Curse

Arran_Pellaeon · May 06, 2005, 04:13 AM // 04:13

Hi all.

This is something that has happened to me frequesntly while playing Guild Wars, and since i've run out of ideas, I decided i'd post here and see if anyone can help.

Basically, while playing, my computer will completely lockup. Most often it drops to a black screen and has the last sound played stuttering over and over. No commands will take it out of this, (windows key, alt tab, ctrl alt del, etc) so I am always forced to restart my computer. I used to have a faulty memory stick, which I replaced, assuming it to be the cause of the lockups. However, they continue now, though with less frequecy. Oddly enough, they mainly happen when I am in locations in the Shiverpeaks.

I've tried running the game in varying graphics settings to no avail. I've also run a memory tester, and my RAM is fine. nyone else have this problem?

My system specs:

Athlon 1.4 Ghz
Nvidia GEForce FX 5200
512 megs of 266 DDR RAM
60 gig HD

Ano Heto · May 06, 2005, 04:29 AM // 04:29

The Exact same problem im having. Except there's no "mostly here" im having mine all over the place.
I've reinstalled, updated both sound and video drivers, and tried giving my computer more VR memmory but nothing has worked. This has only started with the latest patch.
My System:
Sound Blaster 2 ZS (sound card)
Radeon 9800 XT (Video card).
512 megs of DDR Ram
120 Gig Hard-drive.

Arran_Pellaeon · May 06, 2005, 07:52 PM // 19:52

anyone?

Phantium · May 06, 2005, 08:16 PM // 20:16

Might be useful to post what motherboard you guys have, also make sure you installed the cdrom that comes with the motherboard.
I have the same card as Ano_Heto, no problems here at all.

Both videocards can become very heated, so it might be an overheating problem.
I have placed a special cooler on my card, http://www.arctic-cooling.com/vga2.php?idx=11

You can also find them for other cards.

Dingo Dave · May 07, 2005, 12:04 AM // 00:04

I registered just to answer this for you

.

1.)make sure there is no dust or anything to insulate your graphics card.
2.)get updated motherboard drivers! I ran system information and it turned out my VIA KT400 chipset had drivers from Nov 2002. I went to there site, downlaoded the Hyperion drivers and have only crashed twice since (I'd say thats due to me running ME)

Ano Heto · May 07, 2005, 01:44 AM // 01:44

Nope neather of thoese have helped me. Game still crashes. Hard drive temperature is about 80 degres(F),casing is about 78 Degres(F).

oddity · May 07, 2005, 02:31 AM // 02:31

I had this problem, then i messed around with the BIOS settings and its fixed now

Arran_Pellaeon · May 07, 2005, 07:37 PM // 19:37

I too tried what you mentioned, and to no avail.

Sylvin Nightsong · May 07, 2005, 09:31 PM // 21:31

I've been having this problem as well. I sent an email off to tech support, and have been waiting for their reply. Mine continuously crashes in the Catacombs area. I'd love to know what anyone else has done to get this problem fixed.

Northern · May 07, 2005, 09:53 PM // 21:53

I am having the same problem too. It seems if its the first time I play the game I can go for about 1-2 hours before the problem occurs. If I do a hard reset after the video fails and start the game again, the problem will re-occur after about 30 mins.

So far I've tried updating my video drivers but it didn't seem to make any difference.
I'm going to try updating my motherboard drivers and leaving the case door of my tower and see if it makes any difference.

Specs:
AMD Barton 1.8 ghz
ATI Radeon 9600 128mb
Soltek 75FRN-L Motherboard

Northern · May 07, 2005, 09:55 PM // 21:55

Also my friend has the exact same unit as mine (bought them at same time) and he is experiencing no problems at all and he's never bothered to update any system drivers since he got the machine.

Pandora's box · May 07, 2005, 10:20 PM // 22:20

I have a simular problem. After a few hours suddenly sound starts to fail. I dont hear combat sounds anymore, but I still hear other sounds correctly. Than about 1 minute later the game hangs and I have to restart.
I dont know if this is related but the game starts with an error message: Cant find entrypoint SMapl5 in kernel32.dll. The same message comes up when I start my old Windows ME version of DXDiag. When I use the Windows XP DXDiag version all works well and there are no errors. still have Windows ME on my C-drive. I'm running GW under windows XP on my D-drive. However the game itself is installed on C.

I contacted the official tech support site but I'm not sure if it worked. After filling the forms and entering my email and pressing the confirm button I suddenly was moved to an account creation screen with my email adress filled in. But I allready have an account on that mail adress, So I did not continue. Very confusing...

grittybeard · May 09, 2005, 03:17 AM // 03:17

I'm having the same problem (computer locking after a while--possibly due to certain areas although I haven't been able to confirm). I've contacted the official support staff and will post the fix if I get one...

