ATI Drivers

[MeganMac]

Just wanted to let you guys know what I've been working on so far . . .

I started with the newest Catalyst drivers and that was a total mess . . . kept getting dumped out to my desktop with a VPU recover message that my video card was getting locked up. I backed up my drivers to the ones from my computer mfrs website (Dell) and that seemed a little better - fewer screen flashes with freezing - but when my system freezes now, it is DOWN. I have to cold boot it to bring it back up. I finally get MS recover from critical error message that last time this happened, and this is the link to it:

Microsoft Online Crash Analysis (http://oca.microsoft.com/en/response.aspx?SGD=4dc382bc-776c-46e9-8358-eabf1f819949&SID=683)

I have an ATI X600 and don't have any of these problems with any of the other games I run. With the newer drivers, the flickers (newer drivers caused me to flicker three times and then crash out to my desktop) seemed to be very random, but with the older drivers (from 01/06) they seem to come with Rain or a message popping up. I have everything turned off with my video and everything set down to the lowest settings in the game. The rain is really a kiiller for me - is anyone else having this problem?

I am attaching a copy of my dxdiag and am going to back out my drivers to an older version and see what happens. I will post with results.

I love this game so much and just want it to work!

Megan

PS - if anyone wants older Radeon drivers for XP, here is a link (https://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&folderID=293) to them. Remember when uninstalling and reinstalling drivers to use a product to scrub old driver files from your system.

[MeganMac]

I rolled back to Catalyst 5.9 drivers . . . things were looking so good. I actually got to play for about 30 straight minutes. WOW. Then, a tragic message from Rome, and ka-plooey (that is the technical term, right?). I would like to name the error I got "The Blue Screen of Near Death" as it wasn't the full on fatal exception screen, but the next best thing. Again, cold boot and here I am. On to the next driver!!!

[Manni]

MeganMac

I am glad to hear that you use a driver cleaner for changing! :) :) :) So do I every time and that for more than a year now.

But have a go with the Catalyst 6.3 from March 06

Some folks here who had 6.9 and had a mess turned down to 6.3 and turned lucky.

mouse also recommends the 6.3 ............or was it the 6.4 ? ;) ;)

[Turambar]

rolling back to the 6.5's didnt work for either myself or my roommate

[Keith]

Did you rollback or unisntall what you had and then do a fresh install?

[Manni]

rolling back to the 6.5's didnt work for either myself or my roommate

Keith was faster..........:eek:

How`s about attaching both dxdiags, your`s and roommate`s?

[Turambar]

my dxdiags are already up here.

also, an interesting note, i have the exact same problem using a hacked no-cd exe file for the game as well.


and i uninstalled-drivercleanerpro'd-then installed the older drivers.

[Isis Crostus]

This is all well and good for all of you who know what you're doing. All I do is play games on my computer and e-mail family and friends.

I get sweaty hands just thinking about screwing around with drivers. How do you know what drivers to download, where, how????

I'm sure I'm not the only computer dummy out here :rolleyes:

[Manni]

This is all well and good for all of you who know what you're doing. All I do is play games on my computer and e-mail family and friends.

I get sweaty hands just thinking about screwing around with drivers. How do you know what drivers to download, where, how????

I'm sure I'm not the only computer dummy out here :rolleyes:

You don`t have to be ashamed about that Isis Crostus! There is absolutely NO reason to.

My hand were sweaty and me little hard was bumpin`when I ran my first driver-install.

I had a good teacher who showed me and sat next.

If you like and are willing to learn it then PM me with your e-mail and I`ll show you through with links and screenshots so you can`t go fail.

It`s up to you!

You will find out that it is easier than you think. :)

[Turambar]

yup

catalyst 6.4 same problem

hang/freeze/vpu recover.

[Calamity]

Calm download installing drivers incorrectly wont ruin your PC, hardware comes with drivers already installed so if you do unistall the drivers, the moment you restart your computer it will recognize the hardware, and reinstall the driver that first came installed. Most drivers these days detect the older drivers and unistall them before installing newer versions. ATI doesn't do that though for some reason...But they do have a unistaller that comes with their drivers, and you can download it from their website too.

[MeganMac]

Ok, so I've done all the driver installs from ATI that support the X600 and I have the same problems with all of them.

