Crash on Vista...

Just in cases you are wondering, yes I have the latest Nvidia drivers and yes I got the vista bug download

I've had this happen to me before. I run Vista Business 32bit with 2GB of RAM. It only happened once after a couple of hours of play on a large map with tons of stuff going on. If it is happening to you consistently try increasing the single application virtual address space limit. Go to the command prompt (Start -> cmd) and type "BCDEdit /set IncreaseUserVA 3072" without the quotes. Reboot. That should help, but obviously not completely eliminate the problem since I've already had a crash even having done that.

Does anyone know what to do about these crashes and game not working...I paid my hard earned money for a game I can't even play. It amazes me that they would release a game they knew had so many issues. Has anyone seen any info about a class action suit against Ironclad...I'd like to join because It seems to me that thier actions and intentions are boardering on intent to defraud consumers.

Why not, rather, launch your rabid « class action suit » against Microsoft ?

I visit many game forums, and many Microsoft Windows Vista users are experiencing big problems running many other games than this one.

And also, Vista + nVidia drivers do not constitute, at the moment, the best synergy.

Ironclad is not responsible for the failings of Microsoft and nVidia.

It is most likely the vista-nvidia driver issue that a number of people have been experiencing. nVidia has told us that they believe they've fixed it, and that the fix should be in their next release. Can't say as to exactly when that will be though, unfortunately.

It does seem to affect primarily Geforce 7k series users who also use Vista. Most other people have no issues at all (self included with an 8800GT on XP). Hardly grounds for legal action, especially when the issue is on nVidia's end.

Thanks Kryo, I'll watch for an update. I'm having a similar issue where I'll get a random crash from time to time, Vista Home Premium, NVidia 8800GTX, 4GB RAM.

I've played through the game without problems, but if I play for like, 6 hrs, it might crash. I had it crash 1 hr into a game once (with only one autosave at least 20 minutes earlier *pouts*).

You know, I often feel like I'm the only person in the world that has had an outstanding experience with Vista. Everyone is always trying to tell me how awful it is, how nothing on it ever works, how it killed their dog and burned down their house, etc. I'm just like, naw...

Anyway, I'm using Vista Ultimate with an Nvidia 8800 GTS, no crashes ever. My Nvidia driver version is: 7.15.11.6906. IIRC this was the last driver version that would have been released on Windows Update. Perhaps trying out this driver version would alleviate your issue. It's probably not the newest, shiniest version out there, but like I said I haven't had any issues with it.

I'm enjoying Vista so far too.

No problems here either. Vista Ultimate 64-bit, Athlon64 Dual Core 6000+, dual 8800GT SLI, 4gb ram. Everything works well at highest.

Part of my problem is that I'm still running a beta driver that came out with the release of Crysis... I know I know...

I'm like you though, I've not had any troubles with Vista.

Although Vista seems to be slower than XP with just about everything I do (not entirely unexpected) it runs Sins without any problems what-so-ever. 8800GT OC. Latest NVidia drivers.

I've got XP 32bit and Vista 64bit installed. SoaSE works perfectly in XP and hangs/crashes randomly in Vista. I can't run SoaSE for more than an hour ever on Vista. My video locks up usually and the computer is not responsive. I have to hit the reset button to get access back after the reboot. I've got all the Vista patches except for SP1, all current mobo bios and drivers, several video drivers have been tried. Currently running 174.16 beta on Vista, have tried all beta and WHQL drivers from the past 3 months as well. I run FEAR, CoD, CoD UO, and Oblivion all without issue. I'm goint to install the just released 169.44 beta that was just released today and cross my fingers that it'll help!

EVGA 680i mobo
2 x EVGA 8800GTX sli
6GB of ram
2 x WD 250GB RAID 0 Vista
2 x WD 320GB RAID 0 XP

haha i feel the exact same way. Every computer i have installed vista on, about 6, has had no troubles whatsoever, yet i always hear people whining and bitchin about how bad vista is. It's really not a problem for me, they just need to learn how to use computers decently.

Have you installed the Vista SLI hotfix ... its not installed ]with VU - you have to download it manually from MS page (dont remember exactly where)
Also SLI is always more crashprone.

Been running Vista 64 with 4 gb ram and 88gtx - runs like a charm
I did got a few crashes on SoaSE .. but only when using mods

Read reply #12 : it produces The Absolute Answer concerning your indecent Vista problems.

I've got all patches installed including KB936710 and KB945149. My guess is there is a definate issue with DX10 and Nvidia on Vista.
FYI, the newly released beta 169.44 did not fix my hang issue. I took a little longer than usual to hang but it did the same exact thing as before. With a complete hang like I am experiencing, there aren't many, if any, error logs to look through.
I guess I'll just have to keep playing in XP until Stardock and Nvidia get it figured out.
Thanks,
Jim

USE NVIDIA DRIVER 97.46 - it is only driver working properly w/ certain machines right now. Nvidia will be releasing a Sins patch (new driver) later this month that should fix the issue (or @ least help w/ issue)
here is a link to Nvidia driver (32bit) =
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvista_x86_97.46.html
and 64bit =
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvista_x64_97.46.html

HOPE THIS HELPS

PoorMan Out!!

