Game Development Community

Blue Screen with Torque [SOLVED]

by Keith G Wood · in Technical Issues · 03/03/2011 (6:45 pm) · 7 replies

Prior to getting Torque 3D, my PC had never blue screened (about 3 years old). Since I've installed Torque, it's happening regularly - but only if I have used Torque since reboot (i.e. if I use the PC for absolutely anything else, it will run for many hours without a problem).

It's now happened enough to be sure it is Torque related. It appears running any of the World or Gui editor, or playing the game is enough to put the machine at risk. I don't know if simply opening the Toolbox is enough (because I never do that without going on to do something else as well).

I can shut down all the Torque stuff after running it, but the machine is still at risk. Once I have run something from Torque I probably have somewhere between 5 mins to 2 hours before it will blue screen (I have never managed to keep the machine running longer than that). There is no obvious user action trigger that finally causes the blue screen - each time it has happened I have been doing something different - often not even in a Torque application at the time.

The inference is that running Torque invokes something which then remains active until the next reboot. I don't know how to interpret the blue screen information, so maybe it contains a clue.

Does anyone else have this problem? More importantly, any suggestions how to stop it happening?

#1
03/03/2011 (7:10 pm)
Did you do all the normal checks prior to using the SDK?
sticky
#2
03/03/2011 (7:13 pm)
Quote:
The inference is that running Torque invokes something which then remains active until the next reboot. I don't know how to interpret the blue screen information, so maybe it contains a clue.
What is the error message?
#3
03/03/2011 (7:53 pm)
Thanks for the rapid replies guys.

Steve - "normal checks"? I followed all the instructions on the various downlod pages, but didn't notice anything above the basic sequence of operations. I've followed the link you've given & revisited each of the pages, but nothing is sticking out at me. (I've never played with either DirectX or PhysX prior to getting Torque). So I need bit more guidance over what these "normal checks" are.

Michael - from memory I've seen two headline messages on the blue screen, one was about memory management (which I think I've only seen once) and the other is something to do with IRQ. I'll note it exactly next time it happens. I've also noticed when you reboot it pops up a dialog about recovery from serious error & points you at dump/debug logs. So last time it happened I navigated to these files in explorer. Then I pressed "OK" on the dialog & it very kindly deleted the files for me - next time I'll make sure I copy them out first! Will report back once I have further info.
#4
03/03/2011 (8:13 pm)
I have noticed many "IRQ" error Blue Screens relate to bad video drivers or overheating. Both should be rather easy to fix. Open your case and check if your fans are clogged with dust. Google a video card driver cleaner for your video card type.

I often stumble into this problem with my older computers, after years of driver updates and neglecting the Art and Zen of computer maintenance.
#5
03/03/2011 (8:39 pm)
Normal checks - video drivers (Nvidia/Ati) and DirectX updates. Personally I haven't bothered with PhysX as I'm not using it.
#6
03/04/2011 (9:00 pm)
I've updated the video drivers - so will see what happens. The DirectX, etc. is all latest download.

I did allow it to blue screen once more before installing the updated drivers: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. I did look at the "serious error" log. There's an XML file which seems to just be a list of devices & drivers, and a DMP file which I assume needs a special tool of some sort to decode.

I've also opened it up looking for siezed fans, clogged filters, etc. Nothing obvious sticks out.

Fingers crossed the video driver was it - time will tell.
#7
03/06/2011 (7:14 pm)
A couple of days intensive use since updating the video driver - no more blue screens.

Thanks for the help guys