Telltale Games

4eyes · 03/13/2008, 10:13 am

I bought the season 1 dvd last summer and played from start to finish the first episode. And now, on the same computer, on exactly same configuration, each episode crashes during the opening demo, just after the second or third "cut" depending on the episode.

I have:
Windows XP Pro SP2
AMD Athlon XP 2400+
1GB of RAM
ATI Radeon 9550
DirectX up to date

Last month when I tried the episodes, they gave error dialogues that my graphic card drivers were old and needed updating. I updated. After that just the crashing. Since then I've re-installed my graphic card drivers (several times), and even my windows. No change. I tried the older drivers again and they gave the 'you need to update' -error.

Any suggestions?

Will · 03/13/2008, 10:38 am

You mention that your DirectX is up to date, but have you tried reinstalling it since the problem?

Also, this is in the new version of the episodes, yes? Do you have any sort of CD burning/cloning program like Alcohol or Daemon Tools or some kind of debugging software? Any of these could be causing the copy protection to freak out and crash.

4eyes · 03/13/2008, 10:44 am

The windows re-install pretty much forced a directx re-install. I'm not sure what you mean with the "newer" version but yes, this is the all-episode-on-one-dvd collection. I do have Daemon tools installed, but I tried once to run one episode after shutting down firewall, virus detection tools, daemon and everything else unnecessary with no difference. Should I uninstall it?

Will · 03/13/2008, 10:57 am

Oh right, dvd, not download. Daemon tools can be rather persnickety and act up even if it looks disabled. It might not hurt to try uninstalling it, but I can't guarantee that it will solve the problem. Is this the European retail version of the dvd or the one from our online store?

4eyes · 03/13/2008, 11:24 am

I'll try uninstalling. The DVD is European.

4eyes · 03/13/2008, 11:34 am

Nope, didn't work, still a crash. The sound hangs up, screen goes black and then the computer reboots. I thought that it was a overheating problem or something, but every other (3D) game I've tried works fine.

Will · 03/13/2008, 01:02 pm

Hmm, would you mind downloading Episode 4 from our site and trying that? http://www.telltalegames.com/store/lincolnmustdie

I'm curious to see if this has anything to do with the disc version.

4eyes · 03/13/2008, 01:54 pm

Tried that, guess it's not about the disc. Same kind of crash, this time before the opening sequence even begins. Saw the gametap logo and heard some sounds, but it's not the ordinary saxophone intro.

Will · 03/13/2008, 02:04 pm

Hmm, well the system reboot leads me to think that it is driver related, so have you tried updating your soundcard drivers?

4eyes · 03/13/2008, 02:22 pm

Thanks for reminding, hadn't done that

Didn't help though

4eyes · 03/15/2008, 04:56 am

Any more suggestions? Has anyone else had problems with ATI Radeon cards? Because the when I first tried the games they didn't crash. Only thing I've done since is updated maybe directX, graphic card drivers... and I doubt nothing else... (= no hardware on my computer has changed).

Will · 03/15/2008, 05:52 pm

Hmm, load up your control panel and go to Sounds and Audio devices, then click on the Advanced button down in Speaker settings. Now go over to the performance tab and try turning off hardware acceleration. See if that makes a difference.

Oh, also. You said that Windows forced a DirectX reinstall. Did this pull it from online or was the install from the Windows cd?

4eyes · 03/16/2008, 12:38 am

Turning the hardware acceleration off didn't remove the creashing, but it might be the game ran for a but longer than otherwise, I'll test that again when I have more time.

DirectX has been updated from the web.

4eyes · 03/18/2008, 02:57 pm

Yes, problem solved!

I uninstalled ATI's own device drivers and installed Radeon Omega Drivers. Worked like a charm!

Thanks to you Will for your help! Hopefully this will also be of help to someone else.

