Sound Loop crash when I join or press TAB key

shanghei · May 15th, 2009, 08:19 PM

Hello, I have Left 4 Dead running 100% perfect on a Vista machine for a long time. I recently upgraded to Windows 7 RC1.

Whenever I connect to a server there is a 50% chance once I get in the game it will crash as soon as I get in the game and all I hear is the sound looping over and over and I cant do anything and have to kill the process.

If I do get in the game it works fine but then there is a 50% chance when I hit the TAB key to check score that it'll do the sound loop crash at that screen.

Here is my DxDiag.txt

Code:

Time of this report: 5/15/2009, 16:12:14
Machine name: ROB-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit (6.1, Build 7100) (7100.winmain_win7rc.090421-1700)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: .  
System Model: .  
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
 Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     E8400  @ 3.00GHz (2 CPUs), ~3.6GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3326MB RAM
Page File: 2125MB used, 4525MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7100.0000 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 4: The file AtiHdmi.sys is not digitally signed, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL).  You may be able to get a WHQL logo'd driver from the hardware manufacturer.
          Input Tab: No problems found.


---------------
Display Devices
---------------
          Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series 
       Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
          Chip type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x9442)
           DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9442&SUBSYS_05021002&REV_00
     Display Memory: 1914 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 506 MB
      Shared Memory: 1407 MB
       Current Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (59Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: HP w2408
         Monitor Id: HWP26CF
        Native Mode: 1920 x 1200(p) (59.950Hz)
        Output Type: HDMI
        Driver Name: atiumdag.dll,atidxx32.dll,atidxx64,atiumdva.cap,atiumd64,atiumd6a,atitmm64
Driver File Version: 8.14.0010.0662 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.612.0.0
        DDI Version: 10.1
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 4/28/2009 21:52:02, 3082752 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: Yes

I have tried latest drivers of video card and other drives. I have tried disabling multicore rendering. Nothing seems to fix this issue.

If anyone has any idea please help!!!

Iggy · May 15th, 2009, 08:59 PM

My initial reaction is to cringe when I see Windows 7. We have enough problems with folks on Vista and XP...

It is still in beta, and I don't know jack about it.

That being said...

Was L4D installed prior to upgrading this machine, or did you do the upgrade, then install the game?

You have tried any of the fixes listed in the sticky thread?

Can you check for any error messages in your Event Viewer?

Also, you might try lowering your screen resolution down from 1920 to see if it makes a difference.

shanghei · May 17th, 2009, 06:29 AM

Since the other post containing helpful info for these type of related problems was deleted for unknown reasons I am going to go over some helpful information.

It seems alot of people with Windows 7, majority being ATI cards, and few being Nvidia cards are experiencing sound loop freeze when joining a server or pressing tab to check scores.

I tried reinstalling game, didn't work.

Updated video card drivers to latest, didn't work.

Others mentioned underclocking their video cards and maxing out fan speed helped fix the problem completely or helped reduce the problem.

The only solution that has worked for me right now is when the game freezes is to hit ESC key and wait for about 15-20 seconds and the game will start responding again. After that the game runs smoothly for me after that point.

Iggy · May 17th, 2009, 12:01 PM

I had a similar issue with COD WaW, with having to hit ESC to get the game to continue. One of the suggested fixes was to lower the hardware acceleration on your sound card to Basic. You might give that a try.

Iggy · May 17th, 2009, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by shanghei

Since the other post containing helpful info for these type of related problems was deleted for unknown reasons I am going to go over some helpful information.

Are you talking about this thread?

what2be · May 18th, 2009, 07:25 AM

Game runs PERFECT in single player, but as soon as I join a game in progress or start one from a lobby, when you hit OK, the game freezes and the sound stutters.

Checked game cache files for integrity
Defragged game inside steam

Tried disabling multi core redering for video card.
Tried setting textures to medium
Tried setting sound quality to medium
Tried affinity processes at processor 0 only.
Tried lower resolution.
Tried using digital sound instead of analog , same problems.

Game never did this until last update. Before once in about 20 times it would freeze when you hit the ok key. Now its 1 in 20 times it will start the game.

Very very frustrating, and have NO IDEA why this would happen in multiplayer but not single player. Makes no sense.

Aldath · May 18th, 2009, 08:56 AM

I have exactly the same problem. Almost every time i join a server, the game freezes, and if it doesn't freeze there, it does when i press the tab key. I've tried everything, updated graphic card drivers, fully scanned my computer for viruses and malware, changed all the sound, graphic and multi-core options, but nothing worked, and everything since the last patch, which was a couple of days ago i think.

