TheWaste

Hello again computer gods

I hate to bother you all like this, and really appreciate how quickly you guys tend to respond to questions. Pleasantries aside, I have a problem with my laptop, and really hope someone can help me.

I am the proud owner of a HP Compaq 8710p. I say proud owner, because I love this laptop. One thing I didn't expect when I bought the laptop is how well it can handle 3D game graphics. Surprising, because I didn't expect a laptop to ever have good graphics when playing recent games.

My problem is however, even though the laptop can run most of my favourite games in high resolution, I find that my laptop dies in mysterious ways when I play a couple of certain games.

When I play 'Team Fortress 2', if I have been using the computer for a few hours prior, or sometimes even when I haven't, the game will crash after joining a server. The error message:

"engine error : failed to lock vertex buffer in CmeshDX8::LockVertexBuffer"

If I try re-launch the game after this error, it will happen again until I restart my computer.

At first I thought this was an isolated incident (Valve/Steam games are well known for their buggyness) until I recently purchased Assassin's Creed. When I play the game, after roughly two minutes the game will crash (with no error message). If I reload the game, it will crash again sooner. If I reload the game again after that, I normally find myself staring at a blue screen of death.

Given the symptoms, I assumed the problem was CPU heat related. I have heard of many people having heat problems on their laptops, and a can of compressed air sprayed into the fan port will make short work of the problem. Attempting to try the solution (using a proper air compressor on a modest pressure... I understand the risks of using compressed air against a computer fan. I even stuck a toothpick through the vent to stop the fan spinning while it was being blown)

Aside from this basic method of maintainance, I would open up the laptop to give it a complete blowing out, but I'm quite sure that HP would not honour my warranty after I open it up.

I installed a program called 'Speedfan', which is able to detect fan speeds and temperatures. I noticed that when playing games, my temperature gradually increases from a nominal 60 degrees, all the way up to 90 degrees before the game crashes. After doing some research, I discovered that this is quite a high temperature, but my computer should still stay running until about 120 degrees.

I thought that pumping up the fan speed would help the problem, but sadly Speedfan's developers have not yet developed the fan speed support for my mobo.

After the obvious installation of most recent drivers, DirectX, latest updates of games, I am at a loss as to what I should try next. I don't want to take my laptop back to the store, because they would likely take 3-4 weeks to get the laptop back to me, and I need it for work... so servicing is my very very last option... especially considering the nitwits would probably think they fixed the problem, send it back to me, and the problem would still exist (as I have with many of my mobile phones over the years)

tl;dr:
Laptop crashes during gameplay on multiple games. I'm pretty sure the problem is heat related. I've tried updating drivers, gaming software, etc. I can't take the laptop back for service because I need it for work. I've tried a basic fan cleaning using an air compressor (responsibly) but to give it a 'proper' cleaning, I would need to open the laptop up and that would void the warranty. While I'm pretty sure it's heat related, I am not %100 certain. I need ideas on what I should try next.

Thanks again guys!

TheWaste

Bumping. Still awaiting response. Thank you.

Also, after re-reading the thread, I'm wondering if I should re-create this topic somewhere more relevant... or is the laptop thread acceptable?

TheWaste

Update (I'm still looking for assistance...)

In an extremely unexpected turn of events, doing some more game tests and running SpeedFan in the background, the game crashed again, but the temperature topped out at roughly 70 degrees, which makes me think that the problem is not heat related.

Naturally, I then assumed at that point that I must have a memory problem. I downloaded the Microsoft Memory Test, ran it for two passes (I left it for several hours on the 'advanced' test mode) and it reported no problems.

One thing I did notice however is that during the time I was watching the tests, test seven took almost an hour by itself, while the others were relatively fast. This could be extremely normal, but I am not certain.

What should I try now?

Thank you computer messiahs.

Regards,
~Luke Haillay

TriggerFinger

Running the laptop at temperatures (120F/49C) is on the high side but should be OK still (AFAIK).

Have you tested your HDD for errors? I have read in your post that you have ruled out RAM.

sobeit

it could be just the laptop does not handle certain games well because of general resouce issues. Do you have problems when usnig lower screen resolutions within the game.

How about some specifications. What cpu, ram, video card do you have and os?

TheWaste

Thanks for the assistance guys.

Trigger: Sorry, I should have specified all my temperatures are in Celsius. When you say HDD error checking, do you mean (In Windows XP) right click on hard drive > properties > tools > error checking > 'Check now' ? I will need to wait until I finish work (where I am currently situated) before attempting that test. I will keep you posted.

Sobeit: The laptop is capable of running the specified games at a higher resolution with very good performance. At present, I am using the lowest possible graphic/resolution settings in the games which are possible and the games still crash just as frequently.

Here are my specs...

CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7500 @ 2.20GHz
RAM: 2.98GB (presumed as SD, not DDR)
GPU: NVIDIA Quadro NVS 320M graphics, with 256 MB dedicated video memory (512 MB TurboCache) Microsoft DirectX 10 support
OS: Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3

If you need any more specifics, typing the model number of the laptop (Compaq 8710p) into Google will give a full list of specifics. If you need any more information I will be happy to provide.

Thank you again, computer gods

~Luke

TriggerFinger

If your temps are in Celsius, 120C is VERY HIGH. Could burn out the video card or other components with that too much heat. Try cleaning out the vents or open the laptop up and make sure vents are clear from any obstruction.

As for the HDD diagnostics... take your HDD brand and download its diagnostic tool (see HDD Diags link on my sig).

TheWaste

Hi Trigger

Pardon me for the confusion. 90 degrees Celsius is the highest temperature I have noticed, but reading around on discussion boards, the general consensus seems to be that the computer should maintain stability until about 120 degrees.

I'll download that diag tool when I get home. Thanks for that guys.

~Luke

TheWaste

Hi trigger

My hard drive is a Fujitsu mhy225bh SATA, for which there are no diagnostic tools listed on the site which you provided (choices being SCSI, ATA and ultra-ATA)

Are these diagnostic tools available on Fujitsu's website, or are they proprietary?

Thanks again

Regards,
~Luke

UPDATE:

Although this gaming problem is, I feel, the most prominent problem on the laptop, I've started to notice random problems occurring on the laptop. My first warning sign came when I tried to open Firefox and nothing would happen.

Looking up the problem, the suggested solution was to find my Firefox profiles, back them up, re-install Firefox, then replace the Firefox profiles, however the folder (Application data) where they were supposed to be was not found.

Thinking the folders were hidden, I tried to show all hidden files and system files, to no avail. I even tried to find the folders in the command prompt with, again, minimal success. The strange thing is, when I typed in the folder's URL manually, I was able to view the folders contents.

Another problem my laptop had was that the filenames of the files and folders on my C: drive had disappeared, even though I could still tap letters on the keyboard to find a folder, or change the folders view to 'list' to see the file/folder names. Curious and curiouser.

The alarm bells started ringing however when I attempted to run MSN messenger and it felt the need to 'repair' itself before it would start, indicating to me that files were either missing or damaged. Now I'm starting to definitely think I'm having a hard-drive problem.

Please advise. Thanks again!

~Luke

TriggerFinger

Try this util...

http://www.fujitsu.com/downloads/COM...s/fjdt_700.zip

TheWaste

Thanks Trigger

The readme says to run the app in the following way:

3.2.1. Boot from a clean DOS disk.
3.2.2. Change to the drive/directory where FJDT.EXE is located.
3.2.3. Syntax:
A> FJDT

So just to confirm, I should be:

1. Burn the program to a CD (the laptop has no floppy drive or additional hard drives, unless you consider the recovery partition a 'clean drive')
2. Restart computer in DOS mode (not entirely sure how to do this in XP... please forgive my lack of knowledge in this seemingly obvious task)
3. Navigate to the CD in Dos
4. Type: A> FJDT to execute the app
OR
4. Execute the app, and type A> FJDT when given an input to do so.

Thanks again
~Luke

TriggerFinger

Use the CD if you have a CD drive instead of a floppy. Get DOS 5 or higher from here: www.allbootdisks.com. There is an ISO image that you can download and use to create a bootable CD media.

Once you have the ISO image on your desktop, open the image with UltraISO or similar then add the Fujitsu diagnostic tool (FJDT.exe).

TheWaste

Hi Trigger

Please forgive me, I found those instructions difficult to follow. Did you mean:

1. Burn HDD analysis tool to one CD
2. Burn DOS/boot disk onto another CD from an image file
3. Boot with DOS/boot disk
4. Await DOS prompt
5. Swap CD's to disc containing HDD analysis tool
6. Run HDD analysis tool (in DOS)

TriggerFinger

Yep... much simpler with 2 discs. Your steps even made it easier to do... yes that is exactly what I mean (I just made it complicated.. what was I thinking )

TheWaste

Hi Trigger

That DOS package you suggested is not bootable. Suggestions?

Thanks!
~Luke

TriggerFinger

Was that with an ISO extension? If yes, how did you create or burned the image into a blank CD?

http://www.allbootdisks.com/download/iso.html

TheWaste

Hi Trigger

Got it working. Ran both the 'quick test' and the 'comprehensive test' with no errors at all, much to my dismay...

What should I try next? Is it time for me to give up?
Thank you again for your continued help

Regards,
~Luke Haillay

TriggerFinger

If you have an XP install CD try CHKDSK /R in Recovery Console. Let it complete and see if it helps. Also try online scanners like Kaspersky or Panda.

If all of these still give you the symptoms you posted before like with Firefox and MSN Messenger then may be you can try repairing Windows XP. Steps here:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/...leID=189400897

These suggestions may help solve your other issues but I doubt if it will resolve your problems with the games. Anyhow, just try it may be you will get lucky.