Crash Help Please

[Marto]

After 135 turns (1348) I've had the:

"Medieval 2: Total War encountered an unspecified error and will now exit"

error - oh joy

I've tried to trace the action as it once happened to me on MTW. Basically it's at the end of a turn, 135 going into 136, and all the AI moves are taking place. Everything is fine until the Danes finish their last move (just a bit of random army movement out of a settlement) and then it's the Polish next. This is where it freezes, goes black, and pops up the above error. I can't find out exactly what it is as I can't see what the Polish are up to (FOW), and I'm not very technical so don't know what to do next.

I'm playing Vanilla, totally clean (no patches or Mods), with the DVD/ROM in the drive, so there's no specific reason there should be errors.

Gutted, as I'm finally doing really well and just enjoying a few heroic victories...

+rep to the solver of this problem Thanks in advance

[sapi]

Hmm

Could you have a look for the file 'system_log.txt' in your m2tw folder and copy its contents into a post?

[Marto]

Hmm

Could you have a look for the file 'system_log.txt' in your m2tw folder and copy its contents into a post?

OK, will do.

Will post it on this thread later tonight as currently at work.

Cheers

[Marto]

As a side thought, am I deluding myself that this game might actually be retrievable or should I just resign myself to a reinstallation and restart...?

[Marto]

Hmm

Could you have a look for the file 'system_log.txt' in your m2tw folder and copy its contents into a post?

Hi, this is part of the System Log pasted. There's a lot more but I can't post it here for some reason (maybe too much data)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

19:30:41.703 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/merchants/089.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.703 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/merchants/089.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.703 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/merchants/089.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.703 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/merchants/089.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.796 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/099.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.796 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/099.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.796 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/099.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.796 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/099.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.828 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/054.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.828 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/054.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.828 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/054.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.828 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/054.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.828 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/013.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.843 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/013.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.843 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/013.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.843 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/013.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.843 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/046.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.843 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/046.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.843 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/046.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.843 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/046.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.890 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/heretics/057.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.890 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/heretics/057.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.890 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/heretics/057.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:41.890 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/heretics/057.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
19:30:47.640 [system.rpt] [error] Medieval 2: Total War encountered an unspecified error and will now exit.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope it means something to you. Thanks again for your help

[Gundug]

If your log is set up just to show errors, you will find no helpful information, as it will detail exactly what you have written in the first post. Make sure it is running under the trace setting to get more detail. If needed, see this post for details on how to set this up: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=70942

Just remember that the trace setting results in a huge log file if you play for many turns, since it records every function that is called during a session.

I don't think you need to re-install the game. If you have a previous save available, you might be able to continue from there without the crash occurring.

[Marto]

If your log is set up just to show errors, you will find no helpful information, as it will detail exactly what you have written in the first post. Make sure it is running under the trace setting to get more detail. If needed, see this post for details on how to set this up: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=70942

Just remember that the trace setting results in a huge log file if you play for many turns, since it records every function that is called during a session.

I take it you mean the following:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bug Tracking

To enable the error logging functions of MTW2, add:
Code:


Quote:
[log]
to = logs/system.log.txt level = * error


The following gives a lot of info that won't be very useful for the average modder, but if the error logging doesn't help you, try it:
Code:


Quote:
[log]
to = logs/system.log.txt level = * trace


You can further use both level statements in the same file in which case the last setting will be used. As an example, providing:
Code:


Quote:
[log]
to = logs/system.log.txt level = * trace level = * error


Will do the same as if you only supplied level = * error.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I appreciate what the instructions are telling you to do but I've no idea how to input this sort of thing or where/ when to do it. As I said, I'm not technical. Thanks for your help nonetheless though.

[Commander_Vimes]

I just reinstalled today and then installed 1.2 I got exactly the same problem my system log says:
21:03:13.250 [system.rpt] [always] CPU: SSE2
21:03:13.265 [system.rpt] [always] ==== system log start, build date: Apr 23 2007 version bld-medieval2-update2-84 (37970) ===
21:03:14.328 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_0.pack
21:03:14.562 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_1.pack
21:03:14.750 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_2.pack
21:03:14.859 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_3.pack
21:03:15.140 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_4.pack
21:03:15.203 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/localized.pack
21:03:15.453 [system.io] [warning] open: preferences/player.txt is missing
21:03:15.453 [system.io] [warning] open: preferences/keys.dat is missing
21:03:15.453 [system.io] [warning] open: preferences/keys.dat is missing
21:03:25.296 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for ANISELECT
21:03:25.468 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_SABOTAGE
21:03:25.781 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_TRADE
21:03:26.718 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for DRAGGABLE
21:03:26.718 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for DRAGGING
21:03:26.953 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_MULTIPLE_SELECT
21:03:26.953 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_ATTACK
21:03:26.953 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_CHARACTER
21:03:26.953 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_RESOURCE
21:03:26.953 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_FORT
21:03:26.953 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_MOVE_OBJECT
21:03:26.953 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_WATCHTOWER
21:03:26.953 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_DEPLOYMENT_AREA
21:03:26.953 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_TILE
21:03:26.953 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_SPECIAL_PIECE
21:03:26.953 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PAINT
21:03:26.953 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_ADJUST_HEIGHTS
21:03:26.953 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_ADD_UNIT
21:03:26.953 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_SETTLEMENT
21:03:32.765 [system.io] [warning] open: :Ìæ?víI@Ÿ�‰@ is missing
21:03:34.109 [system.rpt] [error] Medieval 2: Total War encountered an unspecified error and will now exit.

