Modded Fallout 3 Crashing 30 min - 1 hour

[Zeratul123]

Hello Everyone,

 

I've been having a lot of stability issues as of late, and was wondering if this community could lend a helping hand!

 

Anyway, I guess I'll start by posting my load order and specs, and listing all the steps I have taken to increase the stability of my game.

 

Win 7 64 bit. Home Premium

6 Gigs DDR3

GTX 580

i7 930 2.8 ghz

Latest Drivers for Everything

(atm, my ram is OC'd, but I've tried it on stock speeds as well, same results).

 

 

Active Mod Files:
00  Fallout3.esm
01  Anchorage.esm
02  ThePitt.esm
03  StreetLights.esm
04  BrokenSteel.esm
05  PointLookout.esm
06  Zeta.esm
07  CRAFT.esm
08  CALIBR.esm  [Version 1.4]
09  Project Beauty.esm
0A  EVE.esm
0B  FO3 Wanderers Edition - Main File.esm
0C  Mart's Mutant Mod.esm
0D  Enhanced Weather - Rain and Snow.esm
0E  Xepha's Dynamic Weather.esm
0F  MyDog.esm
10  DarNifiedUIF3.esp
**  Project Beauty- Broken Steel.esp
**  Project Beauty- Point Lookout.esp
11  StreetLights - Wasteland.esp
12  GalaxyNewsRadio100[M].esp
13  FO3 Wanderers Edition - Main File.esp
14  FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Anchorage.esp
15  FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC The Pitt.esp
16  FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Broken Steel.esp
17  FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Point Lookout.esp
18  FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Mothership Zeta.esp
19  FO3 Wanderers Edition - Alternate Travel.esp
1A  FO3 Wanderers Edition - Followers Enhanced (BrokenSteel).esp
++  FO3 Wanderers Edition - Optional Restore Tracers.esp
1B  FO3 Wanderers Edition - Optional VATS Halftime.esp
1C  WeaponModKits.esp
1D  WeaponModKits - FWE Master Release.esp
1E  WeaponModKits - OperationAnchorage.esp
1F  WeaponModKits - ThePitt.esp
20  WeaponModKits - BrokenSteel.esp
21  WeaponModKits - PointLookout.esp
22  WeaponModKits - Zeta.esp
23  EVE.esp
24  EVE Operation Anchorage.esp
25  EVE - FWE Master Release.esp
++  EVE - FWE Master Release (Follower Enhanced).esp
++  EVE - FWE Master Release (pulse fix).esp
++  EVE - FWE with WeaponModKits.esp
26  Mart's Mutant Mod.esp
27  Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Anchorage.esp
28  Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC The Pitt.esp
29  Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Broken Steel.esp
++  Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Point Lookout.esp
2A  Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Zeta.esp
2B  Mart's Mutant Mod - FWE Master Release.esp
++  Mart's Mutant Mod - FWE Master Release + DLCs.esp
2C  Mart's Mutant Mod - FWE Master Release + Project Beauty.esp
2D  Aim Toggle.esp
2E  Xepha's Dynamic Weather - Main.esp
2F  Xepha's Dynamic Weather - Anchorage.esp
30  Xepha's Dynamic Weather - The Pitt.esp
31  Xepha's Dynamic Weather - Broken Steel.esp
32  Xepha's Dynamic Weather - Point Lookout.esp
33  Xepha's Dynamic Weather - Rain.esp
34  Xepha's Dynamic Weather - Sandstorm.esp
35  Xepha's Dynamic Weather - Dynamic Sneak Bonus.esp
36  Xepha's Dynamic Weather - Weather Machine (+Rain).esp
37  Bashed Patch, 0.esp

 

 

Mods that are not listed are NMC Texture Pack and Re-Animated.

 

List of things I have done:

1. Reformatted my computer

2. LAA Patched my Fallout 3 exe.

3. Every ini. tweak known to man, and combinations

4. Using WyreBash and FO3Edit (including masterupdate, BOSSing Load order etc)

5. Fallout 3 Fullscreen Mod

6. Guides for load order (someone posted a guide here for an optimized load order)

7. Fallout 3 Stutter Remover

8. Updating Drivers for everything

9. Installing Codec's and working with Audio Fixes (disabling ffdshow, 3rd party codecs, etc)

10. Editing my Graphic Card settings

11. De-Clocking everything

12. Disabling Cores in my BIOS

 

I may be missing some things that I have done (I'll edit my post if I remember), but I know I have tried many, many, many things, and just can't seem to get my game to run for more then an hour. What's interesting though is that when I remove the multi-core tweak from the ini, my game freezes, but when I do put it in, I get the Fallout 3 has stopped responding error, not sure if that is of any significance.

