Question Games crash in menus but not during gameplay ?

[UwPsycho1987]

As the title describes my problem is that games are crashing in the menu/lobby but not during gameplay. The games I'm having problems with are Dota 2, HUNT: Showdown 1986, Dark & Darker. There's no error message, nothing, straight to desktop. When the games don't crash and I'm able to join the match there are no crashes. I can play a 50 min Dota match with no trouble, same in the other games.

I have searched the forums but I haven't find anyone who had the same problem. I don't know where to start.

New PC Specs:

MBD: Z790 AORUS PRO X V1.0
CPU: i9-14900k
GPU: RTX 4070 Ti SUPER
RAM: 32GB DDR5
OS: Windows 11

For any other specific information let me know.

Please help, and thank you.

 

[Ralston18]

With the premise being that the game server is not an issue take a look in Reliability History/Monitor and Event Viewer on your PC.

Either one or both tools may be capturing some related error code, warning, or even an informational event just before or at the time of the crashes.

 

[UwPsycho1987]

With the premise being that the game server is not an issue take a look in Reliability History/Monitor and Event Viewer on your PC.

Either one or both tools may be capturing some related error code, warning, or even an informational event just before or at the time of the crashes.

Hello and thank you for your response. I have taken some screenshots of these tools. I don't know what I'm looking at so if you need a specific screenshot let me know.

Reliability Monitor

Dark & Darker Error

Hunt: Showdown Error

Windows Hardware Error

Event Viewer

 

[Ralston18]

Per Event Viewer Schannel seems to be quite an issue.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/security/tls/tls-ssl-schannel-ssp-overview

Where are you getting the games?

Dark and Darker (DungeonCrawler.exe ) and Huntdown (Huntgame.exe) appear as problem apps.

The most immediate thing I can recommend is to look for and attempt to fix corrupted files.

Use "dism" and "sfc /scannow".

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-dism-command-line-utility-repair-windows-10-image

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-scannow-to-repair-windows-system-files-2626161

If dism and sfc /scannow do not fix things then uninstall all of the games along with any game add-ons etc..

Then run dism and sfc /scannow again.

The objective is to first recover to a stable system. Then, install games again but only one game at a time allowing a couple of days and cold boots between each install.

Determine if the problems begin again with one specific game or a combination of games.

 

[UwPsycho1987]

Per Event Viewer Schannel seems to be quite an issue.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/security/tls/tls-ssl-schannel-ssp-overview

Where are you getting the games?

Dark and Darker (DungeonCrawler.exe ) and Huntdown (Huntgame.exe) appear as problem apps.

The most immediate thing I can recommend is to look for and attempt to fix corrupted files.

Use "dism" and "sfc /scannow".

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-dism-command-line-utility-repair-windows-10-image

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-scannow-to-repair-windows-system-files-2626161

If dism and sfc /scannow do not fix things then uninstall all of the games along with any game add-ons etc..

Then run dism and sfc /scannow again.

The objective is to first recover to a stable system. Then, install games again but only one game at a time allowing a couple of days and cold boots between each install.

Determine if the problems begin again with one specific game or a combination of games.

Hello again, all games are from and installed from steam. I will follow your instructions and let you know.


Before I had an issue games crashed with the message "Out of video memory trying to allocate texture" in the forums I found that it was a MB BIOS update problem, something to do with graphic cars with more than 16GB of VRAM. I updated the BIOS and the problem was solved. I let you know in case it might has something to do with my current problem.

Here I had some corrupted files.

DISM was clean

Checking if problem persists.

After scan and repair I run it again and it was clean. Problem persists. I uninstalled Dark and Darker and installed again and problem persisits.

 

[Ralston18]

So, provided that I understand correctly all is well except when Dark and Darker is installed.

Correct?

 

[UwPsycho1987]

So, provided that I understand correctly all is well except when Dark and Darker is installed.

Correct?

I haven't tried the other games. I uninstalled all and only tried with Dark and Darker.

What's the next step?

 

[Ralston18]

I would uninstall Dark and Darker.

Then without any games ensure the the system is stable and the errors are gone.

Next install a different game to determine if that game results in errors or not.

Simply trying to discover the root cause by narrowing things down as methodically as possible.

