Help! PC problem

[von Manstein]

I have problem and I don't know with what: PC or CS (or both). When I lunch CS after few moves game just freeze (sometimes during replay) and after 20-30 seconds whole PC just freeze. HDD's control light is on (not flashing) and nothing happens. Only reset button helps. I've get my PC back after 18 months and I remember that it happened few times before but it was seldom. Now it’s 2-4 times in a row.

I have Vista 64-bit.

Any ideas what it can be?

I've lost few very good artillery fire results because I had to restart game.
And by the way, I’ve notice that second time, arty fire is much worse than by first time and third and fourth time is the same as second :)

By this “scientific research” I’ve proved that it does not make sense to cheat!!! at least by trying to open game one more time

[Scud]

Not a lot to go on. Does it only happen when playing CS? If yes, then uninstall the game and reinstall, patch, etc. I'd do that first anyway.

If it happens with other programs it could be a lot of things, like a bad RAM chip, or a failing part (power supply, harddrive, etc).

The simple basics: run anti-spyware and anti-malware. Open the PC and vacuum out any accumulations of dust (heat can cause problems). Make sure you're drive isn't full. Defrag it if need be.

Little more advanced might be a driver conflict, but hard to diagnose. I'd start with the video card driver. See if there's an update on the card maunufacturer's site. Also, check updates on your PC manufacturer's site. See if there were updates to the BIOS after you got it. However, even if there is, make sure it's an update that specifically addresses your problem. If not, leave the BIOS alone.

You can check your events log in the control panels under administrative logs. Probably won't help much.

Can't think of anything else. It's most likely a software issue, so don't get too worried until it starts happening no matter what you're doing on it. Usually hardware problems result in blue screens and weird grinding sounds from inside the box.

Wish I could be of more help.

Dave

[Larry Reese]

Any changes made to the PC recently? Such as new programs, updates, etc...? Is Vista itself installed with all MS updates?

LR

[von Manstein]

Well, I've put more RAM, but one of the pieces was damaged. I had very often blue screen. It even damaged system. So I've removed bad RAM piece and reinstall whole system.

I have Vista 64-bit with ALL updates and Microsoft Office Outlook, Excel and Word with all updates as well.
I use Alcohol52% for virtual DVD drive.

So I have newest drivers, I still have 14 GB free space on system Drive and game is freshly installed.

The problem is only when CS is running. Other games works fine.

Like I said, I remember that two years ago I had the same problem but not so often. Now is almost every time.

[Crossroads]

Have you done what Jason describes in post #2 in here: https://www.theblitz.club/message_boards...?tid=57843

My W7 64 bit had some scrolling issues that were gone as I believe I explained on that same thread as well.

The only problem I continue to have is the total lack of time to commit to any PBEM games. I hope to return in a few months time though :)

[Scud]

I'd say reinstall the game, patch it, do what Jason said to resolve the Vista issues and see if that helps.

If you feel like it, carefully reseat the RAM. Maybe something isn't firmly seated and causing a crash. Doubt it though.

I'd still check your video card driver from the manufacturer's site. Don't use Windows update for that.

Dave

[von Manstein]

I've cleaned all PC inside from dust. I've removed all RAM pieces and put them back (firmly). Prewiosly I had 2x 1GB (DDR2 667). Now I have 3x1GB (DDR2 667).

I have ATI Radeon X1300pro and drivers are from ATI web site.

I'll try to reinstall game and we'll see.

Thanks for help

[Larry Reese]

Given all the above, I'd say reinstall the game if:

1 - the fix is not enabled by using the compatibility settings that in W7 are most easily accessed by right clicking on icon, selecting "compatibility" and experimenting with the "Settings" boxes until you find one that works

2 - you've tried running setting it so that it will run in "Windows XP" or other compatibility mode.

LR

[von Manstein]

Hi!

Back to old topic just in case that someone have the same problem.

I've get new graphic card (Radeon HD 5570) and it seems that the problem is gone. I've tested on old games and I haven't got any crash yet.

By the way, I've got a question about "dice roll" during calculation of fire results. Is it checked every time I fire or once before my turn.

What I've noticed, every time I've opened turn I was making the same moves and the results was:
first time file open, fire results quite good for many different units
second time, results much worse (for all units, not single result better)
third time and more, results identical as second time.

My conclusion is that: when is going good, is going good for all units, and when is not, it's disaster at all front.

So is there some kind of "luck check" before turn? Or it was just my luck.