Crashing when loading some Quick Battles

[Holyromanknight2]

Hi guys, I've been crashing on the loading screens and early battle maps in the "QUICK BATTLE" mode of the mod. The "unspecified error" message comes up. I'm on Windows 7 and high-end graphics/processor/HDD/RAM.
I've tried everything suggested. That would include:

• Deleting, map.rwm, descr_geography.new, strings.bin files
• Turning off daylight saving
• Running everything on administrator
• Unhiding all hidden folders
• Re-installing game/mod five times while turning UAC off at all times and running all installation files as admin.
• Deleting Virtual store during uninstallation
• Reducing graphical settings

This crash happens randomly, and isnt predictable as far as I know. Sometimes the battles work and sometimes they don't. Medieval II and Kingdoms work completely fine and no sub-mods or other mods are running. Completely vanilla 1.5 kingdoms + TATW 3.2.


Also, the system log shows:

20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction milan (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction scotland (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction moors (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction turks (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction egypt (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction mongols (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction england (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction france (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction hre (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction portugal (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction spain (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction venice (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction papal_states (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction byzantium (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction aztecs (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction timurids (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction normans (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction saxons (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction russia (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction poland (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction denmark (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction teutonic_order (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction ireland (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction norway (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction hungary (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:18:40.899 [script.err] [error] Script Error in mods/Third_Age_3/data/export_descr_buildings.txt, at line 9142, column 2
Building DB error - culture db max settlement level differs from building db max settlement level for faction slave (bdg large_city vs clt huge_city)
20:20:38.059 [system.rpt] [error] Medieval 2: Total War encountered an unspecified error and will now exit.



Cheers

BTW extra info. I'm running non-steam, I have Windows 7 64 Bit, I have a Nvidia 600 series graphics card. Also i've re-downloaded all the TATW files (3.0 a and b, 3.1 and 3.2) 4 times so I know that they aren't corrupted. Also when I custom battle in Minas Tirith (using custom culture/huge city), the game crashes most of the time.

[ElvenKind]

1.Any recent Windows updates?
2. Did you update your GPU recently?
3.Is this your first time installing TATW?

[Holyromanknight2]

Hmm, I just auto-update so I guess everything would be the latest versions. My GPU is also auto-updated to the latest stable/non-beta version.
No, I've installed the mod five times before, along with the game, because it just kept crashing at random times during battles.

[ElvenKind]

What are your system specs ( CPU and how strong, amount of RAM, your GPU is how strong )?
Do crashes happen in campaign battles?
Also, do you manually update your GPU, or, you let Windows Update do it for you?

Windows Update can screw it up, you could test to revert back to previous GPU version ( Control Panel - Hardware and Sound - Device Manager - Display Adapters - right mouse click on your GPU - Properties - Driver - Roll Back Driver ). Probably want to make a Registry Backup before doing this.

[Holyromanknight2]

CPU is i7 3770 Quad Core, 8GB RAM, 250GB Solid State Drive, Nvidia 670 - Pretty high end new specs
Neither, I use the official Nvidia program to auto-update it for me.
Actually, the problem is that the previous version I had was really unstable for some reason, and I'm glad it updated because my current version is really stable. It's been unstable since ver. 314 but now it's okay (after ver. 330). If I revert back to the previous one (I think its 329), my computer will crash endlessly, even when on the browser.

[ElvenKind]

Don`t roll back your driver if it was making your system fail

Try to enter your Nvidia Control Panel ( right mouse click on your Desktop,. and click on Nvidia Control Panel) and, in 3D Settings - Set PhysX configuration - select your GPU as PhysX processor. See does it crash now.

[Holyromanknight2]

Thanks for your help, but it's not working still, and I still get these random "unspecified error" crashes. Is it accepted that the mod would crash if the GPU is put under too much stress? Because since my graphics card is high end and all, it shouldnt be an issue.

Also it is guaranteed that I will get a crash when Im playing in Minas Tirith. I'm not sure why. I try all different troop combinations/1v1, 2v1 etc., even 1 unit vs 1 unit and it crashes.
edit: it seems to be the case with all custom siege battles.

[ElvenKind]

Your GPU is more than enough for this game..

Well, you can try to reinstall it one more time like this: LINK. Be sure to Edit the Security for your main M2TW folder as explained.

Good luck!

[Holyromanknight2]

Thanks for the advice. I was just wondering, should the game be running with UAC disabled at all times? Is that how you, and other moderators/developers play it? Thanks!

[StealthFox]

Is it a desktop or laptop?

[Holyromanknight2]

Is it a desktop or laptop?

It's a desktop

Elvenkind, that is strange, because I actually crash less when I disable the UAC... Still crashes sometimes at random though.

EDIT: and also I had the folder directory for med2's security changed before I installed TATW

[ElvenKind]

UAC doesn`t need to be disabled at all, that is, if you Edit the Security for your main M2TW folder as suggested.

[Holyromanknight2]

Just a quick update: I've been testing around for the reasons for a crash, and now it almost exclusively occurs in siege custom settlements when I'm playing the aggressor/attacker. When I choose a group of units to select and click an area for them to move, it crashes with the "unspecified error". This leads me to believe that there might be a pathfinding error. Any solutions would be really helpful!

[ElvenKind]

Just a quick update: I've been testing around for the reasons for a crash, and now it almost exclusively occurs in siege custom settlements when I'm playing the aggressor/attacker. When I choose a group of units to select and click an area for them to move, it crashes with the "unspecified error". This leads me to believe that there might be a pathfinding error. Any solutions would be really helpful!

Vanilla TATW, or some submod? If it is a vanilla TATW, post here, if you have an issue with some submod, post in that submod`s thread.

[Holyromanknight2]

It's a vanilla problem. But it also appears in the submod too.

[ElvenKind]

Are you perhapse usin Dwarves in these battles? If so, are there any Dwarven Axethrowers present on either side?

[Holyromanknight2]

Thanks for the reply! Nah, there aren't. After the hundredth time of re-installing it (formatting drive, cleaning pc etc.), I'm starting to believe that it's a straight up game graphics limitation problem (even when some forum mods seem to disagree with me). It tends to be much more often with more men/more graphics settings.

[ElvenKind]

You can try to decrease pagefile size and set it to 2 GB ( set both values to 2048 Mb) maybe that would help. More info here : http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/13...le-change.html

Do you only have SSD on your PC as storage? How old is your PC? Have you optimized your system to use it with an SSD? I can give you few links which can give you good tips on setting an SSD optimization.