Curse

Nyagan · Jun 12, 2007, 05:28 PM // 17:28

I have been trying to play guild wars for a few weeks now and i can't figure out what is wrong. It all started when my computer wouldn't let me type R or C in the log in screen. Both are in my account name/username/logginname. I had to repeatedly type the two letters until it let me type them.I know this wasn't a keyboard error because i could minimize guidl wars and i could visually see the letters when i tyed them. When i got in it would load 20,000+ files every screena nd when it was done loading it would close and and error would come up asking me if i wanted to send a report to A-Net or not.
So i tried to uninstall it and i thought that would cure it but instead it woudn't let me download it!
So every time i try to do something about it it opens up and it loads the screens that say "Connecting to arenanet" the one that asks where you want to save/store guild wars, the the screen that says "Downloading" Then after taht one closes another window SHOULD pop up that says "Disable your spyware if you have installation problems" Well my problem is that it doesn't come up to that screen at all, you know when you have to insert the next disc.
I have tried everything i can think of, I have all three campains so i installed it with all three sets of CD's and they didn't make a difference. I tried downloading it from guildwars.com and still no difference int he download progress.

Can some one please help me????? I would greatly appreciate it!

If my computer specs would make a difference then here they are:

Operating System: Windows 2000 Professional (5.0, Build 2195) Service Pack 4
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: XPST600
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel Pentium III processor, ~600MHz
Memory: 384MB RAM
Page File: 188MB used, 733MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINNT
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.0001.0904 32bit Unicode
Card name: Radeon 8500

Brother Andicus · Jun 12, 2007, 05:40 PM // 17:40

Those system specs don't meet the minimum requirement for GW.
I don't know if thats your problem, but it certainly wont be helping.

Edit: To clarify, they were close to the original GW:P minimum specs, but the game has grown with the addition of GW:F and GW:NF, and the minimum specs have grown with it.

Nyagan · Jun 12, 2007, 07:10 PM // 19:10

So what things should I update then? better video card?

Yanman.be · Jun 12, 2007, 07:27 PM // 19:27

Get a new PC. Seriously. Something cheap as 500€ or 500$.

A better video card? On that Dell? Maybe in a second hand computer part shop...

New processor, more RAM, and a better OS.

Klenn · Jun 12, 2007, 07:30 PM // 19:30

Here are the minimum and recommended system specs from guildwars.com

Prophecies: ( from http://www.guildwars.com/support/faq/prophecies-faq.php )

Minimum System Specs:

* Windows XP/2000/ME/98
* Intel Pentium III 800 Mhz or equivalent
* 256 MB RAM
* CD-ROM Drive
* 2 GB Available HDD Space
* ATI Radeon 8500 or GeForce 3 or 4 MX Series Video Card with 32MB of VRAM
* 16-bit Sound Card
* Internet connection
* Keyboard and mouse

Recommended System Specs:

* Windows XP/2000/ME/98
* Intel Pentium III 1GHz or equivalent
* 512 MB RAM
* CD-ROM Drive
* 2 GB Available HDD Space
* ATI Radeon 9000 or GeForce 4 Ti Series Video Card with 64MB of VRAM
* 16-bit Sound Card
* Internet connection
* Keyboard and mouse

Factions: ( from http://www.guildwars.com/support/faq...ctions-faq.php )

Minimum System Specs:

* Windows XP/2000/ME/98
* Intel Pentium III 800 MHz or equivalent
* 256 MB RAM
* CD-ROM Drive
* 2 GB Available HDD Space
* ATI Radeon 8500 or GeForce 3 or 4 MX Series Video Card with 32MB of VRAM
* 16-bit Sound Card
* Internet connection
* Keyboard and mouse

Recommended System Specs:

* Windows XP/2000
* Intel Pentium III 1GHz or equivalent
* 512 MB RAM
* CD-ROM Drive
* 2 GB Available HDD Space
* ATI Radeon 9000 or GeForce 4 Ti Series Video Card with 64MB of VRAM
* 16-bit Sound Card
* Internet connection
* Keyboard and mouse

