Hi CCNA
For my Problem:
I have done a clean Boot-Up without Firewall, ATI Software etc.

The used RAM is 139 MB. The Game runs like the times before and crashes on the way to megaton.

But that is a good way to stop the Virus-Scanner for sometimes

Apparently what I needed to enable (on the services tab in the system configuration utility) was "Creative Audio Services". I have no idea what that is (beyond it being for my Creative SB X-FI sound card), but it allowed me to load the game with a *mostly* clean boot and I played for an amazing two hours with no freezing. After dealing with freezes every five-ten minutes, I can certainly live with that.

I'd still like to know what the problem is though, so I think my next step should be to enable things a few at a time on the services tab. Once I check "Hide all MS services", there are only about 20 things to try, so this should not be too difficult.

What do you think?

OH MY GOD it works!
this did it for me!
- MAD DirectShow Transform Filer (MADFilter.ax) 1.0.0.3 - (You can get it from here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/maddxshow.) It seems when you install this CODEC it already has a higher merit value( 0x3690000) than the MP3 DMO Codec installed with Vista so you won't have to change any Merit values. Just install the CODEC and you should be fine. If not then install 'GSPot' and check what Merit MADFilter is using. If you have installed a CODEC pack then there might be an other MP3 DirectShow filter with a higer Merit than MADFilter.

Just wanted to say that by using the 'installed codec' program I got Fallout 3 to work. Looks like my Nero installation caused the issue, all I had to do was disable the 30 off codecs related to Nero. I rarely use Nero so not much of an issue, hopefully this solves my problems with Oblivion, I never got to play the expansion packs, as I must have installed Nero in between finishing the original game and getting the first expansion.

Anyway, thanks for the help on this issue. However, I would like to say that Bethesda should be ashamed of itself over this issue. NO other game I've ever played has had an issue like this, making a game unplayable until resolved. I would think it would save Bethesda money on software returns, from less informed and less internet savvy people, if they fixed this issue. I know Blizzard makes their own codec for example.

Anyway, still a great game no doubt, I know I played Oblivion for 130+ hours, I hope Fallout 3 is just as good.

Please guys fix this in the future, it has left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Cheers

Thank you so much for this, it doesn't crash when i'm starting the game now.
I bought this on realese day and I can finally play the game ^_^

my game wont boot up, it crashes when i click start new game, i printer out my dx info and also printed out mrnot dx info and the only codec that i seem to have that he doesnt is this one, i cant rename it, or remove it, or drag it! cant disable, it doesnt show up on almost any codec search tool except using gspot which is where i was able to locate it and find its root folder, which is c:/windows/systemwow64/qasf.dll and also goes by MP3DMOD.dll are ranked number 4 spot on my merit list for priority, i feel this is the file clogging me up because the dam thing is bullet proof, the program installedcodec doesnt even see this codec thats why when i shut of all the codecs i still got crashes because this file slips through its teeth. i need help removing this mandatory system codec, if your using vista the search function wont find it either, even under the unindexed option. I really feel this is the one! any input would be great

And also the rest of my post from the locked thread:

Why the is Fallout 3 relying on external DirectShow decoders for Audio Playback?

Jeez, I just wasted hours of my life googling, fiddling with driver settings, reinstalling drivers, reinstalling Fallout 3, yada yada yada, only to find out that the reason Fallout 3 was a complete slideshow from the main movie onwards was BECAUSE IT WAS TRYING TO USE ARCSOFT AUDIO DECODERS TO PLAYBACK THE GAME SOUND!

What the hell is that? Are the devs really expecting codec makers to ensure that their decoders are fully compatible with Fallout 3? And how would they be able to do this if their codecs already existed before Fallout 3 came out? And what if there is a problrm? Do the devs really expect me to uninstall all my AV software just so I can play their game? Guess what, Arcsoft TMT isn't on my system for fun, it's there because I use it to watch Blu-Ray disks!

And then what about learning from past mistakes? One of the main reasons Oblivion was known as a crash happy POS was because of the exact same problem: Oblivion trying to use external decoders to play the game sound! In fact ffdshow devs actually introduced a blacklist into their software to block oblivion.exe from trying to use ffdshow to put a stop to this idiotic idea.

