Game crash with WindowsXP

DiversionX · 07-07-2004, 12:42 PM

Ok, I'm using Windows XP SP1 with all the latest downloads from Windows Update. The hardware is a Compaq Evo Pentium IV 2.5 GHz. It has 512 megs of RAM, an 80 gig HDD with 48 gigs free and an NVidia GeForce2 MX200 video card with 32 megs of video ram.

The problem: I run OOTP6 and on occaision I have to lock my screen, or the screen saver automatically kicks in because I'm up getting a drink, dealing with my wife, etc. When I come back and unlock the machine, the game is still "active" but it doesn't display anything. I can click where the "exit game" button is in the upper-right corner and then hit enter and it will close fine.

Also, after this happens, any human controlled teams are automatically set to computer controlled.

Henry · 07-07-2004, 12:54 PM

Never, ever use a screen saver. I know, plenty of reason to say why you need it - but they are the major cause of support calls in all software environments. Either get rid of it or at least turn it off while playing OOTP.

DiversionX · 07-07-2004, 12:57 PM

Ok, let me qualify things a bit - I'm an MCSE, and it's not a "screen saver" like your average end user might download and screw things up with. It's the monitor going to power save and XP locking because I'm in an environment where I need to keep admin tools safe.

Henry · 07-07-2004, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiversionX

Ok, let me qualify things a bit - I'm an MCSE, and it's not a "screen saver" like your average end user might download and screw things up with. It's the monitor going to power save and XP locking because I'm in an environment where I need to keep admin tools safe.

ok (sorry if that came across wrong

You could try minimizing the game if you walk away - I've seen that work on some machines. I'm only guessing here, but I think this symptom is a result of the game not periodically refreshing the screen. It basically changes the delta but never actaully rewrites the screen entirely. I'll post a link to this thread with Markus to bring his attention to it again.

DiversionX · 07-07-2004, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henry

ok (sorry if that came across wrong

It didn't come across wrong at all - I just said "screen saver" and didn't remember my helpdesk days where screen savers were the bane of my existance.

I just find it VERY wierd that an application would fail to refresh the screen (essentially locking up because user input/output is pretty much the most important facet of an interactive game!) after a powersave . . . . although . . . . *fiddles with his OOTP6 machine for a second* . . . . Yup. It does it on any kind of resolution change too. I had OOTP6 open, changed resolutions for just a second and it did the same thing.

Single A Rookie · 07-07-2004, 02:10 PM

You know what is really odd about this... is that my father, who runs XPHome has the exact same issue (blank screen causes screen not to refresh) but myself, who uses XP Pro does not have the same issue...

Are you using XP Pro or Home DivX?

DiversionX · 07-07-2004, 02:16 PM

SO sorry, I didn't list that at first - it's XP pro. I've had the same thing happen on two different XP pro machines as well as a Win2000 machine (which has since gone away).

Single A Rookie · 07-07-2004, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiversionX

SO sorry, I didn't list that at first - it's XP pro. I've had the same thing happen on two different XP pro machines as well as a Win2000 machine (which has since gone away).

That is odd... I'm running:

Windows XP Pro (fully patched)
Latest Direct X (9.x)
Intel 1.8g p4
512 MB ram
120 gb HDD
SB compatible
GeForce 4 vid card.

I can walk away from the game and let it go to screen saver, I can three-finger it and put it into screen saver, and it always comes back to me. The ONLY thing it does not like, is when working in the trade screen, if it is thinking and I lose focus it does not refresh immediately upon return (I have to wait a long while).

Now, if my dad does any of the above on his machine (XP Home fully patched, DX9, Intel 1.8g P4 512 ram 80 gb HDD, SB sound, GeForceMX I think) it will always lock up and never refresh...

So maybe this problem is related to the video cards and not the O/S?

Henry · 07-07-2004, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Single A Rookie

So maybe this problem is related to the video cards and not the O/S?

Hmmm.... that's a thought.

Kradokk · 07-09-2004, 01:03 AM

I have the same problem, and have been forced to kill the app. Last time I did that it jacked the whole career and I can no longer play that saved career.

I have an nvidia based card as well.

Specs:
xp pro
athlon xp 2200
512mb ram
GF3 Ti200
yada yada...

edm · 07-09-2004, 01:53 AM

I have this happen once in awhile as well, usually when I have ootp minimized in the back ground and I'm using IE (or even if I leave the pc) for an extended period of time (15-20 minutes). I can always highlight the ootp tab in taskbar and hit the escape button a few times, though, and it will close and save. I'm using XP pro as well, with an ati radeon 9700. I've never had the human controlled teams change to cpu controlled however.

