Game 'freezes' and only a hard reset will free up the pc

[PhillUK]

Ok gettting frustrated here, tried 1.09 tried 1.52 patches and its still the same. There is no pattern in length of playing, no particular map size it just happens. no warning no type of action taken the game just freezes except for the mouse pointer, a 3 finger salute does not bring up the task manager the only option is to switch the pc offbelow is my dxdiag. Have read lots of posts and solutions on the forum but no one seems to be addressing this particular problem.

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System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 12/28/2005, 13:23:06
Machine name: OURPC
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: MEDIONPC
System Model: MS-7187
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 1022MB RAM
Page File: 353MB used, 2105MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.


---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: RADEON X600 Series
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: RADEON X600 PRO (0x5B62)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5B62&SUBSYS_0450174B&REV_00
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6546 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 5/3/2005 21:28:54, 226816 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
Mini VDD Date: 5/3/2005 21:28:34, 1133056 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-1822-11CF-696D-5A24A1C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x5B62
SubSys ID: 0x0450174B
Revision ID: 0x0000
Revision ID: 0x0000
-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: C-Media Rear Panel Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_434D&DEV_4980&SUBSYS_71871462&REV_0904
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: cmudax.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0008 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Debug
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 5/12/2005 12:39:56, 1287296 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: C-Media Electronics Inc.
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 100000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 17, 16
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 17, 16
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): Yes
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

-----------

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
Device Name: Mouse
Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: Keyboard
Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: USB Human Interface Device
Attached: 1
Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x04F2, 0x0200
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: USB Human Interface Device
Attached: 1
Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x04F2, 0x0200
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: USB Human Interface Device
Attached: 1
Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x04F2, 0x0200
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: USB Human Interface Device
Attached: 1
Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x04F2, 0x0200
FF Driver: n/a


------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
Drive: C:
Free Space: 73.4 GB
Total Space: 150.0 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: RAID_Volume0

Drive: D:
Free Space: 120.2 GB
Total Space: 150.0 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: RAID_Volume0

Drive: E:
Free Space: 2.8 GB
Total Space: 5.2 GB
File System: FAT32
Model: RAID_Volume0

Drive: F:
Model: SONY DVD RW DW-Q30A
Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.2180 (English), 8/4/2004 12:00:00, 49536 bytes

Drive: G:
Model: IDE DVD-ROM 16X
Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.2180 (English), 8/4/2004 12:00:00, 49536 bytes

