[42.7.0] Game Crashes In Session After Short (but unspecific) Period of Time (log attached)

[McQueen]

After selecting an existing save file, and loading the game - the game loads as expected and I can see my character standing at their base. However, upon moving around for a short period of time, the game suddenly crashes.

It seems to crash almost immediately upon opening up some inventory container in my base, but it will also crash just when walking for a few seconds. I have been able to get to my bed, and sleep, which began stuttering but otherwise was successful, but upon waking up and turning around, the game crashed again.

This error happens every-time, within 10-30 seconds.

I have never had an issue running project zomboid, and my PC seems to handle the game well.

Some miscellaneous context which may help diagnose:

My base is reasonably sized, and built from scratch at the edge of Muldraugh.
There are a number of items on the floor.
There are no mods installed.
There are no ranched animals nearby.
There are crops nearby.
There are vehicles nearby.

The log of the most recent crash will be attached in my first comment.
(post length prevents posting it here.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated - as the character is well skilled up, and I would rather not start a new save if possible.

[McQueen]

I've had to remove a large section of the log as the comment is also too large, but here are the system specs, and the final error(s) included.

```
[11-04-25 08:31:31.646] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356691060> 11-04-2025 08:31:31.
[11-04-25 08:31:31.647] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356691646> ===== System specs =====.
[11-04-25 08:31:31.648] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356691648> OS: Windows 10, version: 10.0, arch: amd64.
[11-04-25 08:31:31.648] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356691648> Processor: Intel64 Family 6 Model 183 Stepping 1, GenuineIntel.
[11-04-25 08:31:31.648] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356691648> Processor cores: 32.
[11-04-25 08:31:31.649] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356691649> Available processors (cores): 32.
[11-04-25 08:31:31.650] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356691650> Memory free: 501.3853 MB.
[11-04-25 08:31:31.650] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356691650> Memory max: 3072.0 MB.
[11-04-25 08:31:31.651] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356691651> Memory total available to JVM: 510.0 MB.
[11-04-25 08:31:31.833] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356691833> Z690 UD DDR4.
[11-04-25 08:31:31.833] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356691833> Mobo = [Product=Z690 UD DDR4].
[11-04-25 08:31:31.961] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356691961> GenuineIntel=3000=13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-13900K.
[11-04-25 08:31:31.962] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356691962> CPU = [Manufacturer=GenuineIntel,MaxClockSpeed=3000,Name=13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-13900K].
[11-04-25 08:31:32.148] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356692148> 2147479552=32.0.101.6651=Intel(R) UHD Graphics 770=4293918720=32.0.15.6109=NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070.
[11-04-25 08:31:32.148] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356692148> Graphics = { [AdapterRAM=2147479552,DriverVersion=32.0.101.6651,Name=Intel(R) UHD Graphics 770], [AdapterRAM=4293918720,DriverVersion=32.0.15.6109,Name=NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070] }.
[11-04-25 08:31:32.335] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356692335> 1920 x 1080 x 4294967296 colors=1920 x 1080 x 4294967296 colors.
[11-04-25 08:31:32.335] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356692335> VideoMode = { [VideoModeDescription=1920 x 1080 x 4294967296 colors], [VideoModeDescription=1920 x 1080 x 4294967296 colors] }.
[11-04-25 08:31:32.474] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356692474> NVIDIA=NVIDIA High Definition Audio=(Generic USB Audio)=USB Audio Device=NVIDIA=NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (Wave Extensible) (WDM)=Realtek=Realtek High Definition Audio=(Generic USB Audio)=USB Audio Device=ASUSTeK=ASUS XONAR SC200 AUDIO DEVICE.
[11-04-25 08:31:32.475] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356692475> Sound = { [Manufacturer=NVIDIA,Name=NVIDIA High Definition Audio], [Manufacturer=(Generic USB Audio),Name=USB Audio Device], [Manufacturer=NVIDIA,Name=NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (Wave Extensible) (WDM)], [Manufacturer=Realtek,Name=Realtek High Definition Audio], [Manufacturer=(Generic USB Audio),Name=USB Audio Device], [Manufacturer=ASUSTeK,Name=ASUS XONAR SC200 AUDIO DEVICE] }.
