Crash on turn generation -- how can I tell what is breaking the game?

from Elemental Forums


Everytime I attempt to generate a turn, it freezes shortly after generation, and then I get a windows popup which says that elemental has stopped working, and I have to shut it down. (If I try to load a previous save, I get an error message that the game is incompatible with the current version (steam client de-synch??), and then a black screen which I cannot load anyrthing from anymore -- like the main menu, just blank, missing all the buttons.) How can I tell what is wrong?

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Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top


Anyone? This is now the third game in a row I cannot finish because at some point, something get's broken and turn generation causes the game to crash. Loading previous saves doesn't seem to help past that point. I'd really like to actually finish a game soon.

I should say that this is the 1.2 release, not 1.3 beta.

Thanks.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Have you tried revalidating the steam cache?

Also if you have a saved game where this re-occurs maybe upload your save game for support to look at?

 

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Thanks!

How do I "revalidate"?

Also, do you mean by "upload" to post a save game here, or PM it to Derek?

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Have you turned Steam Cloud syncing off? I recommend you keep it off.

I suppose you've already checked if you accidentally deleted some Sovs or factions?

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

I have not turned synching off -- how do I do so? I have not been prompted to synch in a while. Still continuous crashes.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Steam synchs automatically, unless you turn it off. You have to turn it off in Steam, not in LH. If I remember correctly, you have to select LH in Steam and go to options.

The main cause for crashes and freezes are other programs running in the background, like automatic updates. This does not seem the cause in your case. It might still be worth a try turning some off, though.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top


I cannot see a reason for the crashes, something has to be constantly corrupting my files.

Where can I turn this off in Steam? I shift-tabbed into steam, but cannot find any settings whatsoever of this type. Can you elaborate please?

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

To turn off Steam Cloud for LH:

1) Start Steam, click on Library

2) Left hand side where your games are listed, right click on FE: LH, click Properties

3) Under Updates tab, untick the Enable Steam CLoud checkbox

 

I suggest you also try and "Verify Integrity of Game Cache".  Under the Properties again, go to the Local Files tab.... click the Verify button.

 

If none of that helps, check the how to report and issue sticky that says how to find your error/debug file and provide it when submitting a problem:

https://forums.elementalgame.com/447542/page/1/

 

 

 

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Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top


Thanks much. THat was a very helpful post.

I can't access dropbox at the moment (forget password!!) but I will try.

Starting a new game again...

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

Cloud sync off helps, I'd also recommend auto-turn off if you are still using that.

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top


Excuse me, I just did the "validation" step which abob recommended, and I got the message "2 files failed to validate. They will be acquired."

I am confused as to the passive verb form here. Do I have to do anything, or is everything ok now? how do I acquire these files? There doesnt seem to be anything doing....

thank you

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

should be automatic? just run the game again?

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top


I ran the validation tool again and it said 100% validated -- yey.

Question: If I load an older game from before this validation process, can I corrupt my game again, or are the old loads good now, and I might be able to continue the games that constantly crashed?

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting onomastikon, reply 13
Question: If I load an older game from before this validation process, can I corrupt my game again, or are the old loads good now, and I might be able to continue the games that constantly crashed?

Saves include the XML data from when the game was started, so if some of that was bad and yet still parsed, it'd still be in the save. It would not have any impact on new games, though.

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

It could well be a mod. I've had the same problem. Derek checked my debug.err and told me it was an illegal item in the Age of Fangs mod causing the crash.

Reply #16 from Elemental Forums Top

Thank you.

I have never used mods, ever, and do not plan to (mostly for reasons relating to stability and integrity).

Reply #17 from Elemental Forums Top

Besides that one crash I've ad nothing ut fun with mods. There are some great mods out there. It's totally up to you of course but I woud recommend trying them out one day if you want some extra flavour.

Reply #19 from Elemental Forums Top

why autosave? Are you saying disable autosave, because it can corrupt files, or are you saying it causes lag (which doesn't seem to bother me), or are you saying changing the cursor (?) helps with file corruption?

 

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

1.3 is not any better. I'm getting crashes every few (10ish) turns too. It does seem to happen more often now that I've set autosave to save every turn.

I'm not running any mods, my machine is fully patched with latest drivers.

Also, if you check out GetDaved current let's play on youtube, you will find he's getting tons of crashes on end of turn too.

My most recent debug.err: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2412771/debug.err