NWN 1 Crashing Computer

[Sephira]

After about 1-2 minutes of gameplay in NWN1, the computer completely locks up, repeating sound and all. Oddly it doesn't properly crash, it just freezes indefinitely. Which of course means I don't get a blue screen (which would be terribly helpful to pinpoint the source of the problem) and it doesn't seem to leave any error messages in the Event Viewer. Please note this is gOSolo's computer which he is lending to me because the video card in my computer has died. My computer isn't nearly as nice.

Specs

• OS: Vista Ultimate
  CPU: Intel Quadcore 3.20 GHz
  RAM: 4 GB
  HDD: nVidia Stripe 465 GB
  V-Card: nVidia GeForce 9800 GX2

What I have tried so far:

• Setting CPU Affinity to 1, so that it uses the second core exclusively.
• Setting every executable I could find in the main NWN folder to compatibility mode - XP service pack 2
• Tested single player to eliminate the possibility of hak conflict. The character generation screen doesn't seem to cause problems, its getting into gameplay proper which does.
• Updated video card drivers
• Updated Vista
• Virus scan
• Fullscreen at highest resolution (1680x1050)
• Windowed mode at next highest resolution (1440x900)
• Newest PhysX software already installed
• Changing sound settings to DirectSound3D

This computer runs NWN2, Oblivion, Warcraft 3 and Starcraft fine. The game is installed in the 'My Documents' folder to circumvent a known issue with Vista. With a game that changes its internal files frequently during play, installing it in a place other than Program Files is generally beneficial, as Vista dislikes file alteration in anything in Program Files. I am told that this issue may have been fixed in a recent Vista update.

Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated.

[madhatter]

Try making a separate partition and install windows xp on it. You don't have to make the partition to big just enough to run NWN1 with haks...and a tad extra left over. You can do this easily and it will ask you which OS you want to boot upon start up.

Compatibility mode is crap, and windows vista is also crap. If you don't want to do this, you could always try downloading windows 7 free from Microsoft. The cdkey they give you will be good until march 2010 if I am not mistaken. Windows 7 even in beta is way more reliable, and faster then Vista.

[Vanar Alhaldren]

I've had some troubles with crashes/stuttering/etc. that appeared to be video related but which were actually fixed by changing the sound provider. I think it is possible the way that Vista handles sound (no direct hardware access - it's all software now) has goofed things up in some older games if you pick settings that aren't compatible.

I have it set to directsound3d and that seems to have been a huge help. Don't know if this will help you, but it might be worth a shot.

Now if I could just figure out why using environmental mapping on creatures turns Vanar invisible. (seems to be an ati 4xxx issue from what I can tell.)

[Sephira]

Try making a separate partition and install windows xp on it. You don't have to make the partition to big just enough to run NWN1 with haks...and a tad extra left over. You can do this easily and it will ask you which OS you want to boot upon start up.

Compatibility mode is crap, and windows vista is also crap. If you don't want to do this, you could always try downloading windows 7 free from Microsoft. The cdkey they give you will be good until march 2010 if I am not mistaken. Windows 7 even in beta is way more reliable, and faster then Vista.

Actually it works fine on my computer, and it has Vista Home Premium on it. I honestly don't think Vista is at fault here.

[Sephira]

As per suggestions from Vanar above and Sascha on irc, I'm gonna see about changing the sound settings to "DirectSound3D 7+ Software" and see if that makes a difference. Nope.

If not I'll also be trying MadK@'s suggestion and installing PhysX software and see if that helps at all. Turns out a newer version was already installed on here! Go figure.

[Sephira]

Apparently renaming the 'nwmain.exe' file to nwmain2.exe' has solved my problem. Something to do with Vista blacklists.

Thanks Salanth

[Cougar]

Another option you did not have listed was to make sure the program ran as administrator, I never had much luck using XP compatibility mode. Considering you have Ultimate, does this mean you have the 64 bit version? If so the admin option should work wonders. I had the same issue until I set ALL of my NWN exe files [nwn.exe, nwmain.exe, nwserver.exe] that need to run in that mode. You will know next time you launch if the icon has a security shield on the lower right corner that the setting was saved.


Just something you may want to try.

[Sephira]

Another option you did not have listed was to make sure the program ran as administrator, I never had much luck using XP compatibility mode. Considering you have Ultimate, does this mean you have the 64 bit version? If so the admin option should work wonders. I had the same issue until I set ALL of my NWN exe files [nwn.exe, nwmain.exe, nwserver.exe] that need to run in that mode. You will know next time you launch if the icon has a security shield on the lower right corner that the setting was saved.


Just something you may want to try.

Oh yeah, sorry I forgot to mention that stuff. Yeah its run as Administrator, and no its the 32 bit version. Solo pretty much got into the habit of running nearly everything under Administrator mode.

[madhatter]

I'm telling you seph. Vista is the devil. Try windows 7. You wont be sorry.

[Sephira]

I'm telling you seph. Vista is the devil. Try windows 7. You wont be sorry.

Until I can get it completely free, yes I will be.

[PsiOmega]

After about 1-2 minutes of gameplay in NWN1, the computer completely locks up, repeating sound and all. Oddly it doesn't properly crash, it just freezes indefinitely

This is exactly what happened whenever my computer overheated. Verify that everything used for cooling is working properly (no dust in fans, that they spin properly, etc.).
If that still doesn't work try to monitor the temperature. If it's evidently too high then invest in more cooling.

[MasonW]

I think POD, maybe right with the cooling, this is the sort of the same thing that is happening to me. My computer monitors starts to blink though sometime. This seems to happen when my computer hits about 117. I tried it at my parents house which has a computer room that is kept super cool and had no problems. I left if on the menu screen to try and make it crash. It typically takes it about 10 minutes to crash on my menu screen and nothing for about an hour. I have also tried everything you have to fix my crashing problem. This week another huge fan in my computer

[Sephira]

I can say I am 99.99999% sure cooling/heating is not an issue here. I don't have anything monitoring temperature but I do know that the video card is slightly underclocked just in case and the CPU has a HUGE and elaborate (to me) cooling apparatus on it.

I should also mention that, since using the solution in my earlier post I have had zero problems whatsoever.

[Trole]

Apparently renaming the 'nwmain.exe' file to nwmain2.exe' has solved my problem. Something to do with Vista blacklists.

Thanks Salanth

I did this trying to solve a crashing issue and my character disapeared...literally i could see my shadow @ move around but no visual character? My crash happens periodically, no error message, game just closes and jumps to desk top, am i missing something?

[freestyler]

I had a similar issue and thought it was Vista , but it turned out to be a bad HAK, downloading them and replacing solved the crash / hanging.