= = = =

The intriguing part is "is that games are crashing in the menu/lobby but not during gameplay."

And that made me think of Process Explorer (Microsoft, free).

What would be done is to watch what all is running on your PC before launching into Steam.

Then watch while sitting in the lobby.

Finallly watch while gaming.,

Look for Processes that start, stop, or change.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

= = = =

Also: correction - I typed "Schannel" but I really intended to ask what the entry below "Schannel" is?

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

As the title describes my problem is that games are crashing in the menu/lobby but not during gameplay. The games I'm having problems with are Dota 2, HUNT: Showdown 1986, Dark & Darker. There's no error message, nothing, straight to desktop. When the games don't crash and I'm able to join the match there are no crashes. I can play a 50 min Dota match with no trouble, same in the other games.

I have searched the forums but I haven't find anyone who had the same problem. I don't know where to start.

New PC Specs:

MBD: Z790 AORUS PRO X V1.0
CPU: i9-14900k
GPU: RTX 4070 Ti SUPER
RAM: 32GB DDR5
OS: Windows 11

For any other specific information let me know.

Please help, and thank you.

Hey there,

There is an issue with 14900k/f/s that stems from the clockspeed of the CPU. Change the multiplier to 53, and then test again. See if this helps.

What bios is on the mobo? This could be fixed with a bios update.

 

[UwPsycho1987]

Hey there,

There is an issue with 14900k/f/s that stems from the clockspeed of the CPU. Change the multiplier to 53, and then test again. See if this helps.

What bios is on the mobo? This could be fixed with a bios update.

Hello, before I had the problem you mention, some games crashed with the message "out of video memory ..." I have updated the MB BIOS to the lastets update available and the problem was solved.

I have no idea how to "change the multiplier to 53" is, clock speed? I will try and let you know thank you.

Now that you mention it, yesterday I had the game crashed with the same error, first time after I updated the bios, so the problem might be the same.

I thought that it was already solved with the BIOS update, do you know of people still having the problem after updating?

Should I try the "Intel Failsafe mode" or something like that? I've read that people had this problem with 13900 as well.

News - Is your Intel Core i9-13900K crashing in games? Your motherboard BIOS settings may be to blame — other high-end Intel CPUs also affected

Gamers and game developers are taking note of crashes on high-end Intel CPUs, and we think we have the answer. Multiple answers, even. Power, current, voltage, and clock speeds are all potential factors. Is your Intel Core i9-13900K crashing in games? Your motherboard BIOS settings may be to...

forums.tomshardware.com

I'm trying to understand, but this is too much for me. Why high-end products are not working properly! It's such a nightmare, I want my PC to work just fine to come home from work and play for an hour or two.
Sorry, needed to vent...

Could you give me more information about how to change the clock speed properly?

 

[UwPsycho1987]

I would uninstall Dark and Darker.

Then without any games ensure the the system is stable and the errors are gone.

Next install a different game to determine if that game results in errors or not.

Simply trying to discover the root cause by narrowing things down as methodically as possible.

= = = =

The intriguing part is "is that games are crashing in the menu/lobby but not during gameplay."

And that made me think of Process Explorer (Microsoft, free).

What would be done is to watch what all is running on your PC before launching into Steam.

Then watch while sitting in the lobby.

Finallly watch while gaming.,

Look for Processes that start, stop, or change.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

= = = =

Also: correction - I typed "Schannel" but I really intended to ask what the entry below "Schannel" is?

You mean the "warning" entry? I will take a screenshot.
I'll be working this week so my replies will be delayed. Thanks for the help.

 

[Ralston18]

Yes - The Warnings.

And do remember to check Reliability History/Monitor.

Easier to understand and the time line format may reveal patterns.

 

[UwPsycho1987]

Yes - The Warnings.

And do remember to check Reliability History/Monitor.

Easier to understand and the time line format may reveal patterns.

I have taken some new screenshots of the tools.

Warnings events.

Dark and Darker error.

I have a lot of games installed and there are no problems.
For example Returnal, this game had a huge problem before the bios update, it was impossible to run it, crashed 100%. Now it runs perfectly.
There are other games as well and have no problem.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

Hello, before I had the problem you mention, some games crashed with the message "out of video memory ..." I have updated the MB BIOS to the lastets update available and the problem was solved.

