Looping sound crash bug.

ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Half-Life 2: Episode 1</div>So yeah, I've got the looping-sound-crash-bug-blues. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />

Here's the ticket I submitted to steam support just now:

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Yep, I've got that one. The supposedly unsolvable one. I'll tell you as much as I possibly can and see if there's a solution that I haven't tried.

The system:

Windows XP Sp2 Latest patches,
ATI X1800XT 512MB Video card, latest catalyst drivers,
AMD Athlon64 3700+,
AC'97 onboard sound, latest drivers,
2 GB dual-channel ram (Checked by running Memtest86 overnight),
Ample hard drive space for swap file,
Defragmented hard drive, including gcfs.

The problem:

Playing any part of Half-Life 2: Episode 1 for a period of time between ten seconds and two minutes will result in a lockup. I get a half-second parcel of sound repeating over and over with a frozen frame of video. Sometimes after a few seconds I get another single frame of video and a fresh half-second parcel of sound before returning to the looping. Running task manager on my other monitor reveals steam.exe running with 99% processor usage. I must then kill hl2.exe to resume normal use of my system. It's also worth noting that the Lost Coast level refuses to load. The progress bar gets a few bubbles along before it freezes. I have no problem playing any other source-based games. Nor do I have problems playing any other game.

The (half) solution:

Running with -dxlevel 81 fixes the problem totally. But I want to take advantage of my video card's capabilities.

What I've tried:

Everything listed here: "Game Crash: Games freeze or crash with looping sounds"

Turning down sound hardware acceleration in dxdiag doesn't prevent the crashes. -nosound doesn't prevent crashes either. Reinstalled DirectX more times than I care to count (directx_aug2007_redist.exe), updated video card drives, tried changing onboard sound IRQs (Can't), new chipset drivers (Both the motherboard manufacturer and the chipset manufacturer), ditto for sound drivers.

My computer isn't overheating.

I regularly run up-to-date virus scanners and adware detectors.

I'm running Kerio personal firewall, set to allow all traffic on hl2.exe and steam.exe.

I've been as thorough as I possibly can. Please let me know if there's anything else you need. I'd really like to get this problem sorted out so it won't prevent me enjoying Episode 2, which I've already bought.

Thanks,
Scythe.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I wonder if anyone's solved this properly. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />

--Scythe--
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Comments

  • DrfuzzyDrfuzzy FEW... MORE.... INCHES... Join Date: 2003-09-21 Member: 21094Members
    edited September 2007
    Try updating your drivers?
    *edit* oh i should read more <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />

    Try reinstalling the game, also those antivirus programs can cause trouble.
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    I think I used to have that problem with Ep.1. What happened to me was pretty much what you described, except it wasn't actually a crash. Usually, alt-tabbing out of the game, waiting until the looping sound disappeared (I think), then alt-tabbing in again works. The error would usually occur the first time I had to load another level (loading or starting a game worked fine, moving into a new area with a load inbetween caused shenanigans), and would never occur twice during a single session - once I'd cleared up the error, it didn't happen again until I quit the program.

    I don't know if I ever solved the problem permanently, or whether I just stopped playing the game because I was done with it. Tried alt-tabbing?
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1650028:date=Sep 17 2007, 10:25 AM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lolfighter @ Sep 17 2007, 10:25 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1650028"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I think I used to have that problem with Ep.1. What happened to me was pretty much what you described, except it wasn't actually a crash. Usually, alt-tabbing out of the game, waiting until the looping sound disappeared (I think), then alt-tabbing in again works. The error would usually occur the first time I had to load another level (loading or starting a game worked fine, moving into a new area with a load inbetween caused shenanigans), and would never occur twice during a single session - once I'd cleared up the error, it didn't happen again until I quit the program.

    I don't know if I ever solved the problem permanently, or whether I just stopped playing the game because I was done with it. Tried alt-tabbing?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I think that's how it worked for me, except my computer was slow so alt-tabbing took forever. In any case it cleared up after a few Steam patches. Another thing that would work is let the game load the menu, alt-tab, then alt-tab back in. I would never crash after that.
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  • X_StickmanX_Stickman Not good enough for a custom title. Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15533Members, Constellation
    Running the game in windowed mode semi-fixed this problem for me. I never tried the alt-tabbing thing because whenever I minimise a source game, it crashes.

