Hardlocks and bluescreens

[Fat BOB 0]

Hello everyone!

After all the things I've tried, there is nothing else to do but post a topic about my problem, which is getting really frustrating.

I installed the ArmA multiplayer demo when it was released and had quite a lot of problems with bluescreens, but after updating directX and openAL they were all solved and it worked perfectly.

I bought the 505 version of ArmA two weeks ago and haven't even been able to start playing yet because it bluescreens and locks up the computer all the time (recently no bluescreens but still hardlocks). Both single player missions and the campaign crashes within 30 seconds of starting the game. I have tried both 1.04 (unpatched) and 1.05 but the problem remains the same.

Things I've tried, but to no use:

* Forced affinity to one processor core

* Disabled sound acceleration completely in Windows

* Disabled hardware acceleration and EAX in ArmA

* Disabled antivirus software

Can someone please provide some tips on how to get this game working? I am really looking forward to playing it...

Computer info:

* AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (no overclocking)

* Gainward GeForce 6600 GT golden sample, 128 MB RAM (no overclocking)

* Creative Audigy 2

* 1024 MB RAM

* Armed Assault 1.05 english version from 505 games

* DirextX 9.0c

Driver info:

* Latest OpenAL driver (1.1, which is also called 1.9.9 when starting download)

* Latest Audigy driver via live update, re-verified one hour ago

* Latest Nvidia driver (93.71)

* Applied AMD dual-core optimizer patch

* Applied ACPI performance fix for XP mentioned in hardware issues topic

Other info:

* CPU core temp when starting game: 55 degrees celcius

* GPU core temp when starting game: 51 degrees

* All fans running at normal speeds, PSU voltages show nothing out of the ordinary

All other games and programs work perfectly and I have not had a single problem/lockup with this computer except in ArmA...

What should I do?

EDIT:

Upgraded to 2048 MB RAM and all problems were solved!

[OFPDude 0]

hey....you might try downloading the latest chipset drivers for your motherboard (sis,via,intel) and maybe update the bios too if you are savvy enough

first though I would recommend you check the directx acceleration is working by going to Start....Run....type "dxdiag.exe" into the run dialog then click the Display tab and make sure all directx features are enabled.....

gud luk

[desertfox 2]

This is an example of a very well done support request. Should be made a sticky and used as template lol.

But actually your specs are missing one vital point, and that is your mainboard type. And I think that might cause the problem. So I can confirm above posters thoughts.

- Install recent chipset drivers for your IDE, AGP, GART, etc ...

- Make sure to set the Audigy card to Game mode.

- If both does not help, and you are by chance using a mainboard with onboard sound - disable it in the BIOS.

*EDIT* If it bluescreens the next time, please note down the error code.

[Fat BOB 0]

My motherboard is an MSI K8N SLI, and I have just downloaded the latest drivers and will be trying them out very soon.

I have checked dxdiag.exe and it says that everything is OK and acceleration is enabled.

The build-in soundcard is automatically disabled if another soundcard is inserted, plus i have disabled it manually also.

Desertfox: Where is the "game mode" controlled? I only installed the drivers for my soundcard and cannot find that setting anywhere.

[desertfox 2]

Hey Fat Bob. You should be able to switch your Audigy card between game/entertainment mode somewhere in the options.

Thinking about it, I doubt the entertainment mode can cause a bluescreen on startup though.

I just checked out your Mainboard and .. it has got an nForce 3 chipset with AC97 sound onboard. This combination is known to cause troubles. I have an nForce 2 chipset and AC97 sound and suffered from the same problem like you.

[memnoch 0]

Interesting that it differentiates between game and entertainment! What do Creative think we play games for anyway?

[Fat BOB 0]

OK I've updated the motherboard drivers and now the campaign intro runs for about 50-60 seconds before crashing to desktop without any kind of error message.

The ArmA process still remains active in the background with 50% CPU usage though...

Desertfox: I've searched but couldn't find anywhere to switch between game and entertainment mode.

[d3dsh33p 0]

I had a blue screen issue due to a webcam audio driver mixing with my other sound driver...

dunno if that helps

[Bobcat26 0]

I had hard lockups and crash to blue screen issues too.

