Curse

Cebe · Sep 17, 2006, 07:00 PM // 19:00

I'm stuck

I have no idea what to do about this problem... Since the massive updates last week Guild Wars has been misbehaving just closing down and, in some instances, shutting down my PC. The error message is attached:

ERROR1.jpg

So, I start pulling my hair out as it does this time after time after time...I also get the "white block syndrome" ...something I have seen previously queried on this site...an example of which is attached:

White Block Syndrome.jpg

Now last time I got the "white block syndrome" I restarted GW...it "repaired the data archive" and I went on my merry way, and never saw it again.

So I try to figure out what could be wrong...after a few attempts of logging into GW I get GW shut down with a message telling me my PC may be overheating and a guildwars.com page popped up talking about overheating. So I find some temperature monitoring software and run GW...although after about a minute it shuts down it was up long enough for me to fin out that the temperature was reaching 80°C...

I shut the PC down and the next day I went out and bought some new paste for the bottom of the heatsink...I apply the paste, turn the PC on, and YAY! 40°c! This number however crept up and up...Guild Wars is back to it's old tricks and the temperature now reaches 65°C during what little bit of gameplay GW will allow me. (note: when not running Guild Wars it runs at about 50°-55°C, even when running a graphics-intensive game such as GTA San Andreas the CPU hardly flinches)

A few things I have tried:
Cleaning all of the dust out of the heatsink and fan.
Checking that all the fans (case, CPU and power supply) are working properly
Re-Applying the thermal insulating compound to the bottom of the heatsink.
Re-Installing Guild Wars
Updating the Graphics Drivers
Upgrading the Firmware in the Router-Modem
Fully formatting the system hard drive.
Taking off the side of the case and standing a 1½ foot desk fan next to it.
Banging my head off a desk

I'm utterly utterly stumped.
ANet has been less than helpful...I ran a couple of DirextX Diagnostic Tests on my PC and am still awaiting a response.

I thought maybe someone had had a problem like this here...maybe it was worth asking.

I have come to the fairly dismal conclusion that I may have to replace the processor, motherboard and graphics card to the tune of about £150 which I really don't want to have to do. (I have an oldish (socket-A) processor - they don't really seem to be made any more)

So, that's the problem then! Any thoughts? Any other questions?

EDIT: Occaisonally I get a slightly different error message than that in the attachment...one which describes some form of disruption...I am getting "out of sync" with the game server

If I every get a screenshot of this I will post it.

Empex · Sep 17, 2006, 07:18 PM // 19:18

Try doing a memory test. http://www.memtest86.com/, use a bootable version if you have a cd burner. Shouldn't take you too long, and I know bad RAM can make GW do those things.

Cebe · Sep 18, 2006, 06:45 AM // 06:45

I have visited the site you suggested and downloaded the ISO images suitable for creating a bootable memtest CD-ROM...Got it onto a CD-ROM...now what? The website is, well, less than clear on what I am supposed to do next... Can anyone please help?

cannonfodder · Sep 18, 2006, 07:45 AM // 07:45

I had the same issue, and as Emprex said min was a bad stick of ram, can I suggest if you have 2 sticks of ram remove one, try GW, then remove the other one.

as for memtest, once you re-boot with the disk in, it should automatically boot up into the program, it needs to be working without windows running.

Cebe · Sep 18, 2006, 09:13 AM // 09:13

ok thanks, I have 2 sticks of 256 and 1 of 512 as far as I'm aware...I'll try running the memory test first.

Lethorn Maeran · Sep 18, 2006, 01:42 PM // 13:42

Finally...someone I can empathise with on this subject...I get this all the time..the err message that is..The worst thing is you never know when it's going to screw up.

Cebe · Sep 18, 2006, 03:42 PM // 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lethorn Maeran

Finally...someone I can empathise with on this subject...I get this all the time..the err message that is..The worst thing is you never know when it's going to screw up.

I found the most difficult and frustrating thing about trying to solve this particular problem is the fact that you can't search for it. There is no error code, nothing really that makes it stand out as any particular type of error...it's just...."an error".

