Help me figure out why FO3 keeps freezing!

Hey guys,

I've got the Steam version of Fallout 3 installed on my Windows 7 RC desktop. I've actually beaten the entire game plus the Broken Steel add-on on this very same setup. Nothing has really changed, with the exception of windows updates and some new programs. Now, when I try play FO3, it'll randomly freeze every 5 or 10 minutes. No matter where I am, and what save file I'm using (even in a new game). I've deleted the entire FO3 folder from steam, reinstalled it, updated my GPU drivers, etc. Nothing seems to work.

Does anyone have any ideas? This set-up hasn't changed with the exception of now being in a different location, but heat isn't a problem since it's cold over here anyway.

Thanks,
Eric Huang

 

Have you done an overall check of your system temperatures using something like HWmonitor?

Also within steam, it won't hurt to defrag the FO3 folder.

 

I had (have) a similar problem. I googled it, and it looks like it's not an uncommon issue. I recently updated my GPU driver though, and that *seems* to be making things more stable.

 

I have my fans on pretty high, I know my GPU temps never go above 70 in any game. I also defragged the game multiple times with no change.

 

Does the game freeze when entering other locations or when random sound is about to pop out?

 

do you have realtek drivers? if so that is most likely your problem, not sure if there is a fix for it yet. Try disabling your sound drivers and play the game to see if it locks up again

 

From what I can determine, it happens randomly when I do an action, like talking to someone, pick up something, etc.

 

First of all.....the engine on witch FO3 is based on ( Oblivion engine ) is the biggest piece of rhino c-rap even developed...not only it's worst thing to make a high-paced action game like FO3 be based on ( every NPC, creature moves like a damn BOULDER, a CUBE with crappy hitboxes ), but this engine is so baddly written, that many issues appear like yours. For instance with Oblivion the game crashed on me often when I killed something or entered a new area ( new map was loaded ) and there was so explanation for this. Secondly, FO3 makes me feel that Bethesda done to Fallout franchise, what Lucas and Spielberg done to Indiana Jones in newest movie ( well portraited in one of South Park episodes ).

 

A couple of questions:
1) Once the games freezes, does it 'un-freezes' after a while or you have to close the program from the Task Manager?

2) Do you think it may be more like a music related issue? For example, each time a track changes.

 

If you are using mods for the game some may cause your game to crash.

 

It does not unfreeze, I do have to force close the program. I'll try disabling Realtek drivers to see if that works later. I don't think it's related to the music, since it's just randomly.

Also, I don't have any mods installed, with the exception of the official Broken Steel add-on.

 

I made a thread (well, more like something for the record) regarding issues with music I had. You can check the thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=398060

The overall solution is the program InstalledCodec which allows to select which codecs to use and which don't. If your problem is related to some codecs you should be able to solve them.

 

Just tried this, but it has nothing to do with music...it just randomly freezes...

 

Have you modded the game heavy?

 

I said earlier I only have Broken Steel installed.

 

I understand your game freezes randomly. If it is not music related, then a possible scenario is that it is video related. So go and check the video codecs you have installed. They are also displayed in the software I am referring in the link I posted.

 

But what would I disable/enable? I followed your instructions before, which leads to disabling everything anyway.

 

We've seen problems with Fallout 3 sporadically crashing (and very seldomly freezing) with Vista 64-bit, but narrowed the problem down to 64-bit compatability issues. The game has worked fine with 32-bit Vista consistently.

All I can say is the generic "upgrade all of your drivers, reboot your laptop and pray" response.

 

The point is to identify which codec (if it is codec related) is the culprit. Since you do not think it is music related, then for the video codec only activate the windows codecs and test your game. If nothing happens then activate one more... and so on until you find which codec is giving you the trouble.

Let me ask you another question: is this the only game which you have issues or there are some others?

 

I'll try looking for it later on today. This is the ONLY game affected on this desktop...