Windows 7 Crash after playing the game for a random amount of time

[The5thRider]

Sorry I'm new here and I read through the Sticky so I hope I get all the information:

I have Eu4 from Steam. I've tried re-downloading the game and playing it without steam on (I even turned off my wireless). I'm playing on a desktop and I have the dxdiag attached. What happens is it will randomly freeze while playing and I have to manually shut down the computer to get everything back. This happens about 20 minutes or so into playing the game. I did not seem to have this problem before the update. I believe I have update my drivers. At least once or twice the game has frozen while it was paused so I don't think it is a random event but otherwise I haven't notice a problem. This has occurred on multiple saves and on a game I started after the update. Any advice would be appreciated -- I love the game and I really miss being able to play it.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 1/22/2014, 17:40:29
       Machine name: WARD-PC
   Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.130828-1532)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
       System Model: XPS 8300  
               BIOS: BIOS Date: 06/20/11 08:28:53 Ver: 04.06.04
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2600 CPU @ 3.40GHz (8 CPUs), ~3.4GHz
             Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 8174MB RAM
          Page File: 3115MB used, 13231MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
   User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
 System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
     DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
          Card name: AMD Radeon HD 6700 Series
       Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
          Chip type: AMD Radeon Graphics Processor (0x68B8)
           DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_68B8&SUBSYS_30001002&REV_00
     Display Memory: 4095 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 1013 MB
      Shared Memory: 3082 MB
       Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: H190L2
         Monitor Id: EPIE191
        Native Mode: 1280 x 1024(p) (60.020Hz)
        Output Type: HD15
        Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1247 (English)
     Driver Version: 13.251.0.0
        DDI Version: 11
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 12/6/2013 16:01:52, 1318552 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: Yes
    WHQL Date Stamp: 
  Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-2BF8-11CF-6D77-0A10BEC2C535}
          Vendor ID: 0x1002
          Device ID: 0x68B8
          SubSys ID: 0x30001002
        Revision ID: 0x0000
 Driver Strong Name: oem76.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_Evergreen:13.251.0.0:pci\ven_1002&dev_68b8&subsys_30001002
     Rank Of Driver: 00E60001
        Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C 
   Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch 
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
                     {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch 
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
                     {552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
                     {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch 
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
       D3D9 Overlay: Not Supported
            DXVA-HD: Not Supported
       DDraw Status: Enabled
         D3D Status: Enabled
         AGP Status: Enabled

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0887&SUBSYS_102804AA&REV_1003
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6141 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 6/22/2010 20:03:10, 2399848 bytes
            Other Files: 
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

            Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0887&SUBSYS_102804AA&REV_1003
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6141 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 6/22/2010 20:03:10, 2399848 bytes
            Other Files: 
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

I have no idea what any of this means. Please let me know if you need any other info. Thank you

 

[AndrewT]

That file looks fine. Please post your Documents/EU4/settings.txt. Zip up your whole Documents/EU4/logs/ directory and attach or link that here too please.

Please report the temperatures of your CPU and video (GPU) 1/ before starting the game up and 2/ after say 20 minutes' play. If your PC's vendor has given you no way of reading temperatures, install GPU-Zand CPU-Z, or SPEEDFAN.

 

[The5thRider]

Thank you for the prompt reply!