I un-installed ArmA

re-installed windows xp

Did a Microsoft update check

un-installed my sound drivers and graphic drivers

updated both

did a defrag

re-installed ArmA

and haven't had a problem since

hope this helps

[ROBOTB9 0]

I have been had the same exactly problem..

When email support the same feedback every time....

DEVELOPERS you pay attention to NO OTHER GAMES HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEMS !!!!!! ALL OTHERS GAME RUNS FINE !!!!!

Reinstalled XP...you´re kidding right ?

I have installed all recent drivers, ide, video, defrag and so on...

And nothing solve my problem...

The problem itself is that you bought and pay for one unfinshed and unoptimized game...

You are not the only one with this kind of problem. You pay to be a BETA TESTER !!!

My advice for everyone, DONT`BUY THIS GAME yet... wait for a Ten or more future patchs....

[INNOCENT&CLUELESS 0]

It can be maybe a problem how BI is utilizing newer video drivers /cards maybe.

At my new PC only OFP and ArmA crashing (and ArmA causing BSOD from time to time), C&C3, IL2, BF2 (believe me, I never had it before at any PC!! It is just for testing!!! working fine.

But I still fiddle with HW, OS and settings since some sources claims that it runs fine with identical (almost) setup like mine.

[dirtylarrygb 0]

I have been had the same exactly problem..

When email support the same feedback every time....

DEVELOPERS you pay attention to NO OTHER GAMES HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEMS !!!!!! ALL OTHERS GAME RUNS FINE !!!!!

Reinstalled XP...you´re kidding right ?

I have installed all recent drivers, ide, video, defrag and so on...

And nothing solve my problem...

The problem itself is that you bought and pay for one unfinshed and unoptimized game...

You are not the only one with this kind of problem. You pay to be a BETA TESTER !!!

My advice for everyone, DONT`BUY THIS GAME yet... wait for a Ten or more future patchs....

LOL,

Anyone who knows anything about gaming knows the latest games can ALWAYS do this.

You reinstall Xp because over the last 1-2 years you have installed so much crap on your PC, games , software, web browser rubbish, spyware etc etc etc. That you often need a full reinstall to get your PC tip top. read above, a guy did that all his issues went away.

ARMA pushes a PC more than any other game bar Supreme Commander right now, if you want to play it and your PC is not in tip top condition or features the lastest hardware a reinstall may not only let you play ARMA but also improve the performace of your PC by a dramatic amount.

I'm bored of seeing comment like this everytime a new game comes out from 20% of PC gamers who think their PC is a console. You have to look after a PC. And because your PC play a 2 year old game ok, it dosn't mean it will play the lastest games.

This is why people upgrade hardware or read the web and learn how to optomise their PC.

Ac97 sound be banned in fact all onbaord sound should be treated in reagrd to games like onbaord video. Something best left to laptops and work PC's but no PC gamer should ever do.

A 6600 can't even run Battlefield 2 with everything high at 1024 above 60fps let alone ARMA. And you whine that BIH have done a bad job. It's not them, its your PC!

ARMA works perfectly on all 3 of my home PC's, all three are well configured and looked after. 2 have had full reinstalls of Xp in last 6 months all have completly different hardware.

[dirtylarrygb 0]

My motherboard is an MSI K8N SLI, and I have just downloaded the latest drivers and will be trying them out very soon.

I have checked dxdiag.exe and it says that everything is OK and acceleration is enabled.

The build-in soundcard is automatically disabled if another soundcard is inserted, plus i have disabled it manually also.

Desertfox: Where is the "game mode" controlled? I only installed the drivers for my soundcard and cannot find that setting anywhere.

Bob, audigy vcards although better than SB live have caused alot of problems with games in the last few years. A simple upgrade to a XIFI card may solve the issue.

it's worth checking with your mobo BB, if anyone else has had same issues. because been several post of late were you almost place the blame on a MOBO more than anything esle. Soon as people changed mobo's ARMA ran fine.

Try the lastest mobo drivers nforce etc etc, this cleared one probelm up for me on my new machine with Supreme Commander.

