Crashing time, once again.

[st_feenix]

Hi guys, first of all; apologize, if this problem is already answered (there seems to be awful lot crashing problems) but Im too tired and desperad to read all crashing topics here. Especially because I haven't found any workgin solutions for my problem ealier. Second, I don't post so much in english forums because of my english skills is not so good, but as I said, Im desperad, really desperad and almost ready to cry. Just thinking to warn you all of my english. :)

 

Now for business, first my pc infos:

 

 

Windows Vista Home Premium

Acer Aspire T180

AMD Sempron processor 3600+ 2Ghz

3070 Ram

nVidia Geforce 8300 GS

DirectX 10

 

 

Hope those were all you needed to know, Im no computer-person. :whistling:

 

 

Problem:

 

Suddenly game starded to crash to dektop, without any warnings or logic, it's random, and it's getting worse all the time.

 

 

When I start game, there was no crash problem, well, couple crashes about after 5+ gaming hours, but that wasnt so bad and I started to add mods without any problems. Back then I had only 1G RAM so I decided to buy 2x1G more, with guiding one of my friends, who knew exactly what memories to buy, because he has a lot of gaming and cmputer experience. I really was happy to get more ram, at last I could play Oblivion withe better graphics, but as soon I start playing, hell was release.

 

Game started to crash when I tried to go out from dungeon, or go in in the dungeon. First I check my mods, I take them all off, and that didnt help. I remove all files from mygames/oblivion folder, didn't help. I reinstall game and install again, and continued playing with my saves, didn't help. I remove all saves, meshes, textures, etc and I get game playing again. Though, I couldnt continue with my old saves, so 70 hours gameplaying go to trash. I was pissed off, but still was reliefe that game worked. I started to play adding little by little my favourite mods to game. Not texture replaces, 'couse I have read that could get game crash.

 

 

About 10 hour gameplay, I starded to get inventory crashes. First it was only some random equiping, not too worry about that. After crash I could equip that armory without problems. Then it started to affect other inventories too, it wasnt only armory, game crashes in misc, alchemy and weapons slots too randomly. Well, I think I could handle it, althought I havent get any crashes in wilderness or cities. It was annoying and took little of gaming pleasure away, but I keep going.

 

Then game starded to crash in wilderness too, randomly. First I think it was that one ayleid dungeon, 'couse I have looting problems there, I open chest, and game froze. Not all, I hear sounds, and saw wilderness life, but I couldn't move. And when I tried to load latest save, I got corrupt save. Well, I load one of my second oldest save which was in that area, and that seems to work, but soon I realize I couldnt get out of that area, game crash. So I load even more older save, but soon after I started to move, game crash. Game crashes every single load which I have made. In this point, I almost cry.

 

Well, I reinstall game, clear all Oblivion files, install game once again (boot even my computer between reinstal and installation), and tried once again, but now game starded to crash as soon I start. Not in loading screens, after I take couple steps game crash. It's crash when I have mods, and when I don't have mods.

 

I this point, I have installed Oblivion about 5 times in two days, and now I'm really tired, and sad, because I love that game so much but playing it's impossible. I don't have any crashing problems in other games (I have tried WoW an Neverwinter Nights 2, both work smoothly.)

 

I really don't know what to do anymore. Couple thigs before I post this:

 

- I have only Oblivion and it is patched. I have too that Unoffical oblivion patch.

- I have updated my graphics card and other drivers

- I don't have overclocket.

- I have tried to play game with loweast graphics settings and highest, keep crashin with both settings.

- I have tried to play with Windows XP compatility, still crashing.

- I have shut all unnessary background programs when play, doesnt help.

- I have scanned virus and spyingprograms, there's nothing.

 

 

Im not sure, but for me it's seems, that buying more ram wasn't such a good idea after all, crashing started after that. It could be with mods too, but I don't believe it, 'couse game keep crashing without mods too.

 

 

Thats for all, I could think to say about this problem, I hope that someone underestood my english, and could help me.