 

I have also tried this load order on another computer with similar settings (main difference is it is a Quad Core) and that computer is able to run Fallout 3 for more then 2-3 hours (it does not have NMC textures installed, but I'm sure my computer is more then capable of running Fallout 3 with them. I have also read people with my similar computer setup having success with the ini. tweaks.

 

Anyway! Any help that anyone can provide would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you!

[BlackRampage]

Well, this is a nice change. No need to through all the obvious stuff. I'm also glad to read you checked out the "optimized" load order einhander/tamujin posted here.

 

First off, I'm assuming you made Fo3 able to use over 2 gigs of Ram? (otherwise it won't really matter how much ram you put in, it'll still only use 2 gigs.)

 

Related to the above: which version of nmc's texture mod are you using? If you haven't made Fo3 be able to use over 2 gigs of ram, but did install the highest res version of the texture mod then, well, need I say more?

 

Second, do you still have the vanilla ini? How does the game run on that? Also, have you tried this ini?: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=15962

 

Third, is there any specific area or areas in which the game seems to crash?

 

Last but not least, since you have broken steel, have you given this mod a try?: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=15877 (courtesy of ccmechanic) Make sure it loads last and don't let Fo3 edit masterupdate it. (no, really)

 

Hope it helps you out or at least points you in the right direction.

[Zeratul123]

Well, this is a nice change. No need to through all the obvious stuff. I'm also glad to read you checked out the "optimized" load order einhander/tamujin posted here.

 

First off, I'm assuming you made Fo3 able to use over 2 gigs of Ram? (otherwise it won't really matter how much ram you put in, it'll still only use 2 gigs.)

 

Related to the above: which version of nmc's texture mod are you using? If you haven't made Fo3 be able to use over 2 gigs of ram, but did install the highest res version of the texture mod then, well, need I say more?

 

Second, do you still have the vanilla ini? How does the game run on that? Also, have you tried this ini?: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=15962

 

Third, is there any specific area or areas in which the game seems to crash?

 

Last but not least, since you have broken steel, have you given this mod a try?: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=15877 (courtesy of ccmechanic) Make sure it loads last and don't let Fo3 edit masterupdate it. (no, really)

 

Hope it helps you out or at least points you in the right direction.

 

Thanks for the response!

 

Yes, I did try the extended ini, and that screwed up things quite a bit.

And yes, the LAA patch extends the exe to use more then 2gigs.

I am actually trying out the wall remover bug right now, I haven't had a chance to do an extended play test yet, I'll re-post if I past the 2 hour mark.

Atm, I am using the vanilla ini, with just the multicore fix (having the game use only 2 cores).

(Update on the Wall remover fix, still crashes unfortunately :/ )

 

Also there are no specific area's where it crashes, it just seems to crash after a specific amount of time, and I could be doing anything, from accessing a computer to walking around the wasteland.

O I have another question, could getting the Steam version of Fallout 3 GOTY edition help? I'm just using the retail Fallout 3 version? (I've read on the steam forums that people with my computer setup have had success with the ini tweaks)

Edited May 23, 2011 by Zeratul123

[BlackRampage]

O I have another question, could getting the Steam version of Fallout 3 GOTY edition help? I'm just using the retail Fallout 3 version? (I've read on the steam forums that people with my computer setup have had success with the ini tweaks)

Unsure about that. but since just about all other options are more or less exhausted already, it might actually be worth the effort of giving it a try. Especially since the fo3 Engine is quite "picky" when it comes to what's in your rig.

 

Edit: Which version of ccmechanic's file did you use btw? In your case you'll have to get the optional v2 one. (for modded fo3)

Edit 2: Also, to remove any doubt on that, I myself have a quad core AND NMC's texture pack and my rig is able to keep FO3 running for about 2 hours. (although I don't really have the time anymore to play for that long :confused: )

Edited May 23, 2011 by BlackRampage

[Zeratul123]

O I have another question, could getting the Steam version of Fallout 3 GOTY edition help? I'm just using the retail Fallout 3 version? (I've read on the steam forums that people with my computer setup have had success with the ini tweaks)

Unsure about that. but since just about all other options are more or less exhausted already, it might actually be worth the effort of giving it a try. Especially since the fo3 Engine is quite "picky" when it comes to what's in your rig.

