HL2 kills NFSU2

[Malak]

Ok here's the deal. I got NFSU2 and loved it. Got to about stage 3 before HL2 released and started playing it. Took a break from HL2 to play some NFSU2 and found it running at like 2 fps. It's going like crap. I even tried turning every setting down and it didn't change. I didn't even think at the time it had anything to do with HL2, seems like an odd coincidence. But in some obscur forum on the internet I found someone else with the same problem. They fixed it I guess by reinstalling directx, but that didn't work for me.

Sooo I reinstalled NFSU2 and tried it. Worked like a dream again, turned the settings back up and played for a whole day. Next day I played some CS:S and was afraid that it might trigger the problem again so I kind of didn't touch NFSU2 for a week. Checked it today, sure enough it's running like crap again. So it's not necessarily installing HL2 that does it, but rather running the game. Seems the only solution I have found is reinstalling NFSU2, but that is not an acceptable solution. Any ideas? Yes I even tried turning off steam just in case, doesn't help.

Nothing else has changed on the system.

 

[Modeps]

I highly doubt that HL2 is causing NFSU2 to run like crap. Perhaps Steam is busy downloading stuff and eating up processor time? Have you patched NFSU2?

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: Modeps
I highly doubt that HL2 is causing NFSU2 to run like crap. Perhaps Steam is busy downloading stuff and eating up processor time? Have you patched NFSU2?

Doubt not, it's true. It's the only thing that can do it. Steam is not running, it still does it. Yes I patched it.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: malak
Doubt not, it's true. It's the only thing that can do it. Steam is not running, it still does it. Yes I patched it.

How in the world could HL2 affect NFSU2? Maybe you should completely get out of HL2 before trying to play NFSU2?

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel

Originally posted by: malak
Doubt not, it's true. It's the only thing that can do it. Steam is not running, it still does it. Yes I patched it.

How in the world could HL2 affect NFSU2? Maybe you should completely get out of HL2 before trying to play NFSU2?

That's the question I have! How in the world does it affect NFSU2 at all. Unfortunately it does somehow.

 

[Malak]

Bump for ideas.

 

[clicknext]

Do as isolated a test as possible. Reinstall NFSU, play it. Then play CS:S immediately after, then play NFSU again immediately after that.

I'm playing both games with no problem.

 

[Childs]

May see like an odd question, but did you simply try rebooting after playing each game?

 

[Malak]

Yes I tried rebooting. Tried reinstalling drivers. And now it seems to be affecting other games, not just NFSU2. HL2 still runs perfectly fine, but my other games suffer. If I reinstall NFSU2, it works fine. But if I play CS or HL2, NFSU2 lags again. No unnecessary processes running, no other apps running, completely isolated. I've used 4.11 drivers and 4.12 drivers. I have no clue what to do at this point. I want to play both games, and my second rig doesn't arrive till mid january...

 

[Malak]

Well I uninstalled HL2 and of course NFSU2 runs perfectly fine again. I have no clue what the issue is, but until rig #2 comes, no HL2 for now. This is the most perplexing issue I have ever come across.

 

[Childs]

How much free space do you have on your HD? Try defragging? One game should not have anything to do with the other, unless its changing system resources in some way. The only reason I think HD is because if you were really low on space after installing the second game, it may account for what you're describing, especially if it survives a reboot.

 

[Malak]

The only plausible theory right now is that it has to do with Steam, but even if I turn that off the other games don't run properly. People have posted benchmarks now that show that steam drastically reduces even HL2 performance, and now even legit owners are killing steam with illegal cracks. I am hesitant to try something like that, so for no HL2 will stay uninstalled.

I have tried everything. I always defrag after uninstalling/installing stuff. I wasn't low on space either. I'm going to assume for now it was the fault of steam and therefore the fault of valve. Even Vivendi didn't want them to use steam, and it seems only the truly hardcore of fanboys appreciate steam. I for one would rather run windows 2.1.

 

[creamxxpuff]

i have the same problem...kinda sorta. i had NFSU2 installled and it ran PERFECTLY with all the settings turned up. Then once i installed HL 2, the whole computer ran like crap. the screen display would come on and off...sometimes so fast i cant even find where my mouse is on the screen. this problem only occurs when i install HL2. i have no idea what's wrong...my only thing i could think of is wrong could be the power supply because it's only putting out 300 watts and maybe my system is using too much? this bites...i haven't tried doing any patches to NFSU2 yet though.

btw: this screen coming on and off thing happens even when the games aren't on...and when teh games are on...well...screen dispaly just doesn't display anything but the video card is spooling up like it's running at full power. =/