[11-04-25 08:31:32.610] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356692610> 8589934592=Corsair=8589934592=Corsair=8589934592=Corsair=8589934592=Corsair.
[11-04-25 08:31:32.611] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356692611> Memory RAM = { [Capacity=8589934592,Manufacturer=Corsair], [Capacity=8589934592,Manufacturer=Corsair], [Capacity=8589934592,Manufacturer=Corsair], [Capacity=8589934592,Manufacturer=Corsair] }.

FirearmUseDamageChance true.
[11-04-25 08:32:39.417] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356759417> FirearmNoiseMultiplier 1.0.
[11-04-25 08:32:39.417] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356759417> FirearmJamMultiplier 0.0.
[11-04-25 08:32:39.417] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356759417> FirearmMoodleMultiplier 1.0.
[11-04-25 08:32:39.418] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356759418> FirearmWeatherMultiplier 1.0.
[11-04-25 08:32:39.418] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356759418> FirearmHeadGearEffect true.
[11-04-25 08:32:39.418] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356759418> ClayLakeChance 0.01.
[11-04-25 08:32:39.418] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356759418> ClayRiverChance 0.01.
[11-04-25 08:32:39.418] LOG : General f:0, t:1744356759418> STATE: enter zombie.gameStates.IngameState.
[11-04-25 08:32:41.327] LOG : Lua f:0, t:1744356761327> Init ISContextManager.
[11-04-25 08:32:41.329] LOG : Lua f:0, t:1744356761329> 224.25.
[11-04-25 08:32:41.330] LOG : Lua f:0, t:1744356761330> Removing undersized resolution mode 640 x 480 from Resolution option.
[11-04-25 08:32:41.330] LOG : Lua f:0, t:1744356761330> Removing undersized resolution mode 720 x 480 from Resolution option.
[11-04-25 08:32:41.330] LOG : Lua f:0, t:1744356761330> Removing undersized resolution mode 720 x 576 from Resolution option.
[11-04-25 08:32:41.331] LOG : Lua f:0, t:1744356761331> Removing undersized resolution mode 800 x 600 from Resolution option.
[11-04-25 08:32:41.331] LOG : Lua f:0, t:1744356761331> Removing undersized resolution mode 1024 x 768 from Resolution option.
[11-04-25 08:32:41.331] LOG : Lua f:0, t:1744356761331> Removing undersized resolution mode 1152 x 864 from Resolution option.
[11-04-25 08:32:41.331] LOG : Lua f:0, t:1744356761331> Removing undersized resolution mode 1176 x 664 from Resolution option.
[11-04-25 08:33:02.465] LOG : General f:1113, t:1744356782465> Saving worldgen params.
[11-04-25 08:33:02.744] LOG : General f:1113, t:1744356782744> Saving GlobalModData.
[11-04-25 08:33:17.347] LOG : General f:1977, t:1744356797347> Saving worldgen params.
[11-04-25 08:33:17.505] LOG : General f:1977, t:1744356797505> Saving GlobalModData.
[11-04-25 08:33:30.383] ERROR: General f:2201, t:1744356810383> MainScreenState.onExceptionThrown_TryDeleteOptionsFile> An error was encountered during startup. Attempting to delete options file. Please try running the game again..
[11-04-25 08:33:30.384] ERROR: General f:2201, t:1744356810384> MainScreenState.onExceptionThrown_TryDeleteOptionsFile> Exception thrown
java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: Java heap space at SpriteRenderer$RingBuffer.growStateRuns(SpriteRenderer.java:1402). Message: Exception thrown.
Stack trace:
zombie.core.SpriteRenderer$RingBuffer.growStateRuns(SpriteRenderer.java:1402)
zombie.core.SpriteRenderer$RingBuffer.prepareCurrentRun(SpriteRenderer.java:1245)
zombie.core.SpriteRenderer$RingBuffer.add(SpriteRenderer.java:986)
zombie.core.SpriteRenderer.buildDrawBuffer(SpriteRenderer.java:437)
zombie.core.SpriteRenderer.buildStateDrawBuffer(SpriteRenderer.java:492)
zombie.core.SpriteRenderer.postRender(SpriteRenderer.java:471)
zombie.core.opengl.RenderThread.lockStepRenderStep(RenderThread.java:337)
zombie.core.opengl.RenderThread.renderStep(RenderThread.java:293)
zombie.core.opengl.RenderThread.renderLoop(RenderThread.java:152)
zombie.gameStates.MainScreenState.main(MainScreenState.java:295)
.
[11-04-25 08:33:31.806] ERROR: General f:2201, t:1744356811806> MainScreenState.onExceptionThrown_TryDeleteOptionsFile> Exception thrown
java.io.IOException: Failed to delete options file: C:\Users\conno\Zomboid\options2.bin at MainScreenState.onExceptionThrown_TryDeleteOptionsFile(MainScreenState.java:319). Message: Failed to delete options file.
Stack trace:
zombie.gameStates.MainScreenState.onExceptionThrown_TryDeleteOptionsFile(MainScreenState.java:319)
zombie.gameStates.MainScreenState.main(MainScreenState.java:299)
.

