rec.autos.simulators

by **Pat** » Mon, 08 Jul 2002 02:21:42

I recently decided to install TOCA 2 again after a few years away from it,
just to relive it really. It installed okay, and I patched it up to v4.1.
The trouble comes when I run it, because once past the intro screen and
during the purpley 'loading' screen I get a blue-screened with a mass of
text, before the PC reboots itself.

Any ideas?

System:
PIII 450;
128mb;
32mb Savage 4 gfx;

Thanks in advance.
--
Pat
"It is also brilliant to drive at more than 200 mph down what are basically
local roads in the French countryside." - Bill Auberlen, Panoz

by **Chris H** » Mon, 08 Jul 2002 03:39:07

Many things, Pat, but first go into Control Panel/System/Advanced tab.
Toward the bottom is the Startup and Recovery section. Click the Settings
button there, then on the next screen take the check mark out of
"Automatically restart" in the System failure section. This will stop the
automatic reboot on an error, but will through a BSOD up with an error
message. If you don't have it running, go into Help and Support and do a
search for Dr. Watson. Get him running in the background to capture
specific error message on any program faults.

With the system information you posted, you're right on the very thin edge
of having enough horsepower to run Windows XP, let alone programs on it.
You may want to think about at least doubling your RAM, if the motherboard
will handle it.

Next thing to check is that you're updated all the drivers for your graphics
and sound cards by going to the appropriate manufacturer web site. Also, if
you're running a motherboard which has a VIA-based chipset, you may want to
download and install the 4-in-1 drivers released by VIA recently.

All this is assuming you're running an account which is part of the
Administrator Group. Many programs will not run without Admin rights to
write to the specific program files. How to handle the situation of a
Limited User account playing games, etc., varies between the Home and Pro
versions of Windows XP.
--
Chris H.

> I recently decided to install TOCA 2 again after a few years away from it,
> just to relive it really. It installed okay, and I patched it up to v4.1.
> The trouble comes when I run it, because once past the intro screen and
> during the purpley 'loading' screen I get a blue-screened with a mass of
> text, before the PC reboots itself.

> Any ideas?

> System:
> PIII 450;
> 128mb;
> 32mb Savage 4 gfx;

> Thanks in advance.
> --
> Pat
> "It is also brilliant to drive at more than 200 mph down what are basicall
y
> local roads in the French countryside." - Bill Auberlen, Panoz

by **Pat** » Mon, 08 Jul 2002 04:58:23

Thanks, a lot there!

Okay, done the automatic restart part, the message suggested checking for
new drivers.

I ran Dr Watson, but now I run it again there's no mention of TOCA2....
I'll try it again.

IIRC there are two slots free, so I'll try and get hold of some. Reading
what is needed to run a game now, it feels like it's been forever since I
last upgraded :-)

It's a bit slow but nothing I'm not used to. I can run Excel, OE and a
couple of IE windows okay, and that's all I need. Obviously to run a game I
need to close everything, but I would do that anyway.

The motherboard is an Iwill BD100 Plus. I'm searching for drivers for it
now. I upgraded the graphics card BIOS about 6 to 9 months ago.

I'm running Win XP Pro with Admin rights, since I'm the sole user.

Thanks for the tips, I'll attempt to get all of the drivers.
Pat.

> --
> Chris H.

> > I recently decided to install TOCA 2 again after a few years away from
it,
> > just to relive it really. It installed okay, and I patched it up to
v4.1.
> > The trouble comes when I run it, because once past the intro screen and
> > during the purpley 'loading' screen I get a blue-screened with a mass of
> > text, before the PC reboots itself.

> > Any ideas?

> > System:
> > PIII 450;
> > 128mb;
> > 32mb Savage 4 gfx;

> > Thanks in advance.
> > --
> > Pat
> > "It is also brilliant to drive at more than 200 mph down what are
basicall
> y
> > local roads in the French countryside." - Bill Auberlen, Panoz

by **Pat** » Mon, 08 Jul 2002 06:19:44

OK, I installed the 4-in-1 drivers, downloaded the S3 Savage 4 drivers (but
found the XP version was newer), and made some space on C drive since that
was mentioned in the blue screen message.