I assume you have not managed to solve your problem although I get the impression yours is not as bad as mine? Mine kicks me out of the game one or two minutes in...usually when I try to change towns. I hope to try the memory test tonight and maybe try taking out some of the sticks to see if that makes a difference. I'll post later on or tomorrow to update on the problem.

Fingers crossed for tonight.

Lethorn Maeran · Sep 19, 2006, 12:09 AM // 00:09

No, I have not managed to solved my problem yet, but it does happen quite frequently. I'm generally lucky to get a short quest outside ascalon done, other times, i can finish a smites run in UW..it's really frustrating.

Cebe · Sep 19, 2006, 09:14 AM // 09:14

Right...I ran a memory test on my PC last night as suggested by Empex and a load of errors were indeed listed. I've no idea what any of the silly numbers mean so tonight my job will be to stratgically remove sticks of RAM, load the PC, run GW and see if it breaks. My conclusion will lead me to believe that if GW breaks, the particular stick RAM is faulty.

I am hoping that this is the reason for the CPU overheating....it is overheating due to continually having to reallocate data. Would anyone else have any other ideas?

I'll update later tonight or tomorrow after I've played about with the memory.

Edit: After re-sending my problem to ANet....still no response. GWG FTW!!

Infidelus · Sep 19, 2006, 09:45 AM // 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestial Beaver

I've no idea what any of the silly numbers mean so tonight my job will be to stratgically remove sticks of RAM, load the PC, run GW and see if it breaks. My conclusion will lead me to believe that if GW breaks, the particular stick RAM is faulty.

Alternatively, you could re-run memtest with just 1 stick in at a time. When you find errors, you'll know the stick is faulty

EiS · Sep 19, 2006, 10:09 AM // 10:09

i used to get the message too it was a memory error and what i did to fix it was go in to my BIOS and turn down the FSB (Front Side Bus) of the memory from 200 MHz (400 MHz DDR) to the next lowest setting which on my MoBo goes by ratio which the next lowest setting is 186 MHz (372 MHz DDR) and have never gotten that error again and you won't notice and performance drops from at little change

Cebe · Sep 19, 2006, 10:38 AM // 10:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by EiS

i used to get the message too it was a memory error and what i did to fix it was go in to my BIOS and turn down the FSB (Front Side Bus) of the memory from 200 MHz (400 MHz DDR) to the next lowest setting which on my MoBo goes by ratio which the next lowest setting is 186 MHz (372 MHz DDR) and have never gotten that error again and you won't notice and performance drops from at little change

Urm....come again?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infidelus

Alternatively, you could re-run memtest with just 1 stick in at a time. When you find errors, you'll know the stick is faulty

I like your style

cannonfodder · Sep 19, 2006, 11:43 AM // 11:43

Downclocking your RAM from its stock speed when there are errors present is not a good idea, as memtest brought up errors when ran it indicates that most likely is the problem, as I suggested removing the sticks and testing them one by one is the only way to be really sure, as there are 3 sticks it'll be easy to weed out the bad one, lets just hope all are not faulty

Cebe · Sep 19, 2006, 10:31 PM // 22:31

Right then Lads, problem solved!

I used the suggestion of memory-testing each stick individually...turns out my 512 MB stick has gone faulty. So I took that one out, left my two 256 MB sticks in and it works like a treat! Well, I say "like a treat" - it's a bit laggy, a bit slow but at least I can play GW, reasonably smoothly, without it crashing!

Time to search for a replacement methinks...

I was personally LOVING Anet's response. Their idea of technical help was to "put a large house fan next to the base unit and take off the side". Riiiight. Ok, because I couldn't think of that myself and that's really going to be a long term solution! Nevermind, at least I have GWG! Thanks to everyone who helped!

Note to Lethorn Maeran: I suggest you try the suggestion by Empex in post #2. If you have more than one stick of memory try testing them separately. Find out which one it is...you'll know if it's faulty...the WHOLE screen turns red! Mine had I think over 632,000 errors on it! LOL - Made me laugh! Anyway...good luck!

Lethorn Maeran · Sep 20, 2006, 01:01 AM // 01:01

Thanks, I'll try this ASAP.