I haven't played Oblivion in a while, and just recently got the urge to reinstall -- at least in part to see what it looks / sounds like with my new monitor / sound system. Unfortunately, I'm getting a crash on startup and I can't figure out the cause, so I need some help debugging.

NVIDIA Geforce GTX 275
Core2Quad q9950
4GBs DDR2 Memory
Windows 7 Professional, x64
Logitech Surround Sound System

I've gotten the game to startup, once, on the wrong monitor. Every other time it's gone wrong. I've tried fiddling with the Multi-display/mixed-GPU acceleration setting in the NVidia control panel, as suggested in the one place I found information on Oblivion and multiple monitors, but it didn't help. I have recently updated my video drivers, so they're good.

Ideas?


EDIT: OK, something 'fishy' is going on. I decided to try windowed, just to see if that made a difference, and it did. Except when I reverted to full screen it continued to work.

I'm confused. I'm not sure if I can call this one 'solved' or not, because switching to windowed and then back to fullscreen shouldn't solve any issues... should it?

Try deleting the .ini file in your My Documents\My Games\Oblivion folder....it is the configuration file named Oblivion. Delete it, then refire up the game so a new one gets generated...see if there are any improvements then.

Caused the game to resume crashing.

But at least the 'windowed-mode then fullscreen mode' trick worked again. No clue why, but... ./shrug

Do you get a Crash report afterward? if not, do you have any anti spy or anti virus software?
is this problem only during the start up of oblivion or does it happen with other games?

Turn Off "Compiz" if you have it. (Don't bother asking what it is if you don't know... )

if you are not using sli (my doubt was due to your mention of mixed GPU acceleration), change The PCIe Slot of your Card, and check the power connectors (be careful while doing it).

I get a crash report (the 'windows is checking for solutions dialogue box, followed by a close program / debug program option, right?) every time I close the game; and I do have some security software (Microsoft Security Essentials).

I have two monitors, but only one video card; I'd rather not muck about with swapping the PCI-E slot it's in. Power connector's are good.

Given that I've managed a fix by running the game in windowed mode, then reverting to full screen, this problem could be considered solved. Just... by a really weird solution.

Sorry if this is necromancy, but i would just like to mention that had had the exact same problem - system crash on startup. I tried just about everything, reinstalled the game, updated dx and vide drivers and nothing worked. Then I just randomly tried every vide setting possible and turning on windowed mode, and then switching to fullscreen solved the problem. really weird solution.