Skyrim complete PC crashes

[Philosophos]

I also keep getting crashes. In my case the game just crashes and I'm back on my windows desktop. So it is not a complete system crash, but still. It can't be hardware related since I have an i7 [email protected] Ghz, 12 GB Ram and an Radeon HD 7970@1125/ 1575 with 3 GB Vram. With this system I can play Arkham City, BF3 and Witcher 2 (with übersampling) maxed out in 1080p without problems, so it should be plenty for Skyrim. The only game that keeps crashing is Skyrim. So what the hell is it? Edited April 18, 2012 by Philosophos

[jlilly1]

I just wanted to add my experience into this, since it seems others are having the same problem. I'll start by listing my system specs.

 

Processor: AMD Phenom II x6 1100T processor (black edition 3.3ghz OC to 3.7ghz)

Motherboard: MSI 890FXA-GD65 (MS-7640) Military grade

Memory: 16GB DDR3 PNY RAM PC3-10700

GPU: At the time Nividia 560TI

GPU: Now Nividia GTX570

HDD: 500GB Seagate 7200RPM

PSU:Thermaltake 750Watt 80+ Certified

Case: Mid tower cyberpower case, 3 80mm fans.

 

 

For me it started with skyrim, every once in a while I would go to black screen (no video signal) and then I would have to do a hard reset on my PSU. At the time no other game had caused this issue for me and I thought it was localized to skyrim.

 

Unfortunately over time, I started experiencing the black screen crash on other games, randomly. So I ran the following tests.

 

Prime95: I ran this for over 4hr, and was unable to reproduce the black screen error. Also all tests were passed.

 

FurMark: I ran this to test my GPU and push it, I ran this for over 2hr at 1400x900 max AA, no errors and no artifacts, again it passed with out reproducing the black screen error.

 

WindowsMem test: According to this all ram passed no errors.

 

Speedfan HDD test: I ran this to check the health of my HDD, and no errors were reported, all values normal.

 

I also updated all drivers for GPU, Motherboard, processor.

 

My first thought was that the GPU was the main issue, so I returned it and recently purchased a GTX570. After installing the new card, and playing a few games the black screen crash occurred again, which again seems to happen randomly. It also happens during times when the GPU itself is not being pushed. This has lead me to believe it is not the GPU causing this.

 

Today I will be testing my PSU for power dips, and other issues. If I find anything I will report it. Also, I do not feel this is an overheat issue, because the crash does not seem characteristic of one.

 

Good luck everyone.

[qeveren]

Been having CTD problems myself since I picked the game back up a couple weeks back. Annoyingly, the issue seems to be escalating with time, even after I did a full wipe and reinstall of the game and all of its related files. Basic Skyrim, no mods, no antialiasing... back to the desktop in the middle of the starting tutorial. Holy crap, Bethesda, what did you DO? XD

[Cogbone]

I am slightly comforted in seeing im not the only one. I have random bad shutdowns, im talking total power outs. When I restart if i click restart windows normally right away my laptop wont recognize the network adapter so i have to give it some time to recoup before restarting. At first I thought it was a heat issue on my GPU but some shutdowns occured cold and similiar to other peoples reports of it happening right away. They only occur outside or immediatly going from inside to outside even cold. Other times i can go 4-6 hours with no problems as long as i am fast travelling from dugeon to dungeon and entering quickly. I have tried playing on lowest settings and still not much difference. I have been adding mods prob up to 30 now and the mods do not seem to make it any worse. I saw some people trying to guess at a common denominator so I thought i would add my system specs.

 

Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium

System Model: HP HDX18 Notebook PC

System Type: x64-based PC

Processor: Intel® Core2 Quad CPU Q9000 @ 2.00GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.0GHz

Memory: 6110MB RAM

DirectX Version: Direct X10

Video Card: GeForce GT 130M

Driver Version: 8.17.0012.9610

Display Memory: 3799 MB

Dedicated Memory: 999 MB

Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)

 

I did not have this problem in other games such as DDO online or similiar mmo's ( Skyrim was to be my break from the disappointments of having to rely on the mmo community for endgame results)

I hope this can be resolved soon, I dread going back....

[Huntrier]

I've been having this horrible problem where my game CTD after being close to the Riften Stables.

 

It really sucks, because I wanted my character to be a thief.

[JDMcPhee]

(Sudden problem after 400+ hours of gameplay.)

 

As this was my first search for a solution to my problem and this community is so phenomenal, I hope this contributes. Given that 143 pages later it seems to remain a problem, I hope what I offer is useful and not otherwise covered. Skim to what's relevant, skip the rest.

 

System Specs: AMD X4 Phenom Black / ATI HD 5750 1Gb / 8Gb RAM / Catalyst (CCC) 12.3 / Windows 7 Home 64, SP1 / Steam enabled, purchased disk-loaded/: My problem appears to be related to a GPU (Graphics Card) hardware- or software-related issue so have limited the listed specifications.