I have no idea how to "change the multiplier to 53" is, clock speed? I will try and let you know thank you.

Now that you mention it, yesterday I had the game crashed with the same error, first time after I updated the bios, so the problem might be the same.

I thought that it was already solved with the BIOS update, do you know of people still having the problem after updating?

Should I try the "Intel Failsafe mode" or something like that? I've read that people had this problem with 13900 as well.

News - Is your Intel Core i9-13900K crashing in games? Your motherboard BIOS settings may be to blame — other high-end Intel CPUs also affected

Gamers and game developers are taking note of crashes on high-end Intel CPUs, and we think we have the answer. Multiple answers, even. Power, current, voltage, and clock speeds are all potential factors. Is your Intel Core i9-13900K crashing in games? Your motherboard BIOS settings may be to...

forums.tomshardware.com

I'm trying to understand, but this is too much for me. Why high-end products are not working properly! It's such a nightmare, I want my PC to work just fine to come home from work and play for an hour or two.
Sorry, needed to vent...

Could you give me more information about how to change the clock speed properly?

You may have to clear CMOS after the bios update, if you didn't do that already.

 

[UwPsycho1987]

You may have to clear CMOS after the bios update, if you didn't do that already.

I have cleared the CMOS, problem persists. Should I change the multiplier to 53? How to do that?

 

[UwPsycho1987]

UPDATE: The game just crashed with this message. Before the BIOS update I had this message everytime I launch the game. Maybe the problem is still the 13th 14th gen Intel **** [Moderator edit to remove profanity. Remember this is a family friendly forum.] CPUs.

 

[Ralston18]

DeviceSetupManager.

FYI:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...-200-201/fe7695ce-d970-464b-ac7f-13e455e50c8c

I found many more links regarding DeviceSetupManager and chose the above link because it included Reliability History/Monitor.

Do your own Google search using "DeviceSetupManager and filter the search to the last year or so.

Read links as they seem appropriate but do not download any apps, tools, etc., claiming to fix the problem. Also avoid being tempted into Registry edits and so forth.

The objective is for you to simply read with the intent that you may discover another clue or symptom to help narrow down the root cause and then fix it thereafter.

And everything seems fine unless Dark and Darker is installed - correct?

 

[UwPsycho1987]

Hello guys! Seems like the most simple solution was the most effective, I've done a clean windows installation and it seems that the problem is gone.
I didn't even reinstalled the game (Dark and Darker). It was already in the other drive. I spent like 15 minutes in the menu, played a match, spent another 10 minutes in the menu, played another match and the leave it there for another 10 minutes and the game didn't crashed.
I'm not sure about the other games, it's 2.35 am here.
Thank you both for your help, sorry about the bad words. You are the gods of the internet!
I think everything will be fine now, if there's any problems I will let you know.


NOT FIXED: The problem persists. I'm super frustrated. Could this mean that the probelm might be regarding a Windows Update?
I will try again with a clean install and check if the game crashes without getting windows updates.

 

[UwPsycho1987]

DeviceSetupManager.

FYI:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...-200-201/fe7695ce-d970-464b-ac7f-13e455e50c8c

I found many more links regarding DeviceSetupManager and chose the above link because it included Reliability History/Monitor.

Do your own Google search using "DeviceSetupManager and filter the search to the last year or so.

Read links as they seem appropriate but do not download any apps, tools, etc., claiming to fix the problem. Also avoid being tempted into Registry edits and so forth.

The objective is for you to simply read with the intent that you may discover another clue or symptom to help narrow down the root cause and then fix it thereafter.

And everything seems fine unless Dark and Darker is installed - correct?

Hello again, as I suspected the problem is caused by a windows update. I have made a clean windows install again and stopped all updates. Dark and Darker never crashes again. After update the game crashes. One of the following updates is causing the problem.

I will install Windows 10 and see if the problem persists.

 

[Ralston18]

What specific version of Windows 11 and OS build is being installed? Source?

Regarding the clean install: Windows 11 source? How is Windows 11 being installed?

Are you using the clean install procedure provided by this Forum?

https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/windows-11-clean-install-tutorial.3831442/

Although updates can and do cause problems there is something else going on.

