DOCUMENT:Q297169 11-JUN-2002 [homegame] TITLE :Asheron's Call: The Game Stops Responding or Quits Unexpectedly PRODUCT :Microsoft Home Games PROD/VER::1.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbimu ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Asheron's Call, version 1.0 - Microsoft Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty, version 1.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you play Microsoft Asheron's Call, the game may stop responding (hang) or quit unexpectedly. CAUSE ===== Asheron's Call encountered an unrecoverable error. RESOLUTION ========== To resolve this issue, follow these steps: Update or Disable 3rd Party Add-ins ----------------------------------- Contact the manufacturer of any 3rd party add-in used with the game for instructions on how to obtain the latest version of the add-in, how to disable it, or how to remove it. For additional information about 3rd party add-ins with Asheron's Call, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q316326 Asheron's Call: Game Quits or Err Msg: Client Has Encountered... Remove and Reinstall -------------------- 1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs. 3. On the Install/Uninstall tab, click Microsoft Asheron's Call, and then click Add/Remove. 4. Follow the instructions on the screen to uninstall Asheron's Call. 5. Insert the Asheron's Call CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive. 6. If Asheron's Call Setup does not start automatically: a. Click Start, and then click Run. b. In the Open box, type the following line, and then click OK: " :\setup.exe " (without the quotation marks) where is the drive letter of the CD-ROM drive. 7. Follow the instructions on the screen to install Asheron's Call. 8. When you start Asheron's Call again, the program is automatically updated to the current version. It is recommended that you update Asheron's Call with the Game Download Patch prior to starting the program. Installing the patch updates the program and results in a much quicker automatic update. To download the patch, click the link belowt: http://zone.msn.com/asheronscall/downloads.asp NOTE: For the best results, it is recommended that you download the Game Download Patch using a high-speed Internet connection (DSL, cable modem, or T1). Disable the Intro Movies ------------------------ To disable the introductory movies, start the game without the Asheron's Call CD in the CD-ROM drive. Disable AGP Texturing in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool ---------------------------------------------------- 1. Click Start, and then click Run. 2. In the Open box, type "dxdiag" (without the quotation marks), and then click OK. 3. Click the Display tab. 4. Under "DirectX Features", next to "AGP Texture Acceleration", click Disable. 5. Under "AGP Texture", click Disable. 6. When you receive the following warning, click OK: This will disable usage of AGP (Acceleration Graphics Port) for all display devices on your system which support it. 7. Click Exit. Disable Direct 3D ----------------- 1. On the Asheron's Call startup screen, click Settings. 2. Click 3D Settings. 3. Click to clear the Enable 3D Acceleration check box, and then click OK. 4. Click OK, and then click Exit. Unplug Any Unused Gaming Devices -------------------------------- Before launching the game, unplug any unused USB and Gameport Gaming Devices. For example, joysticks, racing wheels, and gamepads. Update Your Video Driver ------------------------ Contact the manufacturer of your video adapter to inquire about how to obtain and install the latest version of the video driver for your video adapter. For information about how to contact your hardware manufacturer, click the appropriate article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K Q60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P Q60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z To identify the manufacturer and model of your video adapter: 1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2. Double-click System. 3. If you are using a Windows 95/98-based computer, click the Device Manager tab. -or- If you are using a Windows 2000-based computer, on the Hardware tab, click Device Manager. 4. Click the plus sign (+) next to Display adapters to expand the branch. 5. Under the "Display adapters" branch, note the manufacturer and model of your video adapter, and then click OK. 6. Close all open windows. Update Your Sound Driver ------------------------ Contact the manufacturer of your sound card to inquire about how to obtain and install the latest version of the sound driver for your sound card. For information about how to contact your hardware manufacturer, click the appropriate article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K Q60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P Q60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z To identify the manufacturer and model of your sound card: 1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2. Double-click System. 3. If you are using a Windows 95/98-based computer, click the Device Manager tab. -or- If you are using a Windows 2000-based computer, on the Hardware tab, click Device Manager. 4. Click the plus sign (+) next to Sound, video and game controllers to expand the branch. 5. Under the "Sound, video and game controllers" branch, note the manufacturer and model of your sound card, and then click OK. 6. Close all open windows. Turn Off Sound In The Game -------------------------- 1. On the Asheron's Call game screen, click Options in the lower right corner of the screen. 2. Click the Sound/Graphics tab. 3. Click to clear the Sound Effects, Ambient Sounds, and Interface Sound check marks. 4. Click Apply. Clean Boot the Computer ----------------------- To clean boot your computer, use the appropriate method for your version of Windows: Q192926 How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98 Q267288 How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows Millennium Edition Q281770 How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 2000 Configure Zone Alarm (if installed) ----------------------------------- 1. Start ZoneAlarm. 2. Click Programs. 3. In the Program list, point to the program named client that has the Asheron's Call icon. A text window is displayed with details on the program. Verify that File Name is similar to the following: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Asheron's Call\Client.exe 4. Right-click client, point to Internet, and then click Allow. 5. Minimize ZoneAlarm. MORE INFORMATION ================ The third-party products discussed in this article are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability. Additional query words: asherons crash crashes hangs ====================================================================== Keywords : kbimu Technology : kbHomeProdSearch _IKkbbogus kbGamesSearch kbMSNSearch kbAsheronSearch kbAsheron100 kbAsheronDarkMaj Version : :1.0 Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2002.