So what's it all about? Saving some codec licensing fees or something? Let users pull their hair out over non working software instead? I have to say wasting my and other peoples time like this is just Faggotry to the nth degree! And searching for Arcsoft on this forum has shown me that there is simply not enough awareness of just how retarded this is from a game design point of view. Some are even talking about "codecs that cause trouble" as if somehow there was someone else to blame than the Fallout 3 devs...

Well anyway, enough ranting, here's how to quickly switch between a working copy of Arcsoft TMT and Fallout 3, without having to uninstall TMT:

Another file drawing on my system was the CTAudSvc.exe at the time of crash

Crashing in megaton cell in general after disableing Creative, but not at the first initial spot near Minefield

Yep, mine was a codec problem. Here is the guilty Codec.

Viscomsoft MPEG2 Audio decoder DirectShow Filter Yes 5/25/2009 4:35:30 PM License to Mystik Media 9.00 Viscom Software www.viscomsoft.com viscommpgdec.dll 188,416 C:\Program Files (x86)\Blaze Media Pro\Video Processing\viscommpgdec.dll {EFA575BB-3486-410A-8A7E-459C9C55D540} 0x00800000 viscommpgdec.dll

Disabled it, and now the game runs fine.

The only solution that worked with my PC, was to remove all 3rd Codec, than start each media program, within each media program's options select the bit which deals with 'media type' or 'file type association' reset the settings to either default or remove all associations. Rather extreme, but FO3 runs without falling over, even after FF Codec was installed back onto system.

I run Vista Home Premium 32 bit.
My game always crashed at startup :brokencomputer:
Thanks to that program i found the solution and now Fallout 3 works.
It was a codec from Orb Media Server.

DScaler Audio Decoder / DirectShow Filter / Yes / MpegAudio Module / 0, 0, 6, 0 / DScaler Team /
D:\Orb\bin\DScaler5\MpegAudio.dll / {D2CA75C2-05A1-4915-88A8-D433F876D186} / 0x00800000 /
MpegAudio.dll

Disabled the codec and now the game runs smooth

So the moral of this pc support issue is don't install codecs and instead install a media player that plays everything without codecs like VLC. I learned this lesson a long time ago.

I went ahead and followed CCNA's very easy to understand video codec instructions and solved my problem.
http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=897990
Took me 10 minutes to figure out what my issue was and hopefully these instructions will help you figure out if it's a codec problem and which one is the problem.

My problem was the following audio codec (funny how audio can prevent video):

"Viscomsoft MPEG2 Audio decoder DirectShow Filter License to Mystik Media 9.00 Viscom Software www.viscomsoft.com viscommpgdec.dll
C:\Program Files\Blaze Media Pro\Video Processing\viscommpgdec.dll"

The cause of the problem was Blaze Media Pro (a program I use to edit video and audio files). Now I know blaze is a solid program. I've used it many many many times in the last 6 months and I love it. It was just that one codec that was conflicting and by following the below steps I was able to disable that one codec and not uninstall KLite and Blaze just to get my fix.

PLEASE try these simple steps out as they're easy and could very well solve your problems.

• First, download InstalledCodec. Get it from here: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Codec-Packs-Video-Codecs/InstalledCodec.shtml As of this posting the version was 1.10
  
• Second, run it. When it populates all of your codecs, click: edit > select all
  
• Third, after you have all of it selected, click the disable selected items button (it's the icon that looks like a speaker with an X on it under the "file" button). Don't worry, they won't stay that way.

Now run your game. If the problem goes away, you know it's one of the codecs and now you just need to single out the culprit. To do this you DO NOT have to disable them one at a time. You do simple process of elimination.
This takes 5 to 20 minutes to do based on the number of codecs you have and the speed of your computer. Just have some patience and follow the below steps. I also suggest turning all your graphical settings to low to speed up the process.

• First, make sure EVERYTHING is disabled to start.
  
• Second, select 1/2 your codecs and enable them. I did A through L to start.
  
• Third, start a new game. If the game starts up you know it's none of those codecs.
  
