1MSTS "Crashes"

For some time, I have been experiencing situations where I am running an activity and without warning the picture freezes, screen goes blank and then back to desktop.
I was at first getting this to happen with Great/Greater eastern which I assumed was connected with my anti-virus, so I took down that route.
As some of you know, I have been running the various New Zealand routes. Again occasionly, I have been dumped in mid section.
A couple of nights ago, I took the bull by the horns and removed and reinstalled 1MSTS but this time with Antivirus Firewall and Internet turned off,subsequently spending
spending the last couple of days "getting out of jail" (Dealing with Bin TS unpack) by refering back to my thread installed MSTS on Windows 7.
SUCSESS:D Well actually NO:roll: Still the same problem.
I only have at present New Forest route and Whittle colliery, I have run the latter with the J94 and brakevan trip twice on the latter the first time it crashed back to desktop after about five minutes the second time I nearly made it to the colliery and it went again.
I note that when I start to load the activity, the splash screen comes up goes black then comes back up again,
Also I have tried starting an activity without going through trainstore but the first part starts up and then back to desktop.
Any help much appreciated.
Cheers
Andy Moody

Phew Had the sence to copy above to notepad as the last time I attempted to send this, Windows 7 decided that i had been on the internet long enough

Hi Andy,

This crash to desktop ( CTD ), is I think, something we have to live with. I get problems from time to time again, like you, on Greater Eastern. It has also happened on various other routes with no regular pattern - one day I can run an activity perfectly and next time it will CTD for no apparent reason. From what I remember it is something to with how MSTS uses memory, no doubt others will explain it better than I can. The best solution is to make regular saves - some people recommend at least every 1/2 hour. Also try not to have any unnecessary programmes running. For me, using Trainstore is a must. When loading MSTS my splash screen will also often vanish, this only started happening after I had upgraded from XP to W7. This could be that MSTS doesn't load as fast as W7 thinks it should.

Hope this helps,

Stephen

Hi Andy,
Sorry to hear of your troubles
It sounds as if either your PC is struggling with MSTS, or you have a rogue vehicle somewhere in your trainset.
Can you give us the full specifications of your PC, please?

First thing I would do is to completely remove, then re-install MSTS without any add-ons.  I know it's said that you should never need to re-install MSTS, but I think you need to start with a clean slate.   Run several of the default activities for sufficient time, so you know if it's going to crash or not.    If you're happy at this stage, backup your train sim folder, so you can restore it if required, then add the Bin patch and a small route, say Whittle Colliery, with its required extras, and only the stock for the activity which crashed before.  Run this activity for an extended time.   If this is completed successfully take another backup of the train sim folder, but don't over-write the last one you took!  Add the New Forest route and continue with small steps.  DO NOT use Train Store for any of these tests!

There is a problem with the New Forest route at Bournemouth (and maybe other places) which causes a crash to Desktop.  To avoid this, install Stuart Williamson's Track Sounds (UKTS file ID 3218) then replace the existing ttype.dat file with the supplied NF_ttype.dat (rename the existing file then rename NF_ttype.dat to ttype.dat). These files are in the route's folder.

Please come back with the results of your tests.

Cheers,
Ged

EDIT : Stephen posted his reply before I'd completed mine! What he says makes sense, if your PC is struggling. I can say that I've never had a crash to Desktop for which I can't find the reason - bad stock, texture file and such-like. I recommend the use of MSTSBin and if you've got at least 4GB of memory, use the mem switch (-mem:2048).

Andy
I strongly recommend that you follow Ged's procedure, but several thoughts occur to me:-

1. Have you tried adjusting your SOUND settings in OPTIONS when starting MSTS? I believe that moving these sliders to the right say about three quarters of the way towards MAX can sometimes help. This should be confirmed by others!

2. Have you made a lot of SAVES as it sometimes helps to delete those no longer required? They are located in the folder called "saves" in the main MSTS folder. As you have reinstalled MSTS I imagine there are minimal saves so this is almost certainly not a solution!