Try starting at a non native screen res like 1024x768. Make sure your refresh is set low all GFX setting LOW. I suspect the nvidia firewall cause's issues with some games and switched back to the software windows one, with a complex hardware firewall in my router.

If you have webcams printers etc, unplug them.

Game Enetertainment mode etc is all controlled on a XIFI card in the AUDIO CONSOLE under MODE. As another note CMS3d can annoy some games as well.

Make sure you are only using Nvidia drivers for your GPU not any supplied on the cd with the card.

Might be worth noting to support what AV you use, as with some even if you turn them off they are not really off and can cuase issues with copy protection.

Can you name which games run ok, have you also run a 3d mark 06 on your machine?

[ROBOTB9 0]

Well, you´re luck guy !!!

But i don´t remenber to see in the minimum system requirements anything about it? (AC97, reinstall XP) and after all you don´t read this "NO OTHER GAMES INSTALLED (and belive it, i have many installed) have this kind of problem".

[dirtylarrygb 0]

Well, you´re luck guy !!!

But i don´t remenber to see in the minimum system requirements anything about it? (AC97, reinstall XP) and after all you don´t read this "NO OTHER GAMES INSTALLED (and belived i have many installed) have this kind of problem, and if you tired..don´t read

Supreme Commander, ARMA, rainbow 6 vegas, Company of Hero's have all had the same problems.

Older PC's are having issues as well as some new hardware.

Simple question, does your PC boot as fast now as when you got it? Do you think the web seems slower? If the answer is yes, either make a partition on yoru drive or simple buy a new drive and reinstall XP, load only the latest drivers for your hardware and only reinstall the programmes and games you use now. 99% of people then find their pc works 100x faster than before.

Everytime you install/unistall anything on your PC, it can change the way windows works and break things. From web related content to games to AV software.

ARMa is a complex as a game can be is tests the very limits of your PC. If things are great to start with you can have problems. C&C3 is already causing problems as well. If you dont want the hassle of looking after and fine tuning a PC buy a PS3/X360.

Ac97 is well known to cause issues and performance issues in lots of games over the last 5 years.

Otherwise there IS some effort involved.

Robot, try a 3d mark 06 now, reinstall Xp with the lastest drivers then try again and only reinstall the software you use. Then tell me your machine is not working 2x better than before. If you buy a new drive you can reinstall and leave safe your current installation if you run into issues.

[dirtylarrygb 0]

It can be maybe a problem how BI is utilizing newer video drivers /cards maybe.

At my new PC only OFP and ArmA crashing (and ArmA causing BSOD from time to time), C&C3, IL2, BF2 (believe me, I never had it before at any PC!! It is just for testing!!! working fine.

But I still fiddle with HW, OS and settings since some sources claims that it runs fine with identical (almost) setup like mine.

With the 8800 Oblivion, BF2, WOW also crash sometimes, its seems to be the nvidia drivers as with my 7800 I think I had about 2 crashes ever!

One I learn't not to max textures or terrain in ARMA, it's almost crash proof with everything else ramped up at 1600x1024.

Avoid texture detail or texture size over low and you might find ARMA runs better.

[Chris Death 0]

I have been had the same exactly problem..

When email support the same feedback every time....

DEVELOPERS you pay attention to NO OTHER GAMES HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEMS !!!!!! ALL OTHERS GAME RUNS FINE !!!!!

Reinstalled XP...you´re kidding right ?

I have installed all recent drivers, ide, video, defrag and so on...

And nothing solve my problem...

The problem itself is that you bought and pay for one unfinshed and unoptimized game...

You are not the only one with this kind of problem. You pay to be a BETA TESTER !!!

My advice for everyone, DONT`BUY THIS GAME yet... wait for a Ten or more future patchs....

LOL,

Anyone who knows anything about gaming knows the latest games can ALWAYS do this.

You reinstall Xp because over the last 1-2 years you have installed so much crap on your PC,  games , software, web browser rubbish,  spyware etc etc etc.   That you often need a full reinstall to get your PC tip top.  read above, a guy did that all his issues went away.

ARMA pushes a PC more than any other game bar Supreme Commander right now,  if you want to play it and your PC is not in tip top condition or features the lastest hardware a reinstall may not only let you play ARMA but also improve the performace of your PC by a dramatic amount.