• Fourth, if it doesn't start then you need to disable all of the ones you just enabled and then go down to the other half and enable all of those.
  
• Fifth, you start eliminating them by groups.

When I started I had 184 codecs. I eliminated the first 1/2 (A through L) to start. That took out 75 of them.
Then I did all the M's. That was another 40 (total of 115 down).
Then N through U. Another 18 (133 down)
Then the V's. That was 29 more and that's when the game wouldn't run right. I disabled all the V codecs again and continued on.
Finally I did W through X and had no more problems. That was the last 22.
So I was able to get a good idea of where the problem was in 5 restarts of the game. This is what I had left to deal with:

VBI Codec
VBI Surface Allocator
VCDShow
VGA 16 Color Ditherer
vidc.cvid
vidc.i420
VIDC.IYUV Driver - Video
vidc.mrle Driver - Video
vidc.msvc Driver - Video
VIDC.UYVY
VIDC.YUY2
VIDC.YV12
VIDC.YVYU
Video Mixing Renderer 9
Video Port Manager
Video Renderer
Video Renderer
Viscom Audio Encoder
Viscomsoft 3GP Encoder
Viscomsoft FLV Encoder
Viscomsoft MPEG2 Audio decoder
Viscomsoft MPEG2 Audio decoder
Viscomsoft MPEG2 Video decoder
Viscomsoft MPEG2 Video decoder
Viscomsoft QuickTime Source Filter
Viscomsoft QuickTime Writer
Viscomsoft Tranform VE Filter
VP7 Decompressor
VU Meter

Next I went through the V's in groups. VBI through VIDC. Enabled them all. Started. No problems. Video Mixing Renderer 9 through Viscom Audio Encoder. No problems.

I'm sure you guys get the idea and if this seems like I'm going overly in depth, I'm just ensuring that everyone understands and can do it.


I'm really really hoping this helps you guys out like it helped me and that you're able to play :fallout:

:flamethrower: Problem Toasted

Do codecs usually cause random CTDs after any set amount of time spent in game? I'm experiencing CTDs now (and wasn't before even with a medium load of plugins) and have the latest audio and video drivers as well as the Vista codecs pack. I'm almost certain my load order is in place so I'm suspecting it is possible that I am having these crashes from codecs not playing nice with Fallout 3. Just to note I don't listen to the radio in Fallout 3 and have not even reached a point where cinematics play...

Thanks for keeping this thread alive. I just read it in its entirety and look forward to fiddling around with my codecs tomorrow. Hopefully I can get rid of that static and stutter.

I'm still trying to get this resolved 100%. I have K-lite downloaded, but I'm not entirely certain what I'm to do with it. I've scanned for problem codecs and everything seems to check out. What do I need to do in K-lite to use their codec packs?

I still have radio static and stutters, not horrible after updating my drivers for my soundcard, but not quite perfect...

I could not get the GOTY edition (retail disc) to play nice on my Windows 7 rig; the game would lock up when I clicked to start a new game. i used InstalledCodec to disable all codecs, and the game freakin worked! I narrowed it down to one offending codec: "Viscomsoft MPEG2 Audio decoder" (viscommpgdec.dll), installed with a program called Free Video Converter by Extensoft. I uninstalled that program, but the codec was still there, so i left it disabled in InstalledCodec. Game still starts; unfortunately it is nearly my bedtime so i will have to wait until tomorrow to see how the game goes.

I had the chirping radio (songs only), so I tried a few tweaks listed here, including downloading K-lite - and now I have no sound at all from the game!

Any idea what could have gone wrong - all I tried was switching the AC3 filter to "use wave out by default" (obviously, changing it back did not help). I've tried deinstalling k-lite and reinstalling Fallout, but still no sound!

i think i had a similar problem about a year ago when i stopped playing fallout..

My game was crashing, so i did some research and edited some stuff, like codecs, and i couldnt get ANY sound on f3, i reinstalled it, deleted registry entries, but nothing helped.
After a year i decided to try again and a miracle happened, everything is working fine
So yeah, gl with fixing that :>

Bump

This, disabled all that ArcSoft rubbish and now it works like a champ, thanks for the help guy.