minidump problem

from Sins Forums

so is there a fix for this or what?

 

i just bough the retail cd version of sins, installed it and BAM....minidump.

come on. is it really too much to ask for a game to be playable out of the box?

is soon as i click play...the screen goes black and i hear the error chime. i have to cntrl esc. out and there is the little minidump error box. i have yet to even see a title or anything.

my specs:

windows xp sp2

athlon x2 6000

gforce 8600 gt 256

4 gb ram.

 

im seeing a ton of these problems on here....but dont seem to see any kind of a fix. maybe i missed it?

i even created a profile with nothing running and installed it there...same thing.

i have all drivers updated.

what exactly is the problem here?

the game will not at all start...or even make an attempt at starting...100% of the time i imidiately get a minidump error when trying to load the game. its imidiate...click play get error. do not pass go do not collect 200 dollars.

as you might suspect...im pretty anoyed at shelling out 40 bucks for a coaster.

technical
15,128 views 37 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
Wierd, I've been playing for about 3 weeks now and tonight is the first time I've seen the minidump error
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
while playing online the game crashed on a minidump today
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
I do know that Nvidia has been trying to address this issue (had this issue back in beta2) and they will be releasing a driver later this month (sometime) - I see ur an XP user (I'm on Vista). For Vista - the (rolled back) 97.46 driver seems to be working properly w/ Sins. I tried to look up a compairable driver for XP but had no luck.
YOU MAY WANT TO TRY THIS FOR NOW: set the game to 'Windowed Mode' and see if that will work for you for now. I have never had a crash issue using Windowed Mode.
Hope this helps!
PoorManDSO out!!!
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
ok well thnx for the suggestion to try windowed mode poorman...'cept im not sure how to do that.

im guessing i should change a setting in the user.setting file?

well i cant do that because i dont have one. i dont have an ironclad folder at all...believe me i looked for it. my folders are not hidden...and the windows search function couldnt find any folders or files. again folders are not hidden...and i told it to search hidden folders anyway. i have exactly 3 files with ironclad in the name...and no folders at all.

according to the faq it should be here: C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Setting\user.setting

but theres no ironclad games folder there.

if theres a known issue with nvidia drivers...then im guessing thats the real problem though.

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

Im having the same problem with ATI card so......

oh and i've been playing for 3 weeks with no problem, today... bam, no more Sose
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
Seems to be quite a widespread problem as I get it too after patching to 1.03. I have a 2400 pro.
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top

i just bough the retail cd version of sins, installed it and BAM....minidump.

come on. is it really too much to ask for a game to be playable out of the box?

End of quote



Try downloading the latest update from this page.

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
BTW, if you get a minidump, make sure to send the dump in to ironclad games.
Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top
Got also a minidump error, after playing an hour or two the game crashes. Really frustrating.
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
Sorry, for double post.
Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top
Got also a minidump error, after playing an hour or two the game crashes. Really frustrating.
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The devs have spent a lot of time working on making this game crash-proof. Remember to send in your minidumps so they can fix whatever crashed you! (If you don't, its not their fault the patch didn't fix the problem -- if they could reproduce it in house, its been fixed!)
Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
i just bough the retail cd version of sins, installed it and BAM....minidump.
come on. is it really too much to ask for a game to be playable out of the box?Try downloading the latest update from this page.
End of quote


already did that.

Got also a minidump error, after playing an hour or two the game crashes. Really frustrating.The devs have spent a lot of time working on making this game crash-proof. Remember to send in your minidumps so they can fix whatever crashed you! (If you don't, its not their fault the patch didn't fix the problem -- if they could reproduce it in house, its been fixed!)
End of quote


i find in next to impossible to believe, with the sheer numbers of people having this problem that they cant reproduce it.

and as far as im concerned...if i meet or exceed the specs for the game...have all updated drivers...and patched the game (which i have) then it IS their fault.

its not MY fault or the fault of the rest of us who have this problem. we didnt write the code. its also not my job to properly test the game for them. im not part of a beta test...they released the game and i paid good money for it...it should work.

theres NO arguing that point.

last i checked i wasnt getting paid by ironclad or stardock...why then should i spend my time helping them get thier product working properly? they have a team of programmers and testers on payroll...let them do the research and figure it out.

i could see if it was just me...maybe something wrong in my system...some odd little quirk or something. but just look at how many people are having this issue. its ridiculous.

