System crashes

[Brent Warrack]

HI, ive been working on this for a couple weeks off and on. When playing Pacific fighters with trackir my system crashes. during Game play the logest i can stay in a game was just long enough for a carrier trap. My screen goes black and then the system just restarts.I talked with wayne a couple weeks ago. Ive tried to update all the drivers that i could. Quite often i get message something like "nothing more current found".
Im getting anxious to use it all the time gents.Ive tried removing and reinstalling numerous times.
Considering rolling back video drivers or even reformating my whole system. would this do the trick maybe?
System info-Compaq s40wm
smd athlon(tm) XP 2400+
1 gig ram
Geforce 5600 XT vid card
Logitech wingman stick
Also tried adding external Usb hub with it's own power supply.

please help, i might try calling tomorrow,
thanks

[Charlie251]

Hello,

Do not use the Windows Driver Updates to find new drivers for your system. This only works when companies update their drivers with Microsoft and MS puts them on their online database of drivers. I do not know of any companies that do this...

You need to go to each company's website of the driver you want to update and find it from them.

Forgive me if you are already doing this but your comment on the message you receive is a clue pointing to the windows update feature.

Also, how long in game do you get? Carrier Traps can happen at anywhere from 2 minutes to 2 hours depending on the mission.

Have you flown long missions with the TrackIR turned off? Does it not crash then?

If at all possible, plug the TIR into a USB PCI card. Try to stay away from Mobo USB ports and Hubs.

[Axe_78th]

I had TIR related system crashes back when the original TIR was released. At the time I had an Asus MB with a "Via 266" chipset. The fix was a PCI USB card as Charlie suggested with a different chipset. I believe mine was an NEC chipset as it was a simple Office Depot card. At the time the Via chipset was notorious for having issues with certain USB modems and in my case my TIR. It was a drag to have to have another PCI card installed but it did correct my problem. Try it as a last resort.

[Wayne]

AltaWolf

If you have not already called me please do so then we can have a look at what may be causing the system crash.

[Brent Warrack]

Ive looked into manufacturer updates a bit. It all seems a bit confusing. Trying to find the right info is hard. I ran across a pop up that gave me a free diagnossis for what updates i needed. I cancled that when they wanted cash to fix all my problems. Now thinking it might be a option. Or is there some recomended reading online for this? Or a shareware program out there? The pci usb card sounds like a option.
I managed that carrier trap in aprox 2-3 min. Since my last post i did roll back the vid drivers. that didn't help D'oh. Also tried picking different vid card selections in PF setup. Im not sure 100% witch is the right one. Didn't help though. Also tried turning vid effects right down in game.
And yup i can play for hrs with no problems without the trackir,rarely ever crash or freeze up.

thanks for the speedy replies

[Charlie251]

To update your drivers, go to the manufactures website and they normally always have a link for drivers or support on their page. Some manufactures even have the auto programs that will update the system for you.

No reason to pay anyone to do all that!

[Brent Warrack]

Allrighty got the updates, didn't doa bios update though......pushing my knowledge.One update for the keyboard required to be done prior to service pack2. This is quite difficult since ild have too remove and redo service pack 2. Sound is better now .Also skipped some virus updates. thinking now of a reformat and maybe a pci USB card. Do they usually come with there own drivers and software?
Thanks,
Still trying

[Charlie251]

They normally run off of the stock Window drivers.