Solution for DotA 2 crashes, freezing or failing to load (1st Edit)

[Astori Heichalot]

I have seen alot of threads regarding these matters and after awhile, these threads got buried in oblivion. Therefore, similar threads keep coming up again and again.

Updating display driver
Crashes are caused by graphic card on most laptops.
No, I'm not saying *insert brand* is bad or *insert gpu* is bad.
But drivers on laptop are mostly unique, because the gpu for laptop is NOT the same as the one used on PCs.
Updating driver always comes first, however, do not download it from the developer's website. But try searching for it on laptop's manufacturer's link. For example, HP laptop users, should find the driver download from HP support pages instead.
the driver version from manufacturer will be outdated (or slowly updated), but sadly, thats how it is

UI & HUD is loaded, but the screen is pitch black
physx conflict or graphic setting conflict.
go to your graphic 3d setting from your desktop.
put DotA 2 setting on "use application setting".
then go to dota 2 in game option cogwheel, disable Ambient Occlusion, Specular & Specular Bloom.
using graphic setting to "override" in-game setting most of the time, will give better graphic. unfortunately, there isnt anything graphical mumbo jumbo for Dota 2. so it is not about "my GPU can handle it" but more like "this game isnt facilitating for any enhancement".


Game crashes on load, cannot even go to in-game options. Sometimes the game load until map load and then kicked back to menu
3d setting conflicts, commonly on laptops
go to your Steam Library, select DotA 2 game, click on Properties on the right.
on Property, in the main tab, click Set Launch Option and put -nod3d9ex
Launch Option command is forcing a specific setting.
Important: after any game client updates, there are times where this setting can be put out. just do some test. on previous patch, this setting could be needed, but on future patch, it may not be needed.
if enabling this setting is crashing the game now, try to run the game without it. see if that changes


Games crashes, freezes, stutters after 1 or 2 games
poor memory dumping.
no matter how big your RAM is, if it is not managed, tons of temporary files will clog your cache and ended up in crashes.
protip: Windowed mode uses LESS memory than Fullscreen btw.
if you have lots of games, I would recommend creating a partition on your harddrive, around 10gb should be enough (if you could spare more, might as well do so).
THIS IS NOT TWEAKING THE SYSTEM, it will improve your memory performance, even for other games.
so first, right click on My Computer, then select Properties,
Select Advance System Setting on the left side.
that should open the System Properties panel, under Advanced tab (it is the current view anyway), you'll see a Performance Box, click Settings.
Now you have a Performance Options Panels open, select Advance tab,
You should tick adjust best performance for Programs instead background services.
Now click on Virtual Memory Change button just below that.
Untick the Automanage Paging file for all drives, we don't want that.
by default, your OS directory (usually C) is the one system managed. Select C directory, tick No Pagine File and click SET.
Now select your new partitioned directory that you created earlier (the 10gb one), select custome size. and put the maximum size as high as you can, and put the minimum value atleast 100mb smaller than the maximum. and the click SET.
THE SYSTEM MUST BE REBOOTED.


the reason of this "lack of memory" is mainly caused by a full C: directory. There wasn't enough space for a system to manage memory, therefore it clogs the system.
Most users like to maximize their C: directory, thinking that C: (boot & page file) is the same as other directories (sadly they are not).

Game stuck on loading wallpaper, and then failed queuing (fail to load)
it is graphical issue. this could happen in any games, but quite common in Dota 2.
a "wrong" driver install or graphic tuning (clocking) could cause this.
also, sometimes graphic card need to be restarted.
shutting down the PC is a good way to restart VBIOS (graphic card os). I know it is going to be a lot of hassle to shutdown and turning the PC on again, especially while loading a Dota 2 game, but so far, restarting a PC seemed to be enough (but a shutdown is better).

for driver installation, please pick a proper driver. most of the times, latest driver is not the best one. always go for the stable one never go for beta drivers, since beta is intended for game developing purpose (for developers).

I dont mean to insult, but please, graphic drivers is not an angry birds update. do not treat it the same. "woot angry birds update, must download!". If current driver isnt causing troubles or working fine, do not update it.


hope this helps


also, for anyone wondering, I am using windows 8.1 and I have no problem at all.
Win 8 is great and I really like it (OPINION)
No, I am not promoting win 8 or anything, since I know that win 7 has alot more driver support and compliance than win 8. (FACT)
the reason I am having no problem on win 8.1 is because I do clean install and proper drivers install. plus I understand alot on hardware and PC/OS characteristics, ofcourse I work hard to make my system to work near perfecty on win 8.1.
meh, I even understand my PC more than I understand my wife (lol)

ed: already fixed some typoes, Im sure there are alot more, and will fix it on next edit

[Astori Heichalot]

bumpo

[DeicideChaos]

My copy also crashes at random times but, Ive reduced some what simply by turnning off vert-sync. (gtx670)

[Virus]

Hi, i have crashes, but i have 106 gb free space on my C: directory. Would u still prefer to make this +10gb partition?

