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Shock_Coil
Joined: Aug 13, 2010
Posts: 6
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 Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 11:32 pm Post subject: Windows 7 unstable for games |
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Hey, I "upgraded" to windows 7 64bit from Vista 64bit and Along with the change in OS, my games crash a lot. Any Source game (left 4 dead, Team Fortress 2, Counter Strike, ext) sometimes cause my monitor to go to sleep and when it goes back on, my computer is frozen and I have to restart it. It happens on CoD:Modern Warfare 2 while the level is about to come into view sometimes. I would rather go back to vista and just get a windows 7 task bar and have a much better experience than this. So, any ideas on how to fix these problems?
I got:
6gigs of ram
two Nvidia GTX 285's
Intel Core i7
And yes, all of the games ran just fine in Vista. |
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drwho07
Joined: Nov 29, 2007
Posts: 2240
Location: Central FL, USA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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Did you go into Win-7 and tell it how many cores you want it to use?
If you didn't, then it's only using one.
Did you do an UPDATE from Vista to Win-7 or did you do a Fresh Install?
Updates are often inferior and cause many problems.
Doc  |
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Shock_Coil
Joined: Aug 13, 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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| It's a fresh install, and how do I tell it how many cores I want it to use? Didn't even know I had to do that. |
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drwho07
Joined: Nov 29, 2007
Posts: 2240
Location: Central FL, USA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:13 am Post subject: |
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When you buy a new computer with Win-7 already installed or even if you install it yourself, there is nothing to tell your OS how many cores are in your CPU chip.
You would maybe think that an OS as expensive as Win-7 would also be intuitive enough to look at the CPU and determine how many cores it has. But like so many other things from Microshaft, it's dumber than a rock.
EDIT: In retrospect, it does know how many cores there are, but it will use just one, by Default, until you tell it otherwise.
Here's the little tweak I use on every new Win-7 or Vista PC that I have to work on.
Shorten the Boot Time in Vista & Win-7.
Go to the start button, choose run, then type msconfig and press Ok.
On the system configuration window, choose Boot tab.
Check No Gui Boot, then lower the timeout to a more manageable time.
I choose 3 seconds.
Next choose advanced options.
This is where you can choose how many processors you have.
* You may have to check another box, to get it to allow you to set the number of cores you want it to use. It will give you a choice of 1 or the actual number of cores you have available.
Most modern PC's are duo core (2 processors) with some quad core (4 processors)
then choose OK.
Now choose apply and OK, reboot and you should see a marked decrease in boot time.
This assumed that you've set your start menu to show the RUN command. That's something else that Win-7 doesn't do by itself.
Good Luck,
The Doctor
EDIT: 8-19-10
I just did the above settings today, on a vista PC that's at least a year old.
It had an AMD dual core processor, but the default was still set to just 1.
Last edited by drwho07 on Thu Aug 19, 2010 7:30 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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teejnits
Joined: Aug 18, 2010
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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That sounds similar to poor Video Card drivers.
So first question:
Did you specifically install the latest drivers directly from nVidia or the cards manufacturer? Throw away the video card driver CD, you'll want to make sure you've installed the latest Win7 - 64bit video card drivers.
It may also be a RAM issue, and since you have dual-cards, you'll want to check the BIOS for your MB and the BIOS for the MB Northbridge... Your motherboard manufacturer should have those BIOS updates (if it's a Dell, HP, etc... They'll put BIOS updates on their website).
As far as drwho07's comment about the RUN command... it's not on the start menu anymore because it IS a part of the start menu. That little search box acts like a run command. So try typing "Paint" and hit enter and it will run MS Paint, type "msconfig" and it'll run that... Type the name of any software you have and it'll find it and allow you to pull it right up.
As fas as Win 7 being dumber than a rock... I'm sorry you hate it so much. Sorry to say I've got nothing but positive reviews on it.
The little multi-core "trick" you suggested is mostly cosmetic, Windows 7 naturally (and beautifully) uses as many cores as you have. That checkbox forces your task manager SHOW both (or as many) cores as usage %'s. (since I can't post links yet, do a google search for: "HOWTO: Get Windows 7 to detect your new multi-core processor" and it will take you to a forum post explaining this)... Here is a pullquote:
| Quote: |
| This setting (the MSCONFIG option) is not mandatory to be set but some ppl do in order to force Task Manager to show 2 graphs (or 3) |
In fact, if you do this, and then upgrade your CPU in the future (to one with more cores), you might actually force Windows 7 DOWN into your old core #'s (as stated in the post).