I still get the same problem. Either TOCA 2 doesn't like XP, or I've missed
something. It used to run fine on this same system when I had Win 98 SE
installed, about 18 months ago. I installed XP at the turn of the year,
just haven't tried this game until now.

--
Pat

> Thanks, a lot there!

> > Many things, Pat, but first go into Control Panel/System/Advanced tab.
> > Toward the bottom is the Startup and Recovery section. Click the
Settings
> > button there, then on the next screen take the check mark out of
> > "Automatically restart" in the System failure section. This will stop
the
> > automatic reboot on an error, but will through a BSOD up with an error
> > message. If you don't have it running, go into Help and Support and do
a
> > search for Dr. Watson. Get him running in the background to capture
> > specific error message on any program faults.

> Okay, done the automatic restart part, the message suggested checking for
> new drivers.

> I ran Dr Watson, but now I run it again there's no mention of TOCA2....
> I'll try it again.

> > With the system information you posted, you're right on the very thin
edge
> > of having enough horsepower to run Windows XP, let alone programs on it.
> > You may want to think about at least doubling your RAM, if the
motherboard
> > will handle it.

> IIRC there are two slots free, so I'll try and get hold of some. Reading
> what is needed to run a game now, it feels like it's been forever since I
> last upgraded :-)

> It's a bit slow but nothing I'm not used to. I can run Excel, OE and a
> couple of IE windows okay, and that's all I need. Obviously to run a game
I
> need to close everything, but I would do that anyway.

> > Next thing to check is that you're updated all the drivers for your
> graphics
> > and sound cards by going to the appropriate manufacturer web site.
Also,
> if
> > you're running a motherboard which has a VIA-based chipset, you may want
> to
> > download and install the 4-in-1 drivers released by VIA recently.

> The motherboard is an Iwill BD100 Plus. I'm searching for drivers for it
> now. I upgraded the graphics card BIOS about 6 to 9 months ago.

> > All this is assuming you're running an account which is part of the
> > Administrator Group. Many programs will not run without Admin rights to
> > write to the specific program files. How to handle the situation of a
> > Limited User account playing games, etc., varies between the Home and
Pro
> > versions of Windows XP.

> I'm running Win XP Pro with Admin rights, since I'm the sole user.

> Thanks for the tips, I'll attempt to get all of the drivers.
> Pat.

> > --
> > Chris H.

by **Doug Hoo** » Mon, 08 Jul 2002 12:32:12

XP is definetly your problem. I just upgraded from 98se to XP and have been
having some issues with programs and games that worked fine under 98. Having
said that ,XP is awesome compared to 98 as far as stability and GUI. I love
it and am mad at myself for waiting this long to upgrade to it. I definetly
also think you need to upgrade your system too.I don't have a cutting edge
system but it still gets the job done. I have an Athlon 1.2 ,512 megs of ram
and a GF2 GTS 64MEG AND Everything is awesome. Good luck.

> OK, I installed the 4-in-1 drivers, downloaded the S3 Savage 4 drivers
(but
> found the XP version was newer), and made some space on C drive since that
> was mentioned in the blue screen message.

> I still get the same problem. Either TOCA 2 doesn't like XP, or I've
missed
> something. It used to run fine on this same system when I had Win 98 SE
> installed, about 18 months ago. I installed XP at the turn of the year,
> just haven't tried this game until now.

> --
> Pat

> > Thanks, a lot there!

> > > Many things, Pat, but first go into Control Panel/System/Advanced tab.
> > > Toward the bottom is the Startup and Recovery section. Click the
> Settings
> > > button there, then on the next screen take the check mark out of
> > > "Automatically restart" in the System failure section. This will stop
> the
> > > automatic reboot on an error, but will through a BSOD up with an error
> > > message. If you don't have it running, go into Help and Support and
do
> a
> > > search for Dr. Watson. Get him running in the background to capture
> > > specific error message on any program faults.

> > Okay, done the automatic restart part, the message suggested checking
for
> > new drivers.

> > I ran Dr Watson, but now I run it again there's no mention of TOCA2....
> > I'll try it again.