Vista blows period since most hardware and software mfg dont get full help from MS about possible shell bugs. My ATI card bugged out and cought FIRE when i let it be auto updated by Vista. Non of my printers worked for 3 months after release and the only Joy i get is from Sins. I pray to God that the bad garbled images i am gettin from time to time when playin is from vista and not the game cuz i would just cry

This was not a Vista bashing thread/etc thread.

What was the issue exactly that was fixed in this Beta driver?

Good question Lord Reliant, not sure what this post is about or how it was revitalized from Feb 17th. The main patch I think that Stardock Mods are talking about is something that has been around for over 15 months and has been plaguing older chipsets and GPUs that were sold with the ole "Vista-Ready" logo on it. That error is the nvlddmkm.sys, driver has stopped responding error. From what I've read, it has to do with some sort of timing / reading issue between the GPU and either memory bus or chipset. If Vista doesn't hear from the GPU in a certain time frame, it reboots the GPU to get it working again and gives you the driver error. Sometimes it recovers and the game continues, other times it'll give you BSOD. Nvidia has been patching it on the fly, having the issue first with Aero, the sidebar, dreamscene, then with newer games and now with SOASE. Seems to be central around 3D and the older GPUs, Geforce 7ks and earlier. They were "promised" to be Vista-Ready, but that obviously didn't mean Vista 3D/gaming ready, so they keep running into issues. The newer hardware seems to be doing fine, just running into isolated issues. Maybe the newer hardware is all CommanderAdam has installed Vista on and that is why Vista runs fine for him. I'm sure the updated driver will be more stable and should fix other performance issues, but I think the main patch should address the nvlddmkm driver error which has been raised as a problem in a lot of other posts for SOASE players.

This post started with maybe a different error in mind or andresi probably would have mentioned the nvlddmkm error. One thing I can see from the get-go is andresi installed 4 GB on a 32 bit machine, that's a flag right there. He should had tried 2 GB, plenty to run SOASE and seen if that helped with his freezing issue.

The Vista-Ready debacle is a problem with Vista and the hardware guys. Just check the news, Intel and Nvidia were "helped" by Microsoft to rush hardware to the market so that Vista would have an easier release. Of course, the market didn't need Vista in the first place. They rushed something that is pretty worthless. Maybe the recent news on Vista price cuts reflects that. Mac and Linux may actually be giving them a run and they have to stop their market share slide somehow... from 95% market share to 90% to maybe 85% here soon. Giants take a long time to fall...

Well,
i would resume this way:
Vista=buggy ?
vista+nvidia = +buggy

95% of the games work with vista+nvidia and my geforce 7900 on my laptop
Sins of Empire DOESNT work on my vista+nvidia and geforce 7900...

so logical conclusion, the way the game uses some sentences of code crashes the +buggy combination.
As MOST games doesnt do that, i think it is the programmers of the game duty to patch it. Dont tell we have to wait for a nvidia patch or some miracolous microsoft patch.
If the patch of that error makes it a major REWAMP of the game, then just say so, as it is not cost efficient, put a nice note on the game saying ( major graphic issues with xxxx and vista xxx ), so people dont buy it if they have this combination, end of the story.
What you cant do is to sell a game, and then tell people, hey guys, this seems not to work with , not just a card but a whole lot of video cards and a major operative system. Because after having a look at this i think there is more than a just 2 users with the problem.
Its like buying a new car you go to your gas station and see that the gasoil they sell you isnt suited for THIS car only....hmmmmm...quite strange right ? you would have a car which states "USE WITH GASOIL", you would also have a nice gas station, and even gasoil, but no way the car works....

Sorry for the long post but it get on my nerves to see a driver crash ever min

PD: Which gives me a even stranger feeling, why does it crash continously on a network game and less often on a normal one player game,....thats a question i leave to more interested and dedicates posters..

Off course now the constructive part. After tinkering seems that at MP the game was impossible with so much crashes of the video card, which seems not to ocurr if you played it windowed. Just hide the tool bar and it is "quite" the same as a full windowed game. For me it worked to avoid lots of driver crashes

I turned down all the graphic settings to High instead of Highest and I no longer hard lockup. This sounds like a game coding issue in my case. There should be no reason for it to work fine in DX9 at Highest settings and then hang in DX10 at Highest.
Any chance this is part of the know Nvidia driver issue or is this something else?

Hi, yeah, I've been having a similar problem on a Vista 32 bit system. Game plays very well for two hours or so, sometimes more/less, then 'hangs' before crashing to desktop. I've only seen the Minidump occur once during these crashes, and it has gotten so that I see a crash everytime I play. Also, it seems to happen MUCH sooner when loading saved games, which makes playing a leisurely multi-day game rather difficult.

I'm running a NVidia 8800 GTS with a .6222 version driver. Is this really an NVidia driver problem? I heard that the game was really stable in the late betas.

Also, Great Game. I can see a wonderful future with it, if only I can start saving games!

I have Vista 64 4gb ram, 7600. It's an Intel board with dual core in it.

after a couple hours, the game froze for about 10 seconds, then went black, then started back up fine.

I alt-tabbed and noticed the windows "your display driver has stopped responding..." notification. I played a couple hours more, it happend more and more frequently, but always recovered.

When I finished there was a back log of display diver has stopped responded messages.

So whatever it is, it's causing causing the display driver to stop responding for a moment...

Fun game though..