```

[Alex]

Unstable builds have no guarantees to maintain save compatibility between different builds, e.g 42.6 and 42.7.
The log shows file access error
Failed to delete options file: C:\Users\conno\Zomboid\options2.bin

[McQueen]

Originally posted by Alex:

Unstable builds have no guarantees to maintain save compatibility between different builds, e.g 42.6 and 42.7.
The log shows file access error
Failed to delete options file: C:\Users\conno\Zomboid\options2.bin

Fair comment, but the game has saved many times. I was playing on 42.7 for multiple hours before this issue occurred - and had closed and re-opened the game many times.

[Beard]

Are you able to replicate this on a new save as well?

[McQueen]

Originally posted by Beard:

Are you able to replicate this on a new save as well?

So far it looks as though I am not able to replicate the crashing behaviour on a new save, although I am experiencing stuttering / occasional freezing I've never experienced before.

This performance difference is not noted in any other games to indicate a local machine issue.

[Frankski]

I started experiencing a similar problem yesterday, I thought it was a mod (calorie fix and another one) but it still happening without the mods. I get some invalid spriteconfig errors before it freezes (its not always crashing, its mostly freezing the screen but I can still hear the sound, like the music or the player's breathing). I am on Mac so I force quit the game at that point.

Have you reproduced that issue after your last time?

It also seems to be crashing when I am in or around my base. I'm holed up in some forest cabin east of Muldraugh. I started this save on b42.10 so its not a different build.

Here's the last part in the debug log, its interesting.