PS. You can find the drivers at http://www.omegadrivers.net/omega_drivers.php

Will · 03/18/2008, 04:01 pm

Sweet. I'm always hesitant to suggest third party drivers, but I may have to start doing it more.

4eyes · 03/19/2008, 01:38 am

My trust towards them was just made hundredfold :P

Feel free to remove this thread, or lock with "solved" added to title or anything.

K9 of War · 05/16/2008, 09:34 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4eyes

Yes, problem solved!

I uninstalled ATI's own device drivers and installed Radeon Omega Drivers. Worked like a charm!

Thanks to you Will for your help! Hopefully this will also be of help to someone else.

PS. You can find the drivers at http://www.omegadrivers.net/omega_drivers.php

Thanks for the link. I also have a 2600 AMD Barton processor and an ATI Radeon 9600. Same kind of crashes.
I am reluctant to install the Omega drivers just for one game, cuz the new Radeon drivers and catalyst have been working so well with new 3d games, and I (whoops, I meant "My dog...) has been playing S&M on my wifes old computer with an NVIDIA card.
Might try it anyway, cuz hers only works on low graphics and 800 x 600.
I need to transfer the dog's saved-games to my computer and let him back at it, I guess.

P.S.: Did you install and use the driver detective program on that site or just the Omega drivers?
If you used the driver detective and it ALSO installed soundcard drivers, then it could have been a problem with your soundcard, rather than video.
Still curious as to whether I should try it.

Will · 05/16/2008, 11:30 am

Well you could always install it and then check your performance on the other games. Worst case scenario you just have to uninstall it again. Omega drivers have a good enough reputation that they shouldn't wreck your computer or anything.

K9 of War · 05/16/2008, 01:54 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will

Well you could always install it and then check your performance on the other games. Worst case scenario you just have to uninstall it again. Omega drivers have a good enough reputation that they shouldn't wreck your computer or anything.

I may try that, but I have noticed lately that most games are designed with NVIDIA in mind, whereas ATI Radeon is somewhat left in the lurch.
Radeon's are great AGP cards, but too many NVIDIA proprietary games are out there for PC, that only claim to support ATI (bought out by AMD), and likewise cleverly neglected through the behest of Intel. Now they are chiefly concerned with PCI express NVIDIA cards, and dual-core Intel processor formats.
We AMD PC users (oops, I meant the dog) are the Jurassic's of the gaming crowd.

tabacco · 05/16/2008, 02:38 pm

I think you're confusing support with marketing deals. All those games that say 'designed for nVidia' or whatever are basically just selling ad space. They're not actually nVidia exclusive.

03/13/2008, 10:13 am	#1
4eyes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10	Sam & Max - Season 1 All Episodes crash during opening sequence I bought the season 1 dvd last summer and played from start to finish the first episode. And now, on the same computer, on exactly same configuration, each episode crashes during the opening demo, just after the second or third "cut" depending on the episode. I have: Windows XP Pro SP2 AMD Athlon XP 2400+ 1GB of RAM ATI Radeon 9550 DirectX up to date Last month when I tried the episodes, they gave error dialogues that my graphic card drivers were old and needed updating. I updated. After that just the crashing. Since then I've re-installed my graphic card drivers (several times), and even my windows. No change. I tried the older drivers again and they gave the 'you need to update' -error. Any suggestions? Last edited by 4eyes; 03/13/2008 at 10:23 am.

03/18/2008, 02:57 pm	#14
4eyes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10	Problem solved! Yes, problem solved! I uninstalled ATI's own device drivers and installed Radeon Omega Drivers. Worked like a charm! Thanks to you Will for your help! Hopefully this will also be of help to someone else. PS. You can find the drivers at http://www.omegadrivers.net/omega_drivers.php

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03/13/2008, 10:38 am	#2
Will Telltale Team Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sausalito, CA Posts: 2,331	You mention that your DirectX is up to date, but have you tried reinstalling it since the problem? Also, this is in the new version of the episodes, yes? Do you have any sort of CD burning/cloning program like Alcohol or Daemon Tools or some kind of debugging software? Any of these could be causing the copy protection to freak out and crash.

