can't play Mechwarrior4 on the Zone

When I launch this game from the zone the initial splash screen comes up then the game quits. I am also disconnected from the zone server. While the DUN icon is still in the systray I can pick up my phone handset and I have a dial tone. Any attempt to clik a hyperlink to rejoin or go to another website results in a blue screen with err in 0E:0028:xxxxxxxx ( the x's vary never the same twice). If I choose to close Internet explorer I get a fatal exception error caused by Iexplorer in kernel32.dll. If I attempt to do a restart I also get a blue screen with an error in 0E:0028:xxxxxxxx.

I can start and play the game normally offline I can also use the in game browser to connect to a zonematch and play online with no problems. I have all the latest drivers for my system, and directx8.1. I have run dxdiag and it indicates no prob areas. The thing is gonna drive me to rip my hair out in huge tufts......lol

I am running WinMe, PIII 733, Elsa SynergyII video card with the TNTII chip set 32MB onboard ram, 512 MB 133 SDRAM trimmed back thru msconfig to 480 MB, SoundMax Integrated Digital Audio.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Skip

 

Hi Skip7046,and welcome to TSG.Not much of a gamer here,but most times when you see the fatal exception error in IE in kernel32 dll,its caused by spyware componets.Might be a good idea to download a program called Ad-aware5.6.This program will scan your system and remove any spyware it finds.You can get it here.

http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Also check your startup programs in msconfig.See if you have anything in there like newnet,webhancer,savenow,web3000,or anything else that looks suspicious.

Let us know

 

wow quick response thanx. I have had Ad-aware installed for some time now and it scans my system at bootup. All it has ever found is the doubleclik and valueclik cookies which I remove. I am also running ZoneAlarm and Nortons AV, both of which I disable before attempting to play thru the MS game zone. None of the items you mentioned are in my start up group in msconfig. I should probably mention that this system has a network interface built into the system board which I have disabled thru the device manger. I am fairly certain the prob lies in my system configuration but I'll be darned if I can figure out where. I have spent hours on the MS knowledge base and can find nothing related to my problem.
Thanx again
Skip

 

Ok Skip.Heres some more things to try.Let us know if any of these work for you.
EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in KERNEL32.DLL Explorer Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Kernel32.dll
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q154/0/92.asp

A damaged *.pwl list can cause this problem - rename <username>.pwl to <username>.old Delete all extra copies of WSock32.DLL, except the one in windows/System folder

Have a look at this link:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q225/0/40.asp

A damaged history folder can cause this error - boot using a floppy so you can access DOS if you use WindowsME or Windows 2000. If using 95 or 98 shut down all programmes and boot into DOS then run the following commands from the Windows directory, typically c:\windows\>

smartdrv
deltree history

Reboot using ctrl, alt, del to restart. If using Windows ME, remember to remove the boot floppy. NOTE: Different operating systems use different paths to the history, temporary internet files and cookies folders. Check your system to make sure that you are using the correct path for your machine. For example, you may find your folders are located at ...\documents and settings\{identity}\{dir} or similar.

Ensure you are not running CleanSweep4. Reget from Softseek is known to cause this problem with IE5.5 - make sure you have the very latest version available.

 

Lets see I did as instructed and renamed the .pwl file to old and rebooted ( note I did not have a password setup for windows) .

There is only one instance of WSock32.dll on my system and it is in the windows\system folder.

I used my WinMe setup disc to boot to DOS and switched to C:\windows\temp typed smartdrv and gpt a bad command or file name, then typed deltree history and got the same results. Just so ya know I have IE 5.5 setup to hold history for 0 days.

I did look at the 2 MSKB articles you referenced and they apply to win95/98 not win Me. Will they work on my system?? Also one article ref'd changing the system.dat atttrib and renaming and letting windows "rebuild" from system.da0 but that file is not on my system there is a system.bak file but it is dated 11-17-01 and I have been experiencing this prob for longer than that. Also will changing this file make some of my installed programs unuseable?