 

Edit: Which version of ccmechanic's file did you use btw? In your case you'll have to get the optional v2 one. (for modded fo3)

Edit 2: Also, to remove any doubt on that, I myself have a quad core AND NMC's texture pack and my rig is able to keep FO3 running for about 2 hours. (although I don't really have the time anymore to play for that long :confused: )

 

@BlackRampage

 

Thanks for helping me through this black.

 

I think I may have found a specific point where it frequently crashes. It seems to be crashing a lot when there are a lot of things going on (action). I'm at this one point where raiders and ghouls are fighting each other, plus my companions. After re-loading this specific area multiple times, I can get it to crash after a few minutes. Would that be a load order issue?

 

This even happens after I uninstalled the NMC texture pack, running on vanilla textures and bumpmaps, WITH my graphics at a lower setting.

Edited May 23, 2011 by Zeratul123

[BlackRampage]

@BlackRampage

 

Thanks for helping me through this black.

 

I think I may have found a specific point where it frequently crashes. It seems to be crashing a lot when there are a lot of things going on (action). I'm at this one point where raiders and ghouls are fighting each other, plus my companions. After re-loading this specific area multiple times, I can get it to crash after a few minutes. Would that be a load order issue?

 

This even happens after I uninstalled the NMC texture pack, running on vanilla textures and bumpmaps, WITH my graphics at a lower setting.

Don't mention it. Like I said, this is a nice change.

 

A point where raiders and ghouls are fighting? Cos of MMM I assume? Do you also experience fps drops right before it? Wouldn't really make sense though, since your rig should be able to handle it just fine, especially if you even lowered the graphics settings.

What happens if you disable the dynamic weather?

 

A load order issue? Possibly, but your load order seems just fine. :confused:

I guess what you could also try is simply turning off ALL mods (except for MMM if that mod spawns the ghouls & raider there), see if it still crashes.

If it does, turn off MMM as well and see how it goes.

If it doesn't turn the other mods on one at a time and see which is responsible for the crashing.

 

Let me know how it goes.

[Zeratul123]

@BlackRampage

 

Thanks for helping me through this black.

 

I think I may have found a specific point where it frequently crashes. It seems to be crashing a lot when there are a lot of things going on (action). I'm at this one point where raiders and ghouls are fighting each other, plus my companions. After re-loading this specific area multiple times, I can get it to crash after a few minutes. Would that be a load order issue?

 

This even happens after I uninstalled the NMC texture pack, running on vanilla textures and bumpmaps, WITH my graphics at a lower setting.

Don't mention it. Like I said, this is a nice change.

 

A point where raiders and ghouls are fighting? Cos of MMM I assume? Do you also experience fps drops right before it? Wouldn't really make sense though, since your rig should be able to handle it just fine, especially if you even lowered the graphics settings.

What happens if you disable the dynamic weather?

 

A load order issue? Possibly, but your load order seems just fine. :confused:

I guess what you could also try is simply turning off ALL mods (except for MMM if that mod spawns the ghouls & raider there), see if it still crashes.

If it does, turn off MMM as well and see how it goes.

If it doesn't turn the other mods on one at a time and see which is responsible for the crashing.

 

Let me know how it goes.

 

Hey Black,

 

I am completely stumped on this. Did everything you said. Turned off each mod one at a time and tested it, thought I had it pinned on darnified ui mod, but once I put everything back in it still crashed after 20 min (at that testing spot, lots of action going on).

 

<sigh> Guess last thing to try is the GOTY edition. Is the steam version mod friendly?

[freddy_farnsworth]

Hello!

 

Do not know if you tried this... works for me.

 

New Install of Fallout 3 to custom folder C:\GAMES\Bethesda Softworks\Fallout 3

 

Fallout 3 and ALL the DLC's Game of the Year CDset is best. (GOTY)

 

Bethesda 1.7 patch (even if GOTY is v1.7 run the patch)

- http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8216

 

If you downloaded the DLCs, move them from:

Documents and Settings-Your User Name-Local Settings-Application Data-Microsoft-Xlive-DLC (Windows XP)

or Users-Your User Name-AppData-Local-Microsoft-XLive-DLC (Windows Vista & Windows 7)

to C:\GAMES\Bethesda Softworks\Fallout 3\Data folder. you need to install FO3 here for best results...

You can use Disable Live - Link: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=1086 to move

the content.

 

One way or another get it out of the Program files folder !

 

 

C:ya

 

freddy

[Zeratul123]

Hello!

 

Do not know if you tried this... works for me.

