System Crashing Due to Star Wars Battlefront II

[Guest]

My computer keeps crashing continuously 10 seconds into any game I start. The
crashing started when I installed Star Wars Battlefront II on my computer.
After installing it, I tried to play the game but it didn't work. It crashed
15 seconds after I started a game server. I have determined the problem to be
related to compatibility with dual core processors. Now however, the problem
is spreading to all the games on my computer. Please help me. Is the problem
hardware or software related? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks

 

[guestuser]

The requirements of games like Star Wars: Battlefront II can be very
stringent. Is your system actually capable of playing such games?

 

[Guest]

Yes, I checked. The game runs wonderfully for 15 seconds before it crashes.

 

[Michael Stevens]

In

My computer keeps crashing continuously 10 seconds into any game I
start. The crashing started when I installed Star Wars Battlefront II
on my computer. After installing it, I tried to play the game but it
didn't work. It crashed 15 seconds after I started a game server. I
have determined the problem to be related to compatibility with dual
core processors. Now however, the problem is spreading to all the
games on my computer. Please help me. Is the problem hardware or
software related? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks

You need to remove it. Look for a restore point in System Restore prior to
the installation of the game. Then consult the games web site and support
forums for similar problems before attempting to reinstall.
Also look in the games newsgroup where the experts there may be able to
help.
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.games
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Malke]

Yes, I checked. The game runs wonderfully for 15 seconds before it
crashes.

Since you say this happens on *all* games and that your computer is
capable of playing those games, what changed between the time things
worked and the time they didn't? Add any software or more hardware?
Update video or sound card drivers? Narrowing down what changed helps
pinpoint the cause of the error.

If nothing has changed, then test for hardware failings. Here are some
things to check. Do only one thing at a time and test after each
change. Troubleshooting has to be done methodically.

1) Open the computer and run it open after cleaning out all dust
bunnies. Observe all fans (overheating will cause system freezing
and/or crashing). This includes the fan on your video card if you have
one. Without touching anything, you can hold your hand close to the
inside of the case and feel how hot things are getting.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. You will
either download the precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable
floppy or the .iso to make a bootable cd. If you want to use the
latter, you'll need to have third-party burning software on the machine
where you download the file - XP's built-in burning capability won't do
the job. In either case, boot with the media you made. The test will
run immediately. Let the test run for an hour or two - unless errors
are seen immediately. If you get any errors, replace the RAM.

3) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system. If you were able to play the games before, then
the psu may be dying. Test by swapping it out for a known-working psu.
Do you have one of the better-quality video cards that requires a
separate power supply connector? If so, make sure the connector is in
place.

4) The video card itself may be failing. Swap it out for a known-working
one. If the issues are gone, then you know you'll need to replace the
card. Uninstall the first card before putting in a new one.

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigStoreUSA).

Malke