Flickering Grass and Game-Data Access Issues

[Hickory]

Well, now i feel like a kid who didnt get a christmas present.

 

Its 5:00 am where i live.

 

I removed my ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 tonight and replaced it with a Gigabyte X58A-UD3R rev. 2.0 updated to the latest BIOS version.

 

After a long ride of setting everything up, i ran Oblivion. Hope. Fear. Console: coc HeroHill

 

Then the moment of truth - flickering. Everywhere. Just as before. How sad :(

 

I noticed also that grass would disappear in the outer areas of my view. New grass will sometimes appear. Everything seems bugged.

 

I also ran the shader test, by removing the settings folder after every change of the shader package. Went through all of them. Same results.

 

Oh my goodness.. what shall it be next? A new PSU? A new CPU maybe? Some new RAM? Maybe Bethesda or NVidia has an answer.

 

For any more tips and hints i would be thankful!

 

Something doesn't add up. You have tried different graphic cards, different monitors, and now a different mobo, all with the same result. There is some constant that you are, or are not, doing at play here. There can be no other explanation.

[Smooth613]

Something doesn't add up. You have tried different graphic cards, different monitors, and now a different mobo, all with the same result. There is some constant that you are, or are not, doing at play here. There can be no other explanation.

Exactly. And the fact that changing a setting in the ini does change the grass flicker reinforces this even more. This has nothing to do with hardware but yet a simple, easily overlooked, graphic setting. The fact that you were unsure what I was referring to with the OblivionLauncher.exe and the UltraHigh/VeryHigh setting makes me wonder if you have indeed correctly selected it. Which results in Oblivion selecting a shader package. And even if you did correctly select Ultra High, is Windows allowing the change, due to UAC? Another thing, do you have Oblivion installed in the default directory of Program Files with Windows 7 or Vista? If so it's likely causing adverse effects since Windows will "ghost" files and settings and even a full re-installation will not properly revert the settings.

 

For example. I've seen people remove 10, 20, even 100 mods from their data directory, reinstall Oblivion right back to Program Files, the data directory appears empty but when they start the game all of the mods and settings from the previous installation are there, and active. This is due to Windows placing the files in Virtual Store. This is a prime example of why you do not install Oblivion, or any other game for that matter, to a protected directory such as Program Files.

 

So with that said, where do you currently have Oblivion installed? Program Files? Please reinstall to something like C:\Games\Oblivion if so. And be sure to delete your Oblivion.ini, from Documents\My Games\Oblivion, before you reinstall.

 

You're right Hickory, something here doesn't add up. The full story has yet to be told, not by lack of effort by they OP, but by oversight.

Edited December 10, 2010 by Smooth613

[Tenlethar]

@Hickory

 

>> And hide the solution from anybody else that may be having the same problem? PM has it's place, but I'm not sure that this is it.

 

Oh I'd never do that. How often have i read through long forum threads only to find that the solution was found - while nobody tells you what it is. I'd post a solution here, thats for sure!

 

Something doesn't add up. You have tried different graphic cards, different monitors, and now a different mobo, all with the same result. There is some constant that you are, or are not, doing at play here. There can be no other explanation.

Exactly. And the fact that changing a setting in the ini does change the grass flicker reinforces this even more. This has nothing to do with hardware but yet a simple, easily overlooked, graphic setting. The fact that you were unsure what I was referring to with the OblivionLauncher.exe and the UltraHigh/VeryHigh setting makes me wonder if you have indeed correctly selected it. Which results in Oblivion selecting a shader package. And even if you did correctly select Ultra High, is Windows allowing the change, due to UAC? Another thing, do you have Oblivion installed in the default directory of Program Files with Windows 7 or Vista? If so it's likely causing adverse effects since Windows will "ghost" files and settings and even a full re-installation will not properly revert the settings.

 

For example. I've seen people remove 10, 20, even 100 mods from their data directory, reinstall Oblivion right back to Program Files, the data directory appears empty but when they start the game all of the mods and settings from the previous installation are there, and active. This is due to Windows placing the files in Virtual Store. This is a prime example of why you do not install Oblivion, or any other game for that matter, to a protected directory such as Program Files.

 

So with that said, where do you currently have Oblivion installed? Program Files? Please reinstall to something like C:\Games\Oblivion if so. And be sure to delete your Oblivion.ini, from Documents\My Games\Oblivion, before you reinstall.

 

You're right Hickory, something here doesn't add up. The full story has yet to be told, not by lack of effort by they OP, but by oversight.

 

I wish. Selecting Ultra High in the launcher is what i have done from day one, once i have the patch installed (before, there is no such settings there). I do it because i got the rig i have to play games at their best. I'd not miss out on that. My lack of clarity came from the fact that you used the term "Very HIgh" which is not given in the launcher, while however it is given in the NV Control Panel. That got me confused and i questioned myself if i was doing the right thing.

 

The new motherboard is nice, because i can overclock to 4 Ghz (stable) with it - could not do that with the P6T. So i think i'll keep the Gigabyte.

