Dropping to desktop

[joliverlay]

[&:]I've been playing UV on the same computer for over a year with no problem. Lately it has started dropping UV and going to the Windows (98SE fully patched) desktop. When this happens UV simply vanishes. My usual routine is to restart and load the auto save game file. However, my last real save game file drops to desktop regularly about 1/2 way through execution of the turn and its the same turn as my autosave. I'm stuck many turns into a long campain. Moreover, I also play PBM and don't want to get stuck in an important PBM! Please help.

What can I do. I disable all other programs, reboot, etc. I have loads of RAM (512 K DDS) and nothing else other than systry and explorer running.

Also.....Everything ran fine since the install of version 2.3 many, many months ago. No hardware changes, etc.

Thanks,

[Gecko]

What can I do.

[irony ON]
Why don't you use an operating system? That should help.
[irony OFF]

bye, Gecko

[joliverlay]

Gecko

Are you suggesting that Win98SE is not a good operating system for this game?

Can anybody verify that?

BTY, I've run the same save game file on two different hard dirives with different installs. The game files are not currupted but the save game might be.

[Gecko]

ORIGINAL: joliverlay

Gecko

Are you suggesting that Win98SE is not a good operating system for this game?

I'm not using Win98 since 2000 or 2001 anymore - too many unresolved problems with crashing, resets and so on. Personally I would not call Win95/98/ME an OS anymore - its rubbish for the trash can.
I installed UV on a AMD 1800XP/512MB/GeForce2Pro WinME system. It is so f*cking slow playing UV!
My main GamePC is a AMD 2400XP/1GB/Geforce4200. This one is much, much faster with WinXP.
And I won't say that 512MB more RAM (there are around 400-500 Megs free when I Alt-Tab to desktop when playing UV) nor the CPU (effectively 466MHz more IIRC) nor the graphics card (no 3D used in UV) makes the difference.

bye, Gecko

[neuromancer]

I wouldn't be so quick to say that Win 98 is definitely the problem, but XP is a much more stable OS.

I've been running fully patched XP, and UV has never had a CtD on me.

So I think a reasonable suggestion would be to upgrade to XP.


You used to be able to get the 'upgrade' version of XP for about half the full install cost (no idea if you still can or not). Its not really an upgrade, it is a full install, but the idea is that you are upgrading your Win 98 license. During install it will ask for you to insert the Win 98 CD (just to make sure you have it), and then it won't ask for it ever again (unless you reinstall).

You can also get an OEM license, but I don't think Microsoft will let you 'move' the license to a new machine if you do a major upgrade. But I won't swear to that.

The system requirements of XP are probably twice that of Win 98, so your machine should definitely be relatively new (if you are running DDR memory, you must have a system built in the last year or so, so should be okay).