Everything locks up playing game-PROBLEM SOLVED

[slickg]

Hello,

I've recently purchased call of duty. Whenever I run the game in Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional, the game crashes during gameplay. Another weird thing is when I go to play multiplayer and log onto any server, I hear a bizarre clicking noise repeating and everything is locked forcing a reboot. If I run my other hard drive with windows 98 SE on it with my same rig, the game works perfectly fine. I can't understand what the problem is, it's very bizarre.

I've tried working with Activision to resolve this problem and jumped through all of their hoops...still couldn't get it to work. Is it possible that the problem is that Win 2000 and XP Pro aren't made to run games? Would my best bet be to buy XP Home instead? I know it's only one game, but I'm afraid that I cannot purchase games for this computer since I haven't really purchased many games before.

My rig is at the bottom, soundcard is a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz.

Any help would be appreciated, I figured you guys would be smarter than those Activision peoples

 

[Crusty]

Both of those operating systems will be able to play games just fine.

I would check to see that
a) Video Card drivers are installed properly
b )Running dxdiag and checking to see if AGP Accelleration is enabled
c) Check to see if you Chipset drivers are installed right
d) Try other games and see if you get the same problem

 

[slickg]

Hello,

Video Card Drivers are current and up to date drivers from the nvidia site

I tried running AGP Acceleration and it is enabled

I'm running the most current VIA chipset drivers as well

I ran Madden 2003 without a problem that's the only other game I have.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Anubis]

sound drivers
are you OCing?
you vid card is kinda oly it could just be that it cant play the game

 

[Wolfsraider]

Originally posted by: slickg
Hello,

I've recently purchased call of duty. Whenever I run the game in Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional, the game crashes during gameplay. Another weird thing is when I go to play multiplayer and log onto any server, I hear a bizarre clicking noise repeating and everything is locked forcing a reboot. If I run my other hard drive with windows 98 SE on it with my same rig, the game works perfectly fine. I can't understand what the problem is, it's very bizarre.

I've tried working with Activision to resolve this problem and jumped through all of their hoops...still couldn't get it to work. Is it possible that the problem is that Win 2000 and XP Pro aren't made to run games? Would my best bet be to buy XP Home instead? I know it's only one game, but I'm afraid that I cannot purchase games for this computer since I haven't really purchased many games before.

My rig is at the bottom, soundcard is a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz.

Any help would be appreciated, I figured you guys would be smarter than those Activision peoples

try running a hdd test and see if you get errors powermax for maxtor

 

[slickg]

I'm not overclocking anything, video card or processor. I tried running the HDD test and everything looks a ok.

The sound drivers are the newest compatible drivers for Turtle Beach Santa Cruz.

I know that my video card is kind of old but why would it run ok with the game in 98se and not with XP Pro or 2000 Pro? Would a video card run differently under the 98 SE settings than in XP or 2000? I am definately running the correct/most current drivers for the vid card in both. Would using the card in XP or 2000 make the card run hotter than using it in 98? This problem just absolutely bugs / baffles me

 

[Metron]

Slickg,

I've been through your nightmare.

I ran into the same problem last year trying to play Anarchy Online. My computer then (now relegated to file server duty) was also a 1.4 Athlon Thunderbird, though I was running on an ABIT motherboard. After spending about 2 months trying to chase down the problem with Funcom (AO developer), ComCast, and various drivers, I tried the game on my P4 laptop from work, and it ran perfectly.

In talking with various people, I believe the problem lies with the VIA chipset on your mobo.

After years of good luck with Athlons, I was burned by the experience. I built a nice P4 system, which I'm happily still using today.

You can either upgrade to a non VIA mobo (Nvidia Nforce), or come over to the dark side (Intel).

Good luck,
Metron

 

[Firus]

Is the weird clicking noise coming from your HDD or is it a sound coming through the speakers? If it is coming from the hard drive and you say the game works when you play it on your 'other hard drive' I think what Wolfsraider suggested is the most logical course of action. It's quite possible that your hard drive is on its way out...

 

[slickg]

Thank you Metron, it looks like this might be the most logical possibility since I have VIA chipset. The only wonder I have is why it would work ok in 98 SE and not in 2000/XP....bizarre!

I was planning to switch over to an NForce powered board soon anyways...I guess it will be like really soon like now soon.

Also the clicking noise is from the speakers, my apologies for not including that tidbit of info.