Sjadow · 07-09-2004, 01:40 PM

I had this happen when I created a second "user account" on my PC. The "second" user had nothing to do with OOTP. After a period of inactivity, Windows would detect this and would return to the Windows "user logon" screen. Once that occured, I could never get OOTP going again -- same as you described.

I deleted the second user and have had no problems since then.

Strange, eh?

DiversionX · 07-19-2004, 05:24 PM

Any resolution to this yet?

crackpott · 07-20-2004, 05:48 AM

I used to have that problem. Now I don't... don't know why. The only time it seems to happen to me now is if I use suspend to ram. Then OOTP can't recover, but i can live with that.

But ya, I remember this to be pretty common. I don't ever remember hearing about human teams going to CPU control though. That's new to me.

alinkens · 07-20-2004, 08:42 AM

I dont know if you resolved this, but:

The way XP works is that when a screen saver or power saver feature turns off it logs you out of windows.. When your monitor comes back on after power saver you are probably at the login screen. When you try to log back in OOTP crashes. I have also noticed with Win 2k if you "Lock" your PC and then unlock it OOTP crashes. I have my power settings set to NOT go back to logon screen on waking. This fixed the issue for me.

DiversionX · 07-20-2004, 10:35 AM

It doesn't log you out of windows, if it did all of your programs and non-system processes would get shut down. It locks your user account and only allows the system thread for password acceptance to have user interaction. The reason it's *ctrl* *alt* *del* is because it triggers a hardware interrupt and Microsoft didn't want anyone to hack NT (which XP spawned from) by any software means.

Let's keep things to what we know here, not toss out tidbits of info we might think are right.

alinkens · 07-20-2004, 07:17 PM

OK, not to be disrepectful, but have you tried having it NOT ask you to re-enter your password. I currently play in two online leagues and mutiple players use XP and 2k. In both of those operating systems the game WILL hang if you let it bring you back to the log in screen.

When it "LOCKS" your computer it is essentially logging you out. I use the logging out terminalogy because more people are familur with that.

Sorry if you are still having your issue with the game, but this should fix if you care to try.

A general rule of thumb, if you need to lock your computer then quit the game before hand.

Henry · 07-20-2004, 07:36 PM

I just want to drop a comment here... the game was not tested in a "secure environment" so I don't think we have an answer for you. After all, this is a game, and I doubt anyone thought of running the game through the various ways to lock down a machine in a corporate environment.

We have a 10 minute inactivity lockdown set up on our machines at work - thus killing any chance of me running long term sims while there

Rizon · 07-21-2004, 10:31 AM

I have this problem when I don't pay attention to my power supply on my laptop battery. (XP also). When the power runs out, and the computer hybernates or shuts down, it does crash OOTP.

I just have to make it a point to watch the battery life.

Henry · 07-21-2004, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizon

I have this problem when I don't pay attention to my power supply on my laptop battery. (XP also). When the power runs out, and the computer hybernates or shuts down, it does crash OOTP.

I just have to make it a point to watch the battery life.

...or keep it plugged in

07-07-2004, 12:42 PM	#1
DiversionX Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Posts: 148	Game crash with WindowsXP Ok, I'm using Windows XP SP1 with all the latest downloads from Windows Update. The hardware is a Compaq Evo Pentium IV 2.5 GHz. It has 512 megs of RAM, an 80 gig HDD with 48 gigs free and an NVidia GeForce2 MX200 video card with 32 megs of video ram. The problem: I run OOTP6 and on occaision I have to lock my screen, or the screen saver automatically kicks in because I'm up getting a drink, dealing with my wife, etc. When I come back and unlock the machine, the game is still "active" but it doesn't display anything. I can click where the "exit game" button is in the upper-right corner and then hit enter and it will close fine. Also, after this happens, any human controlled teams are automatically set to computer controlled. __________________ For the owners, BY the owners - the BIG Baseball League http://www.big-baseball.com ******************************

07-07-2004, 12:57 PM	#3
DiversionX Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Posts: 148	Ok, let me qualify things a bit - I'm an MCSE, and it's not a "screen saver" like your average end user might download and screw things up with. It's the monitor going to power save and XP locking because I'm in an environment where I need to keep admin tools safe. __________________ For the owners, BY the owners - the BIG Baseball League http://www.big-baseball.com ******************************

07-07-2004, 02:16 PM	#7
DiversionX Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Posts: 148	SO sorry, I didn't list that at first - it's XP pro. I've had the same thing happen on two different XP pro machines as well as a Win2000 machine (which has since gone away). __________________ For the owners, BY the owners - the BIG Baseball League http://www.big-baseball.com ******************************

07-09-2004, 01:53 AM	#11
edm All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,999	I have this happen once in awhile as well, usually when I have ootp minimized in the back ground and I'm using IE (or even if I leave the pc) for an extended period of time (15-20 minutes). I can always highlight the ootp tab in taskbar and hit the escape button a few times, though, and it will close and save. I'm using XP pro as well, with an ati radeon 9700. I've never had the human controlled teams change to cpu controlled however. Last edited by edm; 07-09-2004 at 01:55 AM.

