Oblivion freezing! HELP!!!

[lucasito]

Hey guys! I have been playing Oblivion for a REALLY long time on my PC (for probably 9 months now). Recently I have been having problems with this amazing game: When I launch Oblivion, everything goes fine - when I get to the Main Menu, I cannot load or even start a new game, it will just freeze. I turned off all the other mods - nothing, happens again. I tried re-installing, un-installing and the installing it again... NOTHING WORKS!!! So if there is ANYONE with ANY info on this problem PLEASE tell me! I love Oblivion too much to throw it away lol! :thanks:

[reaper9111]

since you try all of what i would have try myself... then there's only one solution for you left... get a new copy of your favorite game... :-(

[bben46]

First, the crash you list can be caused by a problem in the windows registry. One of the Oblivion entries is likely corrupted. You will have to reinstall, but the normal reinstall doesn't clean up the registry. Here is my suggested reinstall procedure. Pay special attention to the part where it asks you to run a registry cleaner. Be sure to reboot both before and after using the cleaner.

 

After deleting the folders, rebooting marks the bad registry entries as orphans, those not associated with any program, The cleaner removes those orphan entries. Then after cleaning, the registry reorganizes itself on the next reboot. When you reinstall it recreates the registry entries.

 

When you uninstall Oblivion it doesn't really uninstall everything.

 

It does not remove your mods, save games or Oblivion.ini. It also does not remove helper programs such as OBSE, OBMM, Wrye Bash, The construction set or any other programs you have installed in the \Oblivion folder or the save game folder. I recommend that you go ahead and delete them, then re download and install the latest version of them again later. After you have verified that the game works. If you can't remove them, then move them to another directory before uninstalling.

 

Then when you start adding mods before you have started the game, some things may not get initialized properly. Here is my recommended procedure for uninstalling and reinstalling.

 

I would appreciate any feedback on this as it is something I expect to post often and I hate to give bogus or useless information.

 

Uninstalling Oblivion

 

My instructions assume you are using Windows XP and have installed Oblivion into the default location. If you are using Vista or Linux, the file locations may be different, however, the procedure will be the same.

 

For a full reinstall, first you can try to preserve your mods and save games. I recommend that you save them in a new folder with a new name. Create the new folder in C:\Program files\Bethesda Softworks. Name it Old Files. So it will be C:\Program Files\Bethesda softworks\Old files.

 

Then copy the data folder where your mods are to the new folder - do not erase them, copy them. And in the new folder, rename the \data folder to \olddata. Then copy and rename the folder that has your saved games and Oblivion.ini, C:\documents and settings\your user name\my documents\My Games\oblivion to something like \My games\Old Oblivion - this saves your saved games and the oblivion.ini file.

 

Then, using the original CD, NOT the Launcher on your Hard drive. Select uninstall.

 

After it completes the uninstall, reboot your computer - this is important as it allows Windows to remove some references to the original Oblivion.

 

This would be the time to erase all of the helper programs you have in the \Oblivion folder. Such as OBMM, OBSE and some others. The simplest way is to erase the folder completely. The new install will re create the folder for you along with a fresh oblivion.ini and when you start the game and make a save, a new save folder and new \data folder.

 

This would also be a good time to do a file clean up and defragment your hard drive.

 

If you are worried about the registry entries that were left behind. There are several good programs for removing left behind entries. The one I use is ccleaner. Be sure to reboot before using it, and again after. It is available here: http://majorgeeks.com/download4191.html

 

 

Now to Reinstall.

 

Again using the original CD, install Oblivion.

 

Special instructions for Vista only: Do not install to the default location - make a new folder such as C:\Games and install there. That way you will not be bothered by the problems caused by the Vista UAC security not allowing mods to work.

 

Before adding any mods, patches, helper programs, Shivering Isles or anything else, start the game and make a save. This initializes some stuff that needs to be initialized.

 

If you are using the Game of the Year version of Oblivion you should not need any patches, skip the patching part.

 

Now, If you DO NOT use Shivering Isles, patch the game using ONLY the latest Oblivion patch. All of the stuff from the earlier patches is included.

 

Be sure you use the proper language patch. If you use the wrong one it may work, but with a strange mixture of languages. (Germanglish?) Or it may crash.

 

NOTE: there are two English Patches UK & US and they are different. (Some people actually think we speak the same language) Use the one that matches your original disk.

 

If you use Shivering Isles, Install it now. DO NOT install the Oblivion patch. Install Shivering Isles, then ONLY the latest Shivering Isles patch. All of the updates for Oblivion are included. There is only one Shivering Isles patch for both US & UK English

 

Now, again start the game and make a save. Test to be sure everything is working right (No purple objects or yellow blocks)

 

Before adding any mods, back up both your \data folder and the save game folder. Copy them, don't move or rename them, to a different folder - such as \Bethesda\Clean Oblivion\data and \Bethesda\clean Oblivion\saves. Note that this is a different folder than the one used for your old data and saves.

 

Note, Your Oblivion.ini file is in the same folder, but separate from, the save game folder.

 

Now, if you want to try to run with your old mods, first rename the original folders. The \data folder to \newdata and the \oldata back to \data. this restores all of your mods. You should now have 2 data folders \data, and \newdata in your \oblivion folder

 

To restore your original saves and ini file, rename the new My Games\Oblivion to something like \New Oblivion. and the \Old oblivion to \oblivion - this restores all of your saved games and your original Oblivion.ini file.