Nightfall: ( from http://www.guildwars.com/support/faq/nightfall-faq.php )

Minimum System Specs:

* Windows XP/2000/ME/98
* Intel Pentium III 1.0 GHz or equivalent
* 512 MB RAM
* CD-ROM Drive
* 3 GB Available HDD Space
* ATI Radeon 8500 or GeForce 3 Series Video Card with 64MB of VRAM
* 16-bit Sound Card
* Internet connection
* Keyboard and mouse
* DirectX 8

Recommended System Specs:

* Windows XP/2000
* Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz or equivalent
* 1 GB RAM
* CD-ROM Drive
* 4 GB Available HDD Space
* ATI Radeon 9600 or GeForce FX 5700 Series Video Card or above
* Sound Blaster® X-FiTM series Sound Card
* Internet connection
* Keyboard and mouse
* DirectX 9

Nyagan · Jun 13, 2007, 02:16 AM // 02:16

Nightfall: ( from http://www.guildwars.com/support/faq/nightfall-faq.php )
[I]
Minimum System Specs:

* Windows XP/2000/ME/98
* Intel Pentium III 1.0 GHz or equivalent
* 512 MB RAM
* CD-ROM Drive
* 3 GB Available HDD Space
* ATI Radeon 8500 or GeForce 3 Series Video Card with 64MB of VRAM
* 16-bit Sound Card
* Internet connection
* Keyboard and mouse
* DirectX 8

Wow,that is the MINIMUM requirements??? 512MB? wow, no wonder it was so slow... Must really make a difference. Thanks for the help! Appreciate it!

Nyagan · Jun 15, 2007, 10:50 PM // 22:50

The only thing that i don't understand is why it would jsut now decide to create a problem. Because i have played nightfall for about a month or so. I haven't gotten too far but that was my own decission, too busy playing proph. Anyways, why would it jsut now decide not to let me play?
And the other guild wars campain discs should have been able to let me install it because they don't need as much requirements to play. So why start the problems now???
I was looking at some memory cards and do you think that 256 extra MB RAM would do that trick? Because when i start up my computer it says that i have 384MB and then 256 would bring it up to 640, more than enugh to play....right?

lordpwn · Jun 15, 2007, 11:39 PM // 23:39

Googled "Dell XPST600", had a quick look at the specs...

Well, I'd say you're better off buying a new computer, replacing any single part of your current one will not make GW run smooth.

Quaker · Jun 16, 2007, 08:32 PM // 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyagan

..So every time i try to do something about it it opens up and it loads the screens that say "Connecting to arenanet" the one that asks where you want to save/store guild wars, the the screen that says "Downloading" Then after taht one closes another window SHOULD pop up that says "Disable your spyware if you have installation problems" Well my problem is that it doesn't come up to that screen at all, you know when you have to insert the next disc.

I'm not sure why you say it SHOULD pop up that disable spyware screen. That screen, I assume, would only come up if you were actually running the install program. Did you tell it to run the file after downloading? If so, you may still have a problem. But, if not, then you need to go to the place you download the client to (where you told it to save/store Guild Wars), and run it from there.

Karatta · Jun 17, 2007, 08:46 PM // 20:46

Iv got a few questions for you that may solve this problem, and possibly a few other problems with your system if you are having any.

First of all, what is your maximum and total used space on your hard drive?

Also, when was the last time you cleaned off the dust off your system board, graphics card & the exposed parts on your hard drive?

The reason I ask the last one, is that many users that have some fairly old systems, 5-7 years or more, have never cleaned out their system, which leades to large dust build ups on the electronic contacts all over the board, and result in "strange things" occuring all over in random areas. (Technically, the dust creates small short circuts throughout the system, that when not a heavy build up, create data problems system wide). These "strange events" could be either error messages that appear out of no where, data corruption in seemingly random areas of the system, or failure to execute programs properly.

These "dust bunny gremlins" are usually much more prevelant in homes that have animals that shed a lot, or computers that live in airid areas of the world (in doors though, as usual).

