PDA

View Full Version : Painkiller Crash Solution Thread


Djinn
06-14-2010, 06:04 AM
Thought I'd share a few solutions for those having problems with Painkiller crashing. Might save people some time. If you want to add any, tack 'em on.

==============================

1) Painkiller is known to have trouble on some multi-core systems. If you have a dual- or quad-core system, and PK is crashing on you, try limiting it to one core.

To to this, start the game. Once you're at the menu, shell out of the game and run Task Manager - if you're running Vista or Windows 7, this is easily done by hitting Ctrl-Alt-Delete, and starting the Task Manager from the menu.

On the menu, open the Processes tab, and right-click Painkiller.exe. Select "Set Affinity." If you get an error, click "Show processes for all users" at the bottom of the Task Manager, and try selecting "Set Affinity" again.

In the Set Affinity window, uncheck everything, and then check ONLY "CPU 0."

Click OK, and return to Painkiller. This solution may resolve your crash problems.

==============================

2) Painkiller can generate a LOT of heat on some GPUs. Use the software of your choice to monitor your GPU temperatures while playing. If your temps are going into the 80C-85C range or higher, find a way to bring those down.

Make sure your GPU fan is running at full throttle.

Tweak the advanced graphics settings to see if any of them are creating the extra heat.

Drop the resolution to 1024x768 (or something similar). It still looks fine, and on my own system, this dropped GPU temperatures by 10C.

==============================

3) There's an issue arising when the Save folder contains too many files. Delete old savegames with some regularity if you run into this.

\Steam\steamapps\common\painkiller black edition\SaveGames

Fozi
02-13-2011, 09:48 AM
On multi-core systems, disabling all but one core might help, but only coincidentally. It helps if your system is too fast with all cpu cores but not fast enough (or barely fast enough) with only one core enabled. If your system is too fast even with a single core, you will still have problems.

The underlying problem is not the multiple cores, it's the CPU throttling. Painkiller does a "speed measurement" on startup, but if this measurement is done on a CPU that is not running at 100% speed (e.g. on a second, idle core) then this measurement will be off for the game. It "waits" not enough, so the game will be running too fast.

The real solution is to turn off CPU throttling.

(Disclaimer: My Windows is not English, so some of the names might be off. Also, I have Windows 7 but Vista should be the same, and IIRC XP does not have native support for CPU throttling. Use your brains.)

If you have the energy icon in your system tray then click it and set your energy plan to "High Performance" before you start the game.

If you don't have that icon, just go to your Control Center -> Power settings and change the plan there.

Don't forget to set it back to "Balanced" when you're done playing, otherwise your CPU will be burning energy for nothing.

More details: The relevant setting is the CPU power management. (on the Power management page click "Change plan settings", Advanced settings, CPU energy management(?)) There is a lower and an upper level, and for games like Painkiller they have to be the same. In the high performance plan they are both 100%, but if you want to save energy then you can create a fixed rate plan for older games that runs your CPU at e.g. 50% all the time.

Catchamouse
01-20-2013, 01:54 AM
I have script error in "City on the water".

---------------------------
Script Error
---------------------------
./Data/LScripts/Main/GObjects.lua:192:?
./Data/LScripts/Main/GObjects.lua:192:Render
./Data/LScripts/Main/Game.lua:687:Render
./Data/LScripts/Main/Game.lua:1569:Game_Render

Can somebody help me?

Miskatonic
01-20-2013, 05:57 AM
Can you provide more details, like your system specs? Have you tried re-verifying the local files?

Catchamouse
01-22-2013, 09:27 AM
I have Windows 7 32-bit, Intel graphics.

Catchamouse
01-22-2013, 09:34 AM
I don't tried verify local files. How can I do it?

Miskatonic
01-22-2013, 09:40 AM
Here you go:

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2037-QEUH-3335