problems running diablo on win 2k

[havelock]

hello all,

i recently thought about how nice it would be to play the old diablo again, took my cd and installed it, including patch 1.09. installation went over smoothly, no problems. but when i want to start the game, after the intro i get a crash to desktop, without any comment or error message. there seem to be buggy graphics, too, the flaming animated diablo logo at the beginning is quite wrong (instead of a flaming logo i get the whole 'diablo' running up and down in its frame). the .err error file created in my diablo directory talks about 'access violation', as far as i can decypher this cryptic file...

i tried out different windows compatibility modes (win 95, 98 nt), installing different patches from the blizzard hp (after de- and reinstalling diablo), installing hellfire etc. no result, except crash to desktop. searching these forums got me no help so far. as far as i can recall, a few years ago i ran the game successfully, but since then i made some hardware upgrades.

has anyone encountered such a problem, and/or is there a known solution?

my system consists of:
- asrock dual sata mainboard
- athlon 64 3200 (939 socket)
- 2048 mb ram (although right now, it's running on 1024 mb until i can figure out why win2k is hiding the other half, the bios shows it all...:()
- asus radeon 9600 xt agp (8x) graphics card (1024x768 screen resolution, 32bit colour)
- terratec aureon 5.1 sound card
- win 2k pro

anyone got any ideas?

thanks for trying to help,
havelock

[LennyLen]

anyone got any ideas?

There's certainly no problem running Diablo on win2k, as I've done it myself, and know others who do as well.

My first guess would be that it's gfx card related. This seems to be the cause of several problems people have had playing the game. You can try updating/rolling back the drivers to see if this helps.

[havelock]

There's certainly no problem running Diablo on win2k, as I've done it myself, and know others who do as well.

My first guess would be that it's gfx card related. This seems to be the cause of several problems people have had playing the game. You can try updating/rolling back the drivers to see if this helps.

well, the graphics card is the only thing i'm sure i've not changed since diablo worked (and will not until i find some money...) and the drivers are still the same, since i don't like fixing things that are not broken. but i'll try meddling around a bit with the driver configurations and see if i get any results. thanks all the same to you!

[Alamara]

well, the graphics card is the only thing i'm sure i've not changed since diablo worked (and will not until i find some money...) and the drivers are still the same, since i don't like fixing things that are not broken. but i'll try meddling around a bit with the driver configurations and see if i get any results. thanks all the same to you!

I seem to recall something about patching Diablo to 1.07 first, and then after that is complete patching to 1.09. Perhaps this will work for you.

[[vL]Kp]

Post the contents of the error file. Note that it contains your computer name and username. Some people prefer to keep those private, so you may want to delete those first.

[LennyLen]

Post the contents of the error file.

Doh! I didn't even read the bit about an error file. Bad gfx card drivers are very unlikely to be the problem then.

[HowGozit]

Hi,

Just a random thought. Try running the game in compatibility mode and pulling the ram in the compatibility area down below a GB. Its been a while since I did much in Win 2K, so I am assuming that you can do that. (I run Win XP nowadays and that can do this). I seem to recall that Win9x got pretty snotty about RAM over 512K.

By the way - yes - this is a wild guess. :-)

HowGozit

[havelock]

this is the content of one of the error files i got after the game crashed.


------------------------------------------------------
PROGRAM VERSION: 98.5.6.1
COMPUTER NAME: (...)
TIME: 09/07/06 15:59:11
INFO:

Exception code: C0000005 ACCESS_VIOLATION
Fault address: 00AF4E78 00:00000000 *unknown*

Registers:
EAX:00000000
EBX:00000000
ECX:77E04C2D
EDX:007BE2C8
ESI:02E3BFFD
EDI:02EA2E1B
CS:EIP:001B:00AF4E78
SS:ESP:0023:0012F5F0 EBP:0012F720
DS:0023 ES:0023 FS:0038 GS:0000
Flags:00210206
Call stack:
Address Frame Logical addr Module
00AF4E78 0012F720 0000:00000000 *unknown*