It seems for both of us we just have files missing can anyone help either of us?

[Marto]

Yeah some of the log is cursor errors too.

When you re-installed and added the patch did you manage to quarantine your save files somewhere and add them back in to test, or is the error log from early on in your new game?

As I said, mine was only after 135 turns with no problems up until that point. Made me wonder if you had managed to rescue your save game before the reinstall.

[sapi]

@Marto - are you running unmodded?

I can't work out the cause of your problem; unfortunately

I'd suggest you grab an older save file, play back up to that point, and check if it reoccurs.

With a bit of luck it won't

@Commander_Vimes - reinstall both the game and the patch, without any cracks or mods applied. Your install is corrupted.

[Marto]

@Marto - are you running unmodded?

I can't work out the cause of your problem; unfortunately

I'd suggest you grab an older save file, play back up to that point, and check if it reoccurs.

With a bit of luck it won't

@Commander_Vimes - reinstall both the game and the patch, without any cracks or mods applied. Your install is corrupted.

Yes, just Vanilla from a purchased DVD/ROM. I haven't added any patches or modified anything.

The replay was my next plan. Fortunately I saved it in 1344 (crashed at 1348) so that shouldn't be too much of a hardship to get back to the date (might even do it better!). The only worry is that there seems to be an awful lot of files with 'missing' at the start of the text line in my system log.

If you've said to Commander_Vimes to reinstall again, and my error is similar, do you think that my install dropped a few files when I first installed it?

Also, and sorry to bug you further, but do you know if it's viable to copy your save-game files and add them back into a reinstall to continue where you left-off?

Thanks again.

[sapi]

Yes, just Vanilla from a purchased DVD/ROM. I haven't added any patches or modified anything.

I do suggest that you patch to 1.2 if at all possible (after this campaign), as it fixes a lot of common (and in many cases, horribly unbalancing) bugs

The replay was my next plan. Fortunately I saved it in 1344 (crashed at 1348) so that shouldn't be too much of a hardship to get back to the date (might even do it better!). The only worry is that there seems to be an awful lot of files with 'missing' at the start of the text line in my system log.

It's a possibility, and a reinstall can't hurt

I know that I've got a ton of those before, on my last clean install; so they do happen - but a check of my current log reports that I've got none at the moment---

Whoops, just checked again (I was reading the DLV log). I've got more than you

Still, I can't see a full reinstall doing anything but helping, if no other options work. It is a pain, though

If you've said to Commander_Vimes to reinstall again, and my error is similar, do you think that my install dropped a few files when I first installed it?

Perhaps.

The tell-tale sign of Vimes' log, though is this line:
21:03:32.765 [system.io] [warning] open: :Ìæ?víI@Ÿ�‰@ is missing

In every case that I've seen reported, having that in the log indicates that the user is either running a no-cd crack intended for 1.1; or a mod that edited key (non-packed) game files, both of which corrupt the patching process.

Also, and sorry to bug you further, but do you know if it's viable to copy your save-game files and add them back into a reinstall to continue where you left-off?

Yep, that'll work fine (provided you stick to the same version; which isn't an issue here).

[Marto]

Many thanks Sapi.

I'll start with the re-run, and then if that doesn't work I'll go with the save file copy and reinstall the clean Vanilla.

Cheers for all your help

[sapi]

No problems, mate.

Hope you get results

[Marto]

No problems, mate.

Hope you get results

Just for feedback - and hopefully to lessen the worry of other players - I re-ran my game from the earlier 'proper' save point and it managed to get through the tick-over where it crashed absolutely fine this time. There is hope!

I think after this campaign I'll re-install and add patch 1.2 though anyway.

Thanks again

[Commander_Vimes]

thanks everyone, i shall try another 1hour long re-install.

[Don in the North]

delete please