 

The other thing you mentioned, UAC - that sounds interesting. I mean, yesterday night when i tested the shaders, i would delete the whole games folder at My Documents/My Games/Oblivion completely before then starting the launcher. It would then detect hardware again, fail to do so, auto-select Medium Settings and i would go in there and select Ultra High.

 

I always installed to C:\Oblivion .. is that an issue for ghosting files as well? How can i turn this off? I read about something similar in the uninstall guide i found on the nexus.

 

Thank you again for your efforts!

 

Edit: I have noticed that grass would appear and disappear right next to me. I can see that best under 3rd person view. I would move the camera around a bit, then suddenly some groups of grass will change appearance. When i move the camera back to the old angle, the grass would change back the way it was. This bug will appear not at every point in the game, but in some points - i was not able to make out a clear scheme for where and when this problem occurs.

Edited December 10, 2010 by Tenlethar

[Hickory]

So let me get this straight. Every time you troubleshoot you:

1. Completely uninstall the game from C:\Oblivion, including all folders and sub-folders.
2. Completely remove all game settings and save files from \Documents\My Games\Oblivion, including the Oblivion folder
3. Reinstall the game from the official DVD
4. Do NOT restore any backed up game settings or save files to \Documents\My Games\Oblivion
5. Do NOT restore any backed up game files or folders to C:\Oblivion
6. Apply appropriate Bethesda patches.
7. Start the game from the launcher.

And with no tweaking whatsoever, you still get this flickering grass on different graphic cards, different monitors, and now a different motherboard?

 

If this is correct, are you sure that you don't need an eye test? :geek::devil:

[Qwaxalot]

Just a shot; have you considered reinstalling direct x ?

[Tenlethar]

So let me get this straight. Every time you troubleshoot you:

1. Completely uninstall the game from C:\Oblivion, including all folders and sub-folders.
2. Completely remove all game settings and save files from \Documents\My Games\Oblivion, including the Oblivion folder
3. Reinstall the game from the official DVD
4. Do NOT restore any backed up game settings or save files to \Documents\My Games\Oblivion
5. Do NOT restore any backed up game files or folders to C:\Oblivion
6. Apply appropriate Bethesda patches.
7. Start the game from the launcher.

And with no tweaking whatsoever, you still get this flickering grass on different graphic cards, different monitors, and now a different motherboard?

 

If this is correct, are you sure that you don't need an eye test? :geek::devil:

 

Hey ;) Come on man, there is no need to be rude. I am aware of how weird it may sound, but then again, i really am not crazy, i don't have an eye problem at all - and i certainly would prefer to play the game rather than troubleshoot it. My direction is towards a solution.

 

Anyway, to straighten things out, i will explain what type of error i am getting:

 

1.) Flickering grass textures

 

This one is always possible but difficult to reproduce, and it is hard to see any logical scheme as to when it starts to occur. Sometimes when i stand in the middle of a grassy field, i will get flickering grass textures, just as you can see them in the video i linked to in my first post. If you look at the upper part of the screen, you will see some grass flickering and that is exactly what happens. Sometimes i'd stand in the middle of a grass field and all around me there is this flickering. As this can only be seen from certain angles i have to move around a lot to reproduce it.

 

2.) Flickering shadows on grass

 

I wouldnt mind that problem if i did not believe it was related to the other one. Basically what happens here is that any shadows that are cast on grass will flicker like crazy. This one is easy to reproduce since i just turn on shadows on grass and it will flicker like wild! As said before, i would just turn it off, but i think its related to the other problem. However, if the other one would be solved i WOULD just turn it off and not use it.

 

3.) Disappearing and appearing grass textures

 

Grass would appear and disappear right in my fiel of view, best seen from 3rd perspective (i recorded a new video demonstrating this glitch - click here to see it - please note: i turned off shadows on grass while running this test and i was using a savegame, i have confirmed that the problem will occur with a new game as well.). When i move the camera angle, the grass will disappear or change, and then when i move it back it would change again.

 

Its real weird. And yes, i promise, it happens with a complete clean install.

 

Think about it - when i got my new motherboard yesterday i even HAD to reinstall Windows and so i did. After installing drivers & DirectX updates, the first thing i would install is Oblivion (yes, from the original DVD, i own this :) ). I would then run the launcher of the base version that is installed. Then i go to settings and set my resolution and i activate HDR (i did try using Bloom and None earlier, but it didnt help). According to the uninstall/reinstall guide on tesnexus, i then launch Oblivion, start a new game and see myself in the prison cell (how ironic!). Then i go into 3rd person and see a flickering shadow even on the prison floor. It will flicker constantly. I then save the game, exit, and run the Oblivion patch tool with the latest patch for my version (UK). After that, i re-run the launcher, go to settings and activate "VERY HIGH" quality settings. It will then reset my resolution so i set this again and i will also activate HDR again. Then i run the game and load the save from before. The shadow on the prison floor will now no longer be flickering. Hope comes up, and i go into the console and type "coc HeroHill" to teleport myself to my testing location, but without having to use any old savegames.