 

New Install of Fallout 3 to custom folder C:\GAMES\Bethesda Softworks\Fallout 3

 

Fallout 3 and ALL the DLC's Game of the Year CDset is best. (GOTY)

 

Bethesda 1.7 patch (even if GOTY is v1.7 run the patch)

- http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8216

 

If you downloaded the DLCs, move them from:

Documents and Settings-Your User Name-Local Settings-Application Data-Microsoft-Xlive-DLC (Windows XP)

or Users-Your User Name-AppData-Local-Microsoft-XLive-DLC (Windows Vista & Windows 7)

to C:\GAMES\Bethesda Softworks\Fallout 3\Data folder. you need to install FO3 here for best results...

You can use Disable Live - Link: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=1086 to move

the content.

 

One way or another get it out of the Program files folder !

 

 

C:ya

 

freddy

 

@freddy

 

Hiya! Ya I installed Fallout out of the Program Files folder, disabled GFWL, and moved all my DLC to the data folder :P

 

ahhhhh! Thanks for taking the time to respond though!

[Jeoshua]

This sounds a lot like my problems with this game. I've tried everything that has been suggested so far here, and my mod load order sounded very similar. I thought maybe the problem was FWE, and so I installed a bunch of different mods to try and recreate only what parts of it I needed, thinking it might help the problem... but it did not.

 

Strangely enough, if I disable half my mods, the freezing goes right away. I can play for hours but the game is so bleak and despirate that way I can't stand it. So one by one I add mods back in, start again, play for hours and it's fine.

 

Then blammo, after eliminating every single mod from IT being the cause of the crash, once I get back up to a certain NUMBER of mods, it doesn't work any more.

 

It's very strange, as I tried disabling the big mods first and it had no effect. So it couldn't be a memory leak issue, could it?

 

Heres my list. Let's see what we have in common, mod-wise:

 

 

