Problems with Windows XP

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My Icewind Dale 2 is just unplayable since i got Windows XP.When battle occures the game usualy stops every 4-5 sec. for ca. 10 sec. again and again.My windows is full updated latest Hercules Prophet's 4500 driver SB Audigy also latest drivers via 4in1 latest on athlon 1533 Mhz computer.Think there is a directx problem, or with OpenGL.Do somebody else got this problem?This also occures with Baldur;s gate 2 but not every 4-5 sec.Most emabarassing.... till now didn't became any usefull help neither form hercules, creative or microsoft .U r my last hope

[ November 01, 2002, 16:31: Message edited by: Taluntain ]

 

It could be that XP ate up all of your RAM. It uses a tremendous amount. I only have 128 mb on my dinosaur, and I was told by a friend of mine (who runs the intranet for computer giant SAP) that XP would not be a good idea until I had at LEAST 256 mb. Try and close everything first(task scheduler, date/time,etc.) and then start the game. It could still be another problem. I doubt if it is a directX rpeoblem, as the game would install the necessary version to run itself at install. This happens to me sometimes with area effect spells/effects. I don't use spells like ice storm and stinming cloud because my computer doesn't like them much and gets really choppy whenever I run cast them.

 

Nope man RAM IS the reason i left my beloved Windows 98 SE and went to XP.I have 768 MB RAM and 98 just can't handle them.So RAM is definetly not my problem.But as u say this occures by spell cast too.Or when the charakter myst say something when attack or so.Windows XP comes with some directx thats not the normal one i think.

 

768 mb!Dung, I never heard of that...

 

256 + 512 hihihih
Workin on a hardware firma so 512 was part of my salary
To say the truth u don't need so much - Windows just doesn't use it all.At most 460-80 are used.Big mistake with XP.U r all ok wit it?

 

To be honest, the SB Audigy makes my sphincter pucker more than anything else mentioned in the setup.

Turn down the number of AI updates to about 60,000 and loadup the game again. After that, turn off EAX.

And after that, you might seriously consider reloading IwD2 and XP. A clean install.

 

Sorry for my spelling I didn't knew it's not allowed, i'm a new member after all.Won't happen again.
I allready have the patch but.... still the same.
Previously on Windows 98 SE all was ok.
Also tried the EAX off and AL trick - no use.Seems I must reinstall again Windows 98.

 

I've got XP and I haven't had any problems. I also heard that XP was recommended for IWDII. True?

 

1. Please update your WinXP (SP1 needed for DirectDraw issue with AMD).
2. You might try with running dxdiag and disabling DirectDraw there. While you're there, check if dxdiag reports any errors with graphics and sound card.

 

I have winXP, commercial version, and all the infinity engine games run very well on it. In fact, they're about the only ones I can play, but that's probably due to my cruddy graphics card. Maybe the prob isn't XP.

 

Allready have SP1 installed...
Now trying to disable the DirectDraw.
Normally the test shows that it's not making any problems at all.
It's cool to know that XP does not make problems to others... so thanks for replays

Nope it's not working.Same as before so I enabled it again.Has anybody XP with Hercules prophet 4500 like me?

[ November 05, 2002, 13:51: Message edited by: AlexGK ]

 

Probably does.
However bugs with Kyro based cards should be removed with the IWD2 patch. Are you sure you've installed the patch as Tal suggested (and posted a link)?

Ok, few more suggestions:
1. Try with disabling everything that is running in the background while playing the game (perhaps an anti-virus util is the cause).
2. Disable the sound card - does the game behave better without any sound at all?
3. Open IWD2 config and slightly increase AI refresh rate (frame rate).

 

Have you tried running IWD2 in a Win9x emulation mode? This will prove whether it is a software problem or a hardware problem.
I have a similar system as yours, except for the video card and a bit more RAM, so unless it is a software problem it seems to point towards the video card.
Do you have onboard video as well as the Prophet Video card?

Just a quick note on XP SP1, are you aware that if you agree to the EULA you are giving permission to Microsoft to remotely audit your system and pass on information to third party companies? This is regardless of whether you have a firewall - I assume due to the holes inherant in Internet Explorer.
You may not care, but I don't like the thought of people accessing my PC without my knowledge.

 

Extremist is fully right!!!
Already have the patch that's not the problem nor are the antivirus programs that I have, I tried this already.BUT the sound card.Already tried turning off all the sound - no use, but to DISABLE the Sound Blaster i didn't think of.When disabled there are no problems.So there is my problem.
Increasing flame rate does not help.
So what can I do about it?I have the latest drivers, that's for sure.The game's a but dull without sound.Sylvan said he has simular system like me - do you have the same Sound card?Sound Blaster Audigy (Bulk) have I.Normally it's the same as the retail Audigy.
By the way what do you mean emulate win9x?You know I have WinXP since 2-3 weeks so i don't know it so good.Installed it only because with 98 could not use all my RAM.
How much RAM do you have - you said a BIT more

Did I forgot to thank all of you for the help?Shame to me Especially Extremist Thanks man

[ November 05, 2002, 23:59: Message edited by: AlexGK ]

 

I do have the same sound card as you AlexGK, I have 1GB RAM.
Do you have a shortcut on the desktop for IWD2?
If you do then right click on it and select properties. When the properties dialog box appears, select the compatability tab and select the check box to "Run this program in compatability mode for" and then use the box below to select Win98/ME. This will make the game run as if it was installed on a Windows 98 machine.

 

Nope man in win98\me emulation the game hung two times the second with all background programs off.Hope I didn't blow the damn XP with these hungs But I still have one use now i can play Lords of The Realm 2 again - one my old favorite game
You already tried the emulation?
Do you have any problems with the game simular to me?Your MB A7V333 Asus too?

 

I found the emulation ability of XP really useful for those old games.
I do have the same type of RAM as you.
Does your machine only hang when playing IWD2, or has it happened to other games?
The most common faults for a machine to hang is either bad RAM (or RAM slots) or video card.
How old is your RAM?
Try removing a stick of RAM, then run IWD2. If it still hangs, remove the other RAM stick and put the other back in. This will determine if the RAM is causing the problem.

 

No it hangs only in emulation mode.Otherwise it works but as i wrote at the beginning it stops and goes stops and goes usually when battle is in progress and any spell is to be cast.Almoust any spell.Already tried the RAM trick it's not the problem.My sound is.As Extremist suggested I disabled the sound card and all's ok.But without sound...
You said that you have the same sound card so wonder if you have any problems.If not i think i must delete Win directory along with Program Files and reinstall.Damn much work it is to reinstall.All setup again....

 

I am running the original sound drivers, not the latest ones from the internet. Did the problem occur with the original drivers as well?