Stack bytes:
0x0012f5f0: f8 00 ad 00 03 00 00 00 c4 f6 12 00 23 00 00 00 ............#...
0x0012f600: 00 00 00 00 50 f6 12 00 70 01 da 02 11 00 00 00 ....P...p.......
0x0012f610: 11 00 00 00 70 01 da 02 0c 00 df 02 20 01 00 00 ....p....... ...
0x0012f620: 00 00 00 05 80 63 00 15 00 00 00 05 00 00 00 05 .....c..........
0x0012f630: 97 00 00 00 a0 63 00 15 00 00 00 00 80 63 00 15 .....c.......c..
0x0012f640: 01 00 00 00 74 09 00 00 5d 02 00 00 10 16 a9 00 ....t...].......
0x0012f650: 08 f7 12 00 e4 14 00 15 10 16 a9 00 c4 f6 12 00 ................
0x0012f660: 11 00 00 00 70 01 da 02 0c 00 df 02 00 00 00 00 ....p...........
0x0012f670: 00 00 e9 02 5c 00 00 00 08 00 00 00 68 00 00 00 ....\.......h...
0x0012f680: 64 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 c4 00 e9 02 29 5a 01 15 d...........)Z..
0x0012f690: c4 00 e9 02 5c 00 00 00 5d 02 00 00 5d 02 00 00 ....\...]...]...
0x0012f6a0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 16 00 00 00 2e ba 00 15 ................
0x0012f6b0: 00 01 e9 02 5c e5 01 20 00 00 00 00 c8 e2 7b 00 ....\.. ......{.
0x0012f6c0: c6 02 11 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 5d 02 00 00 ....@.......]...
0x0012f6d0: 16 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 23 00 00 00 54 00 ea 02 ........#...T...
0x0012f6e0: 9d 8f e3 02 20 f7 12 00 2d 4c e0 77 c8 e2 7b 00 .... ...-L.w..{.
0x0012f6f0: 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 58 00 da 02 ec 4b e0 77 ........X....K.w
0x0012f700: c6 02 11 00 10 16 a9 00 cf 4b e0 77 01 76 00 20 .........K.w.v.
0x0012f710: 54 00 ea 02 9d 8f e3 02 5d 02 00 00 16 00 00 00 T.......].......
0x0012f720: 5d 02 00 00 80 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 cc 00 ]........... ...
0x0012f730: c6 02 11 00 64 03 19 00 f3 68 e0 77 01 00 00 00 ....d....h.w....
0x0012f740: 11 00 00 00 d3 01 00 00 6e 02 00 00 e9 01 00 00 ........n.......
0x0012f750: 31 77 00 20 c6 02 11 00 c8 11 02 20 01 00 00 00 1w. ....... ....
0x0012f760: 0c 00 00 00 0c 00 00 00 f8 eb fd 7f c8 e2 7b 00 ..............{.
0x0012f770: cc f7 12 00 0f 91 e7 77 00 ec fd 7f a8 2c e0 77 .......w.....,.w
0x0012f780: 64 03 19 00 0c 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 18 7e 02 20 d............~.
0x0012f790: 40 94 00 15 cd ab ba dc bc f7 12 00 e6 52 e0 77 @............R.w
0x0012f7a0: 40 94 00 15 64 03 19 00 0c 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 @...d...........
0x0012f7b0: 18 7e 02 20 0c 00 00 00 64 03 19 00 dc f7 12 00 .~. ....d.......
0x0012f7c0: 62 53 e0 77 40 94 00 15 64 03 19 00 0c 00 00 00 bS.w@...d.......
0x0012f7d0: 00 00 00 00 18 7e 02 20 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 .....~. ........
0x0012f7e0: c7 aa 00 15 40 94 00 15 64 03 19 00 0c 00 00 00 ....@...d.......
0x0012f7f0: 00 00 00 00 18 7e 02 20 00 00 00 c0 0c 00 00 00 .....~. ........
0x0012f800: 24 f8 12 00 c8 e2 7b 00 a8 2c e0 77 64 03 19 00 $.....{..,.wd...
0x0012f810: 0c 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 18 7e 02 20 0c 00 00 00 .........~. ....
0x0012f820: cd ab ba dc 54 f8 12 00 98 43 e0 77 50 a9 00 15 ....T....C.wP...
0x0012f830: 64 03 19 00 0c 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 18 7e 02 20 d............~.
0x0012f840: c6 02 11 00 c8 11 02 20 0b 69 e0 77 88 e5 7b 00 ....... .i.w..{.
0x0012f850: 12 04 00 00 c8 11 02 20 ed 76 00 20 c6 02 11 00 ....... .v. ....
0x0012f860: f6 76 00 20 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 5a 03 0e 00 .v. ........Z...
0x0012f870: 58 00 da 02 c6 02 11 00 68 9b 00 20 01 00 00 00 X.......h.. ....
0x0012f880: c6 02 11 00 c6 02 11 00 20 9a 00 20 10 01 00 00 ........ .. ....
0x0012f890: 00 00 00 00 b8 f8 12 00 88 e5 7b 00 a8 2c e0 77 ..........{..,.w
0x0012f8a0: c6 02 11 00 10 01 00 00 5a 03 0e 00 00 00 00 00 ........Z.......
0x0012f8b0: 00 00 00 00 cd ab ba dc f4 f8 12 00 b9 89 e0 77 ...............w
0x0012f8c0: d0 98 00 20 c6 02 11 00 10 01 00 00 5a 03 0e 00 ... ........Z...
0x0012f8d0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 c6 02 11 00 10 01 00 00 ................
0x0012f8e0: 70 de e7 77 ff ff ff ff 10 f9 12 00 c3 e2 e7 77 p..w...........w

Code bytes:
0x00af4e78: 8b 06 81 c6 04 00 00 00 89 07 81 c7 04 00 00 00 ................