I'm bored of seeing comment like this everytime a new game comes out from 20% of PC gamers who think their PC is a console.  You have to look after a PC.  And because your PC play a 2 year old game ok, it dosn't mean it will play the lastest games.

This is why people upgrade hardware or read the web and learn how to optomise their PC.

Ac97 sound be banned in fact all onbaord sound should be treated in reagrd to games like onbaord video.  Something best left to laptops and work PC's but no PC gamer should ever do.

A 6600 can't even run Battlefield 2 with everything high at 1024 above 60fps let alone ARMA.  And you whine that BIH have done a bad job.  It's not them, its your PC!

ARMA works perfectly on all 3 of my home PC's, all three are well configured and looked after.  2 have had full reinstalls of Xp in last 6 months all have completly different hardware.

May i add something?

Not only the latest games do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's just that the more time goes by, the more different

system setups and hardware combinations do pop up

and thus the chance of having issues with that game

here or the other game there is increasing.

I'm playing pc games since the 28x series and i do not

remember any time where i could be sure that i can go

into a shop and buy any game without worries it would

run on my pc.

I had to bring back at least 40% of all games i ever bought

(and before OFP i bought about one game per month) because

of them not working on my pc.

Fortunately there's been a better situation from the times

Win ME/2k to Win XP, where most of the games did run

without troubles - or maybe i have been just on the lucky

side of life during that time.

I like it so, when people complain about the developer of the

software has to check for that a game has to run on any

hardware setup.

The software basically is made in a way which should be

supported by any kind of hardware if this hardware has been

made aswell along some standard rules.

Now hardware developer try to boost their baby on some way

to make it better than the other hardware developer and

all of them is trying to use different techniques for that so

that they can speak about an advantage when it comes to

the question: which hardware to buy from who

Because of this, standard software might not get the same

result when running on different hardware setups.

If you want to get them all into the same boat again, you

need to cut the code of the software down to use almost

only basic features.

The developer then has to change his engine in a non progressive way by workarounds and preventing the use

of available features on that hardware, because it's not

working on the other one.

I could now continue writing about this for ages but i hope

the point is getting over here, that the source of the evil

is not the software but the wide variety of hardware.

If the exactly same software runs different on various hardware setups, then you should see from an airplane

where the troubles are comming from.

Fortunately the software developers do like to clear those

issues for their own sake and off course for the sake of their money (that's natural and nothing evil) and so they are

trying to fix things on their own.

The only thing they don't deserve for this extra work is getting comments like yours: ROBOT9

~S~ CD

[ROBOTB9 0]

Well, maybe they have to develope for XBOX or other consoles.... not for PC wich means PERSONAL COMPUTER. Does it make any sense for you ?

I paid for it.

I bypass minmum requirements for the game.

Others game like Gothic3, oblivion runs fine (and many others), only ARMA crashs and have hardlock issues.

I ask support for refund (they recuse).

Maybe they could post a DEFAULT TOPIC ABOUT SUPPORT like this :

Just for you don´t spend time with a support that you paid for when you bought the game.

The answer default is, and please, paid attention to try and follow exactly this order:

1)Try to update your Motherboard, ide, video, sound, windows.....drivers.

2)Defrag your hard driver before, after (while ?) install the game.

3)Uninstall any legitim software that you bought, like ALCOHOOL.

4)Reinstall your Windows XP

5)FORMAT your PC and installed everything again

6)BUY a NEW PC for play ARMA!!!!

7)If any above don´t solve your problem, please go to iten 1 and follow the instructions again.

Thank you for buy ARMA !!!

[Chris Death 0]

Well, maybe they have to develope for XBOX or other consoles.... not for PC wich means PERSONAL COMPUTER. Does it make any sense for you ?

I paid for it.

I bypass minmum requirements for the game.

Others game like Gothic3, oblivion runs fine (and many others), only ARMA crashs and have hardlock issues.

I ask support for refund (they recuse).

Maybe they could post a DEFAULT TOPIC ABOUT SUPPORT like this :

Just for you don´t spend time with a support that you paid for when you bought the game.

The answer default is,  and please, paid attention to try and follow exactly this order:

1)Try to update your Motherboard, ide, video, sound, windows.....drivers.