force_pow2_textures=no
language="l_english"
graphics=
{
size=
{
x=1280
y=1024
}

min_gui=
{
x=1280
y=720
}

refreshRate=75
fullScreen=yes
borderless=no
shadows=no
shadowSize=2048
multi_sampling=4
anisotropic_filtering=0
gamma=50.000000
}
sound_fx_volume=0.000000
music_volume=0.000000
scroll_speed=50.000000
camera_rotation_speed=50.000000
zoom_speed=50.000000
mouse_speed=50.000000
master_volume=0.000000
ambient_volume=0.000000
combat_sound_random=6
mapRenderingOptions=
{
draw_terrain=yes
draw_water=yes
draw_borders=yes
draw_trees=no
draw_rivers=yes
draw_postfx=no
draw_sky=yes
draw_bloom=no
draw_tooltips=yes
draw_hires_terrain=no
draw_citysprawl=no
draw_shadows=no
draw_reflections=no
draw_ambient_objects=no
draw_particles=no
moving_units=yes
}
camera_speed=50.000000
camera_tilt=100.000000
centered_zoom_in=yes
lastplayer="Player"
lasthost=""
debug_saves=0
autosave="YEARLY"
autosave_tocloud=no
difficulty="LUCK_NONE"
outliner=
{
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 }
outliner_open=yes
messagelist_open=yes
windowmovetime=0.200000
hints=yes
diplomacy_popup=
{
10 }
custom_mapmodes=
{
0 1 4 3 2 5 }

View attachment logs.7z (I hope this attached the logs)

I'll need a little bit to get the speed fan data -- once again thank you so much for helping me with this

 

[The5thRider]

According to SpeedFan (I'm not sure which one is my CPU):
Prior:
Temp 1: -63
Temp 2: 26C
Temp 3: -128C
HD0: 33C
GPU: 34C
Core 0: 34C
Core 1: 29C
Core 2: 34C
Core 3: 34C

After 20 minutes:
Temp 1: -56
Temp 2: 35C
Temp 3: -128C
HD0: 34C
GPU: 52C
Core 0: 40C
Core 1: 40C
Core 2: 42C
Core 3: 43C

I'm assuming Temp 1 and Temp 3 are somehow are just controls or something? (I doubt anything in my house is that cold). The GPU temp had a red flag on it when I was running SpeedFan. I'm assuming this is the problem then? If so was it just luck that it didn't happen before the update or did the update make the graphics more demanding? Are there any simple fixes to this problem (other than moving my computer outside or going to the store to get some sort of improved cooling system? As you can tell, I'm not tech savvy at all)

 

[AndrewT]

Yes, red normally means a problem, but on the other hand 52c is not that hot - we'd more usually be worried at 70c or higher. You might try GPU-Z also, see if it agrees. Overheating can be caused by things as simple as the PCs air vents being blocked by dust, or placed up against a wall or curtain. Or a failed fan, poor heatsink installation, and so on.

The negative temps are presumably fields in Speedfan which don't correspond to any installed sensor in your particular machine. Don't worry about them.

 

[The5thRider]

Thanks again for your help with this. I guess I am wondering... is that definitely the problem then? If you would normally be worried at 70C or higher it seems like there might be another problem or is 52C enough to cause the crashes?

Is there any other info I could provide that might shed some light on this?

 

[AndrewT]

No, if 52c is real then overheating is not the problem. But can you cross-check with GPU-Z and CPU-Z please.

 

[The5thRider]

GPU-Z:
Before Game:
GPU Temp 1: 35.0C
GPU Temp 2: 36.5C
GPU Temp 3: 40.0C

After 20 minutes:
GPU Temp 1: 54.5C
GPU Temp 2: 57.0C
GPU Temp 3: 59.5C

I downloaded CPU-Z but I think I might be blind or something but I don't see the temperature area. The temperature on the GPUZ looks higher but certainly under 70C. Do you think the CPUZ (if you could point me in the right direction) will show anything different?

 

[AndrewT]

No, that's fine I'm sure, unless you have a hardware fault then temperatures are not the problem, unfortunately.

As a bit of a stab in the dark try changing these in settings.txt

refreshRate=60

multi_sampling=0


Have you noticed whether the crashes mostly happen during an autosave?

 

[The5thRider]

Sorry for the delay but I wanted to be certain -- the fix you suggested seems to have worked! I don't want o jinx it but I've been able to play for about 2-3 hours without crashes! Thank you so much. I love this game and it's great to be able to play it again. Thank you, thank you! You are awesome.

For others with similar problems it did not seem to crash at all with autosaves.

Anyway, time to go punish France for being so big and blob-like! Thanks again AndrewT!