 

[Metron]

Slickg,

I had the very same conditions.... I was fine under Win98SE and I used it mainly for a gaming box (Unreal Tournament, etc). When I upgraded to Windows 2000, I noticed I seemed to have more difficulty with games and just chalked it up to early problems with 2000. I had some luck playing AO, but was getting frequent disconnects/system hangups. I also noticed I had some problems trying to FTP files on Yahoo chat. I updated my BIOS and Via drivers to no avail.

I harassed Comcast, until I tried the P4 laptop with Anarchy Online, and I was amazed that all of my "connection" problems disappeared. I was totally unable to play Planetside on the Athlon, and that's when I finally built the P4. There may be some issue with the K266/Via chipset and "modern" versions of Windows like 2000 and XP, and I could never get any response from Via or ABIT to address the issue.

I've heard a lot of good things about the Nforce, so you're probably on the right path for an upgrade.

Good luck,
Metron

 

[Viper96720]

Try right clicking the executable for the game in XP. Properties and run in compatibility mode. Checked if any patches are available for the game yet

 

[pcman83]

That doesnt sound right guys,

I prevously owned a msi k7t266a pru-ru board which was based on the via 266a chipset, and I never have had a problem with call of duty, and I just recently updated to a P4. I would make sure you have the 4in1s downloaded and you are getting good airflow in your case.

I think it is not right to blame it on the via chipset.

 

[Mem]

I had a quick look at all the replies and nobody meantioned "fastwrites" so go into BIOS and disable the following,disable video ram cacheable,disable system bios cacheable,disable all video shadowing and fastwrites,this game does run fine on a VIA board(well on my board at least ).I would also think about removing your current drivers and running Driver Cleaner then reinstall the lastest Nvidia drivers.

Btw I`ve yet to find a game that I can`t run on either my VIA or SiS boards .


Driver Cleaner link .

 

[slickg]

Hi,

I tried disabling videoram cacheable, system bios cacheable, all videoshadowing and fastwrites, thing still won't work. I've actually formatted the entire drive and installed all the drivers again because of this problem...still the same exact problem. I tried the compatibility mode as well, no luck. Have you heard any bad things about the IWill KK266? Maybe it's not just the VIA's maybe it's the board can't handle Windows XP like someone said. Nonetheless, I'm running out of options and will probably end up just buying a an Abit NF7-S

 

[slickg]

Well,
I ordered an Abit NFS-7 and a Barton 2500 tonight...I was planning to upgrade anyways...let's see if this makes a difference. If not...I may go off the deep end! Thank you everyone for trying to help with my extremely bizarre problems!

 

[Fern]

Hi, I've got one of those cards and they are anemic by today's standards. Just a guess, but does this game have an option for minimum frates rates? If so, try setting it lower.

I've also recently ordered the Barton and NF7-S. Hope to get it together this weekend or next. Enjoy!

 

[slickg]

Actually there's a setting in the game for optimal video settings...that's what I use then it automatically configures based on your card's capabilities. Also, when I use the game under 98 SE, the graphics work perfect for my needs...they look great actually, I'm not too picky though I just like stuff to work. I guess I should pick up a Geforce 4400 or something in the next couple of weeks they are pretty cheap now

 

[slickg]

Hello,

Just to update everyone. After I converted to an Abit NF7-S and 2500 Barton, the game runs fine under XP now...I guess it was something with the VIA drivers on my IWill

 

[Metron]

Slickg,

Thanks for the update... after Mem's comments I was beginning to doubt myself. Perhaps he just never tried any games that have issues, like Anarchy Online, Shadowlands, or Planetside. Glad to hear you're up and running again.

Metron

 

[slickg]

Well...I retract the fact that the game works. I still had the same problem after I shut down my computer and restarted in the morning. I have finally solved this problem. The problem was caused by a virus called "parite A" The problem was that before installing my anti virus software, I was installing my demo copy of Nero. The virus was attaching itself to all of my exe files and messing things up when I tried to play the game. This time around, however, I installed my antivirus software first and it caught the virus while I had it in the cd drive. Everything has been running without a hitch now for a few days.

So, Metron, it could be possible that you may have had a similar problem to me, a virus could have attached itself to one of your software packages. As far as the VIA stuff goes, I don't know, I like my NForce2 a lot better in general now...better overall performance. But I guess I wrongfully accused the VIA chip and I would like to apologize to Mr. VIA.

The morale of the story is don't be stupid like me and install infected files before installing anti virus software...the end!

 

[poppyq]

The anti-virus program with up-to-date definitions should have caught the virus before or after you installed the Nero Demo.

 

[Metron]

Slickg,

Thanks, I'll check it out. Sounds reasonable...

I retract any disparaging comments, if any undue inferences were implied.

Metron