    Running it in windowed made it crash *far* less. It still does, but only 1-2 times during a run through of the whole game, compared to... I dunno, lots of times when it's fullscreen. But windowed mode doesn't get you the full experience, obviously.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    You could just run it windowed mode at 1280x1024 or whatever your screen resolution is. Then it's no different from playing it fullscreen, really.
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  • A_Boojum_SnarkA_Boojum_Snark Join Date: 2003-09-07 Member: 20628Members
    I had this same problem when I bought Episode 1 when it came out, and steam support never found a fix for me. Finally the other day I tried it again and it worked so something magically changed that fixed it, either in my software or them updating the game.

    My problem was fixed however by disabling sound, but I didn't really feel like playing it with subtitles thus why I just waited for it to fix itself. :/
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  • ANeMANeM Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16267Members, Constellation
    I'm currently having this problem with TF2 D:
    According to Vista, its a video driver issue.. the sound is just a nasty side effect.
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  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    I'm getting it with TF2 too. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />

    --Scythe--
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  • HellbillyHellbilly A whole title out of pity... Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 3931Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    Switch to Nvidia. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />

    Seriously though, i used to get that on my ATI card back when HL2 first came. Never experienced again after i switched to Nvidia.
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  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18951Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1650279:date=Sep 18 2007, 12:42 PM:name=Hellbilly)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hellbilly @ Sep 18 2007, 12:42 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1650279"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Switch to Nvidia. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />

    Seriously though, i used to get that on my ATI card back when HL2 first came. Never experienced again after i switched to Nvidia.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    now that you mention it, it was the same for me...

    I think more was wrong with my PC at the time than just having an ATI video card though.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1650224:date=Sep 18 2007, 05:38 AM:name=Scythe)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Scythe @ Sep 18 2007, 05:38 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1650224"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I'm getting it with TF2 too. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />

    --Scythe--<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Did you do the alt + tab thing? Or did you IGNORE ME LIKE YOU SO OFTEN DO?! Is there someone else in your life, Scythe? I thought we were close.
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  • locallyunscenelocallyunscene Feeder of Trolls Join Date: 2002-12-25 Member: 11528Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1650300:date=Sep 18 2007, 02:28 PM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Sep 18 2007, 02:28 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1650300"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Did you do the alt + tab thing? Or did you IGNORE ME LIKE YOU SO OFTEN DO?! Is there someone else in your life, Scythe? I thought we were close.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    same and yes.
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  • ANeMANeM Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16267Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1650279:date=Sep 18 2007, 09:42 AM:name=Hellbilly)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hellbilly @ Sep 18 2007, 09:42 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1650279"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Switch to Nvidia. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />

    Seriously though, i used to get that on my ATI card back when HL2 first came. Never experienced again after i switched to Nvidia.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    My old computer had two different ATI cards during its lifetime and never had this problem
    My new computer uses a nVidia card and DOES have this problem
    Your logic is flawed :X
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  • Private_ColemanPrivate_Coleman PhD in Video Games Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7510Members
    I am also having this problem.

    I have updated my video card, chipset and motherboard audio drivers and defragged the game files. It happened a LOT with fortress forever and TF2 specifically and occasionally with Dystopia.

    I took out my 2 512MB DDR1 RAM modules and swapped them for a brand new 1GB module, and played TF2 for about 8 mapcycles without a hitch. Then this morning after about 30 minutes of play it locked up again. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />


    Video Card: ATI Radeon X800 PRO
    Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-8IPE1000 v2
    RAM: 1x 1GB DDR1
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  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    edited September 2007
    <!--quoteo(post=1650300:date=Sep 19 2007, 04:28 AM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Sep 19 2007, 04:28 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1650300"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Did you do the alt + tab thing? Or did you IGNORE ME LIKE YOU SO OFTEN DO?! Is there someone else in your life, Scythe? I thought we were close.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    A mood of utter desperation of the darkest kind struck me today. I drew the curtains, I took the phone off the hook, I locked the door. Furtively glancing over my shoulder for fear of approaching footsteps of someone that would discover me in the midst of the heinous act I was about to perform, I started up TF2. From the menu I alt-tabbed to my desktop, then alt-tabbed back in. That's right. I took Tycho's advice.

    I played for two hours before I was sure.

    It had worked.

    I then achieved success in running HL2:EP2 by performing the same dark ritual, wondering all the while if I should be somehow warding myself against the evil thus embodied in such an act. I feared that without proper knowledge of the dark magics I was performing I could somehow be taken... possessed, if you will, by some daemon of the other side. No sign of such a foul entity has yet manifested in me though it might only be a matter of time...

