[ZmaN]

My FS2 keeps crashing back to the desktop, particularly before I start a mission or after I end a mission...  heres all the -mod lines I am using:

C:\Games\FreeSpace2\fs2_open_r-P420060323.exe -mod FS_port_freespace_1_MOD, ,mediavps -spec -glow -jpgtga -mipmap -cache_bitmaps -missile_lighting -dualscanlines -targetinfo -rearm_timer -3dwarp -warp_flash -snd_preload -no_set_gamma -decals -fps

I just dont know what else to do....  It just keeps freezing on me, no matter what campaign I play, whether its the main FS2 Campaign, or a modded campaign...

Anyone know what else to do?  I might try a full reinstall..

I am using the 3.6.8 VP's, Launcher 5.3, on OpenGL @ 1024 x 768 Resolution, and oh yeah, i have adveffects.vp installed....  If I play on Direct3d8, the shockwaves kill the performance, but the game never crashes back to the desktop..  Only on OpenGL..

EDIT:  I have tried about 4 different builds.  I used the  Official 3.6.7, 03/06/2006, 1/25/2006, and 3/23/2006...  All of them have had the same result, a crash back to the desktop....  I have used the P4 optimized variant of each build, and well, thats it..

[karajorma]

What happens if you run without the media VP files?

[CaptJosh]

And what about system specs? What vid card do you have and what version drivers?

[ZmaN]

What happens if you run without the media VP files?

I didnt try it, maybe later tonight, im about to go out...

And what about system specs? What vid card do you have and what version drivers?

Its a Pentium 4 2.8 Ghz with 768 MBs of DDR RAM, and an Radeon X850 pro on Catalyst 6.2 Drivers...


Anything else I should try?

[Nuclear1]

Try playing with the medium-detail shockwaves. They still look good, but don't hurt performance nearly as much as the high-end ones.

[ZmaN]

Try playing with the medium-detail shockwaves. They still look good, but don't hurt performance nearly as much as the high-end ones.

But Im using the torrent that was packed by shivansps, it already has the low end shockwaves installed....

[road_dancer]

Try using the ATI omega drivers, I was very suspicious of them originally, but having installed them, they work so much better then the official ATI drivers!

http://www.omegadrivers.net/

[ZmaN]

I actually just updated to Catalyst 6.3 Driers 2 days ago and tried playing freespace yesterday and I got the dreaded BSoD!!!!  YOURE NOT SUPPOSED TO GET THAT FROM FREESPACE!!!  that only supposed to happen to MS software only....  lolololol

Im downloading those Omega Drivers now..  What exacly are the optimizations to them as opposed to the Official ATI Drivers?

[StratComm]

They don't have all of the control center bloat that is typical in the Catalyst drivers, for one.  I'm happy with the 5.x catalyst versions myself, but I can see that not being an option.  6.3 definitely causes problems though so don't install it if you can help it.

Usually the best way to find the cause of a crash is to run a debug build in a window and to grab the last couple of lines from the spew when it locks up.  It should also give you an actual warning or error message when it crashes as well.

[road_dancer]

I was running 6.2 Catalyst drivers prior to installing the Omega drivers. Everything worked, kind off.

Running openGL compared to D3D, I had noticable banding on nebula backdrops, a number of glowmaps, and the flight deck obviously wasn't running correct 32 bit textures. So last night I switched over to the Omega drivers and immediately all the artefacting was fixed, and my FPS has improved by a good 10-20 FPS.

And yes, that annoying Control Centre has gone, I know there's a driver only version of the ATI drivers, but sheesh, I don't want a shortcut in all of my goddam menus! LOL.

[ZmaN]

WOW!  those Omega Drivers work AWESOMELY!!!!

I havent had a crash yet, after playing for about 40 mins, and I havent really had any slowdowns...

For insttance, with the 6.2 Catalyst Drivers, Everytime there was a shockwave, the game would slow down, even in OpenGL mode, now it doesnt slow down at all....
Not to mention all the FPS I gained...  I can estimate AT LEAST 10-15 frames per second gained, not a single drop under 10 FPS, unlike the Catalyst Drivers....

I am NEVER using Official ATI Drivers Again...
If I ever get an nvidia card, Im using the Omega Drivers for them too!!!