I just got the quest for blackmail the suspected Talos Worshiper in Markarth Understone Keep, but when I try to enter the Understone Keep in Markarth the game freezes and randomly crashes to the Steam client screen, please help, please reply today.

What's your rig?


Set shadows to low in settings and try again.

Windows 7 64-bit, Intel Core i5 Quad Core at 2.80GHz, 6Gigabytes of DDR3 Memory RAM, 1Terabyte Hard Disk Drive, DVD/RW Drive, Realtek High Definition Sound Card, ATI Radeon HD 5450 Video Card at 1Gigabyte, AMD Catalyst Video Driver Update 12-2, please help, please reply today.

Return to 12.1, there are problems with 12.2 drivers.

Also, your rig is ok but the GPU is "weak". Is a low energy card, and sometimes it can overheat easy, especially in a game like Skyrim .. You will not be able to run the game in good condition if you have shadows in high or ultra and AA on... You have to lowering (I mean, A LOT) the settings, probably even the resolution (5450 is better with 800x600 in Skyrim).

Lets assume the game runs other than the Keep you are trying to enter. So, here is something to try. Wait somewhere for 73 game hours, this will run through the active scripts and finish them up. Then try to go to the Keep. This worked for me when I was trying to go somewhere during a quest and a location kept causing a crash.

Yes do that but also revert to 12.1 the 12.2 have a known issue with Skyrim mostly related to AA but I have experience other smaller issues using it as well.

You may also read this about CTD when you try to enter in Understone Keep:

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim_talk:Understone_Keep

How do I "revert" back to Catalyst 12.1 correctly???, please help.

I just told you here: http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1356797-catalyst-122-avoid/page__st__30

Is the game up to the latest patch..(some play in off-line and don't update), because a lot of people had this crash in previous patches...actually anything before this latest one I do believe.

Good point Camaro I have found the most stable version of the game is the most recent well to be fair anything 1.4 or later had zero CTD's.

My Skyrim Patch version is "1.4.27.0.4".

Patch version 1.4.27.0.4 I have.

That is the latest version of the game so I would go back to 12.1 drivers and see if that helps and even if not keep those for know as they are the best drivers for the game. Try waiting 30 DAYS in game meaning go to an INN go inside and wait 30 times for 24 hours each time or even more times than that. Save the game and then try to go to the spot in question. You could also try an earlier save and go to the same place see if it still crashes if it doesn't your current save is probably corrupt. Past that a total uninstall (including the files the game leaves behind minus the saves folder) and reinstall would be the next step I would suggest taking.

if i re-install Skyrim will i loose all of my save game files and installed Skyrim Mods and the latest Skyrim patch version that i have currently installed???, please reply today.

no uninstalling skyrim won't remove the save files or the .ini files.

What about the "Mod" files???, please reply today.

Can't say but I am pretty sure it won't remove them since the installer doesn't purge the entire Skyrim folder. If you are worried about stuff you can always make a copy of your folders before uninstall. One is in Documents/Mygames/Skyrim and the other is in ProgramFiles(x86)/Steam/Steamapps/Common/Skyrim. Your mod files should be in the latter.

Good point about copy of install.. I still have a backup of 11/11/11 Day of release ...installed Skyrim...took me about 2 Hours to figure out that I was going to have problems with Steam / Skyrim / WryeBash &MODs until I moved steam OUT of "Program Files". So did a Steam Move...and have the Back-up I created for the move....

And, one more directory Skyrim likes to play in it seems......{your user name]\AppData\Local\Skyrim

I have 3 files in there, have read that these files are now used by the launcher to control load order. One, or more of these files could be because I use Wrye Bash. I would think that leaving any files in here (pertaining to load order) could confuse Skyrim and the launcher after a wipe of the install. They (bethesda ) changed the rules, and I am still learning the rules...lol

Worst thing about it is ....This is a hidden directory.....in order to see it you have to have..."show hidden files" set in your folder options. This svcks because now you will have garbage on your desktop (desktop INI), and extra directories (Virtual links ).

Rules....learn them or sink...

I have read about Steam file placement etc. I have yet to move it from the default(badly placed) spot it was originally installed. I have had no crash issues or anything since 1.3 and a ton before with no hardware changes made. So I decided to turn my focus in downtime to helping others with common issues here. My best advice for anyone with issues they cannot solve by other means is to do a total uninstall(everything) registry sweep(which deals with those hidden sections) of any skyrim related issues and then a fresh install. I have done this after each patch and maybe it is overkill but it works great for me.