Did try to play at the zone again,,,,same thing but this time I attempted to close DUN by right cliking systray icon and got Fatal exception vxd --- called from 0E:0028:C001AE74 in vxd ndis.

Thanx again
Skip

 

Hi ya eddie, thanx for the response. I have seen both the MSKB articles you ref'd and neither one applied or worked. In fact when I attempted a "clean" boot, upon reboot I got a windows protection error saying that vsdata95.vxd failed to load and it locked up my computer. I had to boot to safe mode and re check the static vxd files then rebooted and got the same windows protection error and so rebooted to safe mode again and reselected all items and it rebooted fine. I investigated vsdata.vxd and it is a Zone Alarm file. Now one of the things I did to try and correct my current problem was to do a clean intall of WinMe. The first thing after gettin my system up and running was install MW4 and its latest update ( version 2.0 ) then attempted to play the game from www.zone.msn/com and got the same BSOD error in 0E:0028:xxxxxxxx. I used ctrl/d to get details and it just returned me too my desktop where doing anything caused the same error to occur. Had to use ctrl/alt/del to restart. So I don't think the ZA file is relative. Note that I only get vxd errors when I am returned back to desktop from the initial error and I press "any"key", then if I try to close IExplorer I get the kernell32 error, If I try to disconnect DUN I get ndis error. At no time have I received the little window that says this program has performed an illegal operation with the details button. It seems that when the game is launched while I have an active DUN connection something is interfering that causes my internet connection to lock up. As I mentioned above there is a network interface built into the motherboard....Intel(R) 82559 Fast Ethernet LOM with Alert on LAN. Now I have disabled this item thru the device manager. But in Network properties I see there are numerous adapters loaded: 1) Client for Microsoft Networks 2) Dial Up Adapter 3) Dial Up Adapter #2 (VPN Support)-Note I have removed VPN thru the add/remove/windows setup program. 4) Intel(R) 82559 Fast Ethernet LOM with Alert on LAN* 5) TCP/IP-> Dial Up Adapter 6) TCP/IP -> Dial Up Adapter #2 (VPN Support) 7) TCP/IP -> Intel(R) 82559 Fast Ethernet LOM with Alert on LAN. Could any of these items be interfering? Can I safely remove them without killing my ability to connect to the internet?

I have also downloaded and installed IE 6 and its latest updates. Below I have copied my start up group items. As yet I haven't gotten the Ad-aware update but will do so after work today.

start up group items:

*StateMgr c:\windows\system\restore\statemgr.exe All Users HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
Adaware Bootup c:\program files\lavasoft ad-aware\ad-aware.exe /auto /log "c:\program files\lavasoft ad-aware\" .DEFAULT HKU\.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
LoadPowerProfile rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,loadcurrentpwrscheme All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
LoadPowerProfile rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,loadcurrentpwrscheme All Users HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
MiniLog c:\windows\system\zonelabs\minilog.exe -service All Users HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
NAV Agent c:\progra~1\norton~1\navapw32.exe All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
PCHealth c:\windows\pchealth\support\pchschd.exe -s All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Pro PCL Status Monitor c:\progra~1\wcpropcl\pengss.exe /p /s .DEFAULT Startup
ScanRegistry c:\windows\scanregw.exe /autorun All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SchedulingAgent mstask.exe All Users HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
ScriptBlocking "c:\program files\common files\symantec shared\script blocking\sbserv.exe" -reg All Users HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
SideWinderTrayV4 c:\progra~1\micros~1\gameco~1\common\swtrayv4.exe All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SSDPSRV c:\windows\system\ssdpsrv.exe All Users HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
SystemTray systray.exe All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
TaskMonitor c:\windows\taskmon.exe All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
TrueVector c:\windows\system\zonelabs\vsmon.exe -service All Users HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
Tweak UI rundll32.exe tweakui.cpl,tweakmeup All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
ZoneAlarm c:\progra~1\zonela~1\zoneal~1\zoneal~1.exe -nopopup All Users Common Startup


Hmmmm that looks rather messy hope ya can figure it out If not I will type the stuff in individually if ya need me too.

