Alt+tabbing windowed mode and CTDs?

[AndarielHalo]

This feels like a stupid question to ask, but I've been having very inconsistent random crashes with Skyrim since starting it out. I have a pretty great system, though only 1280 MB VRAM, and I've had to remove HD textures.

 

 

But I've also been playing in windowed mode, and frequently alt+tabbing out and back frequently with the game, usually with IRC and at least one internet browser open all the time

 

 

Does doing that cause the game to crash more often or will I just never be able to play a stable game of Skyrim unless I remove all mods?

 

 

 

Note: I've never had this level of problems with crashing and alt+tabbing issues with Oblivion, Fallout 3, or Fallout New Vegas

 

 

 

My system stuff:

 

 

 

intel i7 3770 3.4GHz

16 GB RAM

Nvidia GeForce GTX 570 1280 MB VRAM

 

 

Mod list:

Skyrim.esm
Update.esm
Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp
Dawnguard.esm
Unofficial Dawnguard Patch.esp
HearthFires.esm
Unofficial Hearthfire Patch.esp
Dragonborn.esm
Unofficial Dragonborn Patch.esp
ApachiiHair.esm
ApachiiHairFemales.esm
ClimatesOfTamriel.esm
ETaC - RESOURCES.esm
GameOfThronesArmors.esm
SPIKE.esm
TKChildren.esm
HearthFire Display Case Fix.esp
Chesko_Frostfall.esp
Economy Overhaul.esp
StaticMeshImprovementMod.esp
StaticMeshImprovementMod-DragonbornTernFix.esp
StaticMeshImprovementMod-FurnitureChestSnowFix.esp
ApachiiHelmetWigs.esp
Dual Sheath Redux.esp
inhumansoldiers.esp
PerkPointPotion.esp
WetandCold.esp
Destructible_bottles.esp
RaceMenu.esp
towConversation.esp
SkyUI.esp
Customizable Camera.esp
SkyrimConfigMenu.esp
AncientSteelArmor.esp
Celtic and Germanic Armor and Weapons standalone.esp
hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp
Immersive Weapons.esp
Roman armor and weapons.esp
Roman armor and weapons shield pack.esp
WestAsianArmorAndWeapons.esp
Run For Your Lives.esp
When Vampires Attack.esp
Civil War Overhaul.esp
Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp
SkyTEST-RealisticAnimals&Predators.esp
SkyTEST-RealisticAnimals&Predators-Dawnguard.esp
SkyTEST-RealisticAnimals&Predators-Dragonborn.esp
dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp
dD-Dragonborn-Dawnguard-EBT Patch.esp
Drinking Fountains of Skyrim.esp
ETaC - Darkwater Crossing.esp
ETaC - Dawnstar.esp
ETaC - Dragon Bridge.esp
ETaC - Dragon Bridge South.esp
ETaC - Falkreath.esp
ETaC - Ivarstead.esp
ETaC - Riverwood.esp
ETaC - Rorikstead.esp
ETaC - Morthal.esp
EnhancedLightsandFX.esp
ELFX - Dawnguard.esp
ELFX - Dragonborn.esp
ClimatesOfTamriel-Dawnguard-Patch.esp
ClimatesOfTamriel-Dragonborn-Patch.esp
CoT_SnowPatch.esp
StaminaCarryWeight_10.esp
Apocalypse - The Spell Package.esp
FNISspells.esp
ShowRaceMenuAlternative.esp
Realistic crime report radius.esp
Duel - Combat Realism.esp
The Dance of Death - Ultimate Edition.esp
SGEyebrows.esp
Kawaii Face Presets.esp
navetsea female face preset.esp
3DNPC.esp
RealisticNeedsandDiseases.esp
RND_Dawnguard-Patch.esp
RND_HearthFires-Patch.esp
RND_Dragonborn-Patch.esp
RND_DrinkingFountains-Patch.esp
RND_USKP-Patch.esp
dD - Realistic Ragdoll Force - Realistic.esp
CharGen Morphs.esp
CharGen ECE Morphs.esp
Extended Slider Colors.esp
stranger_danger.esp
NPC_Overhaul_V_2_.esp
ethereal_elven_overhaul.esp
EEO Morphs.esp
EEO ECE Morphs.esp
getSnowy.esp
Purewaters.esp
Arrows renamed for better sorting.esp
ETaC - Dawnstar Fountains Patch.esp
ETaC - Falkreath Fountains Patch.esp
ETaC - Morthal Fountains Patch.esp
ASIS-Dependency.esp
Dual Sheath Redux Patch.esp
childskeletonfix.esp
RND_AnimalLoot.esp
TKChildren_DB.esp
TKChildren_HF.esp
TKChildren_V.esp