If this helps, I'm using Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bits, Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 1.9ghz, and my graphic card is a Zotac GeForce 8800GT Amp! Edition 512mb GDDR3 Memory. I've never had any problems with my components before.

If you need any more details that can help to solve this problem I'll be pleased to help.

'Cause this is getting so annoying

Thanks.

Iggy · May 18th, 2009, 11:11 AM

There were massive amounts of players that had problems after the last update. Some people have uninstalled both the game, and Steam, then reinstalled the whole thing all over again, which is a pain.

Some people said they did that and it did not help.

If you have tried all that stuff from the sticky thread, then I have no other suggestions. I know it sucks...sorry. Valve needs to get this sorted.

JMantis · May 18th, 2009, 12:26 PM

Hey guys, I've had the same problem. Using the event viewer in windows I found out my crashes are related to the ieframe.dll file which is used by Internet Explorer. I think I've found out a solution to my game freezes. I'm not sure if it will work for everyone but when I enter a game and the whole game freezes and the sound starts looping I hit the 'start' button on my keyboard (you can alt-tab as well) and open up Internet Explorer and then close it again. The freeze is gone and I can continue to play the game.

You have to have to have multicore rendering disabled and you have the run the game in windowed mode without borders. I'm using Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit myself.

Try it, maybe it works for you too.

Iggy · May 18th, 2009, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by JMantis

Hey guys, I've had the same problem. Using the event viewer in windows I found out my crashes are related to the ieframe.dll file which is used by Internet Explorer. I think I've found out a solution to my game freezes. I'm not sure if it will work for everyone but when I enter a game and the whole game freezes and the sound starts looping I hit the 'start' button on my keyboard (you can alt-tab as well) and open up Internet Explorer and then close it again. The freeze is gone and I can continue to play the game.

You have to have to have multicore rendering disabled and you have the run the game in windowed mode without borders. I'm using Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit myself.

Try it, maybe it works for you too.

Hmmm...that is very interesting.

Thanks for sharing that with us!!!

Aldath · May 18th, 2009, 03:05 PM

Well i just checked the event viewer and my error is:

"Faulting application left4dead.exe, version 0.0.0.0, time stamp 0x492b66bb, faulting module client.dll, version 0.0.0.0, time stamp 0x4a0b41c0, exception code 0xc0000005, fault offset 0x00347d44, process id 0x123c, application start time 0x01c9d7c8bfa8534e."

angryvistakid · May 18th, 2009, 03:09 PM

Dude, thats whats causing my crashes!!!! That stupid client.dll! Check my thread, it's the ndvd.dll

what2be · May 19th, 2009, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by JMantis

Hey guys, I've had the same problem. Using the event viewer in windows I found out my crashes are related to the ieframe.dll file which is used by Internet Explorer. I think I've found out a solution to my game freezes. I'm not sure if it will work for everyone but when I enter a game and the whole game freezes and the sound starts looping I hit the 'start' button on my keyboard (you can alt-tab as well) and open up Internet Explorer and then close it again. The freeze is gone and I can continue to play the game.

You have to have to have multicore rendering disabled and you have the run the game in windowed mode without borders. I'm using Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit myself.

Try it, maybe it works for you too.

MUHAHAHAHHA...you sir , are correct. I didnt even think about looking in my event viewer, but sure enough, ieframe.dll is the culprit.
I did as you recommended with a few minor differences.

1) I played full screen, and just did a crtl-alt-del to bring up task manager.

2) from there I started IE from my quicklaunch tray. Since I was playing in full screen, I couldnt see the IE window, so I just waited a few seconds then right clicked on the ie bar at in my tray window at the bottom of the screen and closed the window.

3) I then clicked on l4d and went right back into the game after a brief pause, and the game was unfrozen and I played!!

TY TY TY..

Next thing im going to try is uninstalling IE7 and see if that will fix the problem permanently without having to do the whole start ie, close it and return to game nonsense.

Side note,

Im actually playing the game through bootcamp on my mac pro. (vista x64, 16gb ram, dual xenon cpu quad cores), and let me tell you it sucked to have to unclick 15 cpu boxes to set affinity everytime I went to play the game!
Using a Radeon 4870 video card with latest drivers. No antivirus, very bare bones install since this is just a os I boot to to play games.

I hope everyone that is having problems with this tries this fix, it worked for me after hours of troubleshooting this pos windows os. SO glad I switched to OSX.