The final question I have, is does your system have any other problems, that although do not seem related to the game, may indicate other hardware or software issues. Just like the dust bunny problem, they may be simliar in their presentation.

Usually, older systems, that are well taken care of, can run almost any game within 10 years of their construction, albiet slow, if they are properly maintained.

Your system may be on the cusp of its 10 year life, I am sad to say though man.

Nyagan · Jul 06, 2007, 04:15 PM // 16:15

Alright, here is the deal.

I got so fed up with the problem and no one else was posting, so I called some one to fix it. It did the trick! All he did was "Update my regestery" on my mcafee profile or something like that, then he ran a full sweep on my computer. (useing mcafee) Then i tried to install it again after he left and it was done sweeping. Sucess! I was up and playing for the rest of the night.

Hold on, the story doesn't end there, About two weeks or so later....

For no reason the problem comes back with a vengance! I didn't uninstall it this time, instead i tryed to "Fix Installation" fromt eh screen that pops up when you insert the guild wars prophecies disc (#1). This time the problem is a bit different. Now instead of not being able to type "R" or "C" i cannot type a majority of my keyboard now. At least 70% of all my keys are unusable. And before he came to fix it my mouse was blinking like crazy, and when i wasn't moving it the mouse would dissapear completely.When ever i try to minimize the program or "Restore Down" the window and error comes up asking me if i want to send a report to A-Net. It doesn't really make a differece if you do or not, they don't help anyways. And I have looked all over guildwarsguru.com and guild wiki, looking for solutions to this error and both of them had everything but the error i was looking for

When i am brousing the web the advertisments flash/blink rapidly, witch they have never done before.And I will try checking for dust like you suggested, but i am not sure if i can figure out how to open it without permanentally breaking something. Because yoiu said that upgradeing a single part of it wouldn't really do the trick. Buying a whole new computer is out of the question. Just not in the budget right now. And besides i got this one for free when a company closed down so i didn't have high expectations in the first place.

But it had been working fine for such a long time, when i played it for the two weeks when it recently worked i checked my "Age" on guild wars and it said that i have been playing if for about 22-23 months now. Sure i would alwasy have lag, some times worse that others, but it still let me run it.

Thanks again for the suggestions, I will be sure to try them all.

Karatta · Jul 06, 2007, 05:08 PM // 17:08

All righty, well, Nyagan, if you are unsure of how to check for and remove dust, that is definatly not something you want to do as an unexperienced computer user.

First, I would try getting a new keyboard. If you dont have the cash to purchase one, try to get your hands on a used one, or a friends. Plug it in, and see if you still get a problem typing keys.

If you do, then you may have a more serious problem.

I would suggest that you take your computer to a shop, or get that guy that came buy before, and ask him to completely clean the computer of dust, using a compressed air can and any other cleaning method he will use.

Also, ask him to check for "bad capacitors". If he doesnt know how to do this, dont worry, it is really only something that serious professional computer users know. But I will show you how to check for yourself.

A very generous guy fixed a computer of mine for a pretty low cost, replacing the bad capacitors for my system in the USA. Below are the links to the pictures of "good" capacitors, and "bad" capacitors.

This is a set of good capacitors. The capacitors are the blue things with the words "Badcaps.net" over them :http://www.badcaps.net/images/caps/vp_recap/vp3.html

And here is a set of bad capacitors, with the proper captions :
http://www.badcaps.net/images/caps/kt7/kt1.html
http://www.badcaps.net/images/caps/kt7/kt3.html
http://www.badcaps.net/images/caps/kt7/kt4.html

While the guy is cleaning out your computer of dust, LOOK around in your computer, (DO NOT Touch anything metallic looking or the capacitors, as you could risk destroying your computer by simply touching those parts, or you could absorb the juices on the burst capacitors through your skin. Touch the green parts of the boards, if you have to touch something.), for capacitors that may have gone bad.

All computers eventually have part failures, and capacitors are usually the first to go.