2)Defrag your hard driver before, after (while ?) install the game.

3)Uninstall any legitim software that you bought, like ALCOHOOL.

4)Reinstall your Windows XP

5)FORMAT your PC and installed everything again

6)BUY a NEW PC for play ARMA!!!!

7)If any above don´t solve your problem, please go to iten 1 and follow the instructions again.

Thank you for buy ARMA !!!

Now i'm getting curious about the ArmA version you bought.

Since you said you paid for support - i didn't and so did

nobody else - all i paid for was that box in the shop which contained the game.

I really can't remember having read anything about that the

price of this box did include any technical support guaranted

if i'm having troubles running that software on my Personal

Computer which is set up to my person and not another one

(you get it?).

You could easily clear this issue now by pointing me onto

that line of the contract you've made with BIS, where it

says you have paid for the right of personal support.

I work as a system admin for a big european bank and i know

that you won't get any support for any software package,

if you haven't made a contract for especially this kind of

support.

If you want complain about that a pc isn't the right gaming

platform compared to consoles - you may be generally right

but posting about it into the wrong direction - BIS is not

responsible for that issue.

I say it again: ArmA is running fine on my system but not

on yours - i doubt that this difference is caused by the

software in first case.

~S~ CD

[ROBOTB9 0]

Your´re right about !! i have to agree

BUT FOR EVERY POSSIBLE NEW CUSTOMERs !!!

DON`T BUY THIS GAME yet,

WAIT FOR TEN OR MORE FUTURE PACTHS BE RELEASED !!!

AND THE WORST...THE GAME DON`T HAVE SUPPORT !!!

[dirtylarrygb 0]

Well, maybe they have to develope for XBOX or other consoles.... not for PC wich means PERSONAL COMPUTER. Does it make any sense for you ?

I paid for it.

I bypass minmum requirements for the game.

Others game like Gothic3, oblivion runs fine (and many others), only ARMA crashs and have hardlock issues.

I ask support for refund (they recuse).

Maybe they could post a DEFAULT TOPIC ABOUT SUPPORT like this :

Just for you don´t spend time with a support that you paid for when you bought the game.

The answer default is, and please, paid attention to try and follow exactly this order:

1)Try to update your Motherboard, ide, video, sound, windows.....drivers.

2)Defrag your hard driver before, after (while ?) install the game.

3)Uninstall any legitim software that you bought, like ALCOHOOL.

4)Reinstall your Windows XP

5)FORMAT your PC and installed everything again

6)BUY a NEW PC for play ARMA!!!!

7)If any above don´t solve your problem, please go to iten 1 and follow the instructions again.

Thank you for buy ARMA !!!

AHA!

Now we have it in one.

ARMA and a few other games Use copy protection!!!

if you naughty people have alcohol 120 or dvd copy software, then you might might have ALL sorts of issues with lots of PC games.

So robot, you need a reinstall cause you may have had copy software/ virtual harddrive software on your machine and sadly ARMA copy protection aint keen on that stuff.

Here is a tip, if you love pc games and actually BUY THEM never EVER put any form of copy software on that machine ,cause guess what 99% of the anitcopy software in modern games has a fit.

Sadley robot, for a game PC you have to treat it a bit like a console and buy hardware that cause the least issues and run only limited software on it. It's a bit like adding a copy chip to a console then saying, OMG my bought games wont work.

I suspect that many UBISOFT games and CODEMASTER games (which also feature mucho copy protect) ALSO won't run on your current machine.

Alchol120, any dvd, clone dvd etc etc etc, seem to cause as much hassle with legitmate paid for CD/DVD games as Anti Virus software etc.

If you have installed these types of software even a trail in the past. You had best reinstall a clean Xp to run ARMA and many other heavily protected PC games.

It's in the Software end user agreement, DON'T reverse engineer try to circumvent the copy protection on ARMA. If you have that type of software then BIH told you that the game may not work. Even if you unistall it, its probably still there and the damage is done to your windows code.

If you want to run that sort of software for legal use, then install it on another copy of windows or a different PC. Not the PC you play games on.