[bben46]

Your English is fine.

 

I locked up the specs on your computer and read some of the reviews. The reviews called it a weak system. It only has a 250 watt power supply. This is a good system for a home office, but not a very good gaming system. If you have the technical knowledge you might consider upgrading it, starting with the power supply.

 

Have you checked to see if your system is overheating? Oblivion is very hard on a computer and can easily cause it to run hotter than most other programs.

 

Typically a heat problem will show up as a crash at approximately the same length of playing time. Then if you immediately restart, it will crash sooner. If you allow a little time to cool down, the length of time until it crashes again will be longer.

 

To see if overheating is the source of your crashes reduce your video settings to see if the crashes are reduced or stop.

 

Solutions are to clean the dust out of your case and power supply and add fans to your case. Be sure your case has enough outlets for the air pushed in by fans and it's not just circulating the hot air.

 

A weak power supply can also cause crashes unfortunately, most manufacturers will put in the cheapest power supply they can get away with and it may not be up to the stress a game like Oblivion puts on it. 250 watts is fairly small.

[RGMage2]

You say you have re-installed Oblivion 5 times, but did you delete your Oblivion.ini file when you re-installed? If not, then you may be using an ini file from a previous installation. There are 2 copies of the ini file on your computer. I don't know anything about Vista, but on XP these files are located in:

 

C:/Program Files/Bethesda Softworks/Oblivion/Oblivion_default.ini (do not delete or make any changes to this file)

 

and

 

My Documents/My Games/Oblivion/Oblivion.ini Delete this file and when you load up the game it will rewrite this file using the Oblivion_default.ini file

 

There is no guarantee that this will solve your problems, but in my experience a lot of problems can be fixed by simply re-initializing the Oblivion.ini file.

 

Good luck. :smile:

[macmert]

Dude... Do you run a 8300 nvidia with a 250 power source?? You said that wow and Nwn2 works fine and they are not that much demanding games since Wow can work great with a 7xxx nvidia series, and nwn2 engine is a bit old so you can play it just fine (Btw I want to play some nwn2 too, just finished the main game will start on the expansion, anyway back to topic) I have a 8800 GTS and I have a 650 W power source... bben is right you must change your power source immidiately, since this crashes relate to power issues and probably heating problems, since wow and nwn2 doesnt really force your system, you can play them just fine, but give it a try, after 10+ hours on both games you might have some issues, since you really force your system to work hard for hours...

 

So my advice will be to change the power source, and look at the cooling devices in your machine, clean out the fans, remove the dust from inside :D and lastly if you are really suspecting the new ram, take them off and give it a try...

 

Hope it helps...

[bben46]

It is possible that your new ram is the cause. If everything works without the new ram that would be likely. Sometimes just different manufacturers can be enough different to be incomparable. Or possibly you just got a bad ram stick. Ram can overheat also.

[st_feenix]

Hi!

 

Thanks for all for you answers. I was afraid that my computer specks were the major problem here, but I keep my hope alive, since I really don't know much about computers, so changing all that stuff scare hell out of me. :rolleyes: I just wandering, how game worked before so nice, after that ram all started to go wrong..

 

Well, since all of you suggest me to change my computer parts (heh, term knowledge 10+.. actually, I do know them in Finnish, but not in English. Computer terms wasn't priority in school. ^_^) that would be seems to only working solution. Fortunately I move next month in other city to start studies, and my know-it-all-computer-technic-friend lives there. He have to assemble me one hardcore-kick-ass-gaming machine. Well, I think kick-ass machine is just enough..

 

 

Thanks again for all for helping, I try to clean that dust from inside, as soon I found my screwdriver somewhere, I'm not so sure where I put that when I put those memories inside. Aw crap, maybe I have to just clean up my whole apartment too. :wallbash:

 

 

Take care all, and extra thanks for bben46 for compliment about my English.:)

 

ush, I overuse smilies, shame on me..