SPWAW crashing out in middle of games

frekk · Post by **frekk** » Sun Nov 10, 2002 1:39 pm

Has anyone else had a problem with SPWaW just crashing out in the middle of games? Mine often does. Usually the whole thing just crashes and all that's left is the introduction screen (the one with options to play, look at the manual, install roger wilco, etc) while the main game seems to shut itself off. Also, when it goes back to the intro menu, screen resolution seems to be changed to 640 x 480 instead of my normal 800 x 600 ... but the computer doesn't seem to know this and my windows bar is somewhere below my screen. It usually ctrl - alt - del time.
I'm running Win98, nothing running in the background. Any ideas?

Supervisor · Post by **Supervisor** » Sun Nov 10, 2002 9:20 pm

Need some more specifics on your system and version of SPWAW you are running and how you arrived at that version(clean install of 7.1, patched up from 5.1 etc). Does it always happen in the same scenario or with a particular country in use.
As for the resolution SPWAW switches your resoultion to 640X480 16bit by design, so when it crashes the windows system doesn't get the chance to switch back to normal windows settings. Also check to make sure you have the most updated dirvers for sound card and video. Also try disabling all other programs running in the background(anti-virus). SPWAW's code is old so it uses 100% CPU resources so it doesn't share very well with other programs. Also you can set you shortcut to run the game directly from the c:\MatrixGames\Steel Panthers World at War\mech.exe file, this will bypass the autorun menu which is a memory hog. Keep me informed

frekk · Post by **frekk** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 1:57 pm

OK. It's a clean install of 7.1, running on a 500 Mhz mahine with 128 megs ram. 4meg 3d video card. About a gig free & empty on the HD. Win98, with no virus shields, firewalls, etc running in the background. This is why I'm a little mystified. It seems to occur during the AI turn.
As for using mech.exe, I'll give that a shot. But as I understand it, I'm far above recommended system requirements, so it shouldn't be a memory issue - especially with nothing running in the background.

chief · Post by **chief** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 10:50 pm

Frekk have you installed the 7.1 patch to your downloaded version???????? WAG:D

frekk · Post by **frekk** » Wed Nov 13, 2002 3:18 am

yeah, I have.

Supervisor · Post by **Supervisor** » Wed Nov 13, 2002 7:25 pm

The autorun issue isn't due to a memory requirement per say(you can have a 1gb of RAM and still have issues), it's more or less causes instability to the Windows O/S s a whole due to the way the program uses old stacking and linking codes which is being shared by the SPWAW game itself when both are running. Ensure your running the most updated sound card and video card drivers. Are you running an SB live variant. This card has caused particular problems for unknown reasons.

Great Dane · Post by **Great Dane** » Wed Nov 13, 2002 9:37 pm

I been having a similar problem. I am going to try the mech.exe start tonight.

No problems with any of the tutorials.

The game has crashed on me 3 times out of the 5 games I've played in two campaigns. Always happens when the Germans and English are fighting. (The two Polish battles worked fine)

I noticed that it seems to happen when the fighting gets hot and there is a lot of op fire going on. And I think the last thing I saw in all three games is a Brit tank getting hit.

I downloaded the 7.1 complete game, is there a patch that goes on top of that?

chief · Post by **chief** » Wed Nov 13, 2002 10:55 pm

Great Dane, yes there is, get it here http://www.matrixgames.com/insidemg/mod ... Downloads.

Hope it helps if not repost and someone more knowledgable will come up with an answer.

frekk · Post by **frekk** » Wed Nov 13, 2002 11:38 pm

Well, you might be right after all about the memory issue. Since I've been running from mech.exe, I haven't had the problem once. Perhaps this should be included in an faq or readme?
Thanks for the help, if it does it again I'll be sure to post again on this thread about it. I don't think it will because as the other poster said, it was doing it about 3 out of 5 times, I've played probably 5 or 6 games since then, and no crashes.

Supervisor · Post by **Supervisor** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 12:04 am

Due to SPWAW being a final product it's hard to add it as a readme or FAQ within the game itslef. Besides if I did that I'd be out of a job.LOL:D That's why us fellow gamers are here to help others through experieince and trial and error. Enjoy.

Voriax · Post by **Voriax** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 12:08 am

gmenfan, why don't you as a Wizard (Rincewind??? ) post a 'sticky' in here with the classic mantra : Delete steel.....you get the pic

Voriax

Supervisor · Post by **Supervisor** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 1:16 am

I don't moderate here so I don't have sticky privaleges. Only have privalege in SPWAW and Mega Private forum. It's not that big of a deal, the problems seem to be few a far enough between.

frekk · Post by **frekk** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 7:11 am

OK, gmenfan, got another question for ya. This one is to do with the Mega Campaign. Its not working right. Whenever I try to open it up, at first, there is a thing that seems to suggest there should be some briefings to read, but they aren't there. Then, when I select continue, it gives a bunch of messages about failing to load a bunch of files called "oob#" after which the game crashes me back to the desktop. Any hints?

chief · Post by **chief** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 9:58 am

Frekk: I'll stick my nose in again (I usually go where angles fear to thread) BUT....which Mega Campaign disc(s) do you own. They are purchased seperate. Hope this helps.

frekk · Post by **frekk** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 6:08 pm

Isn't there one included with the download? I thought one came with the game, and the others had to be purchased.

Supervisor · Post by **Supervisor** » Fri Nov 15, 2002 3:30 am

No Mega Campaigns come with the downloaded version of SPWAW 7.1. It does contain however numerous built in Campaigns and individual scenario's. So if your choosing the MegaCampaign option don't, this is what is causing your crashes, because it's looking for Mega Campaigns that don't exist on your computer.

chief · Post by **chief** » Sun Nov 17, 2002 5:23 am

Frekk: No "MEGA CAMPAIGNS" come with game. Campaigns do and you get to them from memu. All Three megas are on seperate disks and as far as I know at this time Matrix is all sold out and unless its changed in the last three days they are not going to reissue. (But all things are subject to change so there may be hope). Sorry to be a perveyor of bad news.

frekk · Post by **frekk** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 9:18 am

Argh. How frustrating. If they won't release copies on cd, perhaps they could offer one for download? This sucks, in a big way.

passfan · Post by **passfan** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 1:49 am

Originally posted by frekk
Argh. How frustrating. If they won't release copies on cd, perhaps they could offer one for download? This sucks, in a big way.

I just purchased a copy of LV from an online software retailer and its brand new. I got the site from a post in the MC section under SPWaW forum. Twenty Nine bucks incl. shipping.