If you live in the US, or can ship your computer to someone in the states, this guy did a real professional job for me, and has served over 1000 other people. Otherwise, check on the web for someone near where you live, and see if someone can do it for you, if you have this problem.

Check on that guys website, for what an electronics tech will need to know before he starts replacing capacitors. You do not want to just hand this job off to someone that has little experience, or the whole board could be lost.

Nyagan · Jul 06, 2007, 06:23 PM // 18:23

Well, i already have 2 spare keyboards, one from a REALLY old computer and i got two with this computer. I tried the otehr two and they still don't let me type the restricted keys.
I didn't think it would really be a keyboard issue though because i am typeing right now with all of my keys.
I highly expect dust to be the cause of the trouble because i have two....cirles on the back of my CPU and one has smaller circles around it.(Similar to a target) And the other has bars going up down left and right.You can see through them both about and inch or two and i can clearly see dust in both of them. And there seems to be some sort of see through screen after both of them. And i see a litle blue part covered with dust. This was an old computer after all.
And i think i have an compressed air can.err what ever you said, and my grandfather knows a fair share of all this computer talk, i could ask him if he knows anything about all this stuff. Hey it would be cheaper than a repair man. (Hopefully)

I appreciate the help!

Karatta · Jul 07, 2007, 05:08 AM // 05:08

I think what you are describing are Air Vents, for the air to move past the fans, to transfer air in and out of the system. Just like a car, a microwave, or a compressor (the part of the air conditioner that is outside), the parts need moving air to keep themselves cool. Otherwise, they over heat, and stop working. The principle is the same with electronics, and may be part of the problem that is occuring now.

Also, buildups of dust interfere with the electronic transfer of information, across the gold traces on the circut board. They cause the millions of 0s and 1s, that cross the traces every second, to use the wrong number sometimes, resulting in corruption of data.

In this case, most of the dust buildup that has occured, is probabbly over the traces that lead from the keyboard to the keyboard controller on the system board. (Dont bother looking for that part if that is all you want to try and focus on. It is too small to describe throughly.)

To make sure the system is properly cleaned, you will probabbly need to remove a lot of the system items and clean them seperately.

You could get away with just cleaning the motheboard, (the big flat thing that everything else plugs into, that is the largest board in the computer), but another problem could happen later on, or may be happening now, with the dust build up on the hard drive, (the part that holds all the information when your computer is turned off). If the dust is building up on the hard drive, this could also cause problems in other areas of the system with data corruption.

And Im glad to help man!

I hope things turn out well.

Lagg · Jul 07, 2007, 08:44 PM // 20:44

Get a new computer, seriously.

tijo · Jul 07, 2007, 09:24 PM // 21:24

Although you can play GW on your computer, since it's under the minimum specs, it's a real resource hog on your RAM and processor. I'm not too surprised that you get these kind of problems. If you plan on playing GW regularly , i strongly advise you get a new computer, even a cheap one one will run GW better than the one you have right now.

Nyagan · Jul 08, 2007, 06:26 PM // 18:26

Well, i talked to some one at PlayNC and they suggested a few things that i try to fix guild wars. About 3 or 4 emails later they sent me an email with a solution that worked. They had me step by step reinstall my video driver. Then once i opened guild wars i realized why it wouldn't let me type most of my keys on my keyboard. A program named "Geeflix".
Geeflix is a program that i downloaded a LONG time ago, about half a year or so. Anyways, i got it off the internet when looking for a program that can record my gameplay so i could make a video and post it on youtube. So what it makes you do is add a game to geeflix and then you can open it with geeflix and then you can record it. I didn't like it becuase i didn't know how to start recording or where they were restored. I looked all around thier website for info but it didn't give me what i needed. So I uninstalled Geeflix but i didn't get rid of guild wars from its collection, so now the geeflix HUD is stuck on guild wars, i can get rid of iit by pressing the insert button, but that ohly does so much.
So if some one can tell me how to get rid of geeflix from my computer completely that would be greatly appreciated.

(P.S. I already tried to go to control pannel and get rid of it through the add/remove programs)