------------------------------------------------------
PROGRAM VERSION: 98.5.6.1
COMPUTER NAME: (...)
TIME: 09/07/06 16:30:15
INFO:

Exception code: C0000005 ACCESS_VIOLATION
Fault address: 00AF4E78 00:00000000 *unknown*

Registers:
EAX:00000000
EBX:00000000
ECX:77E04C2D
EDX:0076E040
ESI:0331BFFD
EDI:03382E1B
CS:EIP:001B:00AF4E78
SS:ESP:0023:0012F5F0 EBP:0012F720
DS:0023 ES:0023 FS:0038 GS:0000
Flags:00210206
Call stack:
Address Frame Logical addr Module
00AF4E78 0012F720 0000:00000000 *unknown*

Stack bytes:
0x0012f5f0: f8 00 ad 00 03 00 00 00 c4 f6 12 00 23 00 00 00 ............#...
0x0012f600: 00 00 00 00 50 f6 12 00 70 01 28 03 11 00 00 00 ....P...p.(.....
0x0012f610: 11 00 00 00 70 01 28 03 0c 00 2d 03 f0 00 00 00 ....p.(...-.....
0x0012f620: 00 00 00 05 80 63 00 15 00 00 00 05 00 00 00 05 .....c..........
0x0012f630: 97 00 00 00 a0 63 00 15 00 00 00 00 80 63 00 15 .....c.......c..
0x0012f640: 01 00 00 00 74 09 00 00 5d 02 00 00 10 16 a9 00 ....t...].......
0x0012f650: 08 f7 12 00 e4 14 00 15 10 16 a9 00 c4 f6 12 00 ................
0x0012f660: 11 00 00 00 70 01 28 03 0c 00 2d 03 00 00 00 00 ....p.(...-.....
0x0012f670: 00 00 37 03 5c 00 00 00 08 00 00 00 68 00 00 00 ..7.\.......h...
0x0012f680: 64 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 c4 00 37 03 29 5a 01 15 d.........7.)Z..
0x0012f690: c4 00 37 03 5c 00 00 00 5d 02 00 00 5d 02 00 00 ..7.\...]...]...
0x0012f6a0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 16 00 00 00 2e ba 00 15 ................
0x0012f6b0: 00 01 37 03 5c e5 01 20 00 00 00 00 40 e0 76 00 ..7.\.. ....@.v.
0x0012f6c0: a4 03 20 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 5d 02 00 00 .. .@.......]...
0x0012f6d0: 16 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 23 00 00 00 54 00 38 03 ........#...T.8.
0x0012f6e0: 9d 8f 31 03 20 f7 12 00 2d 4c e0 77 40 e0 76 00 ..1. ...-L.w@.v.
0x0012f6f0: 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 58 00 28 03 ec 4b e0 77 ........X.(..K.w
0x0012f700: a4 03 20 00 10 16 a9 00 cf 4b e0 77 01 76 00 20 .. ......K.w.v.
0x0012f710: 54 00 38 03 9d 8f 31 03 5d 02 00 00 16 00 00 00 T.8...1.].......
0x0012f720: 5d 02 00 00 80 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 cc 00 ]........... ...
0x0012f730: a4 03 20 00 9a 03 05 00 f3 68 e0 77 01 00 00 00 .. ......h.w....
0x0012f740: 11 00 00 00 d3 01 00 00 6e 02 00 00 e9 01 00 00 ........n.......
0x0012f750: 31 77 00 20 a4 03 20 00 c8 11 02 20 01 00 00 00 1w. .. .... ....
0x0012f760: 0c 00 00 00 0c 00 00 00 f8 eb fd 7f 40 e0 76 00 ............@.v.
0x0012f770: cc f7 12 00 0f 91 e7 77 00 ec fd 7f a8 2c e0 77 .......w.....,.w
0x0012f780: 9a 03 05 00 0c 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 18 7e 02 20 .............~.
0x0012f790: 40 94 00 15 cd ab ba dc bc f7 12 00 e6 52 e0 77 @............R.w
0x0012f7a0: 40 94 00 15 9a 03 05 00 0c 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 @...............
0x0012f7b0: 18 7e 02 20 0c 00 00 00 9a 03 05 00 dc f7 12 00 .~. ............
0x0012f7c0: 62 53 e0 77 40 94 00 15 9a 03 05 00 0c 00 00 00 bS.w@...........
0x0012f7d0: 00 00 00 00 18 7e 02 20 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 .....~. ........
0x0012f7e0: c7 aa 00 15 40 94 00 15 9a 03 05 00 0c 00 00 00 ....@...........
0x0012f7f0: 00 00 00 00 18 7e 02 20 00 00 00 c0 0c 00 00 00 .....~. ........
0x0012f800: 24 f8 12 00 40 e0 76 00 a8 2c e0 77 9a 03 05 00 $...@.v..,.w....
0x0012f810: 0c 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 18 7e 02 20 0c 00 00 00 .........~. ....
0x0012f820: cd ab ba dc 54 f8 12 00 98 43 e0 77 50 a9 00 15 ....T....C.wP...
0x0012f830: 9a 03 05 00 0c 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 18 7e 02 20 .............~.
0x0012f840: a4 03 20 00 c8 11 02 20 0b 69 e0 77 80 d2 7c 00 .. .... .i.w..|.
0x0012f850: 12 04 00 00 c8 11 02 20 ed 76 00 20 a4 03 20 00 ....... .v. .. .
0x0012f860: f6 76 00 20 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 4a 03 10 00 .v. ........J...
0x0012f870: 58 00 28 03 a4 03 20 00 68 9b 00 20 01 00 00 00 X.(... .h.. ....
0x0012f880: a4 03 20 00 a4 03 20 00 20 9a 00 20 10 01 00 00 .. ... . .. ....
0x0012f890: 00 00 00 00 b8 f8 12 00 80 d2 7c 00 a8 2c e0 77 ..........|..,.w
0x0012f8a0: a4 03 20 00 10 01 00 00 4a 03 10 00 00 00 00 00 .. .....J.......
0x0012f8b0: 00 00 00 00 cd ab ba dc f4 f8 12 00 b9 89 e0 77 ...............w
0x0012f8c0: d0 98 00 20 a4 03 20 00 10 01 00 00 4a 03 10 00 ... .. .....J...
0x0012f8d0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 a4 03 20 00 10 01 00 00 .......... .....
0x0012f8e0: 70 de e7 77 ff ff ff ff 10 f9 12 00 c3 e2 e7 77 p..w...........w