So robot I suspect any game protected by the copy protection in ARMA may also not work on your current PC. Or many games by Codemasters or Ubisoft.

Unistalling alchol 120 or other copy software is not good enough Robot, if you had that stuff on your PC ONLY a total reinstall may fix it. Even a repair of windows may NOT be good enough.

[ROBOTB9 0]

Thanks dirtylarrygb,

I will do a Dual boot system with XP, and then maKe a fresh install of ARMA.

If it solve my problem i will post later (If not i´ll back )

But i apprecciate how you handle with my posts.

I just can´t agree with some excuses give by game developers nowadays and others users, and how they not put the entire truth in game system minimum requirements. And the people think this is normal. It´s not normal. A finished product is a finished product.Developers or publishers have to be more responsible and not hiden yourselfs behind "small lecense agreements".

And i pay for my games, like i do with it.

Thanks a lot.

[Chris Death 0]

Your´re right about !! i have to agree

BUT FOR EVERY POSSIBLE NEW CUSTOMERs !!!

DON`T BUY THIS GAME yet,

WAIT FOR TEN OR MORE FUTURE PACTHS BE RELEASED !!!

AND THE WORST...THE GAME DON`T HAVE SUPPORT !!!

May i ask you to stop writing in capital letters - at least

when trying to conversate with me - i wouldn't talk

more than two sentences if the person i'm talking to would

be screaming all the time at me (exception could be my

boss if he stood up with the wrong leg on the wrong day).

You're very unfair with your last post, suggesting people

not to buy ArmA because they don't buy personal support

with it. It's like that in ANY game - not only ArmA.

Also with posts like your last one you're walking on thin

edge since you can't proove in any way that what your

saying is true - it's just your personal opinion and experience and spreading out false messages like you did is not the way to go.

You shouldn't wonder if you're getting a message one day

that you're a non wanted person here around if you continue

acting like that.

If i were you i'd get some more information about your rights

and about the software developers duties before going

on showing your angryness because all your arguments

are hanging a little bit in the air without reasonable basement.

~S~ CD

[dirtylarrygb 0]

Thanks dirtylarrygb,

I will do a Dual boot system with XP, and then maKe a fresh install of ARMA.

If it solve my problem i will post later (If not i´ll back )

But i apprecciate how you handle with my posts.

I just can´t agree with some excuses give by game developers nowadays and others users, and how they not put the entire truth in game system minimum requirements. And the people think this is normal. It´s not normal. A finished product is a finished product.Developers or publishers have to be more responsible and not hiden yourselfs behind "small lecense agreements".

And i pay for my games, like i do with it.

Thanks a lot.

I agree with you robot, Min/ recommended specs on the back of PC boxes are a joke, technical advice from many games companies is terrible (505 being a very small company seem to be doing a better job than many large companies).

Games review websites should show screenshots from 4-5 PC's and publish benchmarks so people know what they should expect from a game or what they would need to buy to get it to run how they want the game to look.

Do you need a 6600/7900 or 8800 to run ARMA how you expect it to look?

Back of the box should say, contains copy protection software. If you run virtual harddrives then this game may not work for you. It should also mention the game is NOT SLI or DUAL CORE optomised and that a Soundblaster XIFI is recommended. In fact NVIDIA INTEL AND AMD sould get of there butts have have a logo programme so if the games says DUO/QAUD/x2 Core ready and SLI/Crossfire ready in a nice logo on the box, you know it should run great out of the box.

My own post here shows what ARMA looks like on different GPU's so people who expect it to look Crysis!, should now know they need a high tech GPU and there current geforce 3 aint so hot.

Copy protection Circumvention Software although legal in most countries does mess up alot of software, not just games but professional software as well.

If you run that sort of software it's best to have a clean install of XP for it and nothing else.

i hope a clean install fixes ARMA for you Robot.

[ROBOTB9 0]

Unfortunely, a fresh install not fixes my problem. But after read the dump windows file i can confirm that´s is a SECUROM issue.

After ARMA, all Based Securom game crashes to the same problem. And before i don´t have any problem.

Probaly because i have a legitim ALCOHOOL installed.

I will delete any securom traces and other "things" write for this kind of software protection im my HD.

Of course i will not play ARMA anymore.