Larian Studios Forums Divine Divinity (English) Technical Problems Freeze and freeze and more freeze

Hi

I've been struggling with this game hanging over and over, I installed it and had fun playing way into the game, then of course had to return to life, and quit the game, so now when you start it again. It freezes on the load screen. So I though ok, apply patch, do everything everybody suggests, and still it freezes. So uninstall, reinstall. So work again until you quit, so Uninstall reinstall again to make it working, so after doing this a 9th time, I'm not a happy bunny anymore, even wrote the company a snotty email, hopeing by some graze they would help. Still waiting for that. So any other suggestions before I go into the backyard and create a funeral pier with this game?


<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" />

So let me get this right,
you played <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" /> before, and didn't found anny freezes.
after a while (few day's, weeks , months ???) tou played the game again and now the freezes begin?

then mostely it isn't the game, but something on your computer that causes the problem.
try to update your grafical & audio drivers. And make sure you have the latest version of direct x9.

but i can not say for sure. can you give ous more details what happend?
good luck!

Started from the first day I installed it, this past weekend. And yes I got all the latest Geforce drivers, latest DirectX. I even did a clean installation of XP.Same thing (I do actually read these forums) YOu play for a few hours without any problem, save exit. Come back later, freeze in loading screen. And nothing was installed inbetween from not playing the game. No settings changed. Nothing.

Jhandor, the time you had no probs: Did you play under DirectX 8 at that time? Some have probs with DirectX 9. (I know, you said you had nothing installed in between, I just want to make sure)
Which Nvidia card? Det.-driver 45.23?
Windows swap file, how is it managed? By the system? How many RAM?
16 bit colour/32 bit colour?

Your probs started with the latest patch 1.0034?
(I nearly don't dare to ask: No-CD-Crack?)
Kiya

Troubleshooting by Raze, click here

and nothing in this link helped you? (I'm asking, cause you said you read the forum. If you confirm, Raze might have another solution - hope so)

Hey Kiya

Yip, Have tried all of the above, First tried it directx 8 then tried 9.
Had it in 16 and then in 32. Tried it in every possible resolution. Had windows
manage the swapped file, had windows run with a customed swapped file. Installed the game on a single harddrive with nothing on it, just the game so it will have no swapped file on same drive. Stood on my head. Still same results. Oh yeah card is geforce fx 5200 128mb. hehe - no (no-cd crack) was applied during all of these attempts. I do buy my own games. GRRRRR

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />

Did you try deleting the files in the dynamic folder?
Does re-booting the computer after exiting the game have any effect when starting Divinity again?

Try the file verification method mentioned in the Troubleshooting topic; perhaps run the configuration program after a clean install, create a CRC file, start and exit Divinity, verify the files using the CRC file. Something must be different after playing Divinity.

HI Raze

Tried the file check program this morning, seems that there is something wrong with the savegame module. And of course that is what I do everytime. Install the game. Able to play it, save it and quit the game. Using save or quicksave is making it freeze on reload. Which is very odd. I've removed the savegames and deleted the dynamic directory. Then it would start up fine or sometimes not, back to the square one again - Reinstall...

Hi,

i have 2 suggestions for you:

- check your memory with the tool from www.memtest86.com

- check your harddisc with scandisc or a similar tool for harddisc errors

I hope you can post some error messages so we can do more.

Xanlosch

"Tried the file check program"

Did it indicate any changed files that may have become corrupt?


"Install the game. Able to play it, save it and quit the game. Using save or quicksave is making it freeze on reload."

If you play for a couple minutes and quit without saving, do you have the same problem?


"I've removed the savegames and deleted the dynamic directory. Then it would start up fine or sometimes not"

Is it freezing when the game itself is loading, or when loading a save?


Do try the memory and hard drive tests.

Ok, I'm back at it again. Reinstall the game again, Played it for a while.
1. There are no problems in the game itself.
2. The game doesn't freeze during playing
3. No problems with sound.
4. Game isn't going slow.

Saved one game (no quicksave either this time) and exit to windows.
Load game again. Game freezes in Loading screen. -Not while loading a save game. I would be lucky if I get that far.

Not able to do anything. Hit the reset switch.(grrrr)Then move out save game.
Empty the dynamic folder. Run the game. Because the game crashed. The configuration utility runs again. Come to loading screen. Freeze.

So now to only be able to play it again. Uninstall, reinstall.

-------------------------------------------

Filecheck:

Verifying CRCs in file C:\Verify.CRC ...
File D:\Program Files\Divine Divinity\Run\keylist.txt does NOT match.
OldBytes = 546, NewBytes = 610, OldCRC = FD13080D, NewCRC = 5F161A3D
Directory D:\Program Files\Divine Divinity\Run does NOT match.
OldBytes = 7247738, NewBytes = 7247802
OldFileCount = 21, NewFileCount = 21
OldMetaCRC = E65EDC17, NewMetaCRC = 17B5325A
File D:\Program Files\Divine Divinity\Run\main\startup.v2\shroud.x0 does NOT match.
OldBytes = 525826, NewBytes = 525826, OldCRC = 203D789D, NewCRC = F193F405
File D:\Program Files\Divine Divinity\Run\main\startup.v2\shroud.x1 does NOT match.
OldBytes = 525826, NewBytes = 525826, OldCRC = 9592CA39, NewCRC = 5CCF7A29
File D:\Program Files\Divine Divinity\Run\main\startup.v2\shroud.x2 does NOT match.
OldBytes = 525826, NewBytes = 525826, OldCRC = 7AD0D214, NewCRC = 877A95FF
File D:\Program Files\Divine Divinity\Run\main\startup.v2\shroud.x3 does NOT match.
OldBytes = 525826, NewBytes = 525826, OldCRC = FC48D635, NewCRC = D67768F5
File D:\Program Files\Divine Divinity\Run\main\startup.v2\shroud.x4 does NOT match.
OldBytes = 525826, NewBytes = 525826, OldCRC = FC48D635, NewCRC = D67768F5
Directory D:\Program Files\Divine Divinity\Run\main\startup.v2 does NOT match.
OldBytes = 69807280, NewBytes = 69807280
OldFileCount = 41, NewFileCount = 41
OldMetaCRC = 5961FAD2, NewMetaCRC = 14FF306A
Summary does not match.
OldBytes = 2395377099, NewBytes = 2395377163
OldFileCount = 384, NewFileCount = 384
OldDirCount = 20, NewDirCount = 20
OldMetaCRC = 4F281369, NewMetaCRC = CC92254D
Verify time = 383.1 sec (30 Oct 2003 10:54:30)

