Day of defeat

Hi guys,

need some help here.

i've come to the conclusion that as this system im using is really old with a low spec on borad graphics that it appears that im going to have to buy a new PC in order to play day of defeat (steam).

I've updated all the drivers through intel etc and understand that the motherboard on this unit does not have a pci e slot.

The spec for my computer is below (i got this info through everest)

the problem is that when the game is run it just reverts back to windows without any explanation for crashing. The computer does not crash.

I've turned off the firewall and antivirus etc just to be sure that these were not causing a problem when running the game but to no avail

my question here is, can i overclock this machine or change the bios settings in order to play this game. i understand that the machine may not have much life after this if it is possible.

I've never done any changes to bios before nor have a ventured into overclocking either.

if anyone can help it would be very much appreciated.

thanks


Computer
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 3
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name FUJITSU-SYSTEMS
User Name Administrator

Motherboard
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4, 2400 MHz (18 x 133)
Motherboard Name FUJITSU SIEMENS D1451
Motherboard Chipset Intel Brookdale-G i845GEV
System Memory 1014 MB (PC2100 DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type Phoenix (02/17/03)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

Display
Video Adapter Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller (64 MB)
3D Accelerator Intel Extreme Graphics
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB]

Multimedia
Audio Adapter Intel 82801DB ICH4 - AC'97 Audio Controller [A-1]

Storage
IDE Controller Intel(R) 82801DB Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24CB
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive SAMSUNG SP0411N (40 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133)
Optical Drive TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S222A
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions
C: (NTFS) 38193 MB (20604 MB free)

Input
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse HID-compliant mouse

Network
Network Adapter ADMtek AN983 10/100Mbps PCI Adapter (192.168.0.3)

Peripherals
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
USB1 Controller Intel 82801DB ICH4 - USB Controller [A-1]
USB1 Controller Intel 82801DB ICH4 - USB Controller [A-1]
USB1 Controller Intel 82801DB ICH4 - USB Controller [A-1]
USB2 Controller Intel 82801DB ICH4 - Enhanced USB2 Controller [A-1]
USB Device USB Human Interface Device

 

thankyou for replying but i'm not sure how to do that?

"Running it in Windows 95 or 98 compatibility mode"

Could you explain please?

 

have tried that and have been given the following message

"please turn off capability mode, right click steam, properties, got compatability tab, uncheck run this application in compatability mode"

with regard to the display settings, 256 , 640 x 480 . Will these have any bearing?

I've tried both 95, 98 and 2000 but no luck!

 

thanks for your help TimW

 

Any further help form anyone would be good:confused

 

Steam has panic attacks when you talk to it about compatibility mode. Just ignore it.

Your system specs are more than enough to run DoD, and the developers listed XP in the system requirements, so you should be able to run it. So when you say "reverts back to windows", does the window vanish but the game keeps running, or does the game crash to desktop entirely?

Do your other Steam games work okay?

Also, if you don't mind, go through this check list:

1. Right-click the game in your Library, pick properties, and go to the local files tab and verify integrity of the game cache files.

2. If it still crashes, make sure you know your login credentials, and shut down the client. Go to your Steam directory (in Windows 7 it defaults to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam) and delete the file ClientRegistry.blob Restart the client, and log in when prompted.

3. If it still crashes, delete the local files (=Steam-speak for "uninstall) and re-download and reinstall the game.

 

many thanks mimsy,

i've done as suggested:

"does the window vanish but the game keeps running, or does the game crash to desktop entirely"?

the game crashes to desktop.

I've verified the integrity of the game cache files ran the game and it crashed again. I then deleted the file ClientRegistry.blob and restarted the game and it crashed again.

I then uninstalled the whole of steam and reinstalled but got this error message "steam.exe(main exception) ERROR:delete of steam.exe failed. Win32 Error 5 "access is denied".

After this steam did actually update and completed. Day of defeat, counter strike and half life 2 then installed but the problem is the same as previously.

I cannot play any of these games. The same problem occurs, the game loads, the picture of the guy with a valve in the back of his head appears then the game crashes and reverts back to the desktop...:cry

With regard to the initial error message above I visited steam support and followed the instructions allowing steam to update in full in safe mode but i still have the same problem.

 

also i can see that other people are having this problem

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1790957

i followed the option to start dod with the task manager open, the hl2 is there for a short while but then disapears?

 

Have HL2, CS and DoD ever been playable on your computer? If they were, how long ago was that?

Do any other games run on your computer, and if so, which ones?

I'm wondering if that integrated Intel video adapter is just too weak for what you're asking it to do...

 

I was just curious if you had checked your computer to see if it runs as well as possible, first? For instance, have you tried http://www.majorgeeks.com/Advanced_SystemCare_3_d5927.html ? Remove as many as possible startup programs etc, even try turning on the "turbo boost" mode? I'm assuming you want to play DoD because you like WW2 first person shooters, I would suggest trying Red Orchestra (downloadable through Steam at about $10 now, I think). You can Google to get to the game's website, check out the gameplay videos etc. It's in my opinion much more realistic than DoD, and still has quite a few active players, as well as a free mod called Darkest Hour. I can't confirm this, but the system requirements may be a bit lower than DoD:Source. Good luck!

 

Hi mimsy,

"I'm wondering if that integrated Intel video adapter is just too weak for what you're asking it to do"

this could be the problem. I haven't played dod on this actual machine before. I used to play it on another machine although that wasn't much better in spec than this one but thanks to you for your help.


