Unspecified error and CTD's - Medieval total refund.

[Nbear]

Having played this series since Shogun, I was majorly saddened when my rig refused to play in Campaign mode(Strangely enough all quick battles and historical battles ran fine).

I have now spent days trawling the net and forums and have seen lots and lots of posts around this fault and other random crashes before and after patch 1.1.

I also saw a post by a moderator warning Nvidia users there is a known issue and that older dirvers should be used - errr what is going on CA/SEGA?

My RIG:

MSI K8NEO PLATINUM (NF3)
7800 GS (AGP)
1.5 RAM (GIEL - Not OC'D)
XP SP2.
500W Enermax PSU.
3 x 120 G Maxtor SATA.



Why does there appear to be so many people with CTD errors and this unspecified error? Additionally, what is going on with this "missing data" in the system log which appears even when the game is running (confirmed by several users).


Yes I know....... I 'm going to be told:

1) Roll back your nvidia drivers to 1974 - Err hrmm that's a viable solution seeing as how all my other resource hungry titles use the latest driver with no issues. and.....err....didn't I see the Nvidia logo spinning away at the start up screen? Ahh yes I did ......good to see SEGA and CA working through any driver related issues with them.

2) Re -install - yep check. Done that , several times.

3)Make sure your Anti-virus software is switched off and background programmes are off during installation - Done and done.

4) I have also removed RTW- Cleaned out my registry and updated BIOS and CPU drivers.

5) Check DX Diag. - Again, have done so. no issues there.

Yawn - after days of racking my brain and gettng nowhere I have returned the game to the store and will only buy again when a working patch for these errors is released. . CA and SEGA should really help out these usres that are clearly having lots of errors.

I have to also mention that I have run other titles such as Oblivion, HL2, Neverwinter nights 2 and GRAW without any issues.

Also it would have been nice to get a reply from their support e-mail or even THQ, I didn't see one for CA ( Good to know they take their support and product feedback seriously) .

[JQuintas]

I'm seriously thinking in that option too, since noone answer me, give me options or support, and i don't know what to do. It's the first time my graphic card is reject in a game...

[Alizec]

I have the same problem and a Nvidia 6800GT. Got the game for Christmas, got home yesterday & installed game + patch straight away, but I have crashes every 1-4 turns. There doesn't seem to be any consistent cause, either. Sometimes it crashes when I move, sometimes during the CPU controlled factions' turns, battles, diplomacy, unit selection, etc. It's pretty much unplayable, as I have to save after every single action for fear of a crash upon my next.

System log shows a bunch of missing files, but I've read that might not be an issue? I updated some drivers + reinstalled last night but still no dice. No, I didn't unpack. My PC runs everything else fine, except Battlefield 2 which is also infamous for system crashes. The last 2 games I've got have been all but uplayable due to crash problems - really frustrating. Oblivion, R:TW, WoW, EQ, Doom 3, Civ 4, AoE 3, etc... all work perfectly.

I'd post my system specs if required, but for now I'm content to keep this issue bumped. I too have been trolling various forums, and while I have seen many people with the same problem, I have not seen a magic bullet solution.

[Nbear]

System log shows a bunch of missing files, but I've read that might not be an issue? I updated some drivers + reinstalled last night but still no dice..

That system log is no use in this case as I have verified with a work colleague who's version runs (very slowly on his wife's laptop!!! - but it does run). His system log shows the same missing data and it has never crashed!!!

I advise anyone who has bought this and has these issues to wait a little while until they have it sorted (or not). It's not unusual though, I have also recently seen an onlne petition to CA and SEGA asking them to remedy their buggy series. It seems this release is plagued also..............

[Spurius]

System log shows a bunch of missing files, but I've read that might not be an issue?

Dunno, only know it outputs an errorlog at all, in the root, when you run a modswitched mod that has no [log] section in the .cfg file - so if you are running a mod, it's not really ca's problem maybe - but the mod's.

Also,

try adding this part to your .cfg

[log]

to = logs/system.log.txt
level = * trace

that's the long output option for errors, this should give a LOT of output to that file, but only the last 10 lines or so just before it crashes are usually interesting.

Maybe try that, and if you aren't running a mod, it's just that I don't recall it putting out any errorlog, without a mod that forgets to set the logging bit (there are a few) and then you get that bogus logfile in the root with all that missing stuff, that indeed shouldn't bother you. Looks pretty frightening indeed, but running the same mod with above setting to * error (the short version), you should only see it opening the packs.... so then alll that missing files stuff apparently disappears magically, and that's what I go on. Any real errors show up there OK, so ....

Well, I hope the trace output gives any clues... :hmmm:

[Trojan**]

Alizec your problem is minor to mine...See what happens to mine is that all of my games RTW, STW, and M2TW crash after every 25min. I got a 512mb of RAM 4 xmas and that made my pc a 1G of Ram so im ok in that field..Graphics card is slow but that couldnt cause crashes could it? So please anybody have any help 4 me and Alizec and our crashing games...

[pontifexmaximus11]

yeah i called the sega support number and they dont even have a department for PC games

[Alizec]

I had hoped it was fixed after a reinstall w/o patching and running through about 10 turns on low settings, but alas, it crashed during a negotiation right as I clicked "trade rights". I've had it crash other times when clicking, too, such as moving or pressing a button. Click -> instant crash

Then again, it also has crashed when the other factions are making their moves and I'm all but passive. Always "unspecified error..."