FYI - I have used a new scenario every time to make sure that I'm giving myself a clean start. Just to control what could go wrong.

Seriously, the rain is a killer. Every time it rains, I hang. Even if I stop moving my mouse and try to wait it out, hang.

The most I've been able to play the game is almost 30 minutes. Then I got hung on a message that popped up. I have no pause options set for notifications, but it puts it on pause, hangs, then I have to cold boot. Not so much with the fun.

At this point, I guess I'm going to have to wait for a patch as there does not seem to be anything out there right now that will fix my issue except enhanced compatibility with ATI drivers. I'm sure nVidia is very happy about this.

I just really want to thank everyone for great ideas and things to try to get us all up and going on the game. I don't think I'm the only one that was looking forward to it and is bummed that it's not working yet.

Take care,

Megan

[JasonIndpls]

I just got Caesar 4 yesterday and have been unable to play for more then 10 to 20 minutes without it going to a black screen and locking up my computer completely, which forces me to restart with a cold boot. I've tired the latest 6.9 & 6.5 Catalyst drivers from ATI and no help there I've rolled back to the drivers I had on before I got the game. I've tried a few other things that have been recommend on this forum including, higher priority setting, assigning only 1 cpu core etc. and no luck. I'm pretty good with computers, I was a Network Admin/Computer tech for several years, I've tried everything I can think any help anyone can give would be much appreciated. I've added my DXDIAG.

My educated guess based on the number of people having this issue is that this is a problem with C4 and not a hardware issue.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Jason

[Manni]

I have noticed that there are a few others with ATI RADEON x600 cards who have just the same problem.
It does not seem to be a false driver but the card itself.

[JasonIndpls]

I play other games that are far more graphic intensive then this game should be and they have no issues with the x600 card. I still disagree that this is a hardware issue, I still think it's an issue with the game. There are people who are having issues with the game who don't have the x600 card.

[mouse]

MeganMac think the solution to your rain/message blowup might be to go into game settings-interface-and enable everything under the pause for messages (it's disabled by default). It stopped all my crashes from messages;)
Thanks for showing the message from MS it confirmed something we suspected about the Dell drivers.

[Vampirovibrio]

MeganMac think the solution to your rain/message blowup might be to go into game settings-interface-and enable everything under the pause for messages (it's disabled by default). It stopped all my crashes from messages;)
Thanks for showing the message from MS it confirmed something we suspected about the Dell drivers.
Hmm... but when I install the drivers from ati.com to upgrade the drivers as instructed previously, I have uninstalled the dell drivers as welll before installing the ones from ati. So if that's the case, then if the problem lies with dell drivers shouldn't the crash problem go away? Mine didn't... Although I'm using x300 not x600...

[Keith]

Hmm... but when I install the drivers from ati.com to upgrade the drivers as instructed previously, I have uninstalled the dell drivers as welll before installing the ones from ati. So if that's the case, then if the problem lies with dell drivers shouldn't the crash problem go away? Mine didn't... Although I'm using x300 not x600...

After you uninstalled the original driver, did you reboot? If not that could be a problem. You have to reboot before uninstalling the catalyst software and installing the next version of the driver.

[eperdos]

I use catalyst 6.5. works ok. have 9600 pro and with all at min., game is great. when I want to take snapshopts, to admire my great city, I put all settings at high, and with patiece, I walk through the city.

before 6.5 I had a vry old one, 5.somthing. not bad, but 6.5 improved quality.

[Vampirovibrio]

After you uninstalled the original driver, did you reboot? If not that could be a problem. You have to reboot before uninstalling the catalyst software and installing the next version of the driver.
Yes, I rebooted the computer and when windows reloaded and detected the video card and ask me whether I want to install the drivers, I said no. Then I use the ati installation package...

[mouse]

Question after installing the new drivers did you uninstall C4 and then reinstall it.

[Vampirovibrio]

Question after installing the new drivers did you uninstall C4 and then reinstall it.
I just did it... I uninstall the game. Restarted the computer... Installed the game again and applied the patch. Then I restarted my computer again. Close down unnecessary processes, change the shawdows to off, turn off all the water details, turn of the autopause, autosave. Restarted the game... Played the first campaign, everything went well until I placed the fountain. Yes, it's the fountain...

