Strange CTD/Reboot thingy ... : IV

» Wed Aug 18, 2010 5:36 pm

Last night I installed BananaSplit's Better Cities, then tested it for a bit. Everything worked fine. My FPS dropped a bit, but I expected that. My FPS for the IC Waterfront was between 12-20. It dropped when I went into the IC tunnel, but performance was still smooth.

Today I installed all of the Unique Landscape Mods with their respective patches. I reinstalled Better Cities to get the UL patches (I'm using OMODs). I went to test the game and I got the strangest CTD.

Here's what happens: I start the game, usually from an interior cell. Here my FPS is a steady 30 (I'm running SkyRanger's OSR). I exit, in most cases to Bravil city. My FPS drops, sometimes to single digits, but picks up again. I move through the city, with my FPS going from 10 to 20 FPS. Then I exit the city, and head west, towards the road around Bravil, that curves and heads south towards Leyawellin. This is one of the UL enhancements.

Suddenly, my screen freezes. It just locks up. Sometimes it just stays locked and I have to force a reboot. Mostly I get the blue screen of death (with the message "A problem has occurred ..."). The thing is, the blue screen flashes past so fast I can't read it because my computer is rebooting. It completely reboots back to my Windows XP desktop. FPS doesn't seem to be an issue since it does this even at 17 and 19 FPS.

I've had both Better Cities and Unique Landscapes on an Oblivion install on this computer before, without significant problems. Before installing these two mods, I had no problems. I understand it may not be either mod but I can't figure out what's causing this. It's almost like a hardware problem (please, please no).

Some basic information and my load order:

Computer: Windows XP Professional via BootCamp on a MacBook Pro. 3 gig ram, 512 mb Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics card. Intel 2 Duo Core 2.40GHz processor. Sound card is fairly weak.

Tools installed: Streamline, OSR, weOCPS (Oblivion Crash Prevention System) and FastExit2.

Graphics Mods not showing on load order: QTP3RedimizedReduced (at Regular level), DarkDarnifiedUI.

Active Mod Files:

Spoiler

00 Oblivion.esm
01 Francesco's Leveled Creatures-Items Mod.esm
02 Francesco's Optional New Items Add-On.esm
03 Cobl Main.esm [Version 1.72]
04 Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm [Version 1.34]
05 Mart's Monster Mod.esm [Version 3.7b3p3]
06 TamrielTravellers.esm [Version 1.39c]
07 FCOM_Convergence.esm [Version 0.9.9MB3]
08 Armamentarium.esm [Version 1.35]
09 Artifacts.esm [Version 1.1]
0A Better Cities Resources.esm
0B Progress.esm [Version 2.2]
0C Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp [Version 3.2.10]
0D DLCShiveringIsles.esp
0E Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch.esp [Version 1.4.0]
0F Better Cities .esp
10 Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Bosses.esp
11 Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Enemies.esp
12 Francesco's Optional Chance of More Enemies.esp
13 Francesco's Optional Leveled Guards.esp
++ Francesco's Dark Seducer Weapons Patch.esp
++ FCOM_Francescos.esp [Version 0.9.9]
++ FCOM_FrancescosItemsAddOn.esp [Version 0.9.9]
14 FCOM_FrancescosNamedBosses.esp [Version 0.9.9]
15 Fran Armor Add-on.esp
16 Fran_Lv30Item_Maltz.esp
17 GW71_Soulgems.esp
18 Alluring Potion Bottles v2.esp
19 Willful Resistance.esp [Version 4.0]
1A FF_Real_Thirst.esp
1B Map Marker Overhaul.esp [Version 3.5.3]
1C Map Marker Overhaul - SI additions.esp [Version 3.5]
1D DLCOrrery.esp
1E DLCOrrery - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.3]
1F DLCVileLair.esp
20 DLCVileLair - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.5]
21 DLCMehrunesRazor.esp
22 DLCMehrunesRazor - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.4]
23 DLCSpellTomes.esp
++ DLCSpellTomes - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.1]
++ MaleBodyReplacerV4.esp
24 Adonnays Classical Weaponry.esp
25 Adonnays Elven Weaponry.esp
26 TFF_Armor_Base.esp
27 TFF_Clothing_Base.esp
28 UFF_Unrepetant_Archer.esp
29 DLCThievesDen.esp
2A DLCThievesDen - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.5]
2B DLCThievesDen - Unofficial Patch - SSSB.esp [Version 1.0.4]
2C KDCircletsOOOOptimized - NPC Equip.esp [Version 1.2]
++ FCOM_KDCircletsOOOOptimizedNPCEquip.esp [Version 0.9.9]
2D Cobl Glue.esp [Version 1.72]
2E Cobl Si.esp [Version 1.63]
2F FF_Real_Thirst, Cobl.esp
30 Bob's Armory Oblivion.esp
31 FCOM_BobsArmory.esp [Version 0.9.9]
32 Loth's Blunt Weapons for Npcs.esp
++ FCOM_LothsBluntWeapons.esp [Version 0.9.9]
33 Oblivion WarCry EV.esp [Version .]
34 FCOM_WarCry.esp [Version 0.9.9MB5]
35 Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp [Version 1.34]
++ OMOBS.esp [Version 1.0]
++ OMOBS_SI.esp [Version 1.0]
++ ArmamentariumLLVendors.esp [Version 1.35]
36 ArmamentariumArtifacts.esp [Version 1.35]
37 OOO 1.32-Cobl.esp [Version 1.72]
38 Mart's Monster Mod - Additional Enemy NPC Vars.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]
39 FCOM_Convergence.esp [Version 0.9.9Mb3]
3A FCOM_RealSwords.esp [Version 0.9.9]
3B Mart's Monster Mod - More Wilderness Life.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]
++ Mart's Monster Mod - Looting NPCs & Creatures.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]
++ Mart's Monster Mod - No Slimes.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]
++ Mart's Monster Mod - No Beholdens.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]
3C Mart's Monster Mod - Dungeons of MMM.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]
3D Mart's Monster Mod - Gems & Gem Dust.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]
3E Mart's Monster Mod - Hunting & Crafting.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]
3F Mart's Monster Mod - Farm Animals.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]
40 Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse WaterLife.esp [Version 3.7b3p3f]
++ Mart's Monster Mod - Slof Horses Complete.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]
++ Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse Runeskulls Loot G&GD.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]
++ TamrielTravellerAdvscript.esp [Version 1.39c]