Thanx again for your time

Skip

 

Hi eddie thanx for the comeback, it is much appreciated. I did remove SSDPSRV thru windows setup, as well as the following items from the startup group:
Ad-aware
Minilog
PCHealth
Scheduling Agent ( I prefer to endtask on all running programs before running scandisk and diskdefrag which I do every Sat morning anyway.
Taskmonitor
Pro PCL status montor is for my printer and Sidewinder tray is for my forcefeedback 2 joystick.

I will test to see if this has an effect this evening.......Funny you should mention IRQ. MS tech support said the prob was due to too many shared items on IRQ 11. Said I could alter IRQ assignments by booting to safe mode. Not so, Win ME will not let me reassign any IRQ's even though several are free. Info follows:

IRQ 0 System timer OK
IRQ 1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard OK
IRQ 2 Programmable interrupt controller OK
IRQ 3 Communications Port (COM2) OK
IRQ 4 Communications Port (COM1) OK
IRQ 6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller OK
IRQ 7 ECP Printer Port (LPT1) OK
IRQ 8 System CMOS/real time clock OK
IRQ 11 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering OK
IRQ 11 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering OK
IRQ 11 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering OK
IRQ 11 NVIDIA RIVA TNT2/TNT2 Pro OK
IRQ 11 Intel(R) 82559 Fast Ethernet LOM with Alert on LAN* OK
IRQ 11 Adaptec AIC-7892 Ultra160 PCI SCSI Controller OK
IRQ 11 Compaq 56K PCI Fax Modem OK
IRQ 11 Compaq 56K PCI Fax Modem OK
IRQ 11 Intel(r) 82801AA USB Universal Host Controller OK
IRQ 11 Intel 82801AA SMBus Controller OK
IRQ 11 SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio OK
IRQ 12 PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port OK
IRQ 13 Numeric data processor OK
IRQ 14 Intel 82801AA Bus Master IDE Controller OK
IRQ 14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo) OK
IRQ 15 Intel 82801AA Bus Master IDE Controller OK
IRQ 15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo) OK

MS tech support also said if I upgraded to Win XP the problem would be corrected. Yeah right.....lol

 

oops sorry forgot to answer your question....This is the only game I have trouble with......I can play Mechwarrior 3 in the zone and Age of Empires with no difficulties at all. Its just MW4 that is giving me trouble.

Thanx for your time,

Skip

 

eddie the puter is a Compaq Professional Workstation AP550, according to the compaq diagnostic program the mobo is a Compaq 058ch. the sound is integrated into the main board as is the network interface. The only cards in it are the video and modem. Everything else is built in, including the scsi interface.

Thanx

Skip

 

hiya eddie, Well I had considered that, however the card is mounted in a agp slot so I guess my question is would the card work if I moved it to one of the 4 pci slots. I am going to try moving the modem to another pci slot. If what I have been reading is correct some slots are assigned irq's. So I thought if I tried a hit or miss approach by moving the modem to each of the other 3 slots to see if that changes the irg for the modem. what do ya think? If this fails then I give up. I am gonna wipe the drives with low level format utility and try again with W2K. I'll let ya know how it comes out.

Oh and I have reinstalled the game twice with no effect. What just boggles my mind is that I can launch the game and from the main menu select multiplayer and it uses my DUN connection and I can successfully play thru the games onboard browser. I can alt/tab and open IExplorer and surf the web get emails the whole smear with no problems. I just can't understand why when I have a existing internet connection going the game freezes it when launched. I even went out and bought another copy of the game thinking I had that rare thing a bad cd........same same.

Thanx for your help

Skip