Unknown issue on my new PC (Lock On Flaming Cliffs)

SilentEagle · Post by **SilentEagle** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 2:52 am

I do not know if this problem is only LOFC as I have never tried to play Black Shark... but here goes.

I just got a new computer (specs at end of post) and I have reinstalled LOMAC as I am quite bored this summer. The problem I am having seems to be only after installing any sort of mod. Some mods work sometimes. Some mods don't work at all. Some mods work all the time until they crash to desktop. Sometimes my game just freezes on the menus without any mods install at all. I am really getting frustrated with these issues and I am almost certain they have to do with the fact that this game is almost 6 years old and has compatibility issues with newer hardware and operating systems. (My 6 yr old XP rig ran this game great).

Here are the things I've tried to do so far to fix the issues:
-Numerous re-installations
-Testing the game on 3 diff. OSes: Vista-64bit/Win7-64bit/Win7-32bit (same issues on all 3)
-Running Windows XP compatibility mode
-Running as administrator
-Running ModMan with compatibility mode and administrator as well
-Updating nVidia Graphics Drivers

So far, this piece of software, LOMAC, is the only one I've had issues with in the month since I've built this PC. Everything else runs flawlessly and never crashes. The reason I am not specifying which addons crash my game is because it is very random and sometimes one will and sometimes it won't. There are certain addons that I can never run, however. The new nevada terrain won't work at all for me. Here's another interesting issue... if I install some addons myself (not with modman) they work better than if I use ModMan, but sometimes they don't work when I install it myself and ModMan DOES work.

I haven't played this game in 4 years and I don't know what changes were made in 1.12 or what information people have posted with issues. I have taken the time to read many posts on all different forums about Vista and LOMAC, but have found nothing with my issues or solutions to fix my issues. Any help would be really appreciated.

Here are the steps I have taken:

1. Install 1.0 from original CD
2. Install 1.1 Flaming Cliffs (English DL version)
3. Install 1.12b Patch (English DL version)

4. Run game, mess with settings, test different planes/missions

EVERYTHING WORKS FINE!

5. Install Modman 7.1
6. Install Addons (sometimes only one)

7. Run game, load different planes... different missions... different locations (some load, some freeze while loading, and some just crash to desktop while flying)

8. Try many different in-game graphics settings (all yield same results: crashes/freezes)

9. Uninstall addons

10. Game mostly runs fine

11. Uninstall game

12. Repeat steps 1-11 until I get sick of it and just want to give up on LOMAC until a better game not featuring a dang helicopter comes out.

Here are my new computer's specs:

OS: Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Ultimate SP1 64-bit
Mobo: Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz
CPU Fan: ZALMAN CNPS9500
RAM: 2x2GB (4GB) OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 / 800 MHz / Reaper HPC Edition
Video Card: EVGA GTX 260 Core 216 w/ 896mb Memory
Power Supply: Antec EA650 (650W) ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91
CD/DVD: SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner
Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Post by **Lawndart** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 10:24 am

You mentioned you're running LO in XP Compatability Mode and as Administrator etc., but are you also doing the same with ModMan?

Check this post: Vista and LockOn Fix!

SilentEagle · Post by **SilentEagle** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 10:58 am

Yup, I forgot to mention that. I am basically trying everything in that post. lol

Blaze · Post by **Blaze** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 5:14 pm

In addition to all those Vista fixes, I set lock-on to use 1 core in Vista, every time i tried using both it would work ok for a bit then randomly CTD. Lock-On doesn't support dual-cores natively. Try this, it works for any game or program that isn't compatable with dual/quad-cores. I've been using it for Lock-On and IL-2 and had no problems since.