07-19-2004, 05:24 PM	#13
DiversionX Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Posts: 148	Any resolution to this yet? __________________ For the owners, BY the owners - the BIG Baseball League http://www.big-baseball.com ******************************

07-07-2004, 12:54 PM	#2
Henry Hall of Fame Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 6,498	Never, ever use a screen saver. I know, plenty of reason to say why you need it - but they are the major cause of support calls in all software environments. Either get rid of it or at least turn it off while playing OOTP.

07-07-2004, 02:10 PM	#6
Single A Rookie Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 144	You know what is really odd about this... is that my father, who runs XPHome has the exact same issue (blank screen causes screen not to refresh) but myself, who uses XP Pro does not have the same issue... Are you using XP Pro or Home DivX?

07-09-2004, 01:03 AM	#10
Kradokk Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 29	I have the same problem, and have been forced to kill the app. Last time I did that it jacked the whole career and I can no longer play that saved career. I have an nvidia based card as well. Specs: xp pro athlon xp 2200 512mb ram GF3 Ti200 yada yada...

07-09-2004, 01:40 PM	#12
Sjadow Minors (Double A) Join Date: May 2002 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 131	I had this happen when I created a second "user account" on my PC. The "second" user had nothing to do with OOTP. After a period of inactivity, Windows would detect this and would return to the Windows "user logon" screen. Once that occured, I could never get OOTP going again -- same as you described. I deleted the second user and have had no problems since then. Strange, eh?

07-20-2004, 05:48 AM	#14
crackpott Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,961	I used to have that problem. Now I don't... don't know why. The only time it seems to happen to me now is if I use suspend to ram. Then OOTP can't recover, but i can live with that. But ya, I remember this to be pretty common. I don't ever remember hearing about human teams going to CPU control though. That's new to me. __________________ Abandoned Planet - Check it out. The photos don't suck anymore.

07-20-2004, 08:42 AM	#15
alinkens All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: CT Posts: 1,072	I dont know if you resolved this, but: The way XP works is that when a screen saver or power saver feature turns off it logs you out of windows.. When your monitor comes back on after power saver you are probably at the login screen. When you try to log back in OOTP crashes. I have also noticed with Win 2k if you "Lock" your PC and then unlock it OOTP crashes. I have my power settings set to NOT go back to logon screen on waking. This fixed the issue for me.

07-20-2004, 10:35 AM	#16
DiversionX Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Posts: 148	It doesn't log you out of windows, if it did all of your programs and non-system processes would get shut down. It locks your user account and only allows the system thread for password acceptance to have user interaction. The reason it's ctrl alt del is because it triggers a hardware interrupt and Microsoft didn't want anyone to hack NT (which XP spawned from) by any software means. Let's keep things to what we know here, not toss out tidbits of info we might think are right. __________________ For the owners, BY the owners - the BIG Baseball League http://www.big-baseball.com ******************************

07-20-2004, 07:17 PM	#17
alinkens All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: CT Posts: 1,072	OK, not to be disrepectful, but have you tried having it NOT ask you to re-enter your password. I currently play in two online leagues and mutiple players use XP and 2k. In both of those operating systems the game WILL hang if you let it bring you back to the log in screen. When it "LOCKS" your computer it is essentially logging you out. I use the logging out terminalogy because more people are familur with that. Sorry if you are still having your issue with the game, but this should fix if you care to try. A general rule of thumb, if you need to lock your computer then quit the game before hand.

07-20-2004, 07:36 PM	#18
Henry Hall of Fame Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 6,498	I just want to drop a comment here... the game was not tested in a "secure environment" so I don't think we have an answer for you. After all, this is a game, and I doubt anyone thought of running the game through the various ways to lock down a machine in a corporate environment. We have a 10 minute inactivity lockdown set up on our machines at work - thus killing any chance of me running long term sims while there

07-21-2004, 10:31 AM	#19
Rizon Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SF Area, California Total Posts: 531,691 Posts: 2,370	I have this problem when I don't pay attention to my power supply on my laptop battery. (XP also). When the power runs out, and the computer hybernates or shuts down, it does crash OOTP. I just have to make it a point to watch the battery life. __________________ JML MILKSHAKES