 

Edited March 16, 2014 by AndarielHalo

[velve666]

I'm going to reply here since looking at your mod list I noticed I use more than 2/3 of the same mods you do. except the two quite script intensive ones wet n cold and run for your lives other than that pretty much the same.

 

Your system on the other hand is about 5 times more powerful than mine have you tried ENBoost and sheson memory patch? I was also struggling a while ago with constant crashes but its seemed to sort its self out going from me only being able to run 80 mods to now where I stand at about 200 +

Also, im using safetyload for the fact that it will CTD your game as soon as there is a script error or something like that im no boffin, rather a CTD than a future problem, usually though I load that save up after defragmenting and all is well it just carries on for hours.

 

If you are using both the above then its is a matter of patience, what I have done on this current playthrough is as SOON as I install a new mod I write my own diary to a text file and state exactly what save it was installed to, that way I can revert to it without leaving any orphaned scripts in my game, just keep on adding slowly to your game after you have your absolute essential mods installed first. I cannot stress this enough.

 

good luck and let us know if youre using ENBoost and memory patch.

 

and I too play the game in windowed mode permanently, although I use a utility called "simple borderless window" the predecessor to onetweak yet using onetweak or ENB borderless seemed to give me some problems although it could be my imagination so I can't give you a clear answer on that sorry. So I dont think thats the problem.

Edited March 17, 2014 by velve666

[AndarielHalo]

I am using ENBoost and SSME (and now OneTweak). I've been using ENBoost and SSME for a while now, but still having odd crashes without much in the way to connect them.

 

 

The most worrisome for me have been TdrDelay-related ones. The first one didn't actually crash Skyrim but just happened, and I checked my SSME Memory Log and saw the memory had bounced up to 511 (with 512 max) for no reason (I had just entered Lakeview Manor). The second time it happened, it crashed Skyrim, as I was entering a mod-added general store in Ivarstead. After that, I removed Skyrim HD 2k textures, and re-installed Static Mesh Improvement to have only half sized textures.

 

Since then, I've gotten crashes, but no TdrDelay-related ones.

 

 

Then I just installed OneTweak, and played about 90 minutes uninterrupted without crashing. I only exited because I had to stop. In the process, I only alt-tabbed out once in that time.

 

 

So I don't know if it's alt-tab related or just entirely random. I'm hoping it's alt-tab related, because I feel like re-adding Skyrim HD 2k textures

[vlaka]

pro tip: don't alt tab :P

Have you done the obligatory BOSS, tes5edit and bashed patch steps?

[cotoli]

pro tip: don't alt tab :tongue:

 

I´m afraid thats the best solution. Skyrim is not precisely known for its stability.

[AndarielHalo]

I use BOSS all the time, used tes5edit occasionally, and I don't know how to bash.

 

my main concern is knowing whether frequent alt+tabs out affect the game with regards to constant crashes. I've done it with Oblivion - New Vegas without noticeable decreases in stability. Is Skyrim a special case for it being newer, or for being more graphically intense?

 

 

Related question; would I see the same level of frequent crashing if I maintained these same habits with a GTX 780 graphics card?

[Rennn]

Alt+Tab almost always crashes Skyrim for me. I would say don't do it.

[vlaka]

Regardless of GPU or system power or windowed mode or planets aligning...Alt tabbing will cause your Skyrim to CTD. I believe it has something to do with the last official Skyrim patch...