and even if it is just driver problems...what...no one there thought that maybe making sure it worked with nvidia cards was a good idea? yeah i can see that...its not like anyone has those or anything.
Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top
cha0swyrm,
There is an option for windowed mode in the options/video tab of sins - you can switch to windowed mode there.
:)
Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top
i find in next to impossible to believe, with the sheer numbers of people having this problem that they cant reproduce it.
End of quote


Reproduce it internally. And if everyone who gets the problem fails to send in the minidump, how are they to even know what the problem is, much less fix it?


its not MY fault or the fault of the rest of us who have this problem. we didnt write the code. its also not my job to properly test the game for them. im not part of a beta test...they released the game and i paid good money for it...it should work.

theres NO arguing that point.
End of quote


Yes, actually, there is arguing that point. They have done their best to produce a great game, but its physically impossible for them to test it on every single possible combination hardware and software. As such, they release a game that is to the best of their ability "perfect" -- and as that ability is merely human, it isn't perfect. Instead of whining because they made a mistake, mailing in the minidump solves the problem. "To err is human, to forgive, divine" -- you paid for software, not a work of god.
Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top


lol  :CONGRAT:  Ron, another eloquently-worded post by you! Some days I'm not as patient as you...hehe
Reply #17 from Sins Forums Top
cha0swyrm,There is an option for windowed mode in the options/video tab of sins - you can switch to windowed mode there.
End of quote


the game will not start. if i cant start it i cant get to the options/video tab.


Yes, actually, there is arguing that point. They have done their best to produce a great game, but its physically impossible for them to test it on every single possible combination hardware and software. As such, they release a game that is to the best of their ability "perfect" -- and as that ability is merely human, it isn't perfect. Instead of whining because they made a mistake, mailing in the minidump solves the problem. "To err is human, to forgive, divine" -- you paid for software, not a work of god.
End of quote


do you work there? if you dont...you dont know if they did their best or not. now im not saying they didnt.what i am saying is that there is a problem with the game...that a LOT of people are having. so many people are having it that i find it very difficult to believe they didnt know about it before hand...and they released it like that anyway. whether or not they did their best isnt an issue, what is an issue is that the game doesnt work.

you are correct about one thing...i did not pay for a work of god...but i DID pay for a functioning piece of software...and i didnt get one.

no one ever suggested it was even possible to test a game on all types of configurations. i have dozens of other games...all of them not tested on every conceivable configuration...and they all work. so...if all these other developers can manage to release a game that runs out of the box.....i dont think its too much to ask of this one.

Reply #18 from Sins Forums Top
there is a problem with the game...that a LOT of people are having.
End of quote


You don't seem to understand what a "minidump" is. It just means the game crashed. It doesn't mean anything specific and you could get it for any reason.
Reply #19 from Sins Forums Top
Try lowering your resolution. I tried to put the game on the highest resolution it could and it would eventually crash within 5 minutes (despite it running smooth the whole time). I lowered it to the lowest resolution and I haven't got a minidump yet.
Reply #20 from Sins Forums Top
Try lowering your resolution. I tried to put the game on the highest resolution it could and it would eventually crash within 5 minutes (despite it running smooth the whole time). I lowered it to the lowest resolution and I haven't got a minidump yet.
End of quote


again....if i could get the game to start i might be able to try that.

ok...once more.

i try to launch the game...IMMEDIATLY the screen goes black and i hear the error chime. i must then contl esc. out and there is the minidump error box. the game does not launch at all.

as far as sending the files to ironclad...i cant because it doesnt save them. i do not have the folders or the files anywhere on my computer...and yes i can see hidden folders.

You don't seem to understand what a "minidump" is. It just means the game crashed. It doesn't mean anything specific and you could get it for any reason.
End of quote


well....no i dont get it for "any" reason...i have never ever ever seen a minidump error before trying to play this game. and i only see it when trying to play it. so it isnt any reason is it?...its the game.

some of you seem to think i actualy care about what the cause is...i dont. if i could return this game and get my money back i would, id forget all about it and never think of it again...but we all know i cant. what i care about is spending money on something that doesnt work. i couldnt care less WHY it doesnt work. all i know is that my system exceeds the specs all my drivers are up to date and every other game and program i have works flawlessly. not only does it not work...but now im expected to take the time to get the file and save a dxdiag log and zip them up and send them off and wait for an answer. even if i wanted to (which i dont)i cant because i dont have the minidump file to send. which is another thing the devs knew might happen because the faq even says "IF" the minidump file is saved to send it.:

"If there is a minidump file present, ...."

if.

well there isnt one.

so now what?

can we please get back on topic? i really dont care if any of you think im right or wrong about my opinions on the matter. can we just agree to dissagree?

since i cant return it i just want to play the freaking game. what can be done to accomplish that? and please keep in mind that:

1. i can not start the game to change any settings
2. i do not have a settings file to alter
3. i do not have a minidump file to send
Reply #21 from Sins Forums Top
Clean up the disc. Maybe it's dirty and that may be the reason as to why it doesn't load up. Or maybe even a scratch. Sorry if it has already been mentioned, I'm just trying to think of solutions. I understand the frustration of wanting to play a game that won't even load up.
Reply #22 from Sins Forums Top
.well....no i dont get it for "any" reason...i have never ever ever seen a minidump error before trying to play this game. and i only see it when trying to play it. so it isnt any reason is it?...its the game.
End of quote


That's because it's not usually _called_ a minidump. Usually if a game has a fatal error you will simply crash or get the "program has performed illegal operation" dialog.

And if you got a minidump, you will have a minidump file. Either you're not looking hard enough or you're in the wrong directory.
Reply #23 from Sins Forums Top
do you work there? if you dont...you dont know if they did their best or not. now im not saying they didnt.what i am saying is that there is a problem with the game...that a LOT of people are having. so many people are having it that i find it very difficult to believe they didnt know about it before hand...and they released it like that anyway. whether or not they did their best isnt an issue, what is an issue is that the game doesnt work.
End of quote


The game as it was released was as rock-solid for all the testers as any game can be. We don't have an infinite number of testers, though, nor a computer of every make and model with every combination of OS and drivers ever created. Once a game is out, new issues will be found that had not appeared before purely by virtue of a wider base, that's a simple fact of life.

Sending in minidumps when you get a crash is not a complicated affair. The minidumps tell the devs exactly what the game was attempting to do at the time of the crash, and as such are going to be a lot more useful in fixing it than a simple post on the forums.
Reply #24 from Sins Forums Top
if you got a minidump, you will have a minidump file. Either you're not looking hard enough or you're in the wrong directory.
End of quote


i do not have a minidump file. i know how to find files on my computer. trust me...if i say i dont have one...then i dont have one.

straight from the faq:

Please open Windows Explorer to the location below and see if your dump file is there.

XP: C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp\Sins Dump

Vista: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp\Sins Dump

If there is a minidump file present, please zip it up along with a copy of a dxdiag from your PC and a description of what you were doing when it occurred to support(at)ironcladgames(dot)com. Please note that you must provide your Sins of a Solar Empire serial number in your email to receive support (anti-piracy measure)."

those directions clearly imply the possibility that there may not be a minidump file to be found..

i appreciate people giving me suggestions and im willing to try all sorts of things to make this work...but please...read my posts first.

i do not have a minidump file
my C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp folder is empty. i do NOT have any hidden folders...its just plain empty.

the error box says its saving the file to that location...but it never actually does. it tells me the name of the file even...if i do a full search for that file...it doesnt find it.

Sending in minidumps when you get a crash is not a complicated affair. The minidumps tell the devs exactly what the game was attempting to do at the time of the crash, and as such are going to be a lot more useful in fixing it than a simple post on the forums.
End of quote


even the people who do work there arent reading my posts

I DO NOT HAVE A MINIDUMP FILE TO SEND

what OTHER things can i try?

Reply #25 from Sins Forums Top
I can understand both points of view, I don't really understand what caused it I actually was able to play the game for a while then when I updated it to 1.03 it stopped working and does exactly what you described. Give rolling back to 1.02 which is under restore archive and then select 1.02, this hasn't worked for me but it might for you. The other possible cause I've looked into is that it maybe a problem with your Nvidia drivers try rolling back to an older version. Unfortunately I upgraded to Vista,upgraded Nvidia drivers and updated sins around the same time I can't actually work out what has caused it. I have however sent a minidump to Ironclad so I'm certain they'll come back with something to fix this.


On the topic of game programmers and quality of work and support I have to say that Ironclad are by far and a way the top of the bunch, from a lot of previous experience so give them some time they're doing what they can. I hope some of the information above has been some help if not I'm sure Ironclad are on it.