Hi oldslowguy,

thanks for more help, i'll give the link you gave me a go and if this fails will have a look at the Red Orchestra, just a bit gutted cos i really love playing dod even though it's an old game

 

The way you described the game crash unfortunately fits in with the video card not being enough... it runs everything up until the point where it needs to start loading the game's demanding graphics, and when it can't do that it crashes.

What was the video card of your other computer? Can you move it over?

 

the graphics card is an old nvidia but there is not any pci slot on this machine so it wouldn't fit.

I'll have to get hold of another machine but thanks for all your help.

 

APG slot? But others are correct. Up-grading an old computer. Cost vrs newer. No contest. You can get a newer faster for less $ than spending $ to up-grade yours.

 

Hello all again,

I've managed to obtain a new system and the specs are as below. I've actually managed to get day of defeat working by I have serious lag issues.

I've spoken to one or two people who are actually playing the game and have managed to find out my fps, which is 9.

Now,

As i'm quite new to all of this i understand that this is my frame rate per second.

So, My question based on the spec of this system below is

"Will this system be able to smoothly run this game". I don't have a graphics card on this system. I'm using the Intel Grantsdale-G i915GV.

Can I increase the fps. I've had a look at changing the config and trying to run it but i'm not so sure that it's actually working.

I've already reduced all the grahics to low, reduced the resolution and have even installed game booster(which i dont think makes any real difference).

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 3
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)

Motherboard
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4 515, 2933 MHz (22 x 133)

Motherboard Chipset Intel Grantsdale-G i915GV
System Memory 759 MB (DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (10/16/04)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

Display
Video Adapter Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family (128 MB)
3D Accelerator Intel GMA 900
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB]
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB]

Multimedia
Audio Adapter Intel 82801FB ICH6 - AC'97 Audio Controller [B-2]

Storage
IDE Controller Intel(R) 82801FB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 2651
Disk Drive ST380011AS (80 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA)
Optical Drive SAMSUNG DVD-ROM SD-616F (16x/48x DVD-ROM)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions
C: (NTFS) 65193 MB (27478 MB free)

Input
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse HID-compliant mouse

Network
Network Adapter Realtek RTL8169/8110 Family Gigabit Ethernet NIC (192.168.0.2)
Modem Smart Link 56K Modem

Peripherals
USB1 Controller Intel 82801FB ICH6 - USB Universal Host Controller [B-2]
USB1 Controller Intel 82801FB ICH6 - USB Universal Host Controller [B-2]
USB1 Controller Intel 82801FB ICH6 - USB Universal Host Controller [B-2]
USB1 Controller Intel 82801FB ICH6 - USB Universal Host Controller [B-2]
USB2 Controller Intel 82801FB ICH6 - Enhanced USB2 Controller [B-2]
USB Device USB Human Interface Device

 

You still need a better graphics card...

 

I think I may have the solution, I've just got hold of another system (yes its old) but I think that it may do the trick. I'm just waiting on some new ram to come and yes, this machine does have a video card slot!

Thanks for you help mimsy, you've been a good help to me.

 

Hi Mimsy,

I've managed to actually get dod working to some extent based on the system spec below but am experiencing slow gameplay.

My fps rate is only 10.

Any advice as to how I can improve the rate or make the game more smoother to play? I've read a little about changing the config file but am not too certain as to how to do this or even if it will improve the game?

Apart from anti virus and windows xp, steam, dod is the only main programs running on this system.

Also Im guessing that the card i'm using maybe too old. Can you suggest an alternative video card that would work based on my system settings below?

All help would really be appreciated.

Thanks

Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 3
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)

Motherboard
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4, 1300 MHz (13 x 100)
Motherboard Name Hewlett-Packard HP WMTA System Board
Motherboard Chipset Intel Tehama i850(E)
System Memory 1024 MB (PC800 ECC RDRAM)
BIOS Type Phoenix (03/15/01)

Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce 6200 (256 MB)
3D Accelerator nVIDIA GeForce 6200 AGP
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB]

Physical Memory
Total 1023 MB
Used 440 MB
Free 583 MB

 

I looked at Newegg, AGP cards still being sold, I suspect you need more RAM, the thing to consider is how much $ do you want to invest in an already "old" system, maybe check for used cards, perhaps on Craigslist or at a swapmeet type place? Good luck, I feel your frustration as I used to have a very similar system.

 

I run DoD, Red Orchestra, and Darkest Hour. I did notice that you listed a 56k modem in your setup. If you are getting lagging, it may not be your video, it may be your connection. How are you connecting to the internet?

I also note that you only have 1GB of RAM. Meeting the minimum hardware specs means that the games will play at the minimum levels possible. To that end reduce your video resolution to the lowest level in the game and then try upping it until you get a balance in resoution and playability.

Your throughput will make a vast difference in playability for these types of games.

The Nvidea card you have is very slow and will not handle the graphics as well as a card with 512MB on it. Obviously the more RAM you have on the video card the better the game will run.

 

I've managed to set up the computer for playing DOD but have a poor (fps) approx 9. so i purchased the nvidea geforce 6600gt (128mb)

I've reinstalled steam and day of defeat etc but nvidea driver download does not appear to update the graphics card. the 6600gt is an improvement on my old card but i still have a low fps of only 9?

I've applied the cl_update, cl_cmd, & rate etc but still am slow.

Can anyone give me any suggestions as to make my game play a bit quicker?