NTDLL.DLL causing serious grief

[Para1 0]

Hi fellas, too bad my first post here has to be in the troubleshooting section but here goes:

My NTDLL.DLL file causes a system freeze every time I try to go multiplayer in ArmA. I've posted about this at a few other forums to no avail, and now I'm at the end of my ropes: Without exception the ntdll.dll freezes the game after a few minutes in the MP lobby, whenever I try to leave the lobby, or after a few minutes in MP game if I manage to join a game quickly. The game is utterly unplayable.

Mark that in single player it is dead stable, no hitches whatsoever. I'm posting my rpt file below. Note that I have exactly the same problem using the 1.12 patch, and I've tried to reinstall (no mods), scan harddrives & DLLs, fixed the registry etc.

Any help would be hot! Cheers!

==============================================

== G:\Program Files\ArmA\arma.exe

==============================================

Exe version: Mon Apr 28 23:15:18 2008

Updating base class ->Default, by ca\anims\characters\config.bin/CfgMovesBasic/DefaultDie/

Updating base class ->Default, by ca\anims\characters\config.bin/CfgMovesMaleSdr/States/Crew/

Applying controller scheme Default

Applying controller scheme Default

Applying controller scheme Default

No alive in 10000

===FROZEN====>>>>>>BEG

Version 1.08.5163

Fault address: 77F29A94 01:00058A94 C:\Windows\system32\ntdll.dll

Prev. code bytes: FF 8D A4 24 00 00 00 00 8D 64 24 00 8B D4 0F 34

Fault code bytes: C3 8D A4 24 00 00 00 00 8D 64 24 00 8D 54 24 08

Registers:

EAX:30040030 EBX:00000000

ECX:34069840 EDX:00000008

ESI:463409F0 EDI:46340A88

CS:EIP:001B:77F29A94

SS:ESP:0023:01C5F234 EBP:01C5F29C

DS:0023 ES:0023 FS:003B GS:0000

Flags:00000246

===FROZEN====>>>>>>END

And my specs:

Windows Vista 32bit Home, SP1. Dual core T7300 (DDR2), 2gig RAM. GPU is 8600M GT using 169.09 drivers (I've even tried other drivers- no joy). HD is Seagate 160GB @ 7200rpm. Realtek soundcard.

[Para1 0]

Has no one seen this problem before? I thought the BI forumus would be the place to go for help.

Any help would be hot because right now I'm thinking I bought a useless piece of software. Sorry if I'm bumping my own thread but this is rather frustrating, and I'm at a loss here.

Oh and 1.14 made no difference, the problem persists.

Thanks again.

[oChaos.DNJ 0]

I get the same problem.

http://www.flashpoint1985.com/cgi-bin....t=73223

I havent found a fix, but something which seems to help the game last longer before it freezes for me.

[Para1 0]

Hi Chaos thanks for the reply!

So have you concluded that the problem is not DX but rather the max pre-render setting? I was going to selectively disable EAX and the other sound-options but seeing as though you've already tried without sound I guess this isn't the culprit either.

I reverted to older drivers for my 8600m gt, from 174.12 to 169.09, which doesn't even incorporate pre-render option in the nvidia control panel. Had the problem with the newer drivers too, playing around with settings between 1 and 3 pre-rendered frames.

Would you know if my current drivers default to 1 pre-rendered frames? I'll post back if I have any success here, and keep an eye on that other thread. Surely there must be a fix to this issue. Cheers m8

[oChaos.DNJ 0]

No I dont know the cause, but if I had to guess Id say its caused by a windows update.

Pre-render to 2 just seems to make the game last longer before it freezes, then 1 or 3 for me.

Default is 3.

Ive been trying older drivers as well, currently on 163.75.

I got a freeze but this time instead I also got Windows Error screen, you know the ones where it asks you to send in a report...

This is also after v1.14, so dunno if driver or patch had anything to do with that or if it was just a fluke.

---

One thing I dont want to have to do, but may do in the future is reformat and only install SP2, not SP3 and other updates. To see if its caused by those newer updates. But thats a real pain to have to do so thats like last resort.

[Para1 0]

A windows update sounds like a reasonable culprit. Man this sort of thing makes me so mad. I'll post back if I find something, a solution or workaround.

I do usually get the windows error screen too, but not always. Not sure about that, I had it using .08 and 1.12 also.

Are you using XP then? Cos I'm on vista home 32, makes it odd that we'd have the same problem on different OS no?

[SWAT_BigBear 0]

Found this via google searches, good read on how these errors occur.

http://dll-repair-fix.com/

which has Regcure,

http://dll-repair-fix.com/advice....dlEi5Cg

I've never needed such tools, so I have no proof if it works.

[KeyCat 131]

After installing the 1.14 patch I experienced this exact issue myself for the first time! In my case it looks like it was heat related.

After opening up my PC case and thus providing better cooling I haven't had any BSOD and it's that time of year (in northern hemisphere) when heat issues usually arrise so it's a good time to look it over.

I'm running XP Pro SP2 with auto updates turned off so no changes/updates to my system between 1.08/1.12 Beta and 1.14.

It may not help you all, I do read some of you already tried this, but I'm just posting my experince.

/KC

[KeyCat 131]

Just wanted to add that HWMonitor is a very usefull tool (free) when testing heat related issues since it logs min/max temps on CPU/GPU/etc during gameplay. Can't guarantee it will work with all MB's but since it's free it's worth a try...

You can find it here:

http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php

/KC

[Para1 0]

Thanks for the input here guys. I don't think its heat causing this, at least not for me; like I said this is a multiplayer issue only, in single player there are no issues whatsoever, heat inclusive. My crash occurs even if I just join the lobby and press leave.

@Bigbear, thats a good idea, but I've already scanned my HD, registry etc up and down and I'm pretty sure its not a problem with the dll file itself, but between the file and arma.

I've been messing around a bit with this, trying various settings. No joy.

I'm most definetly angry now. Arma is a multiplayer game after all.

[Yoma 0]

It's a classic.

check this for trying to solve it

Basically it can be anything from corrupt dll file over bad hd,bad drivers, to bad memory. (have you changed anything in your hardware configuration recently?)

May even be virus that altered the file. (Some rootkits have been known to alter it)

I'd start by trying to get a fresh copy of the dll installed, if that doesn't work i'd check RAM (use memtest, let it run an entire night), HD (use drive manufacturer test tool).

If they turn out to be ok:

Use a tool like Ghost to make an image of your current disk and reinstall windows (this way you can have a backup of your entire pc's software state). After installing windows only install antivirus (NO PERSONAL FIREWALL STUFF),basic drivers (ONLY WHAT YOU NEED, NO OTHER SOFTWARE AT ALL) and windows updates. Then install the game and do a testrun. If the game runs fine, its most likely some kind of software that screwed your old installation (hint stay away from all kinds of driver tuning utilities)

If it doesn't run fine you most likely have some kind of hardware problem. Just to let you know, my arma NEVER crashes on that dll, it's unlikely to be a arma only related problem.

[KeyCat 131]

My crash occurs even if I just join the lobby and press leave.

Para1, agree that your issue seems a bit different and probably not heat related. Hope you find the root to the problem!

/KC