    --Scythe--

    P.S. I also added "-novid -w 1280 -h 1024 -refresh 75 -nocrashdialog -32bit -dxlevel 90" to my launch options. I don't remember doing so. The being within me obviously had taken control.
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  • pardzhpardzh Join Date: 2002-10-25 Member: 1601Members
    edited September 2007
    Hmm, I get this every now and then with Fortress Forever.

    Will try the alt-tabbing in a minute.

    <b>Edit:</b> It worked for about an hour... then crashed again. Gotta be an ATI thing.
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  • GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
    edited September 2007
    well that would be one of the more humorous things concerning Valve if it's true. Valve says, HL2: best with ATI. Only you might crash more often.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1650679:date=Sep 20 2007, 07:03 AM:name=Scythe)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Scythe @ Sep 20 2007, 07:03 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1650679"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->A mood of utter desperation of the darkest kind struck me today. I drew the curtains, I took the phone off the hook, I locked the door. Furtively glancing over my shoulder for fear of approaching footsteps of someone that would discover me in the midst of the heinous act I was about to perform, I started up TF2. From the menu I alt-tabbed to my desktop, then alt-tabbed back in. That's right. I took Tycho's advice.

    I played for two hours before I was sure.

    It had worked.

    I then achieved success in running HL2:EP2 by performing the same dark ritual, wondering all the while if I should be somehow warding myself against the evil thus embodied in such an act. I feared that without proper knowledge of the dark magics I was performing I could somehow be taken... possessed, if you will, by some daemon of the other side. No sign of such a foul entity has yet manifested in me though it might only be a matter of time...

    --Scythe--

    P.S. I also added "-novid -w 1280 -h 1024 -refresh 75 -nocrashdialog -32bit -dxlevel 90" to my launch options. I don't remember doing so. The being within me obviously had taken control.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    That's what she said.
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  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    So yeah. I'm pissed. I'm f**king pissed.

    This latest patch? Causes the screen to go black when you tab back into the game. You can blindly click buttons and sometimes you hit the "Player Stats" button and you get shown your stats, from there you can click the close stats screen button and you go back to the menu. You can join a game... and then it starts crashing exactly as it did before.

    If there was a valve employee in front of me right now I'd do my damn best to beat the snot out of them.

    --Scythe--
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    Considering the forums you frequent, the Valve employee closest to you is Them, who is not only likely to deserve no blame for this, but is also heavier than you.
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  • Private_ColemanPrivate_Coleman PhD in Video Games Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7510Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1650969:date=Sep 21 2007, 05:56 AM:name=Scythe)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Scythe @ Sep 21 2007, 05:56 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1650969"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->So yeah. I'm pissed. I'm f**king pissed.

    This latest patch? Causes the screen to go black when you tab back into the game. You can blindly click buttons and sometimes you hit the "Player Stats" button and you get shown your stats, from there you can click the close stats screen button and you go back to the menu. You can join a game... and then it starts crashing exactly as it did before.

    If there was a valve employee in front of me right now I'd do my damn best to beat the snot out of them.

    --Scythe--<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    1. Join server
    2. Select team
    3. alt-tab
    4. Play
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  • LazyEyeLazyEye Join Date: 2005-01-06 Member: 32959Members, NS1 Playtester
    Turn sound quality to low.

    Fixed this issue for me in Fortress Forever.
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  • locallyunscenelocallyunscene Feeder of Trolls Join Date: 2002-12-25 Member: 11528Members, Constellation
    NVidia released a new 8XXX driver on the 18th of Sept. This fixed my problem.
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  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    For me this problem started after the new steam community stuff was released, disabling the ingame part of it fixed it for me.

    It's under your: file->settings->in-game tab. Just unckeck the checkbox and hope it fixes the crash issue... It did fix for me and then my mobo died <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> So I can' check to make sure, since my current rig... Well I don't think it can run HL2 and above. I could play TF2 for 3 hours straight after I disabled it though.
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  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    I tried disabling the ingame community stuff. It just keeps coming back. I go and look at the checkbox and it's unchecked, yet the damn community stuff still comes up ingame.

    There was another patch released today. I'm going to try my luck.

    --Scythe--
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  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    Alright, my bad!

    I killed the GameOverlayUI.exe from taskmanager. And that fixed it for me... If I try and disable it with the checkbox it is still active ingame...
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