Rise Of Nations freeze

[P. Simpson]

I am posting this request for help on the advice of others from
another forum who reckon that this list has some pretty experienced
folk. I got diverted from the main problem while I had to learn how to
do a bios flash.
Rise of Nations is a game I love and is the only game I find time to
play on my 99% work computer. The computer I thought was adequate for
the occasional game (specs etc) and is absolutely trouble free for all
my many multitasking graphics editing full on intensive work.
Rise of nations had run perfect on my little laptop, but I reloaded on
this new machine with its bigger screen. I have not had a single full
game since with it freezing totally on every occasion from 5 min to 50
min into any game. The machine is totally frozen no mouse or keyboard
and requires a power off. Sometimes its just a straight silent freeze,
sometimes it stops in mid sound with the sound coming out like a fast
machine gun. Once it froze when I went off for a coffee and had it on
pause, and came back to find it stuck.

My specs
Albatron 865PE Pro II (not overclocked)
standard hard drive (not SATA or raid)
2.8 P4
1 gig ram
Gigabyte Radeon 9700 pro
WinXP Pro (fully updated)
Viewsonic keyboard and optic mouse

I have updated every driver I can find. I loaded latest bios, I have
latest DX, I have tried WinXP minimum boot method. I changed the video
to run at 16 instead of 32. I am certain I have no overheat issue as
its getting a tad chill where I am and the box has more fans than I
have ever seen ...all working. I have the latest RON update.I tried
disabling sound and running silent for a game.
I only play solo game in quick battle so far. I've tried every
permutation of disabling any program that I can find that may be
kicking in the background and I consider I am virus free.

Any ideas gratefully received and if you can step me through any
process as I am a bit new to the tech stuff.

regards

Peter

 

[Jimmy S.]

Hi P. Simpson,

Hardware issues can cause freezing, black screens and other
errors. Also, your drivers should always be kept up to date.

Try the following steps one at a time to try and resolve the issue.
I hope this helps. Please post back if you have any questions!

1. Update DirectX and your Chipset, Sound, &Video Drivers:
For all Video / DirectX / Game and Hardware Issues, I have a
Checklist of Solutions at: http://NibblesNbitsVideo.tk

2. Dust your fans, vents and components using a 1/4" paintbrush
and a hose vacuum. Use compressed air for hard to reach places.
Set a housefan to blow cold air into your case to expose an over-
heating issue.. If it works add more fans or replace defective ones.
Use this Motherboard Monitor Utility: http://mbm.livewiredev.com

3. A faulty power supply can cause STOP errors, random reboots,
and black screen lockups. One way to test for that is to check the
wattage sticker on your power supply and then calculate your need
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/ (Min. 350 for gaming)

4. Test your RAM using: http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________


| I am posting this request for help on the advice of others from
| another forum who reckon that this list has some pretty experienced
| folk. I got diverted from the main problem while I had to learn how to
| do a bios flash.
| Rise of Nations is a game I love and is the only game I find time to
| play on my 99% work computer. The computer I thought was adequate for
| the occasional game (specs etc) and is absolutely trouble free for all
| my many multitasking graphics editing full on intensive work.
| Rise of nations had run perfect on my little laptop, but I reloaded on
| this new machine with its bigger screen. I have not had a single full
| game since with it freezing totally on every occasion from 5 min to 50
| min into any game. The machine is totally frozen no mouse or keyboard
| and requires a power off. Sometimes its just a straight silent freeze,
| sometimes it stops in mid sound with the sound coming out like a fast
| machine gun. Once it froze when I went off for a coffee and had it on
| pause, and came back to find it stuck.
|
| My specs
| Albatron 865PE Pro II (not overclocked)
| standard hard drive (not SATA or raid)
| 2.8 P4
| 1 gig ram
| Gigabyte Radeon 9700 pro
| WinXP Pro (fully updated)
| Viewsonic keyboard and optic mouse
|
| I have updated every driver I can find. I loaded latest bios, I have
| latest DX, I have tried WinXP minimum boot method. I changed the video
| to run at 16 instead of 32. I am certain I have no overheat issue as
| its getting a tad chill where I am and the box has more fans than I
| have ever seen ...all working. I have the latest RON update.I tried
| disabling sound and running silent for a game.
| I only play solo game in quick battle so far. I've tried every
| permutation of disabling any program that I can find that may be
| kicking in the background and I consider I am virus free.
|
| Any ideas gratefully received and if you can step me through any
| process as I am a bit new to the tech stuff.
|
| regards
|
| Peter