd1b6c1655edd726d33430aebc

Many thanks for any/all responses.

[RebelEagle]

The fault seems to be occurring in the DX Module; What OS are you running; Have you looked into my post detailing the Graphics situation (black screen) most likely caused by your own Graphic card settings?; Do You use a nvidia card?; Have you downloaded and installed the latest DX from Microsoft; have you updated your graphics card. Read my posts and others concerning your situation. The answer is 8 times out of 10 closer than you think.
Hope this helps.
***If Its In MY Sights Its DEAD***

[Lorance]

Thanks, RebelEagle, for your valued suggestions.

"a DX problem" is about as far as I got, too, after Googling "d3d9.dll". Beyond that the crash report is as yet incomprehensible (Fault Module Version, Exception Code, Exception Offset, Additional Information lines 1,2,3 and 4). Somewhere in there is information refining the definition of the problem, and telling us what to do to fix it, so we don't spend hours and hours trying solution after solution and not getting anywhere.

Having said that, I confess to having spent hours and hours going from solution to solution and not getting anywhere. Now I hope someone this side of MicroSoft can give me the answer, or point me to the "Dictionary of Incomprehensible Computer Error Codes", if one exists.

To answer your pertinent questions...
I have read many, if not all of your posts on black screens. The "break-point" in those cases were at different times in the loading and execution of the program from mine; I get great visuals through the intro, and the game loads and plays forever below decks.

There's some difference between running the intro exterior video and the running the game exterior video (but not interior video). If I knew that specific difference, I'd know how to fix it.

I tried the recommendations you made to the others anyway, and they are excellent ideas. First I updated all my drivers (video card, monitor, DirectX). After that I updated to the 1.4.0.0 patch. Then I uninstalled SH4, reinstalled it and the patch. Then, in Games> SH4> Customize> Run> Edit> Compatibility, I tried running in "Compatibility Mode for Windows XP SP2". Then I configured the game for lowest Graphics options. Then I went back to Games> SH4> Customize> "Run> "Edit> Compatibility and tried the game disabling desktop composition, then disabling display scaling on high DPI settings, then disabling both (returning Compatibility to its original settings after). Then I defragmented my C: and D: drives. Then I ran SH4 in administrator mode. Then I examined the Event Log (Games> Tools> Performance Information> Advanced Tools> Event Log) where I saw that about when the crash occurred SH4 tried to disable Windows Desktop Manager; so I disabled it (re-enabling it after that didn't help).

In case you're wondering, I re-tried the game after EACH individual change.

Oh, and I downloaded a software program, "RegCure" (Paretologic), that claimed to fix .dll errors by cleaning the computer registry, etc. Nope.

Specs:
Vista Home Basic SP1 (system32)
2.0 GB Installed physical memory (RAM)
4.21 GB Total virtual memory
2.28 GB Page file space
2.2 GHz Dual core processor
G33/G31 320MB Intel Express video card (v2.0 shading)

(Incidentally, the referenced site at UbiSoft, System Requirements Lab, that tests your computer to see if SH4 will work, says my G33/G31 video card doesn't have, and needs version 2.0 shader. Intel says the G33/G31 card has got v.2.0 shader. I believe Intel. Is that site trying to make people buy new video cards when maybe they don't need to?)

Any further thoughts or suggestions you might have will be most welcome, RebelEagle, and anyone else.

[Lorance]

A little more: I tested my DirectX and it passed muster (using the Command Prompt window, type in "dxdiag" then hit "Enter", and find, under one of the tabs, some diagnostic tests for DirectX).

My latest DirectX was downloaded from MicroSoft in the last two weeks, after I ran into the SH4 problem. In case the problem stemmed from two DirectX extensions on the same computer, I tried uninstalling SH4 and re-installing it, this time without installing DirectX 9.0c and DX9 Codecs from the SH4 CD-ROM (using instead the latest DirectX 10 End User Runtime), but it has made no difference. No worse, no better. The same. Play all day below-decks. Try for the bridge, "SH4 has stopped working".

[vipe155]

I was looking at your problem and read all the posts in this conversation. I looked up your "G33/G31 320MB Intel Express video card" and that is basically some kind of Intel integrated graphics system. I can tell you that if you don't have an actual separate video card, like an ATI Radeon or NVIDIA Geforce card then that could very well be your problem. The System Requirements program that Ubisoft provides was basically trying to tell you that.

There isn't many games today that can be used without a graphics card manufactured by one of the main brands, like I listed above. I have never seen an Intel onboard graphics chipset that was capable of playing much of anything.

Just my 2 cents.

[Wolferz]

Wolferz wanders by the docks,

Hiya Lorance, still having troubles I see.

I overheard Vipe's suggestion and I think he is correct. Motherboard integrated anything is not the way to go for playing cutting edge games like Silent Hunter. Your machine could probably handle SH III. Do you have that one, and does it run OK?
I'm going to suggest a seperate peripheral video card . I can only hope that your rig will accept one.
Integrated audio and video chips use valuable CPU cycles and RAM to do their thing. It's a cheat by the board makers. They can handle lower end applications with no problems but, not SH IV. I would venture to say that all of us who play SH IV had to upgrade our rigs to do so. I run a pair of Nvidia 7900 graphics cards at 1440 x 900 resolution on an Nforce 780I mobo with 4 gig of RAM. My audio is integrated but works very very well due to my Intel Quad core cpu and the 4 gig of RAM.
I'm sorry to say that you may need to put your procurement officer to work.
I will also recomend EVGA as your hardware maker. They build motherboards and graphics cards the way AM General builds tanks.

Edit: One other thing that seems to keep buzzin around my head is that D3D module showing up at fault and I'm wondering if a reinstall of the DirextX 9 drivers might be the problem, even though your DX 10 passes muster, SH IV was written for DX 9. I can assure you that reinstalling DX 9 shouldn't cause any problems as it will only load what it needs. I have reinstalled the game many times and I always include the DX 9 setup even though I am running Vista 64 bit with DX 10. It couldn't hurt to give that a shot before you go spending your Pesos.

[Lorance]

Vipe155, Wolferz: thanks, guys, for your thoughts and time.

My error: it's not a video "card", it's a "chipset". (woops)

By the way, initially I installed DX9 from the SH4 CD-ROM, even though I already had DX10 on board. What I haven't done is remove DX10, install DX9 alone, so there can be no indecision/confusion as SH4 runs. Not sure how to do that, though, really.

So, if you think I need to buy a video card, that sinks me until I can come up with the cash. Seeing how funds are scarce which card would you recommend (best performance for the money), and where should I get it (online) for the best price? (Is that something that would go on sale at Christmas, or right after?)

Thanks for your advice...

Lorance

[vipe155]

Well, it might depend on what kind of graphics card slot you many have, but I recommend looking at Newegg.com. Great site, easy to understand, good prices and shipping. I build and sell custom systems, and I use Newegg all the time.

I would recommend going there and checking out the NVIDIA 9600 GT or 9600 GSO. I have a 9600 GSO in my personal system, and they can now be had for $55 after rebate. Check this link:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121251

And don't worry about performance with an NVIDIA Geforce 9 or above card. I run the game at max settings at my LCD monitors resolution and it is nice and smooth (+ it looks awesome).

[Lorance]

Vipe155
I've done the research. The Dell support guy says, for my computer, that I can use a max of 250W for any discrete graphics card. That knocks out the 400W power group, which includes GeForce 9600GSO and 9600GT. Without this getting expensive, can you suggest any alternatives? Or should I reconcile myself to SH2 as the best I can do? Every suggestion from anyone will be appreciated a lot!