------------------
DirectX Components
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ddraw.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 266240 bytes
ddrawex.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 27136 bytes
dxapi.sys: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 10496 bytes
d3d8.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 1179648 bytes
d3d8thk.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 8192 bytes
d3d9.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 1689088 bytes
d3dim.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 436224 bytes
d3dim700.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 825344 bytes
d3dramp.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 590336 bytes
d3drm.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 350208 bytes
d3dxof.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 47616 bytes
d3dpmesh.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 34816 bytes
dplay.dll: 5.00.2134.0001 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 33040 bytes
dplayx.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 229888 bytes
dpmodemx.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 23552 bytes
dpwsock.dll: 5.00.2134.0001 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 42768 bytes
dpwsockx.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 57344 bytes
dplaysvr.exe: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 30208 bytes
dpnsvr.exe: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 18432 bytes
dpnet.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 375296 bytes
dpnlobby.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 3584 bytes
dpnaddr.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 3584 bytes
dpvoice.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 212480 bytes
dpvsetup.exe: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 83456 bytes
dpvvox.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 116736 bytes
dpvacm.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 21504 bytes
dpnhpast.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 35328 bytes
dpnhupnp.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 60928 bytes
dpserial.dll: 5.00.2134.0001 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 53520 bytes
dinput.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 159232 bytes
dinput8.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 181760 bytes
dimap.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 44032 bytes
diactfrm.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 394240 bytes
joy.cpl: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 68608 bytes
gcdef.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 76800 bytes
pid.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 35328 bytes
dsound.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 367616 bytes
dsound3d.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 1294336 bytes
dswave.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 19456 bytes
dsdmo.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 181760 bytes
dsdmoprp.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 71680 bytes
dmusic.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 104448 bytes
dmband.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 28672 bytes
dmcompos.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 61440 bytes
dmime.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 181248 bytes
dmloader.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 35840 bytes
dmstyle.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 105984 bytes
dmsynth.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 103424 bytes
dmscript.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 82432 bytes
system.dll: 1.01.4322.2032 English Final Retail 5/24/2005 15:13:34 1224704 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.dll: 9.05.0132.0000 English Final Retail 12/25/2005 17:42:13 473600 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3DX.dll: 9.07.0239.0000 English Final Retail 12/25/2005 17:42:13 576000 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.DirectDraw.dll: 5.04.0000.2904 English Final Retail 12/25/2005 17:42:13 145920 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.DirectInput.dll: 5.04.0000.2904 English Final Retail 12/25/2005 17:42:14 159232 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.DirectPlay.dll: 5.04.0000.2904 English Final Retail 12/25/2005 17:42:14 364544 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound.dll: 5.04.0000.2904 English Final Retail 12/25/2005 17:42:14 178176 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.AudioVideoPlayback.dll: 5.04.0000.2904 English Final Retail 12/25/2005 17:42:13 53248 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.Diagnostics.dll: 5.04.0000.2904 English Final Retail 12/25/2005 17:42:13 12800 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.dll: 5.04.0000.2904 English Final Retail 12/25/2005 17:42:13 223232 bytes
dx7vb.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 619008 bytes
dx8vb.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 1227264 bytes
dxdiagn.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 2113536 bytes
mfc40.dll: 4.01.0000.6140 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 924432 bytes
mfc42.dll: 6.02.4131.0000 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 1028096 bytes
wsock32.dll: 5.01.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 22528 bytes
amstream.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 70656 bytes
devenum.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 59904 bytes
dxmasf.dll: 6.04.0009.1125 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 498205 bytes
mciqtz32.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 35328 bytes
mpg2splt.ax: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 148992 bytes
msdmo.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 14336 bytes
encapi.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 20480 bytes
qasf.dll: 10.00.0000.3802 English Final Retail 1/28/2005 13:44:28 221184 bytes
qcap.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 192512 bytes
qdv.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 279040 bytes
qdvd.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 385024 bytes
qedit.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 562176 bytes
qedwipes.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 733696 bytes
quartz.dll: 6.05.2600.2749 English Final Retail 8/30/2005 03:54:26 1287168 bytes
strmdll.dll: 4.01.0000.3928 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 246302 bytes
iac25_32.ax: 2.00.0005.0053 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 199680 bytes
ir41_32.ax: 4.51.0016.0003 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 848384 bytes
ir41_qc.dll: 4.30.0062.0002 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 120320 bytes
ir41_qcx.dll: 4.30.0064.0001 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 338432 bytes
ir50_32.dll: 5.2562.0015.0055 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 755200 bytes
ir50_qc.dll: 5.00.0063.0048 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 200192 bytes
ir50_qcx.dll: 5.00.0064.0048 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 183808 bytes
ivfsrc.ax: 5.10.0002.0051 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 154624 bytes
mswebdvd.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 204288 bytes
ks.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:15:22 140928 bytes
ksproxy.ax: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:56:58 130048 bytes
ksuser.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:56:44 4096 bytes
stream.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:08:04 48640 bytes
mspclock.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 21:58:40 5376 bytes
mspqm.sys: 5.01.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 21:58:42 4992 bytes
mskssrv.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 21:58:42 7552 bytes
swenum.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 4352 bytes
mstee.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 21:58:40 5504 bytes
bdaplgin.ax: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:56:58 18432 bytes
bdasup.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:10:14 11776 bytes
msdvbnp.ax: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:56:58 56832 bytes
psisdecd.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:56:46 363520 bytes
psisrndr.ax: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:56:58 33280 bytes
ipsink.ax: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:56:58 16384 bytes
mpeg2data.ax: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 118272 bytes
ndisip.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:10:14 10880 bytes
mpe.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:10:14 15360 bytes
streamip.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:10:14 15360 bytes
msvidctl.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 1428480 bytes
slip.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:10:18 11136 bytes
nabtsfec.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:10:30 85376 bytes
ccdecode.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:10:18 17024 bytes
vbisurf.ax: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 30720 bytes
msyuv.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:56:46 17408 bytes
kstvtune.ax: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:56:58 61952 bytes
ksxbar.ax: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:56:58 43008 bytes
kswdmcap.ax: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:56:58 90624 bytes
vfwwdm32.dll: 5.01.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:56:48 53760 bytes
wstcodec.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:10:22 19328 bytes
wstdecod.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 12:00:00 50688 bytes