 

At Hero Hill i will go into 3rd person again and go into video settings to activate shadows on grass. In the game i will then get flickering shadows on the grass all around me. After switching to 1st person and back out again, sometimes the shadow will be gone completely. After switching between the two views more often, the shadow will sometimes return, but on grass it will always be flickering.

 

I turn off the shadows on grass and start moving around a bit. I then encounter a few grass textures around me that would flicker (like in the first video i posted). I turn around and see grass disappear from where it was placed, i turn around again and on the edge of the screen new grass will appear - and all around me it will flicker.

 

It drives me nuts, obviously :) But guys, i am not a complete buckethead. I am working as a programmer since more than 10 years now. I have been doing computer stuff since more than 15 years. I only tell you that so you know that when i say i get this error, these glitches, i really mean i do get them. They are there and there need to be no mods or tweaks on my system whatsoever to make them appear. Neither will any mods or tweaks make them go away again.

Edited December 10, 2010 by Tenlethar

[Tenlethar]

Just a shot; have you considered reinstalling direct x ?

 

Hey Qwaxalot. Thanks for joining in.

 

I have not done that, no. Should i give it a try? I mean, i was reinstalling Windows 7 64-Bit completely from the scratch yesterday and then i ran the fresh DX11 update.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I have recorded a new video demonstrating the disappearing / appearing / changing grass glitch:

 

click here to see it

Edited December 10, 2010 by Tenlethar

[Qwaxalot]

Just a shot; have you considered reinstalling direct x ?

 

Hey Qwaxalot. Thanks for joining in.

 

I have not done that, no. Should i give it a try? I mean, i was reinstalling Windows 7 64-Bit completely from the scratch yesterday and then i ran the fresh DX11 update.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I have recorded a new video demonstrating the disappearing / appearing / changing grass glitch:

 

click here to see it

 

I think you out to try it, it can't hurt and I've seen this resolve similar issues.

 

You might also try installing DX9 ( the redistributable is on the Oblivion disk)

 

Good luck

[Hickory]

So let me get this straight. Every time you troubleshoot you:

1. Completely uninstall the game from C:\Oblivion, including all folders and sub-folders.
2. Completely remove all game settings and save files from \Documents\My Games\Oblivion, including the Oblivion folder
3. Reinstall the game from the official DVD
4. Do NOT restore any backed up game settings or save files to \Documents\My Games\Oblivion
5. Do NOT restore any backed up game files or folders to C:\Oblivion
6. Apply appropriate Bethesda patches.
7. Start the game from the launcher.

And with no tweaking whatsoever, you still get this flickering grass on different graphic cards, different monitors, and now a different motherboard?

 

If this is correct, are you sure that you don't need an eye test? :geek::devil:

 

Hey ;) Come on man, there is no need to be rude.

 

That, of course, was not my intention, but I think you know that. :whistling:

 

 

<snip>

 

It drives me nuts, obviously :) But guys, i am not a complete buckethead. I am working as a programmer since more than 10 years now. I have been doing computer stuff since more than 15 years. I only tell you that so you know that when i say i get this error, these glitches, i really mean i do get them. They are there and there need to be no mods or tweaks on my system whatsoever to make them appear. Neither will any mods or tweaks make them go away again.

 

I don't think anybody considers you a buckethead -- heck, you've shown that you are familiar inside your box, too. But you have to understand that attempting to (help) diagnose problems in print only (we don't have access to your setup) is a damned frustrating hobby. :wallbash::blink:

 

Well, I'm out of ideas, so best of luck. :thumbsup:

[Tenlethar]

So let me get this straight. Every time you troubleshoot you:

1. Completely uninstall the game from C:\Oblivion, including all folders and sub-folders.
2. Completely remove all game settings and save files from \Documents\My Games\Oblivion, including the Oblivion folder
3. Reinstall the game from the official DVD
4. Do NOT restore any backed up game settings or save files to \Documents\My Games\Oblivion
5. Do NOT restore any backed up game files or folders to C:\Oblivion
6. Apply appropriate Bethesda patches.
7. Start the game from the launcher.

And with no tweaking whatsoever, you still get this flickering grass on different graphic cards, different monitors, and now a different motherboard?

 

If this is correct, are you sure that you don't need an eye test? :geek::devil:

 

Hey ;) Come on man, there is no need to be rude.

 

That, of course, was not my intention, but I think you know that. :whistling:

 

 

<snip>

 

It drives me nuts, obviously :) But guys, i am not a complete buckethead. I am working as a programmer since more than 10 years now. I have been doing computer stuff since more than 15 years. I only tell you that so you know that when i say i get this error, these glitches, i really mean i do get them. They are there and there need to be no mods or tweaks on my system whatsoever to make them appear. Neither will any mods or tweaks make them go away again.

 

I don't think anybody considers you a buckethead -- heck, you've shown that you are familiar inside your box, too. But you have to understand that attempting to (help) diagnose problems in print only (we don't have access to your setup) is a damned frustrating hobby. :wallbash::blink:

 

Well, I'm out of ideas, so best of luck. :thumbsup:

 

I do understand. And you have all the reasons to be out of ideas.

 

Thank you for all the effort!!