> > > With the system information you posted, you're right on the very thin
> edge
> > > of having enough horsepower to run Windows XP, let alone programs on
it.
> > > You may want to think about at least doubling your RAM, if the
> motherboard
> > > will handle it.

> > IIRC there are two slots free, so I'll try and get hold of some.
Reading
> > what is needed to run a game now, it feels like it's been forever since
I
> > last upgraded :-)

> > It's a bit slow but nothing I'm not used to. I can run Excel, OE and a
> > couple of IE windows okay, and that's all I need. Obviously to run a
game
> I
> > need to close everything, but I would do that anyway.

> > > Next thing to check is that you're updated all the drivers for your
> > graphics
> > > and sound cards by going to the appropriate manufacturer web site.
> Also,
> > if
> > > you're running a motherboard which has a VIA-based chipset, you may
want
> > to
> > > download and install the 4-in-1 drivers released by VIA recently.

> > The motherboard is an Iwill BD100 Plus. I'm searching for drivers for
it
> > now. I upgraded the graphics card BIOS about 6 to 9 months ago.

> > > All this is assuming you're running an account which is part of the
> > > Administrator Group. Many programs will not run without Admin rights
to
> > > write to the specific program files. How to handle the situation of a
> > > Limited User account playing games, etc., varies between the Home and
> Pro
> > > versions of Windows XP.

> > I'm running Win XP Pro with Admin rights, since I'm the sole user.

> > Thanks for the tips, I'll attempt to get all of the drivers.
> > Pat.

> > > --
> > > Chris H.

by **Andrew Swor** » Mon, 08 Jul 2002 21:04:07

I would run it on 98.

> I recently decided to install TOCA 2 again after a few years away from it,
> just to relive it really. It installed okay, and I patched it up to v4.1.
> The trouble comes when I run it, because once past the intro screen and
> during the purpley 'loading' screen I get a blue-screened with a mass of
> text, before the PC reboots itself.

> Any ideas?

> System:
> PIII 450;
> 128mb;
> 32mb Savage 4 gfx;

> Thanks in advance.
> --
> Pat
> "It is also brilliant to drive at more than 200 mph down what are
basically
> local roads in the French countryside." - Bill Auberlen, Panoz

by **Stev** » Mon, 08 Jul 2002 23:06:32

In addition to all the other suggestions, you may want to try running it in
win98 compatibility mode. Right click on the short cut to the game and click
on properties and you should have a compatibility tab at the top, click on
that and select compatibility mode and set it to win98/me in the drop down.

Steve

by **Maxx** » Mon, 08 Jul 2002 23:33:48

On Sun, 07 Jul 2002 03:32:12 GMT, "Doug Hook"

>XP is definetly your problem.

I dug TOCA2 out the other day and installed it onto my XP machine
and it ran without problem. Well, I did have a problem, and that was
that it was almost impossible to accurately select a menu items as
they flicked by soooo quickly, it was a bit like being on one of those
game shows where you have to press a buttom to stop random
lights flashing.

PC is AMD 1900+ with 512Mb RAM and GF3 500.

So, I can't suggest a solution but can advise that TOCA2 does run
fine with XP.

Maxx

by **Chris H** » Tue, 09 Jul 2002 08:16:44

Pat, the good Dr. Watson runs in the background and IF you have a crash of a
program, it'll capture what happened. The other thought which I didn't have
until just now was did you happen to turn off Indexing? That is one of the
"tweaks" erroneously suggested by some web sites to increase XP's
performance, but it plays havoc with some games like GPL. If you don't know
what I'm talking about, then you probably haven't, but just to check, go
into Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Component Services and in the left
panel, click on Services (Local). In the right panel, you'll see an
alphabetical list of the services running in the background. Scroll down to
Indexing Service, and see what is listed in the Startup Type. If it is
Manual or Disabled, right-click on the Indexing Service name, select
Properties and you'll see where to change it to Automatic.

BTW - An update to anything like a driver about six or nine months ago is
probably outdated several times by now. Nose around and see if you can't
find a newer update for those items. I did a little searching on the Iwill
BD100 Plus motherboard, and it only supports up to 2x on the AGP slot. The
motherboard is based on the Intel 440BX Chipset, and additional information
can be found here:
http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/440bx/
--
Chris H.