[mouse]

Have to say this is most baffling thing. Now don't think I've flipped my lid but can you give me the exact steps you take when placing a fountain (evey little step). My reason is I'm up to mission 12 and haven't seen any problem with placing fountains.

Please hang in here with me on this one.

[Vampirovibrio]

Hi, mouse... I started on the first campaign... Blank map... added 6 plebs houses, 3 grain farms and 6 fields, 1 veg farm 2 veg field, 1 cattle farm 2 cattle range, 1 olive farm 2 olive grove, 1 sheep farm 2 sheep ranges, 1 granary, 1 warehouse, 1 clothing factory, 1 olive oil factory, 1 engineer, 1 patrol, 1 well. Then I unpaused the game by selecting the 2 fastest speed... Waited for all my plebs to move in. Waited some more for food production to accumulate... After first harvest, I added a food market. Waited a while. Then I added a water pump and a reservior and connect with aqueducts. Added 3 elite houses. Waied for a while... Just to make sure that it's not the reservior or the water pump that was causing the crash... Then game complained that public health was not good... I then added a bathhouse. Waited for a while again and no crash at this point. Finally added the fountain and less than 30 seconds later, the game crashed and recovered and crashed and recovered and crash and died, though I did not have to do a cold reboot.

Just to add, that I have not experience any lagging...

[poi]

Did you guys with ATI video cards also install Catalyst Control Center (ccc) along with the drivers?

For me, I never install the control center anymore, and just install the driver. This is because the ccc was giving me way too much problems with many games, and have problem when i overclock my GPU. BTW mines a x1600 128 (512 hyper) running in a laptop (mobility ATI)

earlier, i tried a clean uninstall of my ATI driver, reboot, and reinstall ATI drivers along with the ccc. and yea, it crash when i play C4 for about 30mins, something about VPU recovery. (my game setting: medium graphic setting, and the "pause during msg pops = off")

Then I did a clean uninstall again, (uninstall from add/remove program files, then using the driver cleaner if you're guessing how i did that). reboot, install ATI drivers ONLY without ccc. reboot, run game, still with the same game setting, it runs good.

Basically, i have no crashes problems since the day someone post about "set dont pause game when msg pop" in the interface setting. I only try with the ccc to see whether it causes the problem. Just wanted to help the unfortunate ATI users out there, since I did experience random crashes with ccc installed on other games too (always concerning VPU recovery error).

I hope some of you may have this problem solve with this method, but of course, everyone's pc setting will be different, and you may not have the same encounter that I have. I just want to state that I'm not claiming ccc will crash your game, but it does for my machine. I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression on the information I'm offering and get bashed at.

My ATI drivers are from 6.9 catalyst btw. and note: I need to overclock my GPU because the stock core/mem speed is always set low in laptops, and mine's lower than normal. without OC I will always get visual stutter. Sometime OCing your graphic card can also improve stability because low - mid end cards usually have low memory speed. thus not running well or in-sync with the core. If afraid of damaging the card from OCing, just do a check on the "suppose factory speed" and change it to that speed. eg. mine's 410/375, but it should be 480/480 originally. OCing does cause more heat generated and a good cooling system is required though.

[Manni]

Did you guys with ATI video cards also install Catalyst Control Center (ccc) along with the drivers?
Yes I ALWAYS do with a driver-change! New driver---New Center.

I do:
download new Catalyst and CCenter in seperate downloads
uninstall driver
uninstall center
reboot into safe mode
stay in safe mode
clean all visible ATI-leftovers manually
run driver cleaner Pro
reboot.....still safe mode
install new Catalyst
reboot
install CCenter
reboot
replace desktop-icons-positions with icons-manager (one click for the lot)
play games

:D :D :D

[poi]

Yes I ALWAYS do with a driver-change! New driver---New Center.

I do:
download new Catalyst and CCenter in seperate downloads
uninstall driver
uninstall center
reboot into safe mode
stay in safe mode
clean all visible ATI-leftovers manually
run driver cleaner Pro
reboot.....still safe mode
install new Catalyst
reboot
install CCenter
reboot
replace desktop-icons-positions with icons-manager (one click for the lot)
play games

:D :D :D

Yes Manni, i know you're the expert when dealing with ATI drivers and stuff, since you always give the correct info and tips on ATI stuff. Forgive me but I do detect abit of sarcasm from your post even if you put up those :D. especially with your caps.


