why fallout 3 keeps crashing

[overload1977]

frist off i did not write this........its off the Official Site they know whats wrong with the game but i guess they dont care............. all my errors for me started after patch 1.4, i had to remove fallout 3 from C: drive and move it to J: drive because it was messing with windows, it installs fine and updates ok, but after 5 sec it crashes back to windows, with a unknow error i know my way around fallout mods editing ini ect but that dose not matter as i`m doing a clean install on a new drive, and its not working...... :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: and here it why :whistling:

 

I get the same error. It appears that even their Patches need some sort of testing before release too. I’ve tried the patch on the US version of the DVD as well as the updated exe from SecuROM. Get the same error on both. The patch does appear to modify some files in the Windows System folder through the Command BOX; however, it doesn’t do anything to the Game exe or anything in the directory.

 

I have found the primary issues causing the CTD and other crashes. I’ve sent 3 e-mails to Bethesda and no responses. My Computer Science Engineering department took a shot it. I purchased 320 copies and gave them the weekend to figure it out. Here are some of the results;

 

1.) Fallout 3 Installer installs an older version on C++ Visual 2005 that appears to affect the way the vidcard driver communicates with the game.

 

2.) Fallout 3 Installer installs a Beta release of DOTNETFX3.0 (.NET Framework 3.0). For users of .NET Framework 3.0 SP1 or even SP2 (Service Pack of the Framework not the OS), upon restarting their system (when changes take place), their game will be quite unstable. Users of .NET 3.5 or Vista should have even more random crashes.

 

3.) Fallout 3 Installer installs a non Plug’n Play DRM device manager (not driver but a manager) that doesn’t like any 3rd party codecs (ie K-Lite, WinAMP, etc) and will usually see a CTD when a Hardware codec comes online. This usually occurs when interactive audio (client controlled speech) initializes (ie baby walking to daddy).

 

4. Fallout 3 Installer installs SecuROM Root kit as well as 8 hidden non Plug’n play virtual drivers. Owners with more than one Optical drive or a sata drive may encounter random drive access issues. Also, Imaging software or any software that may use its own ASPI drive (ie NERO, Roxio, Daemon, ISO, etc.) will have one of the 8 virtual drivers causing the system to do a random CTD. Reason why clients using a cracked EXE don’t experience the same volume of CTD as those who bought the game. However, the SecuROM root kits are still on the system and active. Once the SecuROM is also purged from the system, 60% of the crashes disappear. Unfortunately, they must remain on the system in order to play the game as they are part of the EULA.

 

5.) Fallout 3 also has its own built in MP3 codec coupled to its DRM to protect MP3’s on the DVD (in game). Unfortunately, the codec was never tested fully with hardware decoders like those of an X-FI. This can be varied by the lack of a hardware audio switch in the game options.

 

6.) Fallout 3 has 14 memory leaks that we found. Most are small, but there are a few that are quite large. Some areas of the map, the memory counter just spins at over 100 MB/sec. Most memory leaks are around 5 to 10 MB/sec.

 

7.) Fallout 3 video graphics buffer needs to be adjustable in the options and an automatic cache purger installed for cards over 512 MBs as well as linked buffers from SLI and crossfire cards. I’ve seen areas where names on the screen start to disappear and all you see are “Input Text Here” instead of V.A.T.S. or range or etc. The cache doesn’t get dumped on some maps. Most games dump their cache when a map reload occurs. This can be noticed when fast reloads occurs from map changes. Most users will just see their graphics card run out of memory (CTD and stuttering).

 

8.) Most games were fault free with a basic XP Pro SP2 reload, and only Critical updates and latest stock drivers. Installed the game and played it error free for nearly 4 days. Upon a system restart, lots of errors showed up. This means that Fallout 3 significantly changes the operating system. Far beyond reasonable accounts as all you can do with the system in not to play MP3’s, watch movies, make a CD or DVD, or play other games.

[overload1977]

ok got it working again after i cleaned my harddrive 4 times with CCleaner, fallout loves messing around with windows, guys i would clean your Registry out as well that help. i have only installed fallout so farr no patches no mods nothing running smooth as the mo on high will do some more testing tomorrow its 3am now tired :P and update at lest it works again and i had my saves backed up ^_^

 

tomorrow

 

1. install all patches without mods and OA or the pitt and see how it runs.

2. install OA and the pitt and see if it work without the patches then try with the patches.

3. try installing mods 1 at a time and see if i can work out what more likely to crash fallout

4. if all fails take the game to bethsoft head office and brun the game in front of them then break down and cry in front of them screaming at them why why why with tears running down my face........

 

 

need sleep.... ... .. .

