A list of common problems for games

MadGamer · 10-09-2004, 23:26

Currupt Installs

If you experience a currupt install of your game try a reinstall or update any hardware devices you have on your computer.

Patching

Normally when you experience anything major in a game: a graphics problem for example, try updating your game with any patches from the games offical website. You can alternativly try to update your graphics card drivers.

http://www.nvidia.co.uk
http://www.ati.com

etc.

Uninstalling

System Restore,
Safe Mode (Must be logged on as an Administrator)
Return the computer to its last known good configuration

For system restore you NEED to disable you Anti - Virus software as it protects certain files. Remember do this BEFORE you make a restore.

Safe Mode is the safest way to uninstall software from your PC. You need to be logged in as an Administrator to perform this task. When you restart your PC just keep hitting F8 untill the safe mode menu appears.

Return the computer to its last known good configuration - This is an option with in the safe mode menu.

Other Hardware
If you just have a problem with an internal or external device, a motherboard for example try updating the drivers for that hardware.

10-09-2004, 23:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne A

Uninstalling

System Restore,
Safe Mode (Must be logged on as an Administrator)
Return the computer to its last known good configuration

Why not just use the games uninstall application? Less hassle

dilli-theclaw · 10-09-2004, 23:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott

Why not just use the games unistall application? Less hassle

Not all uninstall applications are any good - many leave traces of the game in the registry and files on the hard drive.

But you can try to uninstall if you like

Some games will refuse to uninstall if they've installed wrongly too.

10-09-2004, 23:49

Alright then just gang up on me

dilli-theclaw · 10-09-2004, 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott

Alright then just gang up on me

Tempting

- But nah - I haven't got the energy tonight - and it IS the only way you'll learn these things

10-09-2004, 23:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

Tempting

*starts running*

MadGamer · 10-09-2004, 23:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

Not all uninstall applications are any good - many leave traces of the game in the registry and files on the hard drive.

But you can try to uninstall if you like

Some games will refuse to uninstall if they've installed wrongly too.

I was going along those sort of lines.

ZrByte · 11-09-2004, 10:10

I havent had a single game that has had trouble uninstalling since windows 98. For that matter even if the uninstall is buggered you could just delete the files manually and then remove the entry from the Add/Remove Programs menu. Installing/uninstalling drivers seems to be better in safe mode though so I'll give you that

Personally the biggest problem for most games now are D3D issues, I have had more games with Graphical corruption or startup failures down to hardware/driver issues with D3D than anything else and even those are becoming rare.

11-09-2004, 11:23

Game companies say D3D is more stable than OpenGL, I think it's the other way around. I have had more problems with D3D than OpenGL

Richard M · 11-09-2004, 11:46

Using system restore as a first option for uninstalling software is just stupid imo - there could have been lots of other system changes made while the game was installed.

ZrByte · 11-09-2004, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott

Game companies say D3D is more stable than OpenGL, I think it's the other way around. I have had more problems with D3D than OpenGL

D3D seems more stable once initialised to me, OpenGL based games seem to be able to run on anything but have the nasty habbit of dropping you back to the desktop randomly if they dont like your hardware.

11-09-2004, 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard M

Using system restore as a first option for uninstalling software is just stupid imo - there could have been lots of other system changes made while the game was installed.

That's why I mentioned the unistall of the game

Bifta · 11-09-2004, 12:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott

That's why I mentioned the unistall of the game

Your original post was spot on, using system restore to remove a game (or any software) should be an absolute last resort, I can safely say that since I've been using XP (right back from when I received the beta through MSDN) I have never had to use system restore to get rid of something I've installed.

MadGamer · 11-09-2004, 12:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

Not all uninstall applications are any good - many leave traces of the game in the registry and files on the hard drive.

But you can try to uninstall if you like

Some games will refuse to uninstall if they've installed wrongly too.

Like The Sims when you have all the EP's installed.

Gareth · 26-09-2004, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne A

Like The Sims when you have all the EP's installed.

Tsk tsk tsk, you're not suggesting that there's a problem if you uninstall things in a different order to which they were installed, are you? Personally, I wouldn't consider that a fault with the uninstall routine of the s/w being uninstalled.

edit: although there might be a case for a bad design issue if the original software doesn't take into consideration any dependent software still installed whilst being uninstalled. er....does that make sense?!? /me is tired