41 TamrielTravellers4OOO.esp [Version 1.39c]
42 TamrielTravellersItemsnpc.esp [Version 1.39c]
43 TamrielTravellersItemsCobl.esp [Version 1.39c]
44 ShiveringIsleTravellers.esp [Version 1.39c]
++ ShiveringIsleTravellersFriendlyFactions4MMM.esp [Version 1.39c]
++ FCOM_TamrielTravelers.esp [Version 0.9.9]
++ FCOM_DiverseGuardUnity.esp [Version 0.9.9]
++ FCOM_BobsGuardUnity.esp [Version 0.9.9]
++ Mart's Monster Mod - Shivering Isles.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]
++ ArmamentariumLL4OOO.esp [Version 2.01]
++ ArmamentariumLLMagicOOO.esp [Version 1.35]
45 OOO-WaterFish.esp [Version 1.34]
++ MMM-Cobl.esp [Version 1.69]
46 Artifacts.esp [Version 1.1]
++ Artifacts - ArmaCompleteAddon.esp [Version 1.0]
47 DLCFrostcrag.esp
48 DLCFrostcrag - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.4]
49 Knights.esp
4A Knights - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.9]
4B Blood&Mud.esp
4C FCOM_Blood&Mud.esp [Version 0.9.9]
++ FCOM_Knights.esp [Version 0.9.9Mb3]
4D xuldarkforest.esp [Version 1.0.5]
4E xulStendarrValley.esp [Version 1.2.2]
4F xulTheHeath.esp
50 MMMMWL-TheHeath patch.esp
51 XulEntiusGorge.esp
52 xulFallenleafEverglade.esp [Version 1.3.1]
53 xulColovianHighlands_EV.esp [Version 1.2.1]
54 xulChorrolHinterland.esp [Version 1.2.2]
55 xulBeachesOfCyrodiilLostCoast.esp [Version 1.6.4]
56 xulBravilBarrowfields.esp [Version 1.3.2]
57 xulLushWoodlands.esp [Version 1.3]
58 xulAncientYews.esp [Version 1.4.3]
59 xulAncientRedwoods.esp [Version 1.6]
5A xulCloudtopMountains.esp [Version 1.0.3]
5B xulArriusCreek.esp [Version 1.1.3]
5C xulPatch_AY_AC.esp [Version 1.1]
5D xulRollingHills_EV.esp [Version 1.3.2]
5E xulPantherRiver.esp
5F Blood&Mud-PantherRiver patch.esp
60 xulRiverEthe.esp [Version 1.0.2]
61 xulBrenaRiverRavine.esp [Version 1.0.2]
62 xulImperialIsle.esp [Version 1.6.5]
63 xulBlackwoodForest.esp [Version 1.1.0]
64 xulCheydinhalFalls.esp [Version 1.0.1]
65 Blood&Mud-CheydinhalFalls patch.esp
66 xulAspenWood.esp [Version 1.0.2]
67 xulSkingradOutskirts.esp [Version 1.0.1]
68 xulSnowdale.esp [Version 1.0]
69 OOO-Snowdale Patch.esp
6A Harvest [Flora].esp [Version 3.0.0]
++ Harvest [Flora] - Shivering Isles.esp [Version 3.0.0]
++ Harvest [Flora] - DLCVileLair.esp [Version 3.0.0]
6B Harvest [Flora] - DLCFrostcrag.esp [Version 3.0.0]
6C Salmo the Baker, Cobl.esp [Version 3.08]
6D RealisticFatigue.esp
6E RealSleepExtended.esp [Version 2.4.2]
6F Gather Ye Rosebuds.esp
70 bgMagicEV.esp [Version 1.7EV]
++ bgMagicSpellTomes_for_WryeBash.esp [Version 1.68EV]
++ bgMagicItemSigil.esp [Version 1.68EV]
++ bgMagicEVAddEnVar.esp [Version 1.68EV]
71 bgMagicEVPaperChase.esp [Version 1.68EV]
72 SupremeMagicka.esp [Version 0.89]
73 SM_ShiveringIsles.esp [Version 0.86]
++ SM_DLCSpellTome.esp [Version 0.80]
++ SM_OOO.esp [Version 0.89]
++ SM_MMM.esp [Version 0.89]
++ SM_COBL.esp [Version 0.86]
74 SM_EnchantStaff.esp [Version 0.80]
++ SM_Scrolls.esp [Version 0.84]
++ SM_SigilStone.esp [Version 0.83]
75 attack and hide medium v2.0.esp
76 nGCD.esp
77 ProgressGSD.esp [Version 2.0]
78 ProgressMBSP.esp [Version 2.0]
79 ProgressSBSP.esp [Version 1.0]
7A ProgressRBSP.esp [Version 1.0]
7B ProgressRacial.esp
7C ProgressArmorer.esp [Version 1.0]
7D Better Redguard v2.esp
++ TFF_Races_Base.esp
7E Beautiful People.esp
7F Better Cities Full - B&M Edition.esp
80 BCBravilB&MFULL-Barrowfields patch.esp
81 Better Cities - Unique Landscape Barrowfields.esp
82 BCChorrol-ChorrolHinterland patch.esp
83 Better Cities - Unique Landscape Chorrol Hinterland.esp
84 BCCheydinhalFULLB&M-CheydinhalFalls patch.esp
85 Better Cities - Unique Landscape Cheydinhal Falls.esp
86 BCSkingrad-SkingradOutskirts patch.esp
87 Better Cities - Unique Landscape Skingrad Outskirts.esp
88 Better Cities - VWD of the IC.esp
89 Better Cities Full - B&M Edition FPS Patch.esp
8A Better Imperial City.esp
8B Better Imperial City FPS Patch.esp
8C Better Cities - COBL.esp [Version 2.1]
8D Better Cities - No LEYAWIIN Flooding.esp
++ [GFX]_Initial_Glow-all.esp
8E Real Hunger, Cobl.esp [Version 1.6.1]
8F LandMagicPatch.esp
90 TuStartingOptions_01.esp
91 Bashed Patch, 0.esp
92 Streamline 3.1.esp