Code bytes:
0x00af4e78: 8b 06 81 c6 04 00 00 00 89 07 81 c7 04 00 00 00 ................


hope you can make more of it than i can. this is quite cryptic to me...

[[vL]Kp]

hope you can make more of it than i can. this is quite cryptic to me...

Both crashes occured in the same place in the code. The fault occured in a location not known to be associated with any module in the process, and it's definitely not one of Diablo's own. Blizzard's stack frame backtrace failed (as usual), but a manual walk of the stack says that it was somewhere down in Storm.dll when it suddenly transitioned off into an unknown module (DLL). The code bytes suggest this was not a completely bad jump. If it was, there would be no code bytes to dump.

All that said, I have no idea why it's crashing for you. If you have not yet, check that your system is free of spyware and other infections. If you are out of other options, I can suggest some other things to try, but they become progressively more technical and invasive, with no guarantee of success. The first thing to try would be to get a list of modules loaded in Diablo at the moment it crashes. To do this, open a command prompt and run: "ntsd <path-to-diablo>". A new console window will appear. In it, type:

1. .logopen <filename>. Remember that filename - you'll need to post the contents of that file later.<>
   
2. ld *<>
   
3. sxd -c2 "lm; q" av<>
   
4. g<>
   [st]Diablo should start and crash. ntsd may or may not shut Diablo down far enough for you to recover your desktop. If it doesn't, you'll need to focus on the ntsd window and type "q". Since Diablo may have your screen locked in a black state, you'll have to do this by alt-tabbing to each open window in turn and feeding it a q until Diablo dies. You may want to exit all other open windows first so that ntsd is the only window which can take focus. After you have done this, post the contents of the file named in the .logopen command. I doubt there will be anything sensitive in it (username, computer name, etc.), but check it first anyway.
   
   
   On an unrelated note, I could have had this post to you quite a bit sooner if this forum was not so damned dependent on Javascript. Javascript should not be mandatory for reading the documentation! That's a classic sign of a designer who is more interested in being clever than in actually accomplishing anything.

[RusBot]

You may try to disable hardware acceleration for your graphic card as well as for the audio card. If the problem occurs due to the drivers' incompatibility issues that little workaround may help. If it works then with the disabled acceleration you can put sliders that cotrol it back, step by step, to find out at which point d1 crashes.