[ScottForster]

Turns out I needed to update my graphics drivers, the most recent for mine has OpenGL support, so it seems to have cleared up the problem

[chief1983]

Yuzuki, you can set up your folder structure however you want, but if you intend to disregard the suggested settings of the mods themselves, and the support teams, you're not likely to get a lot of help.  I'd also request that that particular structure not be recommended to those having problems, as the conflict between that and the standard structure is just going to create confusion.

[ScottForster]

Well, it has started again. Updated my drivers, restarted computer, ran fine last night and this morning, even shut down a couple times between plays. Just tried to start it up again and got the same problem, this is about a 12 hour space of time when I shut down the game before leaving for work and when I started the launcher again( I did not close the launcher and I did not change any settings in that 12 hour period.  I have a log, but again, I don't know which line I am looking for as the smoking gun. Again, the retail exe file works perfectly, but any Open exe files cause the problems.  So please in simple terms, someone please tell me what I can do to fix my problems.

[attachment deleted by ninja]

[chief1983]

I'm a little concerned about the following lines:

Code: [Select]

Searching root 'C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG.com\Freespace 2\MODS\blueplanet\' ... 1 files

Searching root 'C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG.com\Freespace 2\' ... 18 files

I feel like you might have some random files hanging around inside the data folder of blueplanet or FS2.  The players folder in the FS2 one is fine, but I don't think there should be a whole lot else.  It looks like it crashed loading a Loading.ani, so you might want to try looking for that.

[ScottForster]

I guess what my question at this point would be, the loading ani, how does it crash after coming back to it after a few hours? What changes between the time I restart the computer to the time it starts playing poorly?

[ScottForster]

I mean, I have updated my video drivers, tried everything I have seen on this forum and around google, and I am STILL having this problem, I really would appreciate a solution. Thanks

[Tomo]

It looks like you are running under Windows 7 64bit, is that the case?

FS2Open (and FS2 retail) currently write most of their settings (including pilot settings) to the folder it is running inside.

It is not generally recommended to have FS2Open (or Freespace 2 Retail) in Program Files under Windows 7 and Vista as writing to this folder requires Admin privileges, which are not available by default.
I don't think this is the cause though, as that's more related to saving stuff rather than loading. (Also, Win7 has virtualised folders that often cover up for this.)

Something else that *might* be happening is running out of space for the filename string - it's still a limited length, and putting the game in a long path "C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG.com\Freespace 2\" and then mods in a further subfolder makes it more likely that you'll hit the limit.

ANIs tend to involve very long filenames, so that seems plausible - though the way the error turns up is a bit odd.

(Both of these are known issues that are 'on the list', but finding someone with the time and expertise to sort them out is tough, especially as it's very easy to break something.)

[ScottForster]

I am running Vista 64 bit Ultimate.

I moved the files from Program files to a non program files folder.

And if it were a case of a long file string, would it not do it ALL the time, even when I restart the computer and not just when I come back to it after a few hours? As nothing was changed in the settings from the time I start the computer up, shut down the game and come back to it a few hours later, unless my cat is changing settings on me when I am at work( lol).

That is basically what has me stumped. NOTHING has been changed in the settings from turning the computer on, when it runs as intended, to when I come back to it and runs poorly. 

[chief1983]

I'm not sure anyone currently knows exactly why you had problems with your setup, but did moving it to a non-Program Files folder seem to help?

[ScottForster]

No, the problem still exists

[ScottForster]

Started happening again tonight after not doing it for a couple weeks... Will SOMEONE PLEASE tell me what I need to do to make this problem go away once and for all?????? 

[ScottForster]

Alright, I am about ready to say to hell with this game and the whole modding thing. I can't seem to find an answer ANYWHERE to my problems and cannot get them to go away no matter what I do... Thanks for all the help...

[jr2]

You know, maybe your GFX card is overloading... other games work fine?  Try a stress testing program, maybe you'll find it is bugging out under heavy load.  Retail doesn't exactly stress any modern configuration.

[ScottForster]

   Makes sense, but if that were the case, why would it run fine occasionally, and then start lagging with no warning, I played everything fine for the last week or two, and I come back to it tonight, not 24 hours after the last time I play and suddenly, BAM! Unplayable again... If overloading was the case, why would it not do it EVERY TIME???  That is my problem, it works fine for a while, and then it runs like ****...

[jr2]

Intermittent errors are the hardest to troubleshoot...

[ScottForster]

Is there ANYTHING I can do to get this piece of crap to work correctly? Apparently you guys don't seem to have any issues like this...

[ScottForster]

Anyone?

[jr2]

Settle down.  Most of us have other things we are doing (jobs, personal life, eating etc).... sometimes you get lucky and people that can help you are only checking HLP looking to solve problems, but, not as often as you seem to expect.  Give it time.  If your card is ATI, they did just release new drivers (11.7, released July 27^th).  Try those.

[ScottForster]

My card is Nvidia...

[Scourge of Ages]

Since it's intermittent, it leads me to suspect external causes. Check to see if there are any other programs running that you could close to free up resources, and make sure that nothing decides to auto-update while you're trying to play.

Also, what specific video card are you running? I have heard that certain, specific ones can have seemingly random issues or bottlenecks. Google it, and see if anybody else is having trouble. And what's the processor in your computer?

Sorry I couldn't be more help, but be patient, give lots of information when requested, and be patient while the smart guys work on this. (hmm, semi-ninja'd)