I hope some of you may have this problem solve with this method, but of course, everyone's pc setting will be different, and you may not have the same encounter that I have. I just want to state that I'm not claiming ccc will crash your game, but it does for my machine. I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression on the information I'm offering and get bashed at.

I did write the above in my post.

VPU error will occur if I use CCC when I play games. It's must be something to do with how I set it, but considering when I left it with its default setting, and still getting errors, There must be compatibility issues. Uninstalling it solve all my gaming problems (only thought of uninstalling ccc after I read it in some laptop's forum). I'm just sharing my encounters. But I won't claim it works with everyone. I just hope that some ATI users can enjoy C4 as I do if uninstalling ccc can stop the VPU error.

[Manni]

Yes Manni, i know you're the expert when dealing with ATI drivers and stuff, since you always give the correct info and tips on ATI stuff. Forgive me but I do detect abit of sarcasm from your post even if you put up those :D. especially with your caps.
Really not poi, the :D `s I put to express how easy a clean driver-change really is.
I replace the :D `s with :) :) :)

[poi]

Then I really appologize, sorry Manni. I think too much

[Manni]

Then I really appologize, sorry Manni.Not any reason for!

I think too much We could be twins........:)

[mouse]

Thanks Vampirovibrio that's a good step by step listing:D Now I want to be sure I understand just one thing that is game speed do you use the fastest speed the button all the way to the right (forgive me I just woke from a nap) ;) If that is the case try using the middle speed button (it's what I use) . The game doesn't play nice at the highest speed.

Poi and Manni I use the software package but do not update drives from default that come with my card. Don't have any problem with the Control panel causing crashes:D Of course I usually change my card every year or at worse every two years;)

[Keith]

Vampirovibria, regarding the reboot, good. Just checking.

[Vampirovibrio]

Thanks Vampirovibrio that's a good step by step listing:D Now I want to be sure I understand just one thing that is game speed do you use the fastest speed the button all the way to the right (forgive me I just woke from a nap) ;) If that is the case try using the middle speed button (it's what I use) . The game doesn't play nice at the highest speed.

Poi and Manni I use the software package but do not update drives from default that come with my card. Don't have any problem with the Control panel causing crashes:D Of course I usually change my card every year or at worse every two years;)

No.. I use the 3rd speed button not the fastest (so, it's pause button followed by another button and then the next one is the one I use)... I think the default speed that the game opens up with....

[mouse]

Dang so much for the speed being the problem.
Will edit this once I've done some thinking:D
Ok thinking process: please follow these steps exactly
1. uninstall C4
2. run disk clean up-defrag
3. reboot
4. install C4 and run defrag again (turn off the backgrond processes)
5. go into game setiings do not change any video settings
6. change the interface settings enabling all the stuff under pause for messages
7. try to play and please let me know how it goes

[krisslater]

Well I tried looking at previous posts to this to see if my query was already answered, but as I am such a novice when it comes to drivers etc Im not sure if it has!

Basically I have downloaded the demo and tried to run it on my laptop, but everytime I try to start the game, the screen just flickers. I can her the sound in the background and the mouse icon appears, but the game just won't start.

I have DirectX 9.0 , loads of free hard space and ATI MOBILITY RADEON with Catalyst 6.9 I think... I have a feeling my video card isn't big enough, but I dont know how to check.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. :o

[Manni]

Krisslater in Manchester

do attach your dxdiag file please

This:

I have DirectX 9.0 , loads of free hard space and ATI MOBILITY RADEON with Catalyst 6.9 I think...

........is not enough to say anything

[krisslater]

Manni

I dont even know how to do that, god Im so thick. lol

Krisslater in Manchester

do attach your dxdiag file please

[Kiya]

Here is how to do the dxdiag :) http://www.tiltedmill.com/forums/showpost.php?p=122513&postcount=1

[Manni]

I dont even know how to do that, god Im so thick. lol

No Manchester`s are thick! :D Cheers mate have a pinta first! :D

Thanks for the link Kiya!

[krisslater]

Ok , here is my dxdiag attachement... I managed to do it .. thanks.

[Manni]

No chance krisslater from Manchester

your laptop has only a graphic-chip with Display Memory: 16.0 MB

your processor 1500MHz is also below minimum

your audio-driver is from ancient days

and you seem to have no hardware-drive

Forget Caesar