Billy Bob · May 10, 2005, 03:17 AM // 03:17

Having similar problem, my PC will crash after 5min of logging into GW's. One thing I noticed today:

Logged into GW's at 10am (low server load) and the game ran great with no crashes

Logged into GW's at 8pm (high server load) and the game crashed again in 5min

Has anyone else noticed this pattern?

SirNack · May 10, 2005, 02:37 PM // 14:37

I started to crash when i put in another stick of memory. Do you all have two sticks of memory in your comp? Are they diff speed? Guild wars does not like it one bit. Also are they by different companies. Guildwars does not like this either.

Witchblade · May 11, 2005, 09:45 AM // 09:45

I m having the same problem..and a friend too..
I d say thats only with ATI VDP cards

Ppl i know that r using GForce cards don't have that kinda crashes

Sweetloaf · May 12, 2005, 04:19 PM // 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandora's box

I have a simular problem. After a few hours suddenly sound starts to fail. I dont hear combat sounds anymore, but I still hear other sounds correctly. Than about 1 minute later the game hangs and I have to restart.
I dont know if this is related but the game starts with an error message: Cant find entrypoint SMapl5 in kernel32.dll. The same message comes up when I start my old Windows ME version of DXDiag. When I use the Windows XP DXDiag version all works well and there are no errors. still have Windows ME on my C-drive. I'm running GW under windows XP on my D-drive. However the game itself is installed on C.

I contacted the official tech support site but I'm not sure if it worked. After filling the forms and entering my email and pressing the confirm button I suddenly was moved to an account creation screen with my email adress filled in. But I allready have an account on that mail adress, So I did not continue. Very confusing...

I have exactly the same problem as above, first certain sound effects drop out then I know there's a crash coming, however, I also use Skype to talk to a couple of mates who I play with and that carries on fine, updated evrything I can think of, does your cursor go a funy shape too?

6800nu so Nvidia are affected too!

Kitar · May 12, 2005, 04:38 PM // 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arran_Pellaeon

Hi all.

This is something that has happened to me frequesntly while playing Guild Wars, and since i've run out of ideas, I decided i'd post here and see if anyone can help.

Basically, while playing, my computer will completely lockup. Most often it drops to a black screen and has the last sound played stuttering over and over. No commands will take it out of this, (windows key, alt tab, ctrl alt del, etc) so I am always forced to restart my computer. I used to have a faulty memory stick, which I replaced, assuming it to be the cause of the lockups. However, they continue now, though with less frequecy. Oddly enough, they mainly happen when I am in locations in the Shiverpeaks.

I've tried running the game in varying graphics settings to no avail. I've also run a memory tester, and my RAM is fine. nyone else have this problem?

My system specs:

Athlon 1.4 Ghz
Nvidia GEForce FX 5200
512 megs of 266 DDR RAM
60 gig HD

I would start with checking for spyware. Use spybot, or adaware. (directions on their use on their homepages. Which you can find from google)

After you're sure theres no spyware, i would try it again. If it still crashes, i would then check to see if the processor is overheating. The 1.4's have been "in service" for a long time, and often the cases and configurations they're now installed in may have dust problems. You may want to make sure its getting proper cooling.

A good stability test is a program called Prime95. In this case you'd want to run it for max heat/power consumption.

If prime produces no errors, you may be looking at a driver or other software problem.

Kitar · May 12, 2005, 04:39 PM // 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetloaf

I have exactly the same problem as above, first certain sound effects drop out then I know there's a crash coming, however, I also use Skype to talk to a couple of mates who I play with and that carries on fine, updated evrything I can think of, does your cursor go a funy shape too?

6800nu so Nvidia are affected too!

Sounds like an irq problem. Does your soundcard share an irq with anything else?

Aden · May 12, 2005, 08:49 PM // 20:49

Hi i registered to post this

Someone said

Quote:

Yesterday 04:45 AM
Witchblade I m having the same problem..and a friend too..
I d say thats only with ATI VDP cards
Ppl i know that r using GForce cards don't have that kinda crashes

I have a Geforce FX 5700, and im experiencing the random lockups.

I recently did a format of my system to completly get rid of everything and scans tell me im 100% virus free so now i know thats all ok. I also did tests on my hardware, doing tests on my power supply to see it thats ok and its running fine. I replaced my CMOS battery and cleaned dust out of my system, and also did a memory test to check that and it came back OK.

Temperature scales show me my system is running fine for what it is but yet still i get random lockups.

My specs are

AMD ATHLON XP 2000+
512DDR
Geforce FX 5700 256mb
80gig HD (75gb free)

The way this look i think this may be a problem guildwars should look into. I emailed them and he reply i get is install SP2, but i have that installed.... i havent got a reply since.

Any ideas now anyone?

-Aden