lock ups

[ElfPhoenix]

I couldn't seem to find anything about this, so I shall ask. When I view a battle, it always locks up if I allow sound. If I disable sound, no lock up. I'm evaluating the game with the demo, deciding if to buy it. If I cannot resolve this issue, most likely I won't purchase the game (been burned far too many times). I have a sound bLaster live sound card (not the value card) and using driver Version 5.12.2.252. Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Saber Cherry]

Try changing the sound setting (in the game options) to wave out. Alternately, you could try turning off hardware sound acceleration in Windows (from the control panel).

[ElfPhoenix]

Had already tried those two things, Cherry. Thanks, tho.

Edit: Odd... now for some reason when I turned off sound, it locked up. And then when I switched to waveout, it worked. Peculiar, because another time it was exactly the opposite.

[ December 31, 2003, 08:56: Message edited by: ElfPhoenix ]

[ElfPhoenix]

And then when I tried to repeat that success, it locked up again. I hate device drivers. So far, it appears there is no solution for my dilemna. Damn, 'cause otherwise the game is enticing.

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by ElfPhoenix:
And then when I tried to repeat that success, it locked up again. I hate device drivers. So far, it appears there is no solution for my dilemna. Damn, 'cause otherwise the game is enticing.

Are you doing other "sound" things at the same time? Playing MP3's or something?

Try cold rebooting the computer. (cold meaning that the computer powers down, then actually gets turned off at the power switch on the back of the machine, then turned back on)

[ElfPhoenix]

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
Are you doing other "sound" things at the same time? Playing MP3's or something?

Try cold rebooting the computer. (cold meaning that the computer powers down, then actually gets turned off at the power switch on the back of the machine, then turned back on)

Nope, no sound things going on. By cold reboot, I assume you mean by pressing the reset button, which I had to do anyway 'cause of the solid lock up. But if you mean did I turn off the computer and then after about a minute turn it back on, that I hadn't done.

[Saber Cherry]

Some questions...

1) What Version of Windows are you using?
2) Is it fully updated?
3) What motherboard are you using (chipset is enough)?
4) Does the motherboard have integrated sound, and if so, is it disabled in the BIOS?
5) Are you using the latest Direct X Version?
6) Have you tried updating your motherboard drivers? This can be crucial in resolving sound problems, especially for VIA motherBoards and Creative cards.

[ElfPhoenix]

Originally posted by Saber Cherry:
Some questions...

1) What Version of Windows are you using?
2) Is it fully updated?
3) What motherboard are you using (chipset is enough)?
4) Does the motherboard have integrated sound, and if so, is it disabled in the BIOS?
5) Are you using the latest Direct X Version?
6) Have you tried updating your motherboard drivers? This can be crucial in resolving sound problems, especially for VIA motherBoards and Creative cards.

1&2) WinXP Home Edition, and yes, fully updated.

3) Asus P3B-F mb, latest bios. Intel 440BX chipset.

4) No, and thus N/A

5) Yes. v 9.0b

6) To my knowledge, the computer's mb uses no drivers, only a bios.

Now some possibly unusual info regarding my computer:

1) I use a Promise Ultra66 PCI card (an EIDE control device) to control the HD. Yes, latest bios and Promise has no driver for WinXP. The only driver that I am aware is with WinXP.

2) Due to this, the Western Digital HD is listed in the device manager as a SCSI drive, which it is not. All due to how Win looks at PCI control cards. I examined the HD's listed properties and two that were listed were for actual SCSI drives, so I disabled them. The battle replay worked then, but only twice before another lock up.

Altho a PCI card controls this HD, a driver is listed for it. It is the default driver installed by WinXP. No updates found for this driver either.

I can test if this somewhat unconventional setup is the problem at the cost of an inconvenient hassle (altho, I know quite well how to "rewire" my computer-- hell, I built the damn thing ) and slowing the HD's speeds down (both its rotational and transfer speeds). Not my idea of a jolly good time, but likely if it continues to bother me more & more.

BTW, I am a fanatic about updates, just fyi.

Edit: I'm also fanatical about proper spellings in my Posts.

[ December 31, 2003, 19:31: Message edited by: ElfPhoenix ]

[ElfPhoenix]

Update: Well, I changed my computer's setup by running the HD from the mb and not the PCI control card. No change, it stll locks up at damn near every battle replay. So, I'm lost, I have no idea as to what might be the dilemna. I'm mere millimeters away from simply giving up on this game, sadly.

Of note, if memory serves, this is the very same reason I skipped over Dom1.

[PvK]

That's too bad. I don't know what to suggest, since I haven't had any lock-ups in either game, on the various computers I've tried them on.

PvK