[Astori Heichalot]

Originally posted by Virus:

Hi, i have crashes, but i have 106 gb free space on my C: directory. Would u still prefer to make this +10gb partition?

when you have that much free space on C:\, you don't have to create another partition,
but make sure the virtual memory cache's size is NOT on system managed.

try setting it MANUALLY (within C:\) by filling minimum/maximum value on custom size.

the rule of thumb for system cache size is somewhere between 1x-3x of your total RAM.
for example, if you have 4gb ram, if possible, you may want to allocate 12gb on that.
not that it has to be exactly 3x bigger, you can always go for 1x or 1.5x etc. but since you got that much space, might as well set it to 3x yeah

[Virus]

Originally posted by Heichalot:

Originally posted by Virus:

Hi, i have crashes, but i have 106 gb free space on my C: directory. Would u still prefer to make this +10gb partition?

when you have that much free space on C:\, you don't have to create another partition,
but make sure the virtual memory cache's size is NOT on system managed.

try setting it MANUALLY (within C:\) by filling minimum/maximum value on custom size.

the rule of thumb for system cache size is somewhere between 1x-3x of your total RAM.
for example, if you have 4gb ram, if possible, you may want to allocate 12gb on that.
not that it has to be exactly 3x bigger, you can always go for 1x or 1.5x etc. but since you got that much space, might as well set it to 3x yeah

:f2_happy:

Ty for your fast answer, i have 2x4gb ram so i set 24gb for min and 30gb for max. I hope it helps my dota.

[Astori Heichalot]

Originally posted by Virus:

Ty for your fast answer, i have 2x4gb ram so i set 24gb for min and 30gb for max. I hope it helps my dota.

that should be sufficient
I believe it would help alot.

if it doesn't, plz let me know

so I can try to think for other solution lulz

[Virus]

Originally posted by Heichalot:

Originally posted by Virus:

Ty for your fast answer, i have 2x4gb ram so i set 24gb for min and 30gb for max. I hope it helps my dota.

that should be sufficient
I believe it would help alot.

if it doesn't, plz let me know
:f2_happy:
so I can try to think for other solution lulz

no crashes so far but i played only 2 games yet. btw dota exited after my 2nd game. idk why, sometimes happens. i will inform u after a crash or couple of days

[Astori Heichalot]

ok, I already have some things for you to check (your PC), but I wouldn't do that yet.
try it first for few days, and we'll work things out from there

[Tsifsamortis]

Reinstall dota 2

[Virus]

Originally posted by Big$mok3-An$(GR):

Reinstall dota 2

dude i already reinstalled my whole os :D All drivers are new, checked memory with memtest, checked my gpu, got new power supply still nothing, checked harddisk. Idk what to do. I checked my blue death with bluescreenviewer but cant find solution. If u want i can upload them.

[Myst?c]

all i have in mine is an initail and maximum guessing initial is the minimum

[Myst?c]

alright so ive tried the nod3dex9 setting didnt do anything tried the other one after that (messing with the data processing) nothing helped there. im running an msi laptop windows 7 premium 64 bit. any suggestions from there

[Astori Heichalot]

Originally posted by blaster56745:

all i have in mine is an initail and maximum guessing initial is the minimum

yeah, set initial as your minimum, make sure the you ticked the manually manage page file.

Originally posted by blaster56745:

alright so ive tried the nod3dex9 setting didnt do anything

this is only for laptop that has built-in nvidia card which had en error causing dota unable to load. use that only if your laptop's manufacturer is not providing new driver update.

btw, what was your problem again ?
o.O

[Astori Heichalot]

Originally posted by Virus:

dude i already reinstalled my whole os :D All drivers are new, checked memory with memtest, checked my gpu, got new power supply still nothing, checked harddisk. Idk what to do. I checked my blue death with bluescreenviewer but cant find solution. If u want i can upload them.

good, these steps narrowed down the to-do list for future references lol

[Myst?c]

my problem is that it keeps crashing upon me trying to open it while in online mode. in offline mode it stays open but it keeps booting me out from the bot games saying "lost connection to steam". im running an msi laptop with windows 7 premium 64 bit.