FO3 was working fine up until today

[commode7x]

Right now, Fallout 3 starts up, but I can't start a new game or load any savegames. I really am not sure why.

 

It happened after I shut off my computer and unplugged my external monitor from my laptop in order to clean off some dust. I unplugged everything, cleaned off the dust, replugged everything, booted up my PC, and now FO3 doesn't work right anymore. Before, it was working just fine, with the regular crashes every couple of hours that are rampant in any Bethesda game, but otherwise running perfectly normal.

 

I assume it has something to do with the way the game renders 3d graphics, but I'm not a technical person, so I have no idea how to go about diagnosing and repairing the thing. It's probably a single line of code somewhere.

 

This is probably not relevant, but my specs are

i5 2.4gHz Intel processor

4Gb RAM (3.8Gb usable)

Win 7 64 bit

Integrated NVIDIA graphics chip

 

All DLCs

Mart's Mutant Mod

Fallout Wanderer's Edition

Underground Hideout

Darnified UI

Moth. Zeta Crew

Weapon Mod Kit

Magic Hand

Perk Pack 1

Perk Pack 2

MiniHideout

 

All of this stuff was working perfectly fine until I decided to disconnect my external monitor for routine cleaning. I've disconnected it before for cleaning, and it's never done anything like this. I've tried disconnecting my monitor and running the game, but it still crashes right as it's about to render any 3d graphics for New Game or loading a savegame. Any tech wizards out there with an idea of either what's wrong or how I can go about diagnosing and fixing this?

 

EDIT: I didn't use any diagnostic tools, but I went through my video driver doohickeys and found that it's using some sort of "Hybrid Graphics Driver" program. I haven't a clue what that means, but I found the program. Apparently my particular chip uses an Intel program to somehow modify the graphics somehow. I fiddled with it, turned all settings to maximum, and now the game works again. I still don't know exactly how it was affecting my game, though, which is still disconcerting.

Edited March 31, 2012 by commode7x

[vforvic]

This is what I remember just from memory so some of this may or may not be exactly correct and I will keep it basic. Your Laptop probably has dual Graphics of Intel and Nvida. The Intel Graphics works for all the easy 2d stuff and the Nvida is supposed to automatically kick in for the 3d stuff. This is supposed to save energy and lower heat output. Sometimes when you remove an external monitor the Software detects this change and does a little reset and the Nvidia does not kick in correctly when the 3d stuff starts. The Intel does not work with FO. When it does this you just need to go into the settings like you did and set it back again.