New to this forum...and yes, I have a problem

[Jarec]

First of all. hi
Ofcourse I went for a lookout of Forums because I needed help, but this, though, looks quite good for me to be a regular chatter(me and my high standards). nice job.

Now the problem:
The game hangs in tactical map after few minutes, never on battles. This, ofcourse, can be avoided by making fast decisions while in tact.map, but I really would enjoy the game more if I could do the tactics in the tactical map *doh*.

All the detail I got about this strange crash is just that my monitor goes *tsp*, and youre back in windows desktop, no error-messages, no nothing.

I tried to search the answer to my question in the apotechary section, but I failed to locate such...

Strangest thing about this is that a ~month ago when I last played MTW:VI all worked just fine, but now when the month has passed by, this peculiar bug came to be. Not even a reinstall helped me on this one.

so, I would really much like some help with this issue.
(The game version is 2.01)

Oh yeah. almost forgot my specs(if my memory serves me right):
mobo: ASUS A7N8X deluxe
cpu: AMD (firebird?) 2.1+
GraphCard: ATI Radeon 9700 deluxe
RAM: 512 ddr
HD space: *too much*

[TonkaToys]

Hi Jarec, welcome to the Org http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

I can't help, but I can suggest you go to the Apothecary and open the thread marked Post here if you cant start a new topic.

Then reply to it and copy your text in... those guys are the best at sorting out problems like this.

[KukriKhan]

and I'll echo TonkaToys, and say welcome to the .Org Jarec. I'm confident we can sort this problem with you.

[Blodrast]

welcome to the org
btw, this might help: check out the error.log file in MTW's directory, also crash.txt (same dir).
While they do contain useful info, some of the time that info is no good to you (i.e. some function in the source code crashed), but sometimes you can figure out the reason (e.g. incompatibility with DirectX version, corrupted/missing files, etc).
good luck

[Princess Arriane Nymeria Martell]

You might need to update your graphic card. Just a thought.

[Gregoshi]

Welcome Jarec

The first question that pops in my mind is what changed on your system between the last time you played fine and your current troubles?

[Jarec]

On the Error.log there were couple of lines like this:
C:\Source\VikingsPatch\Crusaders_TW\main3d_1.cpp(1929) : DirectX call : DDERR_SURFACELOST

I don't have a glue what that means, but as there is word directX my brain tells me to update it, so I'm on it right now.

My system hasn't changed a bit since the last working game session, not on hardware or on driver department atleast.

oh... not even a restart required for the new DirectX.

well, no help with the new DirectX, so I'm up to update my graphic card.

[Jarec]

Twice a year there seems to be a good reason to update your hardware drivers. and so it seems that my problem (atleast in MTW) is gone
New Catalyst-pack did the trick.

Now I'll go play for all those days I couldn't...

[RedKnight]

Glad you got it working http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif And welcome to the forum http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/medievalcheers.gif

[Blodrast]

uhm, of course it might be cheaper to check a couple of more recent and older drivers with your current card. i guess you've already searched the apothecary, but as a general rule, funny things happen with drivers, and sometimes older ones work better. so if you feel like it, before spending some hundred bucks on a new card, check out some different driver versions...
good luck