I'm Seriously Freaking Out...CLUELESS!

[Z0DIAC]

Alright, well some might have seen my previous posts/threads. Basically I can't seem to load any of my saved games.

Originally I started the game with all settings at medium. I managed to play through without crashing until I tried to pickup the incinerate plasmid. Since than I can't seem to load any of my games.

I have not updated to the beta drivers released for BioShock, but do have the current retail drivers. I have also updated the rest of my hardware.

Need some help because I did not pay $70 just so that I can play for an hour or two.

Specs:

AMD Dual X2 3800+
7800gt
1gb Ram

[Fleet]

I think you should try the beta drivers, they are quite stable i havn't had any trouble with them.

[Glottis]

What os you using ?

If XP,are using Indexing ? It can make for screwy save games,with more then a few titles I have used over the years.I usually turn it off.Not to mention it slows things down for really nothing.

[Z0DIAC]

Sorry, I'm using XP

If I were to install the beta drivers, will I have to uninstall the current ones?

[IrrationalRuss]

yes it is recommended you uninstall the previous drivers first.

[Fleet]

Sorry, I'm using XP

If I were to install the beta drivers, will I have to uninstall the current ones?

Yep. *extends post*

[Z0DIAC]

Again, sorry to be noobish, but how does one go about uninstalling their current driver? If I do this, won't I lose video source to my monitor?

[Fleet]

Again, sorry to be noobish, but how does one go about uninstalling their current driver? If I do this, won't I lose video source to my monitor?

control panel>add/remove>nvidia drivers
no it will just set the res really low

[Ric]

Start->Control Panel->Add Remove Programs

Choose your display driver from the list of programmes -- if it's an NVidia card make sure you check the remove display driver only option. When it's done restart (don't worry your Operating System will load generic drivers for you) Switch of any anti-virus & firewall program (temporarily of course) as these can interfere with the install. Run the driver installer and when that's done re-boot. You anti-virus and firewall should come back on automatically but check anyway. That's it. Go slow and follow each step.

[Z0DIAC]

Installing new drivers as we speak.

Another quick question: Does VSync have any significance on this issue?

[Ric]

It's mostly to stop something called tearing -- the card can't load the buffers in syn with the refresh rate of the display. I think it's fixed at 60hz for this game which will cap your frame rate to 60 with VSync enabled. Don't worry 60hz is fine as is 60 fps.

[Z0DIAC]

I decided to put it in window mode first (to get past incinerate plasmid area) and it worked fine. However I'm losing a lot of eye candy with my settings and I was wondering if anyone could recommend me the settings I should have for my game (character models on med or high? environment models on med or high? etc.)

Thanks again

[Ric]

You should be able to put everything on high. But, there are clearly major issues with the engine running on PCs. All you can do is experiment. Things that will impact the most are texture size and shadow quality, also try knocking out the high end shader, but seriously: on that rig you just shouldn't have to.

[Ric]

Oops, I forgot, then there are the usual things. Run a full virus scan, de-fragment your hard drive. Do a clean boot:

Start -> Run -> type: msconfig -> OK

choose Selective start up
then do the following

1. In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup.
2. Click to clear the Process SYSTEM.INI File check box.
3. Click to clear the Process WIN.INI File check box.
4. Click to clear the Load Startup Items check box.
5. Click the Services tab.
6. Click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box.
7. Click Disable All, and then click OK..
8. When you are prompted, click Restart to restart the computer.

Run msconfig again and undo everything to put it back the way it was when your not gaming.

This article is more detailed.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353

[Z0DIAC]

You kick ass Ric!

Well anyways I installed the beta drivers which seem to have worked. However I still have everything on medium in fear of it crashing again.

What does all the clearing out of processes do? Just cut down on CPU usage?