Get and install the prioaff.exe program.

http://il2.netteq.com/software/prioaff.zip

Create a location to keep the prioaff.exe file in. I use the following:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files\Prioaff\

Prioaff <priority> <affinity> <executable>

Priority is set to:

0 – idle

1 – normal

2 – high

3 – real-time

Affinity is the bitmask to select which core to run the process on:

00 – Run on any core depending on load (core0 or core1 for dual core procs)

01 - Run only on core0

10 - Run only on core1

11 - Run on core0 or core1 depending on load

Executable and arguments is the program and program arguments that are to be run.

I typically use normal priority and select an affinity of 10 to run on core1.

So for example on the Lock-On desktop shortcut, go to properties, in the target field it should look something like this (yours might be different):

Code: Select all

TARGET: C:\Windows\prioaff\prioaff.exe 1 10 "C:\Ubisoft\Eagle Dynamics\Lock On\lockon.exe"

Hope this helps

SilentEagle · Post by **SilentEagle** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:46 pm

Thanks for the reply Blaze. I'll try this and let you know if it worked. I'm not holding my breath though.

SilentEagle · Post by **SilentEagle** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 2:30 am

Hmm, surprisingly I haven't crashed or had a failed load in 2 hours.. but it could just be luck.

A little off topic, but is locking cockpit view on AI aircraft possible? I've been trying it with numpad_. but i don't know if that's the right key.

Also, if my joystick's software is not supported in vista, is there any way at all for me to set the dead center on it? Dead center makes me pitch down violently and I cannot figure out how to change it without the software. I really don't want to have to buy a new joystick.

Blaze · Post by **Blaze** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 3:13 am

SilentEagle wrote:A little off topic, but is locking cockpit view on AI aircraft possible? I've been trying it with numpad_. but i don't know if that's the right key.

Hit the 2 key on the keyboard, then the delete key on the numpad. To unlock it's the numlock key.

SilentEagle · Post by **SilentEagle** » Tue Jun 23, 2009 9:27 pm

Thanks again Blaze... been wayyyy too long since I've played to remember those keys.

Still, I'm completely amazed at your last fix. It's still working. I've played 6+ hours and never crashed since I used that program to set affinity to only one core.

Only thing I'm still having trouble with is my joystick (yes it's ancient). MS Force Feedback 2 doesn't have driver support in Vista/Win7, but the joystick still works. However, my plane pitches down when I have the joystick set at neutral. I cannot change the center though because the software with the stick doesn't work. I don't know if anyone has any suggestions here or if I'm just going to have to buy a newer joystick with Vista support.

Blaze · Post by **Blaze** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 12:39 am

Couldn't you just calibrate the stick through Windows' "Game Controllers" window instead of the joystick's software?

SilentEagle · Post by **SilentEagle** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 10:42 am

I did NOT know that was there HA! I'll give it a try, but I feel like it's a different issue because it doesn't pitch down when I re-fly in a mission that I already recorded a track for.

SilentEagle · Post by **SilentEagle** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 10:56 am

Yup, it's a different issue. Really weird and I think it's completely related to LOMAC but I've been through all the joystick curves/settings and can't figure it out. Maybe it's part of a setting in a config file. Hmm

Post by **Lawndart** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 11:14 am

The root of all your problems in one word: Vista!

SilentEagle · Post by **SilentEagle** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 12:41 am

Yea..

It's really too bad because this game runs great on this new computer, besides for the problem I fixed and then this joystick problem. Surely someone else has had this problem. Just a matter of finding out who to find the solution, if there IS one.

SilentEagle · Post by **SilentEagle** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:11 am

Ok so after a little searching, I have found that this is a very common problem with the new 1.12a/b patches. Last time I played was before these were released so I did not know these were a problem for me. The only fix is to disable FF effects via producer.cfg file but that really freaking sucks because it is so much harder to control my plane without any FF as the MSFF2 doesn't have any inherent resistance to it. Nice one ED.

Edit: Found one more workaround. Requires you to alt-J to allow AI to take control then alt-J again to re-enter the plane. The trim is fixed! Annoying to have to do this everytime I fly, however. This does NOT work in online play, though. You cannot just give up your plane to AI online