Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Help with Memory Testers + Battlefield 1942 Problem

Lasereth · 01-15-2004, 09:04 AM

My computer has been giving me problems with Battlefield 1942 since the day I installed it over a year ago. It frequently crashes to desktop. I'm talking usually randomly every 2 levels or so. Sometimes I can't even get through a single match before I crash to desktop. I'll just be playing the game, and BAM, the game stops and goes back to the Desktop with no warning. The resolution is always back at 800^600 because I run the game at that.

EA Games tech support says to use the latest Soundblaster Drivers. I have them installed. They say to use the best video drivers for your system, and I'm doing that too. Me and my brother use the same drivers, and his never crashes, despite us having the same CPU, mobo, videocard, etc.

They even say to disable every running process in Windows except for System processes. I do that as well, and it still crashes to desktop.

I've formatted 4 times trying to fix it, and it doesn't help. I've flashed the BIOS...nothing. I've tried different installation procedures, tried different DirectX versions, and none of that helps either.

As a last ditch effort, EA recommended trying out the VIA chipset beta drivers for VIA motherboards. I installed them, and it just made the game freeze after 5 minutes or so. It didn't crash, it simply froze the computer up! Awesome!

I installed the absolute newest VIA drivers (non-beta) and it fixed the freezing problem, but now it crashes to desktop again.

EA tech support has two last possible answers: a PSU that's not powerful enough (I don't see how this could make the game crash) or faulty RAM. Now, on to the point of this thread!

I need a software-based memory tester that doesn't take too long. I've Googled and found jackshit. I used Memtest 86, which is supposedly the best, but after running it for 12 hours with no OS, it was only 20% done. I can't wait 3 days for my RAM to be checked, not when I'm at school with one computer.

Are there any other RAM testers out there that don't take too fucking long? Under 12 hours would be nice so I can do it when I sleep.

Better yet, does anyone think the PSU not being powerful enough has any merit? I'm using a shitty POWMAX 350w, but it's never given me trouble before. Secondly, does anyone have any other ideas as to why my game keeps crashing? This is the only fucking PC game I play, and it pisses me off that it's the only game that my computer won't play stably.

My system:

AMD Athlon XP 1900+ Palomino Core
Gigabyte GA-7VR motherboard
512 MB of PC2100 RAM, 256 MB of PC2700 RAM, all generic shit
Soundblaster Live! soundcard
AOpen GeForce 4 TI4200 128 MB 4X AGP videocard
Maxtor 40 GB 5400 RPM HDD
POWMAX 350w PSU
Volcano 9+ CPU Heatsink Fan

Thanks for your input!

-Lasereth

01-15-2004, 09:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	Help with Memory Testers + Battlefield 1942 Problem My computer has been giving me problems with Battlefield 1942 since the day I installed it over a year ago. It frequently crashes to desktop. I'm talking usually randomly every 2 levels or so. Sometimes I can't even get through a single match before I crash to desktop. I'll just be playing the game, and BAM, the game stops and goes back to the Desktop with no warning. The resolution is always back at 800^600 because I run the game at that. EA Games tech support says to use the latest Soundblaster Drivers. I have them installed. They say to use the best video drivers for your system, and I'm doing that too. Me and my brother use the same drivers, and his never crashes, despite us having the same CPU, mobo, videocard, etc. They even say to disable every running process in Windows except for System processes. I do that as well, and it still crashes to desktop. I've formatted 4 times trying to fix it, and it doesn't help. I've flashed the BIOS...nothing. I've tried different installation procedures, tried different DirectX versions, and none of that helps either. As a last ditch effort, EA recommended trying out the VIA chipset beta drivers for VIA motherboards. I installed them, and it just made the game freeze after 5 minutes or so. It didn't crash, it simply froze the computer up! Awesome! I installed the absolute newest VIA drivers (non-beta) and it fixed the freezing problem, but now it crashes to desktop again. EA tech support has two last possible answers: a PSU that's not powerful enough (I don't see how this could make the game crash) or faulty RAM. Now, on to the point of this thread! I need a software-based memory tester that doesn't take too long. I've Googled and found jackshit. I used Memtest 86, which is supposedly the best, but after running it for 12 hours with no OS, it was only 20% done. I can't wait 3 days for my RAM to be checked, not when I'm at school with one computer. Are there any other RAM testers out there that don't take too fucking long? Under 12 hours would be nice so I can do it when I sleep. Better yet, does anyone think the PSU not being powerful enough has any merit? I'm using a shitty POWMAX 350w, but it's never given me trouble before. Secondly, does anyone have any other ideas as to why my game keeps crashing? This is the only fucking PC game I play, and it pisses me off that it's the only game that my computer won't play stably. My system: AMD Athlon XP 1900+ Palomino Core Gigabyte GA-7VR motherboard 512 MB of PC2100 RAM, 256 MB of PC2700 RAM, all generic shit Soundblaster Live! soundcard AOpen GeForce 4 TI4200 128 MB 4X AGP videocard Maxtor 40 GB 5400 RPM HDD POWMAX 350w PSU Volcano 9+ CPU Heatsink Fan Thanks for your input! -Lasereth __________________ "A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert Last edited by Lasereth; 01-15-2004 at 11:02 AM..