COD4 - DirectX Error

[Allen]

Can lack of CPU power cause DirectX errors?

I ask because I have a rather old(ish) PC that I'm wishing to upgrade soon, as per another thread in the Hardware forum. In the mean time, I am trying to get COD4 to work on my current spec.

Now I know everything works OK, other games run great, however my CPU doesn't meet the minimum requirements for COD4. Still, it installs, loads and goes to the menu screen OK, I've sorted out the CTD's when skipping the intro, this was due to the .asi files in the "miles" folder not being compatible with 32 bit processors (something pointed out by Infinity Ward, they have even released a new file so it will work with them - this tells me that using a 32 bit processor should be OK despite them saying the minimum should be 64 bit, otherwise why would they release a new file?).

Now, when clicking on "New Game", it loads another movie (the English guy talking about what's going on around the world and introducing "Soap") and this is where it crashes. As the movie starts you get the usual Windows error sound in the background and if I Ctrl-Alt-Del I can see a window on the start bar with the COD4 icon saying "DirectX Error" but I can't open or show the window to see the error details. If I force COD4 to close the error also closes. I'm not sure where I can get the details of this DirectX error.

All drivers are up to date, DirectX has been updated from the COD4 disc and also from Windows website, but it still crashes at the same point. It doesn't crash when I change resolution in the options like some others have mentioned on other sites, and none of the "fixes" on the Infinity Ward website seem to work either (like setting the sounds hardware acceleration to basic and using a desktop resolution of 800x600 before launching the game).

Anyone have any ideas, or am I screwed due to my CPU?

[itsmerob]

Hi, was wondering if you managed to fix this problem, because I get exactly the same problem.. The game crashes in exactly the same place.. Im fully to to date with all the drivers and my machine meets the minimum spec

[Allen]

Nope, haven't sorted it yet, however, I read somewhere else that someone with an X1650 (almost the same card as mine) rolled back from 7.12 to 7.1 and it worked, so gonna try older drivers now.

[itsmerob]

I was using the ATi catalyst drivers, but I was recommended to try the Omega drivers, which I did, but it hasn't helped.. I tried rolling back the drivers on my graphics and sound cards, but it hasn't fixed the problem

[Optical668]

If its a COD4 icon then its a engine error. Try starting COD4 in windowed mode to see if you can see the error report box coming up.

[Allen]

OK, got to see the actual error by doing that. Went into the profile and changed the config.cfg file to show seta r_fullscreen "0" instead of "1", ran it again and the error occured at the same point. I took a screenshot:



As you can see, the error window looks like a normal Windows error window, yet on the task bar it has the COD4 icon...

So, what can this "DirectX encountered an unrecoverable error." relate to, and what readme is it referring to, the DirectX one or a COD4 one?

[Allen]

OK, got it working, and so far so good (touch wood).

Here's what I've done so far and what errors they seem to have fixed:

Closed/Uninstalled XFire - people seem to think this is causing crashes when trying to change resolution, so once I've got it all set up will try enabling XFire again.

Renamed/Deleted both .asi files in the folder C:\Program Files\Activision\Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare\miles - Confirmed by IWNation that these files are optimised for 64-bit CPUs, so if you're running an older 32-bit CPU like me, this will help. There is an updated file but I haven't tried this yet, coz without these files you get no ambience in game.

Rolled VGA drivers back to an older version - for me I'm currently using Catalyst 7.1's from here (I'm just using the Display Driver, nothing else): Catalyst™ 7.1 Software Component Downloads for Windows XP Professional/Home Edition

Not sure what nVidia drivers work, just keep trying older ones and make sure you use Driver Cleaner in safe mode each time to remove the drivers completely.

I really hope this helps others to get the game to run, I've had it since Wednesday and have been trying for many hours to get it running, and now I have I can tell it's a game I will get into and love, just like previous versions. I also can't wait to try out MP!

[JIggggg]

DirectX crashes for me if I minimize Cod4 to many times.. Sounds a bit buggy to me

[WARRIOROFCHRIST]

FINALLY LORD HAS BLESSED US WITH A FIX FOR "direct x has encountered an unrecoverable error. Check read me for reports etc"




GUYZ, THIS DIRECT X ISSUE IS NOT RELATED TO THE DIRECT X UPDATE, WINDOWS UPDATE ETC.. IT IS THE VERY OWN NVIDIA LATEST DRIVER THAT SEEM TO BE CAUSING THIS ISSUE.

HOW TO FIX IT...

UNINSTALL THE LATEST NVIDIA DRIVERS FROM THE ADD / REMOVE (FOR XP) OR PROGRAMS AND FEATURE OPTION FOR VISTA.
Once it is done, go to C drive, DELETE any NVIDIA FOLDER containing display drivers.

click start, click RUN or click under start search (if its vista or win 7), type 'temp' (without quote) press ENTER. (Opens a folder, delete all files, leave the rest which windows cant delete or currently in use etc).

close the folder, now click start click RUN or start search, type '%temp%' (opens a folder, delete all files etc)

TURN THE INTERNET CONNECTION OFF SO THAT THE WINDOWS DOES NOT FIND AND DETECT THE LATEST NVIDIA DRIVERS.

RESTART THE COMPUTER..

GO TO THE NVIDIA WEBSITE BUT DO NOT DOWNLOAD THE LATEST NVIDIA DRIVERS, USE SOME OLD DRIVER WHICH IIS 18.00 WHQL VERSION ETC.......

restart system again..


ISSUE FIXED.. WORKS LIKE A CHARM... believe me, anyone can get it fixed now.. incase there are problems, please contact me..



thanx

[kalniel]

GUYZ, THIS DIRECT X ISSUE IS NOT RELATED TO THE DIRECT X UPDATE, WINDOWS UPDATE ETC.. IT IS THE VERY OWN NVIDIA LATEST DRIVER THAT SEEM TO BE CAUSING THIS ISSUE.

Which is why they had the issue in January 2008.. some time before the latest nVidia driver came out?

[Salazaar]

Which is why they had the issue in January 2008.. some time before the latest nVidia driver came out?

Personally I just love the idea of fixing a problem with ATI cards using an nVidia driver. Sheer off the wall brilliance.

[Grey M@a]

Allen I had the same issue with my P4 back in the day. The way I fixed it was to run the DirectX Incremental update and off it goes grabbing all the updated files and updates/add's to the DX you are running from the last windows update.

You can grab it here mate:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

When you start the installer it will then go online to MS (all hidden from the user) and download the latest updates right to the end of last month I do believe. If you are running the latest CoD4 patch then this update should help you out

I had to run this for EVE Online when I first installed it and also WAR when I was playing it.

[kalniel]

Personally I just love the idea of fixing a problem with ATI cards using an nVidia driver. Sheer off the wall brilliance.

I didn't even spot that - nice one We'd better shut up though, Grey M@a is still trying to help

[Grey M@a]

I didn't even spot that - nice one We'd better shut up though, Grey M@a is still trying to help

Hehe, no worries man

If I see Allen in EVE tonight when I finish work I will point him to the thread if he doesn't pop on at some point.

[kalniel]

Hehe, no worries man

If I see Allen in EVE tonight when I finish work I will point him to the thread if he doesn't pop on at some point.

I'm not sure you need to..

http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-gaming...ml#post1302503

[Grey M@a]

Doesn't hurt to keep the old DX files up to date