Spontaneous Reboots

[DANWATTO]

Hi All,

 

Just want to share a problem I've been having, halfway through missions my computer would reboot with nothing in the event log or game logs!!

 

I tried unplugging everything, removing all mods, reinstalling DCS etc, even buying a powered usb hub.

 

But the thing that fixed it - I removed flaming cliffs, then used the starforce removal utility.

 

After doing some search I found starforce can reboot people's computers, and it can happen on 64bit systems alot. So it all makes sense!

 

Since removing flaming cliffs and lockon and starforce, I've been playing DCS for 4 hours now with no reboots.

 

I'll have to wait until flaming cliffs 2 comes out as it should have the activation style, and not the hardcore computer crashing starforce - I hope that is!!!

 

Can anyone confirm what the protection on FC2 will be?

 

Cheers

 

Taipan

[Kuky]

After doing some search I found starforce can reboot people's computers, and it can happen on 64bit systems alot. So it all makes sense!

 

not true, having 64bit OS here and never had system reboot because of LockOn/SF. If your system is rebooting just like that you have unstable system.

[joey45]

no probs here.

 

What OS are you using, and your specs??

[EtherealN]

Can anyone confirm what the protection on FC2 will be?

 

From the Flaming Cliffs 2 FAQ (thread here: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=47143 )

 

Q: What copy protection will be used?

A: StarForce online activation (only) will be used. Based on the success of DCS: Black Shark protection, we feel this provides the best compromise of user-friendliness and protection of property. Unlike the reported hardware problems reported with an earlier version of StarForce applied to the original Flaming Cliffs, no such issues have been reported with the current online activation method that does not install any drivers to the user’s computer.

 

That aside, I do agree with Kuky. Even if it doesn't happen again after removal of FC1.12's StarForce driver it might be worth taking a look through the machine. A reboot (especially one without any logging of the event in Windows) simply should not happen so I do think you might want to perform a health check on the system just to be on the safe side.

Edited December 17, 2009 by EtherealN

[DANWATTO]

Good to hear it won't be the hardware screwy version of starforce.

 

Regarding my system:

Windows XP 64bit with all the udpates

Nvidia drivers updated to the latest.

1000w power supply

Core i7, triple channel 6gb ram

Nvidia gtx295 graphics

3x hard drives.

7 usb devices.

 

The 1000w PSU should be enough, as it is certified for crossfire/sli so having only one graphics card should be ok.

 

I have not overclocked anything ever. The system runs fine on every other game.

 

I don't know how I'm supposed to do a health check on my hardware, but it sounds very painstaking and time consuming. The only thing I can think of is to replace bits of kit one at a time and see if it crashes..

 

However without fc installed or starforce, DCS is still going strong. I got through 3 georgian oil war missions without quitting the game, I couldn't even get through the first mission without a reboot before! I'm also pleased I got through them without dying, a milestone for me :)

 

Sure your system doesn't reboot even though it's 64bit, but your system doesn't have the same combination of things on it. It may be particular software that I had which starforce drivers thought were bad, and caused reboots. You may not have that software.

 

At the end of the day, I'm happy because I can finish missions without reboots :joystick:

[Panzertard]

Win 7 x64 since the beta, just minor issues during the first beta - otherwise x64 has been working flawlessly for me as well.

 

Since you chose to use x64, but XP - I guess you did this quite a while ago? If that os has been running for 2-3 years it may have accumulated problems over time - maybe it's time for a reinstall? :)

[Shaman]

Hello, I am using Windows 7 x64 on ASUS N50VN laptop, and DCS haven't crashed on me even once. Please check your system drivers and BIOS updates. I really recommend to find update for your BIOS (I had unstable graphics x64 driver before update), and then set BIOS to best default system setttings (safe ones). This might help.

[EtherealN]

Danwatto, the first step of a health check isn't a big thing. Run DxDiag and have it output a file and it'll tell you in the "notes" section if it has found registry errors and the like. If it doesn't find anything then your system is probably healthy.

[Panzertard]

... If it doesn't find anything then your system is probably healthy.

I got strong objections against that statement, hardware/filesystem/registry and areas that may contain problems unrelated to DxDiag wont show up in that summary.

But DxDiag is a good start to get an overview over the system. :)

Edited December 18, 2009 by Panzertard

[EtherealN]

Objection sustained. :)

 

I should probably have added a qualifier that it is as healthy as it is likely to be kept without giving specific effort towards it, since Danwatto seemed disinclined to spend time and effort on the operation whereas the DxDiag step doesn't really require either.