Thread: LFD4 major crash, crashes computer too

Originally Posted by HoldenA

I want to strat by saying I'm not the most computer technically literate person around, I know my way around the basics, but I am in no way a hard core gamer. So if I'm not explaining something right just let me know...

Okay, so this game is the only one I am having any problems with. I installed it, had the problem, updatd my drivers and re-installed it and still had the issue I'm about to describe. I read that the newest NVidia drivers could eb causing a problem so I had installed the suggested version (I think I found the sugestion on thiss ite but not sure). the next time I had tried the game it worked well for about a half hour then had a major malfunction I also explain, but I think I fixed that.

Okay, so the initial problem was this: the game loads fine, the movie plays through all the way, the menue works fine. I start a single player campaign (not going to go online till I'm good enough not to tick others off!) and after maybe ten minutes or so the graphics go all crazy. I'm not exactly sure how to describe it, the colors get all messed up and parts of the screen are just colored lines and triangles, some of the skins are missing some aren't, and parts of the screen are locked up. For a minute or two I will still be able to "play" and hear sound but within a few minutes the game locks up. I can't alt-cctrl-dlt out of it, or anything and I have to restart the computer manually.

I tried to set all the graphics settings at the lowest, and make it play in a window (saw that sugested somewhere), and the same problem happened, locking up the computer.

I tried installing an old version of the Nvdia drivers (178.24 I think...). Once it was installed I was able to play for about a half hour, than had to leave the room for a while (about 20 minutes). When I came back it looked like the computer was in safe mode with a message that read in part "the nv4_disp display driver has stopped working normally.." and I reset the computer. When it started back up windows and the nvdia drivers had me re-install and set up the video drivers (I think... like I said, I'm not wholly computer literate). The video and all seems to be working now but I haven't tried the game again yet.

I'm posting cause I didn't really find any other problems that seemed to match this issue (I looked all over the web, on the offical steam site, and through about thirty pages on here...). If this is a common problem, please don't hesitate to point me at a page explaining... it just didn't seem like it. Thanks so much in advance to any help any one offers me!

Code:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 12/26/2009, 20:21:07
       Machine name: MACABE
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090804-1435)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
       System Model: System Product Name
               BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU          6600  @ 2.40GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 2046MB RAM
          Page File: 615MB used, 3324MB 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

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

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 8600 GTS
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0400&SUBSYS_048019F1&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 256.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: ViewSonic VA712-2 SERIES
  Monitor Max Res: 1280,1024
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0011.7824 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 6058112 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 6133856 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4740-11CF-D164-8B2400C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0400
        SubSys ID: 0x048019F1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A 
 Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch 
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch 
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch 
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch 
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Realtek HD Audio output
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0883&SUBSYS_1043829E&REV_1000
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5506 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 10/31/2007 21:38:56, 4620288 bytes
            Other Files: 
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 8000, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 32
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 32
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

For starters, I would first take a look and make sure your PC is not overheating. Pull the cover and check the fan to make sure it is turning, and is not clogged with dust bunnies. Spray it with some compressed air if you have it. L4D is a very graphics intensive game and seems to have a tendency to run hot. Check your PC to see if you have a setting that controls the fan speed and make sure it is configured correctly.

I would also redo your video drivers again. But this time use something like Driver Sweeper to remove any leftover files that could be corrupting things. I would use the 178 version of the driver and see how it goes.

You can also go into the CFG folder and delete the VIDEO.TXT file and let it recreate itself when you start the game.

You can also, if you haven't already, read through this sticky and try some of the remedies.

http://www.left4deadforums.com/19453...tic-guide.html

Originally Posted by HoldenA

Thanks Iggy for the help! I was planning on doing all of that one at a time and trying to game to see which fized it, and tried the suggested video drivers fix first and that did the job!

I cleaned the fan out too, but it wasn't too bad. My tower thing gets "dusted" with the air pretty regulerly. I never really knew why to do it but made sure I did do it! Although I think I understand why now...

thanks so much for helping and being so on top of things! Now to get good enough at the game to actually play non-solo games...

Cheers!