Mod install procedures: BOSS to sort order, Bash to deactivate and ghost, mods cleaned with TES4edit (removed "identical to master' and undeleted and disable references). All mods have been cleaned EXCEPT FCOM and MMM (I was told not to clean them), and Better Cities and Unique Landscapes mods and patches (trusted mod source).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

~ Dani ~

Edit: Steps I've taken to fix the problem include turning audio hardware acceleration off in the .ini (no effect) and reduced http://www.tweakguides.com/Oblivion_9.html from 64 to 24 per this page on Oblivion .ini tweeks.

Would it do any good to adjust these values:

Spoiler

bUseThreadedBlood=1

bUseThreadedMorpher=1

bUseThreadedTempEffects=1

bUseThreadedParticleSystem=1

bUseMultiThreadedTrees=1

bUseMultiThreadedFaceGen=1

iNumHavokThreads=5

iThreads=9

iOpenMPLevel=10

Also, this may be a separate issue, but Streamline sometimes works right (there is fog) and sometimes doesn't - either the fog disappears and I can see forever or the horizon just cuts off in the distance. Are my in-game settings overriding Streamline?

Again, thanks so much for any help.

~ D ~

» Wed Aug 18, 2010 6:02 pm

Kill WeOCPS for now and drop some of the spawn variation/increasers in your MMM config. As for Streamline, look up the concerns with Streamline thread. I cannot remember the exact name, but I think I linked it on the Streamline.ini Setup page on TESIV:POSItive.

» Wed Aug 18, 2010 1:30 pm

Problem solved by updating to the latest NVIDIA drivers. Fixed several issues including the annoyingly strange crash issue. FPS raised a bit, now pulling 20-30 FPS in unmodded (by UL) exterior cells. FPS drops a bit around Bravil (heavily modded by BC and UL) to around 14-17 - but I'm willing to live with that for the sake of those mods. Periodic drops as the game loads areas. Obviously city cells vary as I'm running Better Cities. Running no longer causes crashes. Interior cells a solid 30 (with OSR).

And I get to keep MMM's spawn increasers, which I love (thanks for the tip, tho, Tom).

For any MacBook users: I know there's not many of us out there, but if you run into problems running Oblivion, make sure the NVIDIA drivers are updated. The updated drivers on the Apple site will NOT help! You have to go the NVIDIA site and download their latest drivers. If you don't, you'll get the crashes like I was experiencing - and you could damage your system - this is from the Apple and NVIDIA support sites.

Since the problem is solved, a moderator can close this thread. Now I'm off to solve the Streamline problem.

~ Dani ~

» Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:57 pm

Problem solved by updating to the latest NVIDIA drivers.

...good, I clicked on this thread specifically to say that if you're getting blue screens or reboots, it's hardware-related and if you're lucky it's just the drivers.

» Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:23 pm

...good, I clicked on this thread specifically to say that if you're getting blue screens or reboots, it's hardware-related and if you're lucky it's just the drivers.

Thanks ... I feel lucky ...

And thanks for making nGCD/Progress, too. Can't live without them.

~ Dani ~