Blue Screen on Windows 7 x64

fupa · 11-13-2009, 09:20 PM

So I've played L4D since launch and it has always been on XP. Never once have I noticed any problems and certainly never a blue screen. Today I decided to buy Windows 7 and it installed pretty painlessly. I decided to give it a test run to see how it performs by running L4D.

After about 20 minutes of play, I experienced a blue screen error that looked something like a memory dump. Didn't crash to desktop or anything, just flashed the blue screen for a few seconds and then began the restart process. Booted up L4D again and sure enough after about 20-30 minutes of play, another blue screen memory dump. Third time I got the blue screen after about only 5 minutes.

Anyway, just made this thread to report the problem, and I'm also curios if anyone else has noticed this. I've played other games like killing floor for upwards of an hour and so far no issues.

CTerrian · 11-14-2009, 03:11 AM

I'm in the exact same scenario.
The cause of this is your video card or driver.

I'm using nVidia 8800GT, along with the current drivers, and I'm still getting this occasionally.

Sleepy Ben · 11-14-2009, 03:35 AM

I've had the Freeze and Sound Loop problem since I bought this game on a GTS 250 and GTX 260. I used the 182.50s (on Vista x86) which minimized the problem but when I tried Windows 7 x64 I installed the latest drivers and had frequent freezes. Im back on Vista x86 (for many reasons not just this game) and it runs well again.

Max Chaos · 11-14-2009, 05:01 AM

Use gpuz to log temps and make sure it isn't a heat thing. Also you didn't say if you upgraded or did a fresh install. If upgrade, I would make sure the game knows it is a new system and click "use recommended settings" play a bit, then customise video again. ALso clean drivers and install the latest. but use drivercleaner to get the old one out, even if they are the same.

But, a 20 min issue sounds like heat. It could be the new OS uses you video card harder (or CPU) and it just runs hotter.

fupa · 11-14-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Chaos

Use gpuz to log temps and make sure it isn't a heat thing. Also you didn't say if you upgraded or did a fresh install. If upgrade, I would make sure the game knows it is a new system and click "use recommended settings" play a bit, then customise video again. ALso clean drivers and install the latest. but use drivercleaner to get the old one out, even if they are the same.

But, a 20 min issue sounds like heat. It could be the new OS uses you video card harder (or CPU) and it just runs hotter.

thanks for the input, i'll try cleaning out my old drivers. yes, it was an upgrade from XP, i thought that was kind of implied when i mentioned that i had played since launch always on XP. anyway, i'd probably be better off doing a format and a full clean install. i thought windows 7 would wipe my XP hard drive when i installed, but it actually just made a windows.old folder and kept every folder i had existing on my old XP OS. this may have caused some conflict, who knows.

Max Chaos · 11-14-2009, 12:23 PM

THere is a config in every game that lists what features a video card and CPU have. Then the game makes use of the features. Win 7 may have altered that and if the game isn't set up by valve to recheck, it will have the old values forever. I always would rename the config when switching cards so the game had to reevaluate the system and I am not sure if the "use recommended" will do that for you or not. Deleting the config may cause you to reset all preferences and can be done last to save trouble if you get lucky with the use recommend setting.. (Plug and Pray)

fupa · 11-14-2009, 12:42 PM

any guess as to the name of this config or the directory its in? can't find it.

Max Chaos · 11-14-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fupa

any guess as to the name of this config or the directory its in? can't find it.

there is one in cfg folder entitled config but I can't see too many video commands there (as if I would know) old games had very obvious goop there.

THe video file sets the CPU and GPU to whatever level it is so that is configed to each machine. You can try renaming them both to see if they are generated differently. Mine is CPU 2 and GPU 3 and they would change with hardware, but maybe with the OS too for all I know.

Were temps OK?

fupa · 11-14-2009, 09:26 PM

bump to see if anyone else is experiencing this.

CTerrian · 11-15-2009, 03:51 AM

Well.. I did a fresh install of Win7, STEAM, and L4D, and I still get the freeze frame every once in a while. I don't have any sound problems.

11-13-2009, 09:20 PM	#1
fupa Join Date: Sep 2009 Reputation: 21 Posts: 455	Blue Screen on Windows 7 x64 So I've played L4D since launch and it has always been on XP. Never once have I noticed any problems and certainly never a blue screen. Today I decided to buy Windows 7 and it installed pretty painlessly. I decided to give it a test run to see how it performs by running L4D. After about 20 minutes of play, I experienced a blue screen error that looked something like a memory dump. Didn't crash to desktop or anything, just flashed the blue screen for a few seconds and then began the restart process. Booted up L4D again and sure enough after about 20-30 minutes of play, another blue screen memory dump. Third time I got the blue screen after about only 5 minutes. Anyway, just made this thread to report the problem, and I'm also curios if anyone else has noticed this. I've played other games like killing floor for upwards of an hour and so far no issues.

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11-14-2009, 03:11 AM	#2
CTerrian Join Date: Aug 2007 Reputation: 2 Posts: 91	I'm in the exact same scenario. The cause of this is your video card or driver. I'm using nVidia 8800GT, along with the current drivers, and I'm still getting this occasionally.

11-14-2009, 03:35 AM	#3
Sleepy Ben Join Date: Oct 2008 Reputation: 8 Posts: 162	I've had the Freeze and Sound Loop problem since I bought this game on a GTS 250 and GTX 260. I used the 182.50s (on Vista x86) which minimized the problem but when I tried Windows 7 x64 I installed the latest drivers and had frequent freezes. Im back on Vista x86 (for many reasons not just this game) and it runs well again.

11-14-2009, 05:01 AM	#4
Max Chaos Join Date: Jun 2009 Reputation: 4 Posts: 273	Use gpuz to log temps and make sure it isn't a heat thing. Also you didn't say if you upgraded or did a fresh install. If upgrade, I would make sure the game knows it is a new system and click "use recommended settings" play a bit, then customise video again. ALso clean drivers and install the latest. but use drivercleaner to get the old one out, even if they are the same. But, a 20 min issue sounds like heat. It could be the new OS uses you video card harder (or CPU) and it just runs hotter.

11-14-2009, 12:23 PM	#6
Max Chaos Join Date: Jun 2009 Reputation: 4 Posts: 273	THere is a config in every game that lists what features a video card and CPU have. Then the game makes use of the features. Win 7 may have altered that and if the game isn't set up by valve to recheck, it will have the old values forever. I always would rename the config when switching cards so the game had to reevaluate the system and I am not sure if the "use recommended" will do that for you or not. Deleting the config may cause you to reset all preferences and can be done last to save trouble if you get lucky with the use recommend setting.. (Plug and Pray)

11-14-2009, 12:42 PM	#7
fupa Join Date: Sep 2009 Reputation: 21 Posts: 455	any guess as to the name of this config or the directory its in? can't find it.

11-14-2009, 09:26 PM	#9
fupa Join Date: Sep 2009 Reputation: 21 Posts: 455	bump to see if anyone else is experiencing this.

11-15-2009, 03:51 AM	#10
CTerrian Join Date: Aug 2007 Reputation: 2 Posts: 91	Well.. I did a fresh install of Win7, STEAM, and L4D, and I still get the freeze frame every once in a while. I don't have any sound problems.