 

Problem: After 400+ hours of Nexus-only modded gameplay, game startup would proceed as usual (albeit with slight delay) until the moment of "reveal" where you begin where last saved. A blank (black) screen would remain while the environmental sounds would play (not just a few seconds and stop as has been previously posted). I have given the game a few minutes to see if the processing would catch up. CTRL+ALT+DEL (Task Manager) needed every time. I had attempted a game start/restart tens of times through SKSE Loader/ 4GB Loader/ Steam loader, as well as choosing different save files (almost worked for 30 sec.!), rebooting, defragging, virus scanning compatibility testing, making sure everything has been updated, Steam verifying caches, Googling, trying every salient solution presented, all to no avail.

 

Between the last successful gameplay and current startup (which is hopefully rectified, but not long-term tested,) : **I don't want trademark or moderation issues, so I will suggest names for other games and developers not already established on a given Nexus forum**

I downloaded, and successfully played for a few hours, a modern combat simulating game from a number cube-named developer (also exactly affected, which indicates it is not Bethesda-specific). Same download/test for a game that was twice Justly Caused, but never affected. I also downloaded the Witcher 2 Enhanced Edition from ProjektRed but had deleted the purchased CD-ROM-loaded game to make space on the HDD. I had to let the download client process the 20 Gb file overnight. Just to see if the download was successful, I tried to boot. Shockingly, the game wouldn't play without the core files. No worries. I'll load the disk later. Eventually, it's time for Skyrim and ...problem. Time to test my 'battlefield' skills a 'third' time in case it's an update issue, but same frozen errors.

 

Also, I started and played, for at least a few minutes, every one of the 40+ games I have on Steam, including Oblivion and Morrowind Overhaul, without negative effect. I also loaded and played every other graphically-demanding game I have including my 1st and 2nd Crises. All problems are initial-load-specific. Only the two games were affected.

 

(My hopeful) Solution: Minutes before I contacted customer services and started redeeming warranties, I find: http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/TroubleshootingGameIssues.aspx

Reset Graphics Card to Factory Defaults. First three tests of intitialization for both games have been successful. Should have been first, I'm sure. Yet I am obviously not alone and couldn't find a comprehensive problem:solution scenario. That's why this is ridiculously semi-detailed. I hope it never becomes a Google search, but if it helps just one similar case, at least it was useful. If anyone could possibly care, I'll report long term results. Like I said, I'm just trying to help and now know the sinking feeling of despair when Skyrim becomes impossible to play.

[Deshiel]

Uff I'm so happy that this is a "common" issue.

 

I was being depressed over havinga broken computer.

 

I'm running Skyrim on W7-64bit with HD 6970 2GB OC (manafactured overclocked)

 

I have all of the sypmtoms like everyone here, but instead of pure black screen, I get some shitty colors blinking.

 

Because I once had this same problem with Orcs must die. I believe that the issue could be in steam. That's just a wild guess because I have no solid verification other than the fact that this blackscreen happens to me only on steam installed games.

 

I've played more graphic demanding( more demanding than skyrim) games like lost planet 2 and Mass effect3(with injector) and I've never suffered from anything except for some latency.

[JDMcPhee]

Uff I'm so happy that this is a "common" issue.

 

I was being depressed over havinga broken computer.

 

I'm running Skyrim on W7-64bit with HD 6970 2GB OC (manafactured overclocked)

 

I have all of the sypmtoms like everyone here, but instead of pure black screen, I get some shitty colors blinking.

 

Because I once had this same problem with Orcs must die. I believe that the issue could be in steam. That's just a wild guess because I have no solid verification other than the fact that this blackscreen happens to me only on steam installed games.

 

I've played more graphic demanding( more demanding than skyrim) games like lost planet 2 and Mass effect3(with injector) and I've never suffered from anything except for some latency.

 

 

 

Please do consider resetting your graphics card to it's factory defaults. I'm not saying it is the definitive fix, but it immediately worked for me. No problem at all since.

[Deshiel]

Uff I'm so happy that this is a "common" issue.

 

I was being depressed over havinga broken computer.

 

I'm running Skyrim on W7-64bit with HD 6970 2GB OC (manafactured overclocked)

 

I have all of the sypmtoms like everyone here, but instead of pure black screen, I get some shitty colors blinking.

 

Because I once had this same problem with Orcs must die. I believe that the issue could be in steam. That's just a wild guess because I have no solid verification other than the fact that this blackscreen happens to me only on steam installed games.

 

I've played more graphic demanding( more demanding than skyrim) games like lost planet 2 and Mass effect3(with injector) and I've never suffered from anything except for some latency.

 

 

 

Please do consider resetting your graphics card to it's factory defaults. I'm not saying it is the definitive fix, but it immediately worked for me. No problem at all since.

 

And how do I acomplish this?

[JDMcPhee]

@Deshiel, I have AMD components, so cannot help with Nvidia or Intel information, but I am positive they have similar or better information than given in the link below. There are also other suggestions within. Hope it works!

 

http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/TroubleshootingGameIssues.aspx