3. I quote from HFL No 4 - "It is a well known fact that in order to run MSTS a large number of files are needed for each simulation. MSTS wants to read all of the files that might be required, and these are then stored within its memory ready to be used. Consequently as the MSTS content grows so the files memorised grows and this significantly increases the start up time, and in that respect MSTS has a finite limit; e.g. the MSTS “consists” limit appears to be about 800, at which time MSTS can crash!".
I remember when I first started that when trying to run MT's LSE that it would CTD because of the above memory problem, hence my adoption of Train Store.

Thanks guys.
I will take a look a bit later on today and do tests.
Where can I find the info about my computer specifications, also the info about my navida graphics card?
Where can i find the Mem switch please Ged?
Should have pointed out that MEP Mini Route works perfectly, Its just 1MSTS that is the problem.
I have just un-installed/completly re-installed 1 MSTS as per steam4Me instructions three days ago. so it is not that.
Cheers
Andy

Hi Andy,
Right-click on the Desktop MSTS icon and left-click on Properties. You will get something similar to this :

Note that the Target box isn't long enough to show my path, but it's only the drive letter which is missing!
Yours will probably show "C:\1MSTS\train.exe" To add the mem switch add -mem:xxxx where xxxx can be 1024 or 2048, depending on how much memory (RAM) you have. This is added after exe" and a space MUST be inserted before -mem:xxxx
If yours shows "C:\1MSTS\launcher.exe" -rungame then please change it, otherwise the mem switch will apply to launcher.exe, which won't help anything!!

To get some parts of your PC's specification, left-click on the START button, right-click on Computer then left-click on Properties. This will show the Operating System, Processor and memory. To find out full details of your graphics card, you'll need a specialist program like GPU-Z (which is free!), although as it's an NVIDIA card, you'll probably find an entry in the Control Panel which will help.

Cheers,
Ged

I was having the same problem with the Bernina route, I have reduced the sounds a little and changed the memory to 2048, as advised above and that appears to have fixed it.

slipperman12 wrote:If yours shows "C:\1MSTS\launcher.exe" -rungame  then please change it, otherwise the mem switch will apply to launcher.exe, which won't help anything!!
Cheers,
Ged

Hi Ged.
Yes indeed, my target is  "C:\1MSTS\launcher,exc" -rungame,
Sorry but before I mess things up,what exactly do I have to change? do i just re-write what is in the Target panel or is there something else I need to do?
The info on my computer that I have.is:- Rating 4.9
Processor Intel (R) core (TM)2 Duo CPU E7500@ 2.93 GHZ  2.93 GHZ
Installed memory ram 300GB
System type 64 bit operating system.

My MSTS Options are
General= Automatic fireman and Track Moniter.
Sound= all at maximum text options for audio box unchecked.
Display=Best graphics Display resolution 1280X1024X16
Advanced display= Visibility set at 1250 Terrain error threshold at 1600 rest at maximum.
Overhead wires Water and textured sky only ticked.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Andy

Hi Andy,
Yes, change the line in the Target box to read : "C:\1MSTS\train.exe" -mem:1024  Don't forget the space between exe" and -mem   When you've done that, click on the Apply button at the bottom right of the window, then OK.  The 1024 may be 2048 if you've got 4GB or more of memory.  I'm pretty certain you don't have 300GB of memory!!

The other settings look OK, although if your graphics card will allow it, 1280x1024x32 will give you a better image, otherwise try 1024x768x32.

Cheers,
Ged

slipperman12 wrote:Hi Andy,
Yes, change the line in the Target box to read : "C:\1MSTS\train.exe" -mem:1024  Don't forget the space between exe" and -mem   When you've done that, click on the Apply button at the bottom right of the window, then OK.  The 1024 may be 2048 if you've got 4GB or more of memory.  I'm pretty certain you don't have 300GB of memory!!

The other settings look OK, although if your graphics card will allow it, 1280x1024x32 will give you a better image, otherwise try 1024x768x32.

