Why do my games keep closing???

[mjkovis]

For some strange reason Madden 04 keeps closing right in the middle of playing a game, loading, or just looking through stats on a franchise. Sometimes I am ok, but others it constantly does it. I dont know what to do. I have tried new video drivers and updating the computer completely from the certain updates I have missed or neglected. Still not working.

I dont know whether or not I have a bad stick of RAM again or what. This have been going on for a while. Also, sometimes in IE 6 and Return to Castle Wolfenstein it automatically closes from errors. The IE 6 error says it is from Macromedia and the Wolfenstein error says it is from WolfMP.exe.

The Madden 04 problem just shuts the program without notice or error. What other suggestions do you all have, if any? Any quick help would be great like usual!!! Thanks in advance everyone...

[mjkovis]

I have been messing around and updated BIOS and my MB drivers. I tried updating my video drivers, but Return to Castle Wolfenstein would lock up everytime. I therefore had to return to my old drivers. Dunno what else to do. Going to see how this works now. Please help me!!!

[Blakhart]

If you have the mem set to close timings, that may be part of your prob. If you have a cpu heat issue, or are ocing the cpu, mem, or vid card, that may be it as well. If your psu is weak, that may be it. If you have video settings in the game set "wrong", that is something to think about too.
I run the 245 driver, (including the sw ide) for the nforce2 mobos I have. The newer drivers have proven to be problematic. I also run the 4072WHCL driver on gf4ti cards. Get it at nvidia, look for it in their driver archive. It seems to be very stable, and has M$ blessing. It is a dx8 driver, but that's ok, I run dx8 in the os. The gf4ti card is dx8 only, why run anything that's dx9? Nvid added dx9 stuff from 42XX on, far as I know. If the game(s) needs dx9, you'll only have to have it in the os, not the driver.
Hope I gave you some things to consider.

[mjkovis]

Originally posted by Blakhart If you have the mem set to close timings, that may be part of your prob. If you have a cpu heat issue, or are ocing the cpu, mem, or vid card, that may be it as well. If your psu is weak, that may be it. If you have video settings in the game set "wrong", that is something to think about too.

I have considered all of this and checked on it. My CPU has no heating issues and I am not OCing anything. My PSU isnt weak or bad cause it is a brand new Antec 350W, which is more than enough. My video settings are right also...

Right now I am running the nVidia 45.23 drivers and the rest of my comp updated (BIOS, and MB) and it seems ok with Return to Castle Wolfenstein. I am going to try Madden 04 now and see what happens.

Also, if my video card only supports DX9, how do I go back to DX8. I have DX9 installed from MS Update Web Site. Or do you think I should look into upgrading the card, just for spits and grins?

[Blakhart]

First off, you will have to see what games demand dx9. If any do, and you want to play them, you'll have to keep dx9 in the os.

Try the 4072 or 4109 and see if you have any probs.


I would rather reinstall xp than try to remove dx9.


As to an upgrade of the card, I would love a 9700, but don't want to mess with 96/9500s or lower.
The gf4ti series is righteous silicon, but it's not dx9, and there is faster. Also, nvid dx9 drivers broke my fav game, in gf4ti cards.
The ati dx9 cards and drivers look great on my fav game.

[mjkovis]

Thanks for the info. I have been messing around with everything since then and I think my problem is solved. Just needed the new BIOS update and my new MB drivers and I am all set. Although I am running the 45.23 WHQL drivers from nVidia. That is the highest I can run stable at within my games and programs. Hopefully this will last. Thanks again Blakhart!

[mjkovis]

Oh, and by the way. I do not have any DX9 games right now, but honestly I think I will look into the 9700 or higher. I really have my hopes on the 9800 Pro or higher later for my new build next year. I think I can wait since all my problems "seem" to be solved. Hopefully nothing else will happen, like I said before! Thanks!