FFXI Crashes

Veridius · 07-11-2006, 08:14 PM

I have recently been suffering system crashed while playing Final Fantasy XI online on my Dell Inspiron 9100 laptop. I hear a snapping noise, which I assume comes from my speakers, and the display goes black. At this point the computer is completely unresponsive. I Used to play this game with no trouble, but recently had a new hard drive installed by Best Buy. I have gone through all the steps I could think of... I.E. updating video card drivers, re-intalling the game, making sure the laptop isn't overheating. Anyone have any ideas? any help would be much appreciated.

Sticky Supreme · 07-12-2006, 06:33 AM

Have you tried slowing down your AGP? Or updating your chipset drivers?

**gamerman0203** · 07-12-2006, 06:56 AM

I have a 9100 also and have never experienced anything like this. Is that all best buy did was install a new hard drive? I would double check in the hard drive bay that they didn't accidentaly screw anything. When the 'snap' occurs and it goes black, does it actually shut off or do you still see LEDs lit up on the panel below the screen?

Veridius · 07-12-2006, 07:31 PM

The power LED remains lit, but the Hard drive one doesn't. I checked with best buy and they claim to only have installed the new hard drive. I Never took it apart in the past, so I wouldn't know if they had changed anything internally. I was somewhat hopefull at first when the Power light stayed on, but the computer is unresponsive to anything, including CTRL ALT DLT. The amount of time before the game crashes varies, sometimes its within the first few minutes, other times it takes it an hour plus. I'm not really sure how to determine if it is an issue with the CPU, or with the ATI card... Or even the hard drive.

ebackhus · 07-13-2006, 08:26 AM

Likely it's a heat issue. When heat transfers through the components, they begin to change size and shape. Excess heating can cause pieces to even dislodge themselves. In the old days, this problem happened with memory chips that'd creep out of their sockets after multiple power on/offs.

Laptops are NOT gaming machines.

Veridius · 07-13-2006, 04:52 PM

I've been running software to moniter both the CPU and Hard Drive temperatures, and they both are remaining slightly below the desired levels. I have the machine elevated, and am very carefull about watching them. The temperature remains at these levels even while running the game, so I'm not so sure thats the problem.

07-11-2006, 08:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Veridius Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 8 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	FFXI Crashes I have recently been suffering system crashed while playing Final Fantasy XI online on my Dell Inspiron 9100 laptop. I hear a snapping noise, which I assume comes from my speakers, and the display goes black. At this point the computer is completely unresponsive. I Used to play this game with no trouble, but recently had a new hard drive installed by Best Buy. I have gone through all the steps I could think of... I.E. updating video card drivers, re-intalling the game, making sure the laptop isn't overheating. Anyone have any ideas? any help would be much appreciated.

07-12-2006, 06:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
gamerman0203 Retired Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 2,144 OS: XP MCE, Ubuntu Gutsy My System	I have a 9100 also and have never experienced anything like this. Is that all best buy did was install a new hard drive? I would double check in the hard drive bay that they didn't accidentaly screw anything. When the 'snap' occurs and it goes black, does it actually shut off or do you still see LEDs lit up on the panel below the screen? __________________ Follow These Steps First! CPU-Z \| SensorView \| WinXP Clean Boot \| Latest DirectX \| ATI Catalyst \| Nvidia ForceWare Posting System Specifications

07-12-2006, 07:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Veridius Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 8 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	... The power LED remains lit, but the Hard drive one doesn't. I checked with best buy and they claim to only have installed the new hard drive. I Never took it apart in the past, so I wouldn't know if they had changed anything internally. I was somewhat hopefull at first when the Power light stayed on, but the computer is unresponsive to anything, including CTRL ALT DLT. The amount of time before the game crashes varies, sometimes its within the first few minutes, other times it takes it an hour plus. I'm not really sure how to determine if it is an issue with the CPU, or with the ATI card... Or even the hard drive.

07-13-2006, 08:26 AM	#5 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,249 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Likely it's a heat issue. When heat transfers through the components, they begin to change size and shape. Excess heating can cause pieces to even dislodge themselves. In the old days, this problem happened with memory chips that'd creep out of their sockets after multiple power on/offs. Laptops are NOT gaming machines. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

07-12-2006, 06:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sticky Supreme Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern ireland Posts: 71 OS: Vista HP	Have you tried slowing down your AGP? Or updating your chipset drivers?

07-13-2006, 04:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
Veridius Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 8 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	I've been running software to moniter both the CPU and Hard Drive temperatures, and they both are remaining slightly below the desired levels. I have the machine elevated, and am very carefull about watching them. The temperature remains at these levels even while running the game, so I'm not so sure thats the problem.