ANY HELP WOPULD BE GREATLY RECIEVED AS I HAVE YET BEEN UNABLE TO FINISH A GAME

 

[microbe]

I would guess a video driver or hardware issue..

 

[Renata]

Interference with your firewall or virus scanner, possibly. If turning those off is not a possibility, have you tried switching to windowed mode? Doing either of those things nearly eliminates freezes for me (but not movie-related hangs and crashes, so I turn movies off also).

Also, when you say that ctrl-alt-del doesn't work -- how long are you giving it? Sometimes you just have to wait a minute or two when the hard drive is really locked up.

 

[CosmicChaos]

I am having the same problem as PhillUK. I have waited over 10 minutes after a CTR-ALT-DEL (typed twice quickly) and NOTHING happened. Screen completely frozen.

This happens to me on Turn Ends. If I load a saved game where this problem happens the same problem happens to me at the same Turn End. I have tried changing the events that I have done during that turn. It doesn't matter.

This is frustrating. The same nightmarish bug showed up pre- and post- v1.52 patch.

How do you fix this?

My hardware and software specs all meet the games requirements.

 

[h0mi]

I'm encountering the same issues. I have an asus a8n-vm csm motherboard using the onboard video (geforce 6150 nforce 430) with 128 megs (out of 2 gigs) allocated for video. The crash is sporadic, creating a total lockup of the system. I initially believed it to be caused by my USB KVM switch but further experience revealed that to be unrelated.

I have upgraded the game and my video drivers. I have not upgraded the OS yet (xp x64) since I do not yet have internet access on that computer.

 

[CosmicChaos]

I contacted Tech Support last week. They finally got back to me.

Their response, buy a new video card. Well my video card is actually the one listed on the box as recommended, so why should buying a new one fix this problem?

They also had me deleting all temporary files and shutting down all background tasks. Completely worthless. Same lockup, same place.

If they could reasonably explain why my video card would cause what appears to be a software bug, then I might consider spending money on it.

I am a Software Engineer who used to do Tech Support years ago. I hate canned answers that don't solve the problem.

 

[Brashagent]

This is not going to be fixed with new cards.I have a 6800gt and it crashes at random times while i am playing and my monitor goes into standby.

Now i have read that by underclocking your card by 20% seems to fix this problem,but i dont see how it stops the crashes.So whatever the problem is its in the game and its not a faulty or overheating card.

 

[Luv_Muffin]

same problem. X800XL.
Freeze up, must do a hard restart.
For me, 1.09 was problem free. New patch brought back this problem, and showed me a few more I have only read about.

 

[h0mi]

I find it generally happens to me in the middle of the game whenever I use the mouse for something... if I type "g" while a unit is selected and click 'go to" and then click on a square, this sporadically will cause lockups. Right clicking on squares cases this lockup. I was bombing sparta using a stealth bomb and after clicking on sparta, the system locked up; the bomber swept in, the animation froze when the flames shot up and the music kept playing until the song finished.

 

[Hanno]

If you think this is going to be the post with the illusive awnser... it is not.

I too get this problem. After playing for about an hour, the computer starts freezing for short times. If I ignore the problem, it only get worse until it gets permanently stuck. The only thing that helps is a complete reboot.

I think the game might have a lot of memory leaks.

 

[Carewolf]

Try running windowed instead of full screen. I've used that several times to get past moments where the game likes to crash the computer.