24 réponses à ce sujet

[sedrikhcain]

Hello all,

I've had my copy of ME1 for two years now and now I cannot get it to run at all. I strongly suspect driver issues, as I never had any problems with it before I updated to the NVIDIA 270.61 driver. I checked the forums for something that would fix this but all the threads were old and nothing mentioned there worked.

I have the retail version of the game and a GTX275 card. I have already tried using driver cleaner pro and going back to archived drivers. So far, I have tried 182.50, 195.62, 196.21 and 270.61. Nothing. I get the C++ RUNTIME error at the configuration screen and the general protection fault if I bypass the config. I cannot get into the game at all.

Not sure if it helps diagnosis at all but ME2 still seems to run fine OK.

Here are the rest of my system specs:

Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.101209-1647)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
          Processor: Intel® Core™ i7 CPU         920  @ 2.67GHz (8 CPUs)
             Memory: 1022MB RAM
          Page File: 634MB used, 2334MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode 


Thanks to all of you in advance for your help. I desperately want this sorted before ME3 hits (I guess that's one good thing about the delay. more time to get ready.)

[Bogsnot1]

the 258.96 tend to be the "newest" drivers that can reliably run ME1, with the 197.13 being the most stable for the game frmo what Ive heard.
Is this a new install, or an old install thats now playing up, if new, have you aplpied the 1.02 patch, as the crashing at config is a hallmark of the unpatched game.
If an old install now playing up, I would suggest reinstalling the game, you get asked during uninstall if you want to keep save games and settings, to which you should answer yes.

[sedrikhcain]

Hi Bogsnot, thanks very much for the reply. Hmmm, I have not loaded a 258.96. I will try that.

I installed the game originally 2 years ago (on the same rig) and never had any trouble until now. I have done an uninstall and reinstall for each different driver I've tried so far and for the 195.62, I used Driver Cleaner Pro. And, yes, I've had the 1.02 patch on each install as well (just now, I got all excited because I realized I hadn't patched my latest reinstall of the 270.61 and thought that might be the issue but I have patched it now, too, and the problem is the same). I can get the configuration menu to come up by opening it directly from the binaries folder but I can't get the game to open that way.

[sedrikhcain]

Actually, I've decided to go back to the 197.13 first. Downloading it now. Will update.

[sedrikhcain]

OK, 197.13 loaded. I can access the config menu now but the game still won't start. I do not get the black screen now, just a general protection fault or an endless hourglass.

[mcsupersport]

You know it may also be related to your sound card. You may want to check what driver you have for it and see if anything is new or has been changed with it since the last time you played ME. If you can access the splash screen with config utility on it, then could you post what it says as it may have a hint to your issue.

[sedrikhcain]

Mcsupersport, thanks very much for responding and trying to help.

On the config utility, under the Sound tab, it says Realtek HD Audio output
Driver: RtkHDAud.sys[5.10.0.5672]

Audio is set to hardware.

I've never done anything with those drivers, although I guess they could've been updated/changed by another game? I'll see if I can look up the driver history for that card.

[mcsupersport]

You may also want to try to update the driver(if available) to see if it makes any difference. You may also want to try different audio settings to see if any help as well.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[sedrikhcain]

Thanks. Onto that now. I'll start by trying to update the Realtek drivers -- which I've never done.

[sedrikhcain]

Updated Realtek drivers. What settings can I fiddle with that might make a difference? I've toggled hardware/software. What else is there to change?

[mcsupersport]

In my game in the config utility it is set to Software, don't know if this is best, but it is something to check alternating between software and hardware setting. Also check to see if any speaker/audio settings are available in control panel.

Sad to say this may not even be the area of problem but it will need to be checked.

On a hardware note: I had a stick of ram that caused major issue with random crashes and bugs, and it wasn't until I switched it out with a new set from Mushkin that I fixed it. Also if you haven't done some basic check inside your box like making sure it is clean and free of dust as well as resetting your vid card and ram my help. GPF from everything I have read lately on them are almost phantom fixes, in that each is different and can be caused by a huge number of items, all the way from hardware to software corruption.

[sedrikhcain]

OK, thanks. I can toggle hardware/software easily enough. When you say resetting my gpu and RAM, do you mean as in reseating them? I.E. taking them out and then putting them back in?

I'm almost afraid to ask this question but I was playing Crysis right before all these problems started and it was crashing all the time. I finally got frustrated and removed all the Crysisi files from my PC. Is it possible that running Crysis damaged my vidcard and that's why ME won't run properly now? If so, how would I know for sure?

[mcsupersport]

Typically games can't by themselves damage a system. They can help a system damage itself as in pushing it to the limit causing heat buildup and thus causing damage. Most systems will NOT build up heat even when pushed hard when it is properly maintained and clean, providing it isn't a laptop or mini-tower with very poor circulation. One of the advantages to a mid or full tower computer is it handles heat better because you have more room between components and usually more fans and thus better air flow. Power supplies can age causing unforeseen issues due to voltage variations, dust can build up causing issues with heat and performance, as things get hot and cold and expand and contract sometimes cards and any removable item in the case can "loosen" or start to have a bad connection. All these items can contribute to a computer fault even something as stupid as a harddrive cable going bad. Now which if any of these is effecting you?? No telling, that is why I said they are things to try.