The starting point is to establish a stable installation of Windows 11.

Then allow the installation to finish all necessary updates and ensure that the system remains stable.

Next start adding games etc. one at a time allowing time and a restart or two between successive game and/or application installs.

If and when the crashes begin the last install was the likely culprit: either directly or indirectly.

 

[UwPsycho1987]

What specific version of Windows 11 and OS build is being installed? Source?

Regarding the clean install: Windows 11 source? How is Windows 11 being installed?

Are you using the clean install procedure provided by this Forum?

https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/windows-11-clean-install-tutorial.3831442/

Although updates can and do cause problems there is something else going on.

The starting point is to establish a stable installation of Windows 11.

Then allow the installation to finish all necessary updates and ensure that the system remains stable.

Next start adding games etc. one at a time allowing time and a restart or two between successive game and/or application installs.

If and when the crashes begin the last install was the likely culprit: either directly or indirectly.

The windows comes from Official Microsoft website, using a USB drive. Then within the install format the drive where is going to be installed. Always update and restart between installations.
I haven't done it has it follows in the forums. I will try.
I'm on Win10 now, Dark and Darker it's been working well, no crashes. DOTA2 has crashed, and Hunt: Showdown has crash once. There's more stability but not as it should be. DeviceManager still has erros and the solutions provided don't help.

Tomorrow I will do a clean install following the forums steps.

But as I told you before if everything was fine and then after Windows Updates the game starts crashing isn't that the problem?

I'm no expert but I have experience, I have built and upgrade my computers since I was 18. I'm 36 now. I never had problems like I'm having with this new PC.

My previous PC never had a bluescreen or crashes like this in 5 years. So understand my frustration when I spend lot of money on high end products and for some UNKNOWN reason things don't work. Is really annoying.

Thanks for all the help, I'll keep you posted after I try another clean install.

 

[Ralston18]

Before doing another reinstall clear the logs and continue monitor all errors, warnings, and even informational events that occur.

Use both Reliability History and Event Viewer.

Monitor for a few days and also continue checking update history.

Take and print some screenshots for future reference.

The objective simply being to discover the circumstances and details about the crashes etc..

Then after the reinstall and, hopefully, a stable computer allow updates and eventually install apps.

Continue watching the logs and taking screenshots for reference and comparison purposes.

My growing belief is that there is some "perfect storm" of games etc., that causes the updates to fail.

 

[UwPsycho1987]

Before doing another reinstall clear the logs and continue monitor all errors, warnings, and even informational events that occur.

Use both Reliability History and Event Viewer.

Monitor for a few days and also continue checking update history.

Take and print some screenshots for future reference.

The objective simply being to discover the circumstances and details about the crashes etc..

Then after the reinstall and, hopefully, a stable computer allow updates and eventually install apps.

Continue watching the logs and taking screenshots for reference and comparison purposes.

My growing belief is that there is some "perfect storm" of games etc., that causes the updates to fail.

Like always thank you for all your help and dedication.

I found this missing driver, I don't know what is it. Windows can't find a driver. I've noticed that the WIFI and Bluetooth only have win 11 versions I installed them and it works. Maybe this is causing problems.

 

[Ralston18]

Look in the other tabs, I.e., Driver, Details, Events, Resources.

Remember that some of the presented windows will be scrollable.

If the device cannot be identified, then one option would be to delete the driver and allow Windows to use a generic driver.

Post the other tabs.

Also run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) via the Command Prompt.

Copy and paste the full results in a post.

Objective being to identify the installed network adapter.

Once identified there may be other options.

 

[UwPsycho1987]

Look in the other tabs, I.e., Driver, Details, Events, Resources.

Remember that some of the presented windows will be scrollable.

If the device cannot be identified, then one option would be to delete the driver and allow Windows to use a generic driver.

Post the other tabs.

Also run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) via the Command Prompt.

Copy and paste the full results in a post.

Objective being to identify the installed network adapter.

Once identified there may be other options.

I have already tried to delete it, uninstall it, windows can't find a driver.

Here are the other tabs.

Here are the resuts of ipconfig.

I have installed all drivers available from GIGABYTE official website.