03/13/2008, 10:44 am	#3
4eyes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10	The windows re-install pretty much forced a directx re-install. I'm not sure what you mean with the "newer" version but yes, this is the all-episode-on-one-dvd collection. I do have Daemon tools installed, but I tried once to run one episode after shutting down firewall, virus detection tools, daemon and everything else unnecessary with no difference. Should I uninstall it?

03/13/2008, 10:57 am	#4
Will Telltale Team Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sausalito, CA Posts: 2,331	Oh right, dvd, not download. Daemon tools can be rather persnickety and act up even if it looks disabled. It might not hurt to try uninstalling it, but I can't guarantee that it will solve the problem. Is this the European retail version of the dvd or the one from our online store?

03/13/2008, 11:24 am	#5
4eyes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10	I'll try uninstalling. The DVD is European.

03/13/2008, 11:34 am	#6
4eyes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10	Nope, didn't work, still a crash. The sound hangs up, screen goes black and then the computer reboots. I thought that it was a overheating problem or something, but every other (3D) game I've tried works fine.

03/13/2008, 01:02 pm	#7
Will Telltale Team Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sausalito, CA Posts: 2,331	Hmm, would you mind downloading Episode 4 from our site and trying that? http://www.telltalegames.com/store/lincolnmustdie I'm curious to see if this has anything to do with the disc version.

03/13/2008, 01:54 pm	#8
4eyes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10	Tried that, guess it's not about the disc. Same kind of crash, this time before the opening sequence even begins. Saw the gametap logo and heard some sounds, but it's not the ordinary saxophone intro.

03/13/2008, 02:04 pm	#9
Will Telltale Team Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sausalito, CA Posts: 2,331	Hmm, well the system reboot leads me to think that it is driver related, so have you tried updating your soundcard drivers?

03/13/2008, 02:22 pm	#10
4eyes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10	Thanks for reminding, hadn't done that Didn't help though

03/15/2008, 04:56 am	#11
4eyes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10	Any more suggestions? Has anyone else had problems with ATI Radeon cards? Because the when I first tried the games they didn't crash. Only thing I've done since is updated maybe directX, graphic card drivers... and I doubt nothing else... (= no hardware on my computer has changed).

03/15/2008, 05:52 pm	#12
Will Telltale Team Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sausalito, CA Posts: 2,331	Hmm, load up your control panel and go to Sounds and Audio devices, then click on the Advanced button down in Speaker settings. Now go over to the performance tab and try turning off hardware acceleration. See if that makes a difference. Oh, also. You said that Windows forced a DirectX reinstall. Did this pull it from online or was the install from the Windows cd?

03/16/2008, 12:38 am	#13
4eyes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10	Turning the hardware acceleration off didn't remove the creashing, but it might be the game ran for a but longer than otherwise, I'll test that again when I have more time. DirectX has been updated from the web.

03/18/2008, 04:01 pm	#15
Will Telltale Team Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sausalito, CA Posts: 2,331	Sweet. I'm always hesitant to suggest third party drivers, but I may have to start doing it more.

03/19/2008, 01:38 am	#16
4eyes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10	My trust towards them was just made hundredfold :P Feel free to remove this thread, or lock with "solved" added to title or anything.

05/16/2008, 11:30 am	#18
Will Telltale Team Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sausalito, CA Posts: 2,331	Well you could always install it and then check your performance on the other games. Worst case scenario you just have to uninstall it again. Omega drivers have a good enough reputation that they shouldn't wreck your computer or anything.

05/16/2008, 02:38 pm	#20
tabacco I Feel Fantastic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Marin County, CA Posts: 2,129	I think you're confusing support with marketing deals. All those games that say 'designed for nVidia' or whatever are basically just selling ad space. They're not actually nVidia exclusive.