Here's a strange one

[djs0302]

I built this computer 3 years ago. Here are the specs.
Intel motherboard D875PBZ
2.6C GHz. Intel processor
30 GB Maxtor ultra ATA hard drive (connected using the IDE cable)
ATI Radeon 9000 graphics card
Creative Soundblaster 16 PCI soundcard
512 MB RAM
Windows XP service pack 1

Now here's the problem. When I first turn on the computer every once
in a while when I try to play a game that uses DirectX the computer
will freeze up when I click on the shortcut and I have to hit the
reset button to restart the computer. Once I'm able to start a game,
any game, the computer will load other games just fine. This doesn't
happen all the time, only once in a while. I've checked all the logs
and nothing shows up. The problem has occured both before and after I
updated all the video drivers and DirectX drivers. The computer in
question does not have an internet connection.

 

[meow2222]

I built this computer 3 years ago. Here are the specs.
Intel motherboard D875PBZ
2.6C GHz. Intel processor
30 GB Maxtor ultra ATA hard drive (connected using the IDE cable)
ATI Radeon 9000 graphics card
Creative Soundblaster 16 PCI soundcard
512 MB RAM
Windows XP service pack 1

Now here's the problem. When I first turn on the computer every once
in a while when I try to play a game that uses DirectX the computer
will freeze up when I click on the shortcut and I have to hit the
reset button to restart the computer. Once I'm able to start a game,
any game, the computer will load other games just fine. This doesn't
happen all the time, only once in a while. I've checked all the logs
and nothing shows up. The problem has occured both before and after I
updated all the video drivers and DirectX drivers. The computer in
question does not have an internet connection.

normal windows behaviour then


NT

 

[Franc Zabkar]

I built this computer 3 years ago. Here are the specs.
Intel motherboard D875PBZ
2.6C GHz. Intel processor
30 GB Maxtor ultra ATA hard drive (connected using the IDE cable)
ATI Radeon 9000 graphics card
Creative Soundblaster 16 PCI soundcard
512 MB RAM
Windows XP service pack 1

Now here's the problem. When I first turn on the computer every once
in a while when I try to play a game that uses DirectX the computer
will freeze up when I click on the shortcut and I have to hit the
reset button to restart the computer. Once I'm able to start a game,
any game, the computer will load other games just fine. This doesn't
happen all the time, only once in a while. I've checked all the logs
and nothing shows up. The problem has occured both before and after I
updated all the video drivers and DirectX drivers. The computer in
question does not have an internet connection.

Just a wild guess, but have you turned off video caching in your BIOS
setup? I sometimes have weird shutdown issues in Win98 if caching is
enabled.

Have you tried running dxdiag.exe?

Does this problem happen after a cold boot? warm boot? wakeup from
standby?

- Franc Zabkar

 

[djs0302]

Just a wild guess, but have you turned off video caching in your BIOS
setup? I sometimes have weird shutdown issues in Win98 if caching is
enabled.

Have you tried running dxdiag.exe?

Does this problem happen after a cold boot? warm boot? wakeup from
standby?

- Franc Zabkar

It only happens with a cold boot but it doesn't happen all the time.
Sometimes it will work fine when I first turn it on. Other times I
have to hit the reset button 2 or 3 times before I can get a game to
start. If I press CTRL+ALT+DEL it will show "This program is not
responding." next to the game in question. Dxdiag.exe shows no
problems. The problem may or may not have anything to do with
DirectX. I do know that the problem only occurs when I try to open an
advanced type game that uses DirectX. As far as the simple games like
Solitaire and Free Cell that come with Windows I've never had a
problem with those. The problem is mostly a nuisance. The first
thing I try to do when the computer finishes booting up is to try to
start a game program. If that program loads okay then I know all
other programs will load as well. Since the computer isn't connected
to the internet, there's no antivirus, or spyware protection, or
firewall protection on it. It's just Windows XP Service Pack 1 and
whatever programs I put on it. I'm using DirectX 9c now but the
problem occured with earlier versions of DirectX too.

 

[jinxy]

It only happens with a cold boot but it doesn't happen all the time.
Sometimes it will work fine when I first turn it on. Other times I
have to hit the reset button 2 or 3 times before I can get a game to
start. If I press CTRL+ALT+DEL it will show "This program is not
responding." next to the game in question. Dxdiag.exe shows no
problems. The problem may or may not have anything to do with
DirectX. I do know that the problem only occurs when I try to open an
advanced type game that uses DirectX. As far as the simple games like
Solitaire and Free Cell that come with Windows I've never had a
problem with those. The problem is mostly a nuisance. The first
thing I try to do when the computer finishes booting up is to try to
start a game program. If that program loads okay then I know all
other programs will load as well. Since the computer isn't connected
to the internet, there's no antivirus, or spyware protection, or
firewall protection on it. It's just Windows XP Service Pack 1 and
whatever programs I put on it. I'm using DirectX 9c now but the
problem occured with earlier versions of DirectX too.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Where are you getting your games? Are they store bought or are they
games that your friends have downloaded from the net for you? If they
are downloaded games could if be possible that they may be virus
corrupted?
-J

 

[djs0302]

Where are you getting your games? Are they store bought or are they
games that your friends have downloaded from the net for you? If they
are downloaded games could if be possible that they may be virus
corrupted?
-J- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

They're storebought games made by name brand companies like Microsoft,
Atari, Namco, etc

 

[jinxy]

They're storebought games made by name brand companies like Microsoft,
Atari, Namco, etc- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

If you think that is the Direct X that is giving the problem, here is
a link that may help you. It will explain how you can troubleshoot
your Direct X and maybe change some of your settings.
http://www.computerhope.com/directx.htm#a1
I hope this helps you.
-J