hmmmmm......
-------------------------------------------
* If you install the game, play if for a few minutes, quit without saving. You can load the game again and start a new game. So yes you can do this.* It does not freeze.

There is nothing wrong with the memory, or the harddrives. Tested all. This game has also been on four different harddrives. All my other games work fine, I play homeworld 2 yesterday. and shows no signs like this game does.

Filecheck:

"File D:\Program Files\Divine Divinity\Run\keylist.txt does NOT match"

As expected, since you would have defined potion/weapon hotkeys.

"Directory D:\Program Files\Divine Divinity\Run\main\startup.v2 does NOT match."

I don't think that is the problem. This folder stores default files that are used when starting a new game or when entering new areas (when files get added to the save game folder). Even with the shroud.x* files being modified, I would not expect that to make a difference on startup.

After a clean install, make a copy of the startup.v2 folder. After playing, saving and quitting Divinity, replace the folder with the backup copy. If the problem is the modified shroud files, that should let the game start without crashing.


"* If you install the game, play if for a few minutes, quit without saving. You can load the game again and start a new game. So yes you can do this.* It does not freeze."

Then the problem is caused by saving (or possibly by length of time playing).

After saving and quitting Divinity, try searching for all files created after the last install time. Perhaps the first save tigers some file/folder creation, which is not being done properly?

If you have Windows XP, did you install the patch from an account with administrative privileges, and play from an account with full read/write access?


If you make a copy of the Divinity folder after a clean install, you can replace your working location rather than re-install from the CDs again. Assuming you have the extra space, that may be a little faster (or at least avoid the CD swapping).

I did a clean install + patch, without running Divinity (401 files, 22 folders). Running Divinity the first time, starting a game and exiting without saving made the following changes;

In the 'run' folder;
[*] added folders; capture and savegames
[*] added files; init.cfg, mapids.000, persist.dat, shroud.tmp, sinfo.000, slashed-d3d6.cfg
[*] updated file; keylist.txt

In the startup.v2 folder, the shroud.x* files were updated.


Comparing the case of Divinity being run, but without saving (407 files, 24 folders) to that of it being run, and a game saved before exiting, only the mapids.000 and persist.dat files were different, with no added files or folders (neglecting the saved game folder).


Try playing Divinity for a bit, save and exit. Reboot the computer and see if it will load properly. If not, try deleting the files in the dynamic folder, and the files init.cfg, mapids.000, persist.dat, shroud.tmp, sinfo.000 and slashed-d3d6.cfg from the run folder.


Search for all files in the Divinity folders, select all of the results, right click and select properties; there should be no read-only files (the checkbox should be clear, with no black or greyed out checkmark). Maybe when you save, something is being set to read-only???

Report:

First Run after NEw Installation No Freeze
Able to play the game.
Played for 5 minutes.
Quit

Second Run able to get into game No Freeze
Played for 5 minutes
Save game = Just started
Quit

Third Run able to get into game No Freeze
Loaded = Just started
Played for 5 minutes
Save game = Lanilor Freezed
Played another 5 minutes
Created Quicksave 1
Quit

Fourth Run able to get into game No Freeze
Loaded = Quicksave 1
Played 30 minutes
Got an upgrade
Clicked on Upgrade menu Freeze

Hit reset....

Raze
I checked the files like you suggested there is no files set to read only
I have that directory set to obtain it's attribute rules from the parent, so all files that goes into the directory will have no attributes set to it.

I only log on my machines as adminstrator, so I have every right possible

Installed game + patch + without running divinity
399 files and 22 folders

After playing the game for a few minutes
444 Files and 24 folders

Deleting files like you suggested, making copies and replacing them does not work.

"Clicked on Upgrade menu Freeze"

Apparently it is time related, or at least not just saving.


"Installed game + patch + without running divinity
399 files and 22 folders"

You are missing a couple files from a fresh install. I deleted the files in the dynamics folder after running the game when I checked for differences.
Did you try my CRC files to verify your install? Maybe it is just a couple shortcuts missing, but that could also be part of the problem.


"Deleting files like you suggested, making copies and replacing them does not work."

I didn't think it would, but it was worth a try to make sure.

well I'm having the same problem, every other game woks fine Whats going on <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />

Hi

I haven't been following all the threads but can say that I have had freezing problems with other games using mouse controls.

My problem was solved by disconnecting external USB devices such as scanners.

Might be worth a try!

I've had time related freeze problem twice before on different computers. The first time, the CPU fan was getting a bit old (3 year I think) and it wasn't running perfectly. My computer kept freezing when I used CPU instense applictations (such as games) for more than an hour. Gradually, the problem got worse, and in the end I couldn't start up my computer for more than 15 minutes. Took a while before I realized what was really going on.

The other time, it was my hard-drive that failed on me. But this was easier to detect because it made a screeching sound before it froze. I lost like 60Gb of data that day...