Sheesh.
Yeah, I am really mad my FNV game via Steam has begun crashing and locking since the new update.
But this is happening to way too many peeps for it to require individual DXDIAG diagnosis - most threads are simply huge masses of info dump - who even reads the whole info dump we are asked to provide? If there were real computer techs studying the trends in the compiled DXDIAG reports, we'd be receiving invoices from them, that's real work.

Few address the real issue - the merchantability of the product. We paid and it doesn't meet industry standards of implied merchantability (it doesn't work well) for a significant number of users over varied circumstances of play, drivers, software and equipment.

(Has anyone looked at the percentages of people crashing using Steam as opposed to using a store-bought disc?)

-grinningskull

DXDIAG only helps when you have issues getting the game to run on your rig.

If you are having difficulties with Steam, then it is not needed to diagnose the issue. So, if Steam starts to launch the game and you have no luck, then we can look at the DXDIAG. If Steam never gets to the point where it is trying to launch the game, then it won't help.

The only tricky part is that small window of time between Steam and the Game Launch that is not always apparent where the problem lies.

*raises hand*

*also raises hand*

Yeah I've be able to tell people they had an old graphics card driver- old enough that it could have quite easily been causing some of the isues, identify codecs that are known to cause problems, point out that someone didn't actualy have a graphics card but only an integrated graphics chipset, things like that. Sometimes you end up seeing that someone just doesn't have the minimum specs, but in the cases of drivers and codecs it often does help if not completely fix their stability issues at least mostly fix them.

The reason you should post your dxdiag is MOST people who post simply dont provide you wiht any information about anything.
DXdiag shows you the CPU type, memory amount, motherboard type as well as what expansion cards you have installed. It shows drivers and driver versions as well as codecs and codec versions.
Remember, alot of people dont know what version of driver they have for any particular piece of hardware or what kind of hardware they have installed. Yes alot of the dxdiag reports are verbose but that
doesnt mean they arent important.

CTD and BOSD are usually caused by something in the hardware or software of the computer. not the game itself.

Performance Issues can be both the game's engine (64htz issue), but is more likely driver or DirectShow Filter related. (Can be hardware. the Logitech G7 can have issues with the proximity to the wi-fi router and will cause choppy turning)

Mods and manual changes to .ini files _CAN_ cause CTD, and performance issues.

The games bugs cause corrupt saved games, graphics glitches, un-completable quests, unresponsive NPC, loss of control, falling through the landscape. This is all signs of piss-poor programing and QA.

Joe User may not know when the dxdiag is needed to help. So it's best to post it. Those of us geeks that know how to read them will look at the sections we are familiar with for issues we know about.

Yeah and even when someone says they updated their graphics drivers, about 50% of the time you'll see a 3 month old or older graphics driver in their dxdiag info. Windows update has not grabbed the latest nVidia drivers for a lot of people it seems and not everyone realizes they have to go to either the ATI, or nVidia websites sometimes to get the current one.

Plus if the dxdiag output is possted we don't have to assume they do or do not know what they're talking about we'll be able to see that their drivers are up to date, their codecs do not include problematic ones, and that they aren't running on a netbook or something (and yes my roommate's little brother tried that and almost posted on here where it didn't work- roommate saved him from probably a couple unfriendly laughs at his expense)

Agree with that completely, many people ask for help without even mentioning their system basics, and the dxdiag is not all a load of 'junk' it contains very relevant information which might help - and it's easier for people to post their dxdiag than it is to ask them about different individual components and driver versions. Plenty of people who bought an off the shelf PC can't tell you what CPU or GPU they are using without looking it up.