Troubles with steam downloading NTW

shadowdrummer46 · January 26, 2012 07:00 PM

*I realize this is more than likely a topic for the steam forums, but I think it might help me to post it here as well.*
So as the title says I'm having trouble with downloading NTW on steam. I have the game of the year ETW/NTW bundle. I am able to run Shogun 2 and all other TW games no problem. I am running windows xp, completely updated.It downloads fine, but after the download when I launch the game it doesn't get past the first credits screen. my computer freezes and I am unable to exit the game by hitting F4, Alt+TAB, or Ctrl+Alt+delete. I have to shut it down by holding the power button down.

So naturally I verify the game cache and it takes a solid 20 minutes, and every time it says I was missing one file and downloads it in a split second. I verify the cache repeatedly and have done this for as much as two nights solid.

I've also deleted every the game and every trace of it on my computer than re-downloaded it. I have also purposely deleted a somewhat important files in the application data section, to test steam. After I delete such files I re-verify cache and it say only 1 file missing again, and doesn't download the files I just deleted. I have also updated my graphics drivers.

The odd part is that about a week ago the game launched and ran fine with no problems except for some video sound shuddering. I was able to try adjusting the graphics and sound, repeatedly exiting and relaunching the game. I was able to launch the game at least ten times, then the issue started all over.

Any insights? Has anyone else had trouble like this?
Thanks in advance for any help!

irishron · January 26, 2012 07:09 PM

Any mods installed?

How are the temps and voltages during the game?

Magicman2051 · January 26, 2012 07:11 PM

When was the last time you did a clean install? (of your entire OS)

shadowdrummer46 · January 26, 2012 07:18 PM

no mods, straight from steam. Don't know about temps or voltages because it only gets to the very first screen that say NTW and all the credits. doesn't even get to intro video.

Haven't restored my OS in a long time, have to much I don't want to lose and no external hard drive to save it on.

Magicman2051 · January 26, 2012 07:21 PM

This sounds like a matter of a memory bottleneck somewhere in your system, could be solved a number of ways.

irishron · January 26, 2012 07:44 PM

Does it do the same with Empire?

How much free harddrive space do you have?

shadowdrummer46 · January 26, 2012 09:52 PM

I have 5 gigs of free space.

Empire ran fine with some video stuttering, shogun 2 works like a charm.

And what are the number of ways i could fix the memory bottleneck. Also if that were the case how was I able to run the game a few times? could that still be possible with that issue?

thanks guys!

irishron · January 26, 2012 10:09 PM

Possibly more free harddisc space for a swapfile may help.

Otherwise uninstall NTW, delete both Napoleon folders, run a registry cleaner to clean out the garbage, reboot and reinstll. At times, the only thing that works.

shadowdrummer46 · January 26, 2012 10:24 PM

could you direct me towards a registry cleaner? and by both folder you mean NTW in "steamapps" and "applicaiondata" right?

irishron · January 27, 2012 07:43 AM

Yes, I mean both of those folders.

http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_...ry_cleaner.htm is the one I use.

shadowdrummer46 · January 27, 2012 06:14 PM

Thanks for the link!

I tried verifying until it said all files were there, and freed up another 5GB for a total of 10GB free, and it still didn't work.

now I'm going to try deleting everything and running that registry cleaner.

meme_engine · January 27, 2012 06:42 PM

Just in case your attempt at fixing the problem doesn't work; I had a very similar experience when I first ran NTW. In my case it turned out to be the firewall software. As the NTW launcher ran, it called the main executable file, the firewall spotted this as a potentially "dangerous" activity and popped-up a window asking if I wanted to allow the program to run...unfortunately the pop-up window was hidden behind the NTW loading screen and so the application apparently just hung. Only after a couple of attempts at reloading did I think to check the firewall log and noticed the warning. As soon as I gave NTW permission to run (in the firewall setup), the program launched properly.

If you're not running a firewall or anti-virus software, it's probably still worth checking the windows' event logs to see if there's an application fault being logged for NTW.

shadowdrummer46 · January 28, 2012 01:04 PM

The registry cleaner found over 1800 things that needed to be corrected, lol.

meme, where do I find the firewall log? I'm using xp, and the firewall IS disabled. I checked the event log and it has errors and warning but it when I check them it says, for example:
Event Type: Warning
Event Source: Windows Search Service
Event Category: Devices
Event ID: 1008
Date: 1/28/2012
Time: 2:08:51 PM
User: N/A
Computer: YOUR-8BA9292D59
Description:
The description for Event ID ( 1008 ) in Source ( Windows Search Service ) cannot be found. The local computer may not have the necessary registry information or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer. You may be able to use the /AUXSOURCE= flag to retrieve this description; see Help and Support for details. The following information is part of the event:
.

irishron · January 28, 2012 02:01 PM

1800? then way overdue.

XP? When was the last time you ran Microsoft Update and installed all software options? Have you installed SP3, yet?

shadowdrummer46 · January 28, 2012 02:17 PM

yes its fully updated. i have automatic updates and install frequently. At this point im just backing up some files to store them online while try to restore my pc to factory settings....Alot of work just to play napoleon lol

irishron · January 28, 2012 02:21 PM

Personally, I don't trust automatic updates. I always find updates I need it does not consider "important".

Post your dxdiag.

shadowdrummer46 · January 28, 2012 02:23 PM

dxdiag? Wheres it located?

And how should I check for updates? i think ive done it before i just cant remember at this point.

I'm not going to restore pc just yet, got so much on it i dont want to lose, so i want to try everything else first now that i think about it.

irishron · January 28, 2012 03:23 PM

Dxdiag = http://shoguntotalwar.yuku.com/topic...-X-Diagnostics

Microsoft Update = http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr....aspx?ln=en-us

XP version of that window is a place to click for Microsoft Update.

Click on it, run a check for updates and all the software options will be listed on the left side. whatever never got installed will show up.

shadowdrummer46 · January 28, 2012 07:05 PM

Downloaded new updates and ran the dxdaig heres what i got:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

irishron · January 28, 2012 07:13 PM

Magicman2051 is right for part of it being memory.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=238484 will help.
The free version of Game Booster from www.iobit.com will help.
Try updating the High Definition audio codecs at www.realtek.com.tw as your are over a year old.
A bigger harddrive should be considered in the future.
9500GT even with 1gb vram is low end for this game. Lower your settings including Shader level.

Troubles with steam downloading NTW

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