[13-07-25 08:12:07.633] WARN : General f:21424, t:1752408727633> SpriteConfig.initObjectInfo > Invalid SpriteConfig object! scripted object = Wooden_Windows.
[13-07-25 08:14:05.213] WARN : General f:33816, t:1752408845213> SpriteConfig.initObjectInfo > Invalid SpriteConfig object! scripted object = Wooden_Windows.
[13-07-25 08:14:06.617] WARN : General f:33937, t:1752408846617> SpriteConfig.initObjectInfo > Invalid SpriteConfig object! scripted object = WoodFloorLvl2.
[13-07-25 08:14:06.631] WARN : General f:33938, t:1752408846631> SpriteConfig.initObjectInfo > Invalid SpriteConfig object! scripted object = Wooden_Windows.
[13-07-25 08:14:06.631] WARN : General f:33938, t:1752408846631> SpriteConfig.initObjectInfo > Invalid SpriteConfig object! scripted object = Wooden_Windows.
[13-07-25 08:14:20.652] ERROR: General f:34893, t:1752408860652> MainScreenState.onExceptionThrown_TryDeleteOptionsFile> An error was encountered during startup. Attempting to delete options file. Please try running the game again..
[13-07-25 08:14:20.654] ERROR: General f:34893, t:1752408860654> MainScreenState.onExceptionThrown_TryDeleteOptionsFile> Exception thrown
java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: Java heap space at SpriteRenderer$RingBuffer.growStateRuns(SpriteRenderer.java:1417). Message: Exception thrown.
Stack trace:
zombie.core.SpriteRenderer$RingBuffer.growStateRuns(SpriteRenderer.java:1417)
zombie.core.SpriteRenderer$RingBuffer.prepareCurrentRun(SpriteRenderer.java:1260)
zombie.core.SpriteRenderer$RingBuffer.add(SpriteRenderer.java:1001)
zombie.core.SpriteRenderer.buildDrawBuffer(SpriteRenderer.java:439)
zombie.core.SpriteRenderer.buildStateDrawBuffer(SpriteRenderer.java:505)
zombie.core.SpriteRenderer.postRender(SpriteRenderer.java:478)
zombie.core.opengl.RenderThread.lockStepRenderStep(RenderThread.java:338)
zombie.core.opengl.RenderThread.renderStep(RenderThread.java:294)
zombie.core.opengl.RenderThread.renderLoop(RenderThread.java:153)
zombie.gameStates.MainScreenState.main(MainScreenState.java:297).
[13-07-25 08:14:20.655] ERROR: General f:34893, t:1752408860655> MainScreenState.onExceptionThrown_TryDeleteOptionsFile> Exception thrown
java.io.IOException: Failed to delete options file: /Users/francoisvenne/Zomboid/options2.bin at MainScreenState.onExceptionThrown_TryDeleteOptionsFile(MainScreenState.java:321). Message: Failed to delete options file.
Stack trace:
zombie.gameStates.MainScreenState.onExceptionThrown_TryDeleteOptionsFile(MainScreenState.java:321)
zombie.gameStates.MainScreenState.main(MainScreenState.java:301).

[Arsenal[26]]

Just had this error / fail to load savegame.

Never had this particular error before, and the main difference is that I have a very large pile of corpses (Mid-town LV). I'd estimate a few thousand or so. Could it be that the game isn't handling ground inventories well as this was an issue earlier on in B42 ?

Would perhaps limiting zombie junk items (wallets, IDs, lipstick, etc...) alleviate this some ?

Exiting the game, re-launching, then loading save did work.

Seems to me that this issue is connected to the failure to release system resources which was reported a month ago or so, which continued to lag into the main menu, characterized by extreme lag when the game attempted to play any audio including menu selection 'tick', thunder background ceased, etc... even when completely exited from in-game state (main menu). Just a hunch tho.

edit... oh also, pretty much everywhere you go in just about any town area spams chunks of those "Invalid SpriteConfig object! scripted object = xxxxx" errors in the console. The characteristic of those errors seems to be that they repeat over and over when you leave the trigger area, and return... Meaning they don't just log the error when it happens... The error trigger persists and you can trigger them I guess an unlimited number of times.

[Beard]

If this happens on a modless save created in the latest version, can you compress the save folder and send it for investigation?

You can use any file-sharing website of your choice or a temporary one like limewire.com for example.

[Frankski]

Sorry if my question is stupid, but if at some point I had some mods (like the status mod and the calorie fix mod) installed, but I disabled them from the loading menu and continued without any mods (and still reproducing the issue) is it good for you? Its always a mystery to me if you have a mod in a savefile, then disable this mod from the file and continue playing, if it can still affect anything.

If its good, I will send you my save folder! thx

[Beard]

I would personally say it should not affect anything, though it would likely not be admissable for testing in this case. Did you manage to get the issue before you loaded the mods or after?

[Frankski]

It started before I disabled or removed them from the save. Then I removed the mods from the save and reloading, and its still happening. I will try something later... The issue started after I went on a "foraging" spree and brought all kind of stuff to my base. Its usually freezing the screen (although I can still hear the music and some sound) once I get near the antique stove in my base. I mean, the mods I dont think its related, I have been using them for a long time in this save (in b42.10 that is)