I have read recently that bios, mainboards, GPUs, and operating systems have all be replaced to get rid of a GPF. Most people don't know what causes or how to fix, because the cause can be so varied, and only a professional computer tech would have any real chance of getting it right the first time, or maybe even at all.


I am currently off and on playing Crysis2 and it crashes pretty much everytime a cutscene finishes luckily it saves before it crashes so I can play. Now it may have changed something in a registry somewhere that is causing your issue.

Good Luck and keep us posted.

[sedrikhcain]

OK, after taking a break to actually play some games (ME2, since I couldn't play 1 and was jonesin' for it), I'm back at it. Cleaned inside my tower. Dusty but connections seam good. Reseated my RAM and have now reSET, but not reseated, my GPU. Ready to give it another shot.

aaaaand nothing doing. I'm getting a "rendering thread exception...general protection fault". More text in the error box but the same problem. And my driver appears to crash and take my PC with it -- everything goes into bizarre colors at low resolution and then shuts off.

[sedrikhcain]

I have also noticed that ME2, which also ran beautifully before all this started, now crashes about once a gaming session (2 to 3 hours) and has a lot of faces that are too dark.

CODMW wouldn't run at one point, but an uninstall/reinstall seemed to fix that problem.

I'm beginning to think I need to replace my hardware. But if I do that, I'll move onto a card with a driver that's incompatible with ME!

I don't know what to do. I HAVE TO play ME again to do the complete trilogy all in one long go! I'll keep working at it.

[Hachuurui]

I am having the same issues as well and only after I updated to the new 270.61 Driver from Nvidia. I think it is definitely related to the driver but not sure why. I'm running aNvidia GTX 570 with an AMD Athlon X2 6000+ chipset

[Bogsnot1]

ME1 actually has higher hardware demands than ME2 due to its more open environments, such as the Presidium on the Citadel, and the open playing fields of the planetary landscapes.
A GPF isnt limited to hardware malfunctions however, it could just be your Wnidows insatllation has become corrupted, and that is causing the problems. Before rushing out and buying new hardware, it might be worthwhile formatting your PC and reinstalling Windows.

[sedrikhcain]

I've been in contact with NVIDIA support. They suggest doing a "clean install". Now, I've tried this with driver cleaner pro and it made no difference. I'm going to attempt to do it using driver sweeper this time. I find it odd that I actually cannot follow their instructions for a clean install because they say to select CUSTOM>CLEAN INSTALL but there is no option for me to do that when call up the driver to install it. I am booting into safe mode.

I loaded the game onto my wife's PC, which is on windows 7 and actually a stronger rig but with only a ATI Radeon 5450 GPU. Game runs just fine at something like 1320x780 -- in letterbox format.

[sedrikhcain]

I have been focused on the graphics driver because these problems didn't happen until after I updated my drivers, and played Crysis. I'm getting lots of little graphical glitches and slowdowns -- the blue bars at the tops of windows dropping out, the background colors in dialog boxes not filling in, etc. My computer overall has become a bit slower recently as well -- at start up and now at other times, transitioning out of games, video and such back to desktop. It's hard not to think it's all related.

Perhaps that's too much information. If so, my apologies.

[Bogsnot1]

To me, that sounsd liek one of two things. Either your video card is on its last legs and is about to die a horrible death, or your windows build has become corrupted as I mentioned previously.
If you think you can get away with it, try swappnig the video card from your wifes machine into yours, loading the drivers, and testing it out. If its still plays up, then its the windows build. If it fixes the problem, then its your card.
Put that card back into the wifes machine, and go out and get yourself a new card. Or, if your wife isnt much of a gamer, leave that card in your old machine, transfer her data across, and go out and get a beast of a card for the better rig, and use that for your gaming.

[sedrikhcain]

I really hope that's not the case. It's only two years old. There's still a voice in my head telling me I cooked part of it trying to play Crysis. I don't mind getting a new card now but I hate to think that's what killed it.

At any rate, worst comes to worst, I can play mass effect on my wife's PC.

Thanks.

[sedrikhcain]

btw, I am going to try building Windows again before I buy new hardware. And that's a really good idea about swapping cards, thanks.


Could the swap corrupt her PC?

[Bogsnot1]

Probably the best way to do it is fnid a day when she isnt plannnig to use her PC, and then just take the card out of hers and test it out in yours. That way theres no chance of her build getting corrupted by changing vid drivers around.
If that cant happen, then best way would be to uninstall the current video card drivers prior to shutting the machine down and swapping the cards over.

[sedrikhcain]

Thanks, good call.

[sedrikhcain]

RESOLVED! YES! Bogsnot, the problem was indeed with Windows. I just went ahead and got a fresh new hard drive and ME is running just fine. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get back my product keys for BDtS and (blech) Pinnacle Station. However, that's a minor annoyance. I'm back in!

Thanks to you and everyone else who pitched in with help. I learned a lot of useful things here. For example, drive sweeper and related tools are malware.

Anyway, thanks again!