Vanilla MW2 crashing repeatedly. Unknown Issue

[colindallaba1]

I have played MW2 a lot and have solved lots of issues with it over the years. I got a new computer and installed mw2 on it. The game loads fine but crashes under a range of circumstances (end turn, clicking a box away, for no apparent reason at all). I have tried tons of fixes already and still have the issue. Here are some of what I've tried: Installing steam (and mw2) on a new partition of the drive, verifying the integrity of the files, turning off antivirus (I've turned off basically all built in windows security measures), turning off UAC, running in compatibility mode, and probably more i've forgotten about. My main hypothesis is that it had to do with the .NET framework update, as it tried to install when I first ran the game but failed. However I have since then I had the windows updater run and installed all possible updates. But the crashes are so wideranging I feel like it must be something very core to how the game runs. The log file says lots of files are missing. Also with every crash my preferences seem to be reset. If anyone has knowledge of how to fix this issue it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[HazardHawk]

Uninstall your Steam redistributables, reboot, install again, reboot, let all the games suddenly wanting an update check and see they dont really, download the latest DirectX SDK from Microsoft, and install as it covers back dated old file versions better.

Open the main game folder, browse to exe, right cl;ick, select properties, go to compatibility, set to XP svc pack 2, tick the box which says disable fullscreen optimizations.

If you have an APU rather than CPU, meaning onboard embedded graphics on a CPU chip, go to windows settings and make sure default is to use the nvidia or amd video rather than the onboard.

[Gigantus]

I usually throw in the 'control DPI settings via application' as well in compatibility.
There is a caveat (which I confirmed myself recently) with using the OS setting: it increases the turn end time of the game noticeably.
Tested it on my RotK mod as it has a sizeable script and it went from 17 seconds to 36 seconds. Used Win7 as well as Vista and both returned the same value - did not test further with the other settings.

[HazardHawk]

引用自 Gigantus：

I usually throw in the 'control DPI settings via application' as well in compatibility.
There is a caveat (which I confirmed myself recently) with using the OS setting: it increases the turn end time of the game noticeably.
Tested it on my RotK mod as it has a sizeable script and it went from 17 seconds to 36 seconds. Used Win7 as well as Vista and both returned the same value - did not test further with the other settings.

oops, yes, forgot that bottom button on compatibility tab of properties. Thank you.

[HazardHawk]

Oh, BTW, the 23H2 windows is about to be released. many older games will need the directx sdk for the compatibility instead of the version they were packed with as they need the old files with the new security.

[Gigantus]

Great - our love for old games will get tested once again...

I reckon that means hunting for the new DirectX files - after figuring which ones are actually needed?

[OldMemes.biz]

引用自 HazardHawk：

Oh, BTW, the 23H2 windows is about to be released. many older games will need the directx sdk for the compatibility instead of the version they were packed with as they need the old files with the new security.

Great

"Stop playing good older games! Consume the new garbage!"

[Mekkermann]

As far as I understand the 23H2 windows update shouldn´t affect windows 10 users, or is this wrong?

[colindallaba1]

引用自 HazardHawk：

Uninstall your Steam redistributables, reboot, install again, reboot, let all the games suddenly wanting an update check and see they dont really, download the latest DirectX SDK from Microsoft, and install as it covers back dated old file versions better.

Open the main game folder, browse to exe, right cl;ick, select properties, go to compatibility, set to XP svc pack 2, tick the box which says disable fullscreen optimizations.

If you have an APU rather than CPU, meaning onboard embedded graphics on a CPU chip, go to windows settings and make sure default is to use the nvidia or amd video rather than the onboard.

How would I go about uninstalling the steam redistributables? Searches seem to indicate that they shouldn't/can't be uninstalled? Many thanks

[HazardHawk]

引用自 colindallaba1：

引用自 HazardHawk：

Uninstall your Steam redistributables, reboot, install again, reboot, let all the games suddenly wanting an update check and see they dont really, download the latest DirectX SDK from Microsoft, and install as it covers back dated old file versions better.

Open the main game folder, browse to exe, right cl;ick, select properties, go to compatibility, set to XP svc pack 2, tick the box which says disable fullscreen optimizations.

If you have an APU rather than CPU, meaning onboard embedded graphics on a CPU chip, go to windows settings and make sure default is to use the nvidia or amd video rather than the onboard.

How would I go about uninstalling the steam redistributables? Searches seem to indicate that they shouldn't/can't be uninstalled? Many thanks

Steam, games list, at the top is a drop down that allows choosing what is shown. Make it show tools. Go to the page that menu item allowed and simply select remove or uninstall or whatever it says.

[HazardHawk]

引用自 Gigantus：

Great - our love for old games will get tested once again...

I reckon that means hunting for the new DirectX files - after figuring which ones are actually needed?

No, the SDK full versions for download has them already. Windows 11 is actually better about the connections no longer needing a copy in the game folder which is throwing some people off. As long as the full version dumps all the dx files into system32, we are good.

This should also now be the only place to look as the full version has all the older included, but with the new feature security level as well. Downloading versions without that attached security will work, but doing that will put you online in a position similar to if hell is actual frozen over burning cold, you will have the biggest bonfire to attract all that is evil announcing itself.

[colindallaba1]

引用自 HazardHawk：

引用自 colindallaba1：

How would I go about uninstalling the steam redistributables? Searches seem to indicate that they shouldn't/can't be uninstalled? Many thanks

Steam, games list, at the top is a drop down that allows choosing what is shown. Make it show tools. Go to the page that menu item allowed and simply select remove or uninstall or whatever it says.

Still no luck. I can't seem to uninstall the redist and reboot steam as the redist seems to automatically install itself whenever I reopen steam. Also, when you say the most recent version of the SDK, do you mean the most recent stand alone one (the one that is listed as june 2010)? Or the one that seems to be bundled into the windows SDK?

[HazardHawk]

Likely because you have immediately auto update as needed set up. That is fine.

DirectX SDK from Microsoft is the 2010 version, yes. Anything newer like 2021 and 2023 are removed from direct access and Windows SDK is now used by Microsoft which has the new updated security required for Intel Gen 12+ and AMD Socket AM5+. ALL sha-1 security has been abandoned. ALL DirectX standalone versions are secured under sha-1 security. 2010 was kept because it is as new as you will need. All later DirectX files are included in the Windows SDK.

Installing the standalone 2010 does not replace any newer files and only drops the random not brought forward dll files and cab files so that older games can see them and use them. Nearly any game python is used for any reason needs the legacy files omitted by Windows SDK.

[Mekkermann]

引用自 HazardHawk：

Installing the standalone 2010 does not replace any newer files and only drops the random not brought forward dll files and cab files so that older games can see them and use them. Nearly any game python is used for any reason needs the legacy files omitted by Windows SDK.

Does it matter which version of the Directx SDK is installed? I have and shortly upgraded to windows 11 and a 64 bit windows version, therefore I choose not the 32 SDK version, but the 86 SDK version.

Or is this somehow more relying on the game rather than the windows version and therefore the 32 SDK standalone june 2010 is required.

Game seems stable with windows 7/xp compatibility mode activated but has problems without.

[HazardHawk]

You are over complicating. X86 and 32 bit are the same thing. X64 and 64 bit are the same thing. ALL 64 Bit DirectX files are installed already in both 10 and 11. MOST COMMON DirectX 32 bit files are as well installed, but most anything which interacts with dead or dying out 32 bit processes were left out along with 16 bit compatibility.

ANY program you install which was released before 2018 has a chance of not having its needed DirectX files which you can get individually if you know which is needed and drop into the main game folder or install DirectX SDK 2010

[Mekkermann]