Hope your issue is solved by now Shock_Coil... If not let me know and we can tweak out a few other possibilities. |
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Shock_Coil
Joined: Aug 13, 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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DrWho07
I did check off no GUI boot and set it to 3 seconds, but I think windows 7 is seeing all 8. Also, don't forget about windows key + R brings up the run window too.
Teejnits
Yep, updated from Nvidia's site. I don't know about the BIOS update, I tried installing the updater from Asus' site and it says it's incompatible even when I double checked that It was the windows 7 64bit installer.
I have remembered one thing that happens with some games, the sound loops when it happens and continues until it starts back up or I restart my computer. |
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teejnits
Joined: Aug 18, 2010
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:18 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| Shock_Coil wrote: |
Teejnits
Yep, updated from Nvidia's site. I don't know about the BIOS update, I tried installing the updater from Asus' site and it says it's incompatible even when I double checked that It was the windows 7 64bit installer.
I have remembered one thing that happens with some games, the sound loops when it happens and continues until it starts back up or I restart my computer. |
The Asus updater is problematic (from my experience)... I have used it with success but there have been times when I need to directly update the BIOS/Northbridge (directions are sometimes posted on the ASUS website).
What is your mobo model?
Another possible issue has to do with having SLi set up properly. Try removing a single card and playing the games and see if the same thing happens on one card.
Based on what you've said, I wouldn't be quick to blame Win 7, but rather a driver error from the Manufacturer of one of your components. Simply upgrading from Vista to Win 7 shouldn't be causing these issues (essentially, anything that worked in Vista should only work better in Win7).
Have you checked your logs? Just after a crash, right click on "My Computer" and choose "Manage". Find "Windows Logs", check the "System" logs. After a crash there should be one with a red icon. Make sure the "Date and Time" is the same time that the crash happened and that you're not looking at an old event.
When you find the crash log, post the general error message here. i wouldn't be completely surprised if the error was similar to:
"the nvidia display driver service service has reported an invalid current state 32"
The error generated is typically google-able and you'd probably find a solution that way. |
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Shock_Coil
Joined: Aug 13, 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:59 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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It came up again, and this is the warning I found:
Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered. |
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teejnits
Joined: Aug 18, 2010
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 5:22 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| Shock_Coil wrote: |
It came up again, and this is the warning I found:
Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered. |
I did a search on your error and came across this solution, see if it works.
"if you have a nvidia card you right click on your desktop then click on the nvidia control panel then in set physx cofiguration chose disabled then apply and your set."
From:
http forums (dot) techpowerup (dot) com (slash) showthread.php?t=99059
URL parsed since I need to have 100 posts before I can have urls or something.
Let me know if this helps solve your issue. |
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Shock_Coil
Joined: Aug 13, 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 6:49 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| I saw that too, only thing is, I can't. The drop down box only has: Auto Select, GeForce GTX 285 (1), GeForce GTX 285 (2), and CPU. There is no disable option. |
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teejnits
Joined: Aug 18, 2010
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:02 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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What's your motherboard model and manufacturer?
Do you know which BIOS version you have (should say in your BIOS settings menu)?
Also, what brand of GeForce do you have (XFX/EVGA/ASUS/etc...) ? |
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Shock_Coil
Joined: Aug 13, 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 3:08 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| It's an Asus Rampage II Extreme, I didn't find what version of the bios it has but I never updated it before. And the video cards are XFX. |
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goretsky
Joined: Dec 07, 2002
Posts: 9662
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 5:54 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Hello,
Have you run Windows Update to allow it to install any missing or new device drivers? While they won't typically be the latest available (these usually come from the manufacturer of the actual silicon on the board such as Intel or nVidia) the ones on Windows Update for Microsoft Windows 7 are typically quite stable and should allow your system to perform much better without crashes (assuming the root cause of the issue is older less-stable drivers).
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky |
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teejnits
Joined: Aug 18, 2010
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 6:26 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| test |
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teejnits
Joined: Aug 18, 2010
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 6:27 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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I am having a hard time posting my assist message, so I'm going to do it in parts (i keep getting an error message)
PART 1:
There are a few updates for your motherboard that I highly recommend,
especially if you've not done it before. |
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teejnits
Joined: Aug 18, 2010
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 6:29 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| To get to your BIOS go to ASUS' website and choose Services -> Support |
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teejnits
Joined: Aug 18, 2010
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 6:32 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| Ok this is rediculous... I can't post anything without an error |
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teejnits
Joined: Aug 18, 2010
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 6:45 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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go here
http [colon slash slash] bit [dot] ly [slash] 9D6KDk |
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