[Nbear]

I am beggining to understand why this error is "unspecified"..........no one has a clue how to fix it!!

[Badnercalabrese]

at least you guys can get into the game!

i can't even get into the demo...downloaded long ago, my PC got more ram so i downloaded it again to see how it works now..."medieval total war 2exe. has encountered a problem and needs to close"

[Tiwaz]

Well, considering how crap the diplomacy part is and how fighting battles yourself is the bread and butter of the game getting in the game is hardly great consolation.

Still waiting for someone to figure out something wrong in my system so I could get that damn game to work.

[Nbear]

I see alot of Total war fans here getting paranoid abot there system and how good it is , or what's wrong with their set up. Dont let a badly tested piece of software get you looking at it too long.

I have since ran several checks and installed Company of heroes, Dawn of war (known to be buggy) and both ran first go and continue to........


Yet the old unspecified bandit is still there............c'mon CA/SEGA..give us an answer to our crashes and CTD's r at least answer our mails and give your paying customers support for a product they actually want despite its issues..........

[Badnercalabrese]

yeah my computer ran dawn of war perfectly fine(wish i didn't get rid of this game)...the imperial glory demo works really well also...

Please Sega, this really is pathetic

[tango21]

I wonder have you removed these files ?
- To use the modified files create a batch file in your
Medieval II: Total War folder

- In the batch file add the following line

medieval2.exe --io.file_first

- NOTE: Due to a timestamp check, the following unpacked files will
cause the game to crash and must be deleted before the game is
launched:

data\descr_geography_new.txt
data\descr_geography_new.db

- Save the batch file and then launch Medieval II: Total War using the
newly created batch file.
It seems people who havn't even unpacked seem to have the same problem perhaps it's this just a guess.

[Zanda]

I wonder have you removed these files ?
- To use the modified files create a batch file in your
Medieval II: Total War folder

- In the batch file add the following line

medieval2.exe --io.file_first

- NOTE: Due to a timestamp check, the following unpacked files will
cause the game to crash and must be deleted before the game is
launched:

data\descr_geography_new.txt
data\descr_geography_new.db

- Save the batch file and then launch Medieval II: Total War using the
newly created batch file.
It seems people who havn't even unpacked seem to have the same problem perhaps it's this just a guess.

I don't have the geography files and i made the batch file but it still crashes.

[MistahBojangles]

I wonder have you removed these files ?
- To use the modified files create a batch file in your
Medieval II: Total War folder

- In the batch file add the following line

medieval2.exe --io.file_first

- NOTE: Due to a timestamp check, the following unpacked files will
cause the game to crash and must be deleted before the game is
launched:

data\descr_geography_new.txt
data\descr_geography_new.db

- Save the batch file and then launch Medieval II: Total War using the
newly created batch file.
It seems people who havn't even unpacked seem to have the same problem perhaps it's this just a guess.

First of all, what the hell is a batch file and how do u create it. Secondly, how do i add that line Medieval2.exe. Then, how do i unpack. After doing that how can i find those decr geography... and, finally, how do i use the newly created batch file.

PS: i no nothing about computers as u may have already known:original:

[Jacob31593]

First of all, what the hell is a batch file and how do u create it. Secondly, how do i add that line Medieval2.exe.

a batch file is basicaly a shortcut to cmd, you dont need to know what that means just do this
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. open notepad
2. paste the following:

medieval2.exe --io.file_first

3. save to your medieval 2 instalation directory as med.bat (c:/programfiles/sega/medieval or something like that)

4. go to where you saved it and either click it or right click it and select send to desktop

NOTE: i have given you the instructions on how to create a bat file but fyi this methon did not fix my errors

[irishron]

With all the ranting and raving, did you go to the source: http://sega-us.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...p_new_search=1 or just cry about it here. It's SEGA's game as the publisher.

[chaoticform]

Went to Sega first.
No working solutions

The thing with me is that my error occurs at launch.
The thing is I find this in my file:system.log.txt

15:40:28.015 [system.rpt] [always] CPU: SSE2
15:40:28.031 [system.rpt] [always] ==== system log start, build date: Jun 25 2007 version bld-medieval2-update2.1-30 (43169) ===
15:40:28.125 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_0.pack
15:40:28.203 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_1.pack
15:40:28.265 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_2.pack
15:40:28.390 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_3.pack
15:40:28.453 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_4.pack
15:40:28.468 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/localized.pack
15:40:28.578 [system.io] [warning] open: preferences/player.txt is missing
15:40:28.578 [system.io] [warning] open: preferences/keys.dat is missing
15:40:28.578 [system.io] [warning] open: preferences/keys.dat is missing
15:40:28.859 [system.rpt] [error] Medieval 2: Total War encountered an unspecified error and will now exit.


What is the player.txt?
what is the Keys.dat?
searched the disc and could not find them. So I guess I have to find where the preferences are and figure out how to set them.

I played the gam and the kingdom campaigns--My problem did not occur until I tried to play the regular campaign.

Then I started getting crashes before the game could make it to the start screen.

Strange thing--If I go to the Disk(MTW2 disk--not kingdoms) I can get to the first image screen before my system freezes(not crash):hmmm:

I guess we are going to find the solution for it before Sega--Look like they are not really searching.

[pontifexmaximus11]

i would do all this of which you speak. but i know not of what you speak.