Cheers,
Ged

Hi Ged.
Not too painful after all, think it works OK setting also altered to 1280x1024x32 seems to be OK. and yes your right I do not have 300GB of memory, there is a decimal point between tne 3 and the first zero though im sure that i actually have more memory than that. Oh well what ever!!!
But once again thanks for your help again.
Cheers
Andy

Hello Andy,Ged.Following through on this I see there is a box marked "Compatibilty mode for XP (SP3)"  Should this be ticked or not ?

Hi Gentlemen,
Roger :
Following through on this I see there is a box marked "Compatibilty mode for XP (SP3)"  Should this be ticked or not ?
No, mate, I've never found the need to do that
... but you should have the "Run as administrator" box ticked.

Andy : 30GB seems a funny amount It's usually 2, 4, 8, 16, or, in very rare cases 32GB, never any more, but I wonder if you have 3.00GB? That'd be strange, but possible.

Cheers,
Ged

slipperman12 wrote:Hi Gentlemen,
Roger :
Following through on this I see there is a box marked "Compatibilty mode for XP (SP3)"  Should this be ticked or not ?
No, mate, I've never found the need to do that
... but you should have the "Run as administrator" box ticked.

Andy : 30GB seems a funny amount     It's usually 2, 4, 8, 16, or, in very rare cases 32GB, never any more, but I wonder if you have 3.00GB?  That'd be strange, but possible.

Cheers,
Ged

No it's 3.00.Is that not enough or what? fraid i have no idea.
At the moment i only have Whittle Colliery Watersnake (one activity Ringwood to Southampton and one NZ route which again does not take up much room.
I have again run the introductory activity BR J94 + 5 Brakevans on Whittle and again it has done CBD approaching the colliery.
On Watersnake (New Forest route, 41291 hauls three bullied coaches to Southampton without any problem. Strange!
Cheers
Andy

Hi Andy,
Great Eastern can have problems at Norwich,some of us with lower end computers had them when testing the route,can also happen at Liverpool St depending on how much AI traffic is used there.

Mike

Thanks Mike, Guess I will have to live with it then! Never used to happen with XP!

Re Testing activities, I wondered where I could run Ged's SARAH SIDDONS, as I do not currently have any electrified routes.
So I have been naughty, and fooled my computer (without permission!) into thinking it's a Diesel! Dont know whats going to happen when it finds out,Probally
make me stand in the corner all day or write out one hundred times "I MUST NOT ALTER ENGINE FILES"
Yes, It is a smashing little loco top speed 55-60 MPH, Able to time the Ringwood-Southampton run even stopping addionally at Beaulieu road Lyndhurst road
and Totton.
The only other thing I did was change the sound file to LUR 1938 which gives compressor and air horn sounds.
Has anyone else downloaded this Loco Its very well moddelled.
Cheers
Andy

Hi Andy,
Nobody will give you lines for modifying anything in MSTS - that's the beauty of it - most of it is "open"

It is a nice loco, but all credit must go to Jimi Ibbett and his team for producing it way back in 2008 - I only gave it a more up-to-date appearance.  I left the sounds as they were in the original release, but, again, you're entirely free to change anything in MSTS, for your own use.

You can change the New Forest (Watersnake) route to run Sarah as an electric loco by editing the Watersnake.trk file (in the Watersnake route folder), as follows :
1. Change Electrified ( 00000000 ) to Electrified ( 00000001 )
2. Change OverheadWireHeight ( 0 ) to something stupid, like OverheadWireHeight ( 2000 )  to place it out of view.
Note there is one space between each bracket and the number.

You can now run any electric loco / EMU on that route.

Cheers,
Ged

Another way to do it Andy, is to make the route electrified and set the wire height to 2000m height so it's out of sight, much easier than changing locos to diesel, and easier to change back again.

EDIT: Ged beat me to it

I had two crashes to desktop in quick succession. I had been using the Sim for some time and had several other programmes running and files open. I closed all programmes, restarted the computer and had no trouble. I suspect that computers, like some of us, get tired and irritable . . .

I hope this helps.

Roderic