[phoneyLogic]

Hey,

if you reinstall your game really clean like this:

1. Uninstall Fallout3 & GFWL -> it is possible that there are various GFWL entries in your System Control
   
2. There are two folders left: Game Dir & My Games folder -> delete or rename them to backup
   -> Be careful with your backed up data, avoid using old *.ini files
   
3. Clean registry (e.g. by CCleaner or RegCleaner) & defrag your hard drive
   
4. Reboot
   
5. Install Fallout3
   
6. Install the latest Patch which fits to your Game version or use the Live Update
   

it should work quiet well.

It also helps to perform a Windowsupdate before it to get all your newest Versions of Net Framework, CC Visual and so on. (Think, I told you nothing new ;)). I have them all installed (XP SP3) ... and ... no probs

I know, there are some troubles reported with the 1.4 Patch, but the 1,5 works really well for me - and also for V.A.T.S.

I would always try the official Patches first. I made a lot of good experiences with it.

Especially in these days there is so much of different Hardware out there :smile:

 

 

Good luck with fixing it :thumbsup:

[UndeadDevil]

5.) Fallout 3 also has its own built in MP3 codec coupled to its DRM to protect MP3’s on the DVD (in game). Unfortunately, the codec was never tested fully with hardware decoders like those of an X-FI. This can be varied by the lack of a hardware audio switch in the game options.

 

I'd love to see someone prove this LMFAO, I call the whole post B.S. (Except for what was actually written by Overload)

[phoneyLogic]

5.) Fallout 3 also has its own built in MP3 codec coupled to its DRM to protect MP3’s on the DVD (in game). Unfortunately, the codec was never tested fully with hardware decoders like those of an X-FI. This can be varied by the lack of a hardware audio switch in the game options.

 

I'd love to see someone prove this LMFAO, I call the whole post B.S. (Except for what was actually written by Overload)

This is stange, cause I use PCs since almost 20 Years from start with Dos and Windows 3.1.

I have all those 'evil' things installed and nope, my system is not crashing

 

And I guess this is why everything is up-to-date with stable drivers and software.

[overload1977]

funny thing is psyclops i know people who have old pc that runs the game fine, and have all that installed as well

 

i still think its something to do with newer computers that are a year old or less

 

i have everthing up to date and fallout crashed alot i gave my computer a good cleaning and it works again

 

fallout 3 its best played on xp

 

then vista then windows 7.......

[phoneyLogic]

dopplepost

[phoneyLogic]

funny thing is psyclops i know people who have old pc that runs the game fine, and have all that installed as well

 

i still think its something to do with newer computers that are a year old or less

 

i have everthing up to date and fallout crashed alot i gave my computer a good cleaning and it works again

 

fallout 3 its best played on xp

 

then vista then windows 7.......

Nice to hear. What have you done for a clean up?

Systems tend to get "trashy" by time. That's normal cause the user installs a huge bunch of software randomly.

Every time something is left on the HD.

Sometimes it helps to keep all you personal settings for a reinstall (maybe just an update that requires a uninstal)

Most users simply have too much software that they don't need and that is working in background the whole time...

 

Btw: Windows 95 was crashing and freezing all over. Just for fun. But it was new at that time ... and ... really awesome ;D

[overload1977]

well i installed it on a drive that windows is not install and as never had fallout3 install too

 

then used CCleaner 4 times just to be safe to clean up, cleaned the Registry as well

 

also before i installed again i del everthing to do with fallout and used Diskeeper 2009

 

oh and used scandisk took agessss but everthings working great.

 

one other thing i redownloaded my driver for my 3d card

 

so far i have the pitt ,OA and about 25 mods installed and no bugs what so ever but still got to get back my old saved games, but then again i may just forget them and start anew with new chars

 

i dont think i will install all my mods again untill i get Broken Steel in 3 days and see how that runs

[Deleted54170User]

I see one thing that seems to have gone missing that I found along the Power Users Internet files.

 

(People with Windows XP can do this stuff too.)

 

No paging file. Everyone familiar with it?

After a BSoD ended my game play I immediately shut the machine down, Vista Ultimate came back up without errors. I immediatly opened, "Computer" by right clicking on it. Opened "Advanced", opened, "Performance" clicked on, "No paging file." Clicked, "Set"

 

After clicking all the "OK" buttons and rebooting I went back to the "Performance" area and in "Custom settings" entered the appropriate numbers in (MB) for the amount reccommended below. I put it in both slots.

 

The last time I did it was about a month ago and it fixed the problems I was having for about a week 74 hours worth of play. I still had a few minor crashes, so I emptied that Temp folder in the AppData folder too.

 

I figure I am good for another week or two.