[X] Fallout3.esm

[X] Anchorage.esm

[X] ThePitt.esm

[X] StreetLights.esm

[X] BrokenSteel.esm

[X] PointLookout.esm

[X] Zeta.esm

[X] Lings.esm

[X] LingsDLC.esm

[X] RI_Core.esm

[X] FNNsys.esm

[X] IMCN.esm

[X] Inventory Access.esm

[X] iHUD.esm

[X] CRAFT.esm

[X] CALIBR.esm

[X] CMRS.esm

[X] Apocalypse Armory.esm

[X] Mart's Mutant Mod.esm

[X] Companion Core.esm

[X] Companion Share & Recruit.esm

[X] RobCo Certified v2.esm

[X] Wasteland Whisperer v2.esm

[X] AmyWong.esm

[X] DCInteriors_ComboEdition.esm

[X] RH_IRONSIGHTS.esm

[X] Zumbs' Overhauled Real Time Security.esm

[X] Ambient Temperature.esm

[X] MyDog.esm

[X] Enhanced Weather - Rain and Snow.esm

[X] Xepha's Dynamic Weather.esm

[X] resetfollowers_v3.3.esp

[X] FireLightFix.esp

[X] BetterGamePerformance.esp

[X] Ambient Temperature HUD.esp

[X] Ambient Temperature - OA.esp

[X] Project Cleaned.esp

[X] TakingOutTheTrash.esp

[X] TOTTPointLookoutEdition.esp

[X] Nice Player Bed.esp

[X] krzymar-MoonSize_080%.esp

[X] CRAFT - Activation Perk.esp

[X] CRAFT - Clutter Conversions.esp

[X] CALIBRxMerchant.esp

[X] DK_BulletTime.esp

[X] Sprint Mod.esp

[X] RH_IronSights_Basic_DLC All.esp

[X] RH_IronSights_Pitt_NewRifleSights.esp

[X] RH_IronSights_RemoveReticule.esp

[X] RH_IronSights_PL_NewItems.esp

[X] Feng Shui.esp

[X] GeneratorSound.esp

[X] Existence2.0.esp

[X] WorkiingToilets.esp

[X] Laurens_Bathroom_poetry_V1.esp

[X] Megaton Tweaks - Snipers Edition.esp

[X] PortableCampStuff.esp

[X] MoreMapMarkers.esp

[X] BusworldV1.05d.esp

[X] FPS Grenade Hotkey.esp

[X] FPS Grenade Hotkey - Zeta addon.esp

[X] FPS Knife Hotkey.esp

[X] CMRS - Vanilla.esp

[X] CMRS - Rebalanced Junk.esp

[X] MTC Wasteland Travellers.esp

[X] MTC Wasteland Travellers (Optional)- Crowded Cities less NPCs.esp

[X] Rivet City Realignment.esp

[X] B.B.G.esp

[X] Fallin3 SouthEast Wasteland.esp

[X] WeightAmmo.esp

[X] DAV_weighted_ammoweight.esp

[X] Apocalypse Armory - CALIBR.esp

[X] Apocalypse Armory - DLC Enhancements.esp

[X] Refurbishes [ALL].esp

[X] 7_HolsterForHandGunsV1_1.esp

[X] BBBackpacks-v1-1.esp

[X] Stealthboy Recon Armor - CRAFT.esp

[X] Powered Power Armor.esp

[X] PPA - Operation Anchorage.esp

[X] PPA - Broken Steel.esp

[X] PPA - The Pitt.esp

[X] PPA - Mothership Zeta.esp

[X] PPA - Ambient Temperature.esp

[X] KarmaRevampExtreme1010.esp

[X] KarmaNorm.esp

[X] ReneerInvisibleKarmaMod.esp

[X] ZORTS - Content Destruction - Normal.esp

[X] ZORTS - Custom HP.esp

[X] Wasteland Travel Caravans.esp

[X] Companion Core DLC Addon.esp

[X] Wasteland Whisperer v2 Broken Steel Addon.esp

[X] RobCo Certified v2 Zeta Addon.esp

[X] Responsive Kill Reactions.esp

[X] ImmersiveHealth-LITE.esp

[X] Gunfire Sound Range Increased.esp

[X] Mart's Mutant Mod.esp

[X] Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Anchorage.esp

[X] Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC The Pitt.esp

[X] Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Broken Steel.esp

[X] Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Point Lookout.esp

[X] Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Zeta.esp

[X] Mart's Mutant Mod - Zones Respawn.esp

[X] Mart's Mutant Mod - Natural Selection.esp

[X] Mart's Mutant Mod - Master Menu Module.esp

[X] AmyWong - FOSE.esp

[X] AmyWong - DLCs.esp

[X] AmyWong - CALIBR 1.3.esp

[X] amywongmodmod.esp

[X] Survival.esp <--- A merge of ICMN, BLTC, and Real Injuries. My own merge. And it works fine.

[X] PPA - IMCN.esp

[X] Arwen_Realism_Core.esp

[X] Arwen_Hard-Core.esp

[X] Arwen_GOTY_Realism_Core.esp

[X] Arwen_MMM_Patch.esp

[X] Core Robots - The Protectrons.esp

[X] Banks of the Wasteland Expanded.esp

[X] Arwen_VisionFX.esp

[X] Whose been sleeping in my Bed.esp

[X] Game_VertibirdTravel.esp

[X] Game_WastelandTravel.esp

[X] ZZ_TP.esp

[ ] ZZ_APP.esp <---- Working on an adaptation

[X] James Invisible wall bugs remove.esp

[X] Enhanced Weather - Radioactive Rain and Snow Plugin.esp

[X] Enhanced Weather - Weather Sounds in Interiors.esp

[X] Xepha's Dynamic Weather - Main + All.esp <--- Merged again, worked fine before

[X] Realistic Interior Lighting.esp

[X] AmyWong - Load Order Fix.esp

[X] UltimateNo.esp

[X] No Blur Effect.esp

[X] DarNifiedUIF3.esp

[X] Tweaks.esp

[X] Merged.esp

 

 

 

Overall, the mods I have recreate 90% of FWE and add 50% more survivalist stuff. But the problem (and I hope, the solution) seems to be the same.

 

I've gone through the list and eliminated, as I stated, every mod from the list as being the problem INDIVIDUALLY. I took out EVE initially thinking it might be the problem, but it wasn't. I thought that was it because the problems started happening shortly after I installed EVE. Removing it let me get out a door instead of CTDing, but then so did removing FWE, so I removed EVE and thought I had fixed it.

 

But then the hard-freeze bugs reared their ugly freezing. So I updated all the drivers in my computer to the latest versions. That seemed to work fine, except after a while they came back... only now they were error box CTDs again.

 

Edit:

 

So looking at the list, the only two mods we really share are MyDog and XDW. I know it's not Dynamic Weather, though I've suspected it was since it's such an ambitious thing... but MyDog I haven't tested out for crashiness yet. The problems I am experiencing got WAY worse when I tried going to retrieve the doggie. In fact, I've never gotten there due to the instability (and now testing new FWE replacements... which is kinda fun).

 

Let's try starting a new game without MyDog and see how it goes.

Edited May 25, 2011 by Jeoshua