 

DO NOT erase the files you renamed. These are your backup files in case the original mods do not work or give you the same problem.

 

If you have the same problem, it is most likely caused by a mod. However, you now have a clean install to fall back on. You can rename the files back to what they were and be back to your clean install without having to reinstall again.

 

Sounds like lots of work, but you will have a clean install and a back up clean install when you are finished.

 

Post your comments here: http://s1.zetaboards.com/TheStormRavenLibrary/forum/236320/

[gregcoll]

I just started having a similar problem. It started with the container animations and door opening animations taking a looong time (I would be stuck in place but could look around, etc, until some sub program or other got finished running and then I would be allowed to look in the box or whatever). It is as if there is a memory folder somewhere that keeps getting more and more full. I have defragged, run virus programs, etc, and used a program I have that checks my disk and registry for errors and corrects them. While these help some areas of the game's performance the animation problem is still there (I almost forgot, when I use a healing spell the white 'tail' that goes around me is almost stuck in place making it difficult to see for 10-20 seconds). Recently, I decided to go to the Shivering Isles and have done a bit there (I am level 31 now, not huge but I have spent a bit of time in the game). So, from my last save I can survive for about 30 seconds to a minute before the screen locks stopping my game and sometimes even locking up my computer (ctrl/alt/del not bringing up task manager and allowing me to quit that way). I did install both the Oblivion patch and the Shivering Isles patch as well as the unofficial patch that is offered (can't remember the author's name right now but I thought that it was considered as good programming and a good idea to install). I have OOO installed which I think has something to do with changing some aspect of the container opening animations. I did not play the vanilla version at all so I don't really know what is changed in my game from the original. I played Morrowind a bit and did some reading as to other players' likes and dislikes about the game and so I thought that I had some idea of which mods I would like based on my own playing type. I have maybe six different mods installed and have the game of the year version. I used the mod manager to install most of them so I didn't pay much attention to the load order as everything has worked for a couple of months or so of playing. I don't want to lose my saves (I keep three or four saves and just save on top of them) and am wondering what can be done to fix these problems (or any of them). Any ideas? Thanks!

[bben46]

You have just discovered the dread 'stuck animation bug' it happens at around 200 hours of play. Fortunately, it is easy to fix. There is a mod just for that.

 

Here: http://tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5127

 

Read the instructions as it isn't a normal mod and doesn't install like one.

[CrimsonKing1990]

Or you can get Wyre Bash and use the "remove "abomb" function.

[gregcoll]

Thanks, guys! I am going to download and try. In reference to my freezes, I found (I am as positive as I can be) that it is happening as I try to enter a location on the northwest portion of the Shivering Isles map. As I near the place I can just start to make out a 'house' POI marker and obviously I don't know what place it is exactly but it is just east/northeast of Fire Island or Isle of Fire or something. It doesn't matter which direction I try to come from, when I get within a certain distance of this spot everything just locks up. Can anyone tell me what is at this location that might be a problem? My data files screen looks like:

 

 

Cutthroat Merchants.esp (Player File)

DLC Shivering Isles.esp (Player File)

Harvest [Flora] - Shivering Isles.esp (Player File)

Harvest [Flora].esp (Player file)

Knights.esp (Player File)

Living Economy -Items.esp (Player File)

Living Economy.esp (Player File)

Oblivion.esm (Master File)

Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm (Master File)

Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp (Player File)

Quest Award Leveling - Finger of the Mountain.esp (Player File)

Quest Award Leveling.esp (Player File)

Street Gangs.esp (Player File)

Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp (Player File)

 

Is this my load order? If so, I think it is not right based on a thread I was reading earlier. If this is wrong, how do I change it? I have tried clicking, shift-clicking, alt-clicking but nothing happens. I also ran BOSS and it said it reordered something but I think this list is the same as it has always been so I don't know exactly what went on. Any information is, of course, appreciated but thanks very much in advance.

[dezdimona]

DL and install OBMM its here at nexus,allows you to change your load order simply and you set it yourself

[gregcoll]

Thanks for all the help, everyone. It seems that my problems were related to the animation problem because I just used the OAF program to fix my animation problem and this stopped my lock-up problem (only happening at that one location, very strange). My computer is somewhat older but has 4 gig and a GT8600 graphics card. Decently midranged capability. So, I guess the problem boils down to bad programming on Bethesda's part. Other, possibly worse, errors can be seen in Fallout 3. I'm not bashing in any way, it just makes me cautious and very likely to wait at least several months to see if they can get most of the bugs out before I give them any of my money. Besides, I have many more hours of exploring in Oblivion's world. By the way, what exactly are 'kudos'? I am thinking that they are some kind of good thing, however, when you guys get them can you spend them or eat them or what? If any of you want some kudos to go with your favourite dipping sauce just say the word and I can at least click the little button. Anyway, thanks, and maybe this conversation can help solve someone else's problem.

[bben46]

A kudo is simply a way to say thanks or to indicate you appreciate something - such as a particularly interesting post. They have no real value beyond making both the sender and receiver feel good. If they had any real value, I would gladly trade in my kudos for a decent graphics card. You can give only one to an individual, but there is no limit to the number of individuals you can give them to.