Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PaperTiger]

I've been running Fallout 3 on my PC successfully for a long time, basically since it came out. I'm using Vista and I've deleted any virtual drive software and I've tried the trick that involves messing with the dxdiag features (can't find features BTW). The damn thing just crashes at the start menu after the window that offers the option to start a new game, load, or continue. Regardless of what option I choose, my system freezes, the mouse won't move, and I can't get anything to work unless I use ctr/alt/del to get to the task manager window. At which point it indicates that Fallout 3 is "not responding".

I've erased everything and done a clean install, making sure to go back into the common files and delete every last mod and .esp file...every remaining Fallout 3 file. Naturally, I Googled this problem and the sage advice I read indicated that none of those things were necessary. It's more than likely a reading comprehension issue on my part, but if anyone is so enlightened that they know an answer it would be really great.

I'm playing the whole damn thing over, connected to Windows Live (which may very well be my problem) so that I can download the extra content of "Operation Anchorage" or "Project Pitt" (whatever) and I just can't get the damn thing to work now. I played this stupid game for two whole days last weekend with no problems and now the first time I start it up, it's dead in the water. Help!

[Demophobe]

My ideas...

1. Graphics card drivers.

2. Sound driver / card incompatibility problem. Update sound card drivers or uninstall drivers, then run the game and see what happens.

3. There is a patch. Apply it?

4. Is the game legit?

5. Disable AF / AA.

6. Check your system for heat / power problems.

7. Minimum system specs met?

[PaperTiger]

It ran fine before...I've played it two times through already. I tried the 1.5 patch and the unofficial patch. It's a legit version of the game bought from Steam (although to hear some tell it, that might be the origin of the problem). I don't see why I would need to update drivers if they game has been running fine since I bought it...but it's worth a shot. Also, the backup might be the problem...so I'm going to erase the backups from before...download the game again, and try starting over. I just want to get the Windows Live points to get the new content.

I guess multiplayer is supposed to be fun, but there are no servers per se...you just have to know someone you play online regularly and then be online at the same time they are.

[PaperTiger]

CPU Properties:
CPU Type DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo E8400, 3000 MHz (9 x 333)
CPU Alias Wolfdale
CPU Stepping C0/M0
Instruction Set x86, x86-64, MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1
Original Clock 3000 MHz
Min / Max CPU Multiplier 6x / 9x
Engineering Sample No
L1 Code Cache 32 KB per core
L1 Data Cache 32 KB per core
L2 Cache 6 MB (On-Die, ECC, ASC, Full-Speed)

Multi CPU:
Motherboard ID P5K-SE
CPU #1 Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz, 2999 MHz
CPU #2 Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz, 2999 MHz

CPU Physical Info:
Package Type 775 Contact LGA
Package Size 3.75 cm x 3.75 cm
Transistors 410 million
Process Technology 45 nm, CMOS, Cu, High-K + Metal Gate
Die Size 107 mm2
Core Voltage 1.150 - 1.225 V
I/O Voltage 1.150 - 1.225 V
Typical Power 65 W @ 3.00 GHz
Maximum Power 91.9 W @ 3.00 GHz

CPU Manufacturer:
Company Name Intel Corporation
Product Information http://www.intel.com/products/processor

CPU Utilization:
CPU #1 / Core #1 0 %
CPU #1 / Core #2 25 %

[eamo]

More importantly, PT, you have an 8800GT in there, right?

I know PT's system. It should easily run Fallout 3 on medium settings. Maybe not maxed settings though.

I had a similar problem with Crysis: Warhead. Screen went black just as the game itself was starting.

Solved it by googling and found that I needed a .dll file that had something to do with sound.

[ulmaeri]

Do you have onboard sound? I know that many of my games have problems with the onboard sound. Been thinking of getting a sound card because of it.

[PaperTiger]

[PaperTiger]

There was also some buzz about Fallout not being compatible with Intel chips. It sure would be ironic if some souped-up version of Oblivion burned my rig.

[Demophobe]

[hugekebab]

There's no avoiding it, you are going to have to troubleshoot by reinstalling drivers.

1. remove graphics driver, get the latest version from the nividia/ati website.

try game, if it still doesn't work...

2. reinstall the latest version of directx.

try game, if it still doesn't work...

3. remove sound card drivers, get the latest version from the manufacturer website, install new one.

try game, if it still doesn't work...

4. disable the sound card in device manager.

try game, if it still doesn't work turn the sound card back on...

5. post on the fallout 3 tech support forum, and try ringing the fallout 3 official tech support.

If that doesn't work, then the biggest pain is reinstalling the game...

6. delete the local content of fallout 3 on steam, go in and manually delete any leftover files; you might want to save your back up games. reinstall.

It's true, there have been onboard sound issues with many games, sometimes this can be solved by deleting certain dll files, but it will be different for each game.

[Demophobe]

The echo in this place is nutty.

[hugekebab]

Nob.

[Demophobe]