Crash, Freeze, unspecified errors

**clarty** · May 08, 2008, 03:03 AM

Hi,

I have seen that loads of other people have posted here with similar problems but none of the solutions seem to work for me.

Basically, the game randomly freezes in either the campaign or battlemap without an error, I have to turn off my PC to exit. Sometimes it does manage to exit and I get a message like this 'Medieval 2: Total War encountered an unspecified error and will now exit'

I have tried everything from changing the graphics settings to re-installing the game. As well as updating to the latest drivers and patches and deleting *.tmp files, registry cleaning and spyware scans.

In addition, does anyone know where the MTW Kingdoms save games are saved because I don't want to loose them when I uninstall, they don't seem to be in the folder marked saves.

This is really frustrating as I recently bought a new PC and this was the first game I bought for it.

Thanks a lot

My specs are

Intel® Core™2 Duo E8400

4GB CORSAIR XMS2 800MHz

ASUS P5N32-E SLI+

512MB GEFORCE 8800GT

Windows Vista 64bit edition SP1

**Darkie** · May 08, 2008, 12:15 PM

My pc Is always freezing in the battle map. Always after about 10 mins. It's very strange. I already did 2 reinstalls and it still crashes in the battle map. Its mainly with mods activated like SS. Specs are:

E6850 @ 3.61 ghz
Geforce 8800gtx XXX
2gb DDR2 800mhz RAM(1:1 fsb)
Vista 32 bit

**irishron** · May 08, 2008, 01:08 PM

Di you read what I wrote here? http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=164080

**Darkie** · May 08, 2008, 02:53 PM

I got a whole other problem, My whole PC freezes when I'm in the battle map fighting the AI. I need to turn off the PC because it's just stuck

**Kiljaden** · May 08, 2008, 03:03 PM

I have the exact problem as the OP - Random crash from campaign map or mid-battle. It could happen after 2 minutes of play or 2 hours of play. It seems to help if I take a break and have a smoke, just letting it sit on the campaign map doing nothing for 7-10 minutes... for some reason it makes it last longer til the next crash. Frequent saves also seem to prolong it, but again it could happen after 2 minutes of play.

Anyway, the crash goes black screen, cycles between repeating distorted sound and no sound at about 5-10 second intervals... there may or may not be distorted graphics as well during the sound on cycle. The only way to stop it is a cold reboot.

System Specs
Mobo: Intel DP965LT
CPU: Pentium D Core 2 Duo 2.8Ghz
RAM: 2GB 800mhz Kingston
Vid Card: 8800 GTS 640MB (169.21 drivers)
OS: XP Home (fully updated of course)
DxDiag: Attached, if you wanna go that deep

Game: Kingdoms 1.5, but I only have played the standard M2TW so far, so I guess that's 1.2. Zero Mods, haven't downloaded a single one.

System.log.txt says alot of these kinds of errors:
14:07:55.203 [system.io] [warning] open: models_strat/shadow_model_sword.rum is missing
14:07:55.203 [system.io] [warning] open: models_strat/officer_roman_general_high.rum is missing
-Also these:
14:07:52.500 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/merchants/047.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
14:07:52.500 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/merchants/047.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
-And to a lesser degree, these:
14:07:17.968 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_RESOURCE
14:07:17.984 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_FORT

**irishron** · May 08, 2008, 03:15 PM

Only two things I can think of is heat, and/or using a crack.

**Kiljaden** · May 08, 2008, 03:24 PM

Hmm, not using a crack that's for sure... heat might be an issue though I doubt it, but I guess I could try lower video settings to see if it prolongs the problem.

**kepc2** · March 16, 2009, 11:15 PM

Hey,

Has anyone found a solution to this issue?? I have it as well. Actually, just started tonight after a few weeks of gameplay with no issues on Brittania campaign. Running v1.05 (I didn't bother w/ 1.06 cuz I don't do online play). It's the first battle with 4 armies: 2 of mine (1 in city that I used to attack against my besiegers, and 1 reinforcing), and 2 Irish armies (1 was beseiging and other reinforcing). It freezes - no crash to desktop - just stops, about 7 to 10 minutes in. I tried turning all details down, and turning off detail shadows, bloom, reflection, and it didn't matter. Happens like clockwork, regardless of the strategy I employ in the battle. I'm not running any mods, and I never had this happen once when playing MTW2.

Specs:
WinXP Pro, SP3
ASUS P5Q MB
E8400 not OC'ed (and it's not overheating)
4 gig ram (2x2G) - I forget at the moment, but its on the QVL
500G maxtor
GeForce 9800 GT w/ drivers from ~ Nov? haven't checked lately, but doubt this is a driver issue. Ran on High Qual for weeks without problem.
This machine is not running virus protection and has never connected online.

It's like it just doesn't like this battle! But of course, not fighting it results in certain loss of one of my best generals, and screws up all my carefuly laid plans!!!

Anyone with a solution or workaround, please post!

**kepc2** · March 16, 2009, 11:17 PM

Hey! I'm not a peasant anymore!! LOL!

**irishron** · March 17, 2009, 03:53 AM

If you get deep into the game like 30 turns plus, the game can really slow down on the ai's turn especally on Rebels. It has to read everyone of them in order and make decisions for each one in that order. Computers still can't think like humans and do take longer than we do.

Some battles even in Kingdoms are still bugged even with the Kingdoms Update patch.

**kepc2** · March 17, 2009, 09:13 PM

Thanks for the reply irishron.

I don't think it was from too much/long play b/c I had to "Reset button"/reboot ~ 5 times in a row from the freeze. What I finally did is "end turn", and fought the battle when AI attacked. Same armies etc., but this time no freeze. I got away with sacrificing a lesser general. I'm gonna chalk it up as a battle bug, as you mentioned. I guess if the freeze happens, just try a different battle or go to the next turn... don't tempt it. Annoying but oh well.

**irishron** · March 17, 2009, 10:08 PM

Unfortunately, the only way you can continue is autoresolve a battle. As far as the closest anyone has come is the Retrofit mod for Kingdoms. With Empire out I don't believe there will be much more effort even from the modding community.

I consider this resolved and closed.