Fallout 3 on Windows 7.

Warluck · 28 Dec 2009

Hello, I am glad to here from you.... ;o)

1.) What specific version of Windows 7 are you running? (Both commercial title and build Number)
(Example: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Signature Edition - Build 7600 [6.1.7600])

Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bits, Build 6.1.7600

2.) Upgrade or Clean Install?

Clean Install

3.) Did you change ANY hardware for the migration to Windows 7?

Nope, I did not but later on I installed a 1 tera green hard drive on which none of my windows nor Fallout is running.

4.) Is Fallout 3 the VERY first thing you install, AFTER the installation of windows 7?

Nope and EVERY OTHER THING I installed is running perfectly.

5.) Were you running FO3 on the exact same hardware setup w/ previous OS?

Yes (except for the new hard drive). OS was Windows XP SP2

6.) Are you running all systems at stock speeds, or are you overclocked?

Stock Speed.

7.) What Specific FallOut3 version are you installing, and are you using any mods / patches?

I installed GOTY Edition (I got the black screen problem) and then I installed the 1.7 patch and still have the black screen issue described above.

To further add informations, I am using NVIDIA Drviers 195.62. I downgraded the drivers to version 181.71 as it was suggested somewhere with the exact same issue.

Thanks for helping.

Warluck · 28 Dec 2009

Haxsys said:

Warluck said:

Hello everyone, I've read through almost all the thread and I did not find a solution (or missed it).

I have Windows 7 64bits Ultimate (RTM).

I did install the latest NVIDIA drivers which are 195.62

I installed Fallout 3 GOTY with all expansions and patched it to 1.7.

I can start the game, no probleme there but once I start moving around I get black screen and then get back to the game and then black screen again until the game simply crashes, sometimes back to windows and sometimes I have to reboot. No messages anywhere. To be honest, I don't know where to look and I would really like that game to work.

Can anyone help me?

Thanks

EDIT : I have the same error wheter I am playing old saved games or starting a new one and if I do start a new one I get the black screen during the introduction movie. I've seen a report to windows stating that my video had detected smething wrong...

First thing I would do is try an older driver from Nvidia.
What card(s) are you running, currently?

I am running a NVIDIA 9600 GT and this morning I installed version 181.71 witch is the oldest I can get for Windows 7 64 bits with the exact same issue.

djcommy · 28 Dec 2009

Warluck said:

Hello, I am glad to here from you.... ;o)

I installed GOTY Edition (I got the black screen problem) and then I installed the 1.7 patch and still have the black screen issue described above.

To further add informations, I am using NVIDIA Drviers 195.62. I downgraded the drivers to version 181.71 as it was suggested somewhere with the exact same issue.

Thanks for helping.

I've got the same problem.

Code:

1.) What specific version of Windows 7 are you running? (Both commercial title and build Number)
     (Example: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Signature Edition - Build 7600 [6.1.7600])

Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bits, Build 6.1.7100
 
2.) Upgrade or Clean Install? 

Clean Install
 
3.) Did you change ANY hardware for the migration to Windows 7?

Videocard has changed from NVidia 8800 to ATI Radeon HD3450 and later on to a new NVidia GeForce 250 GTS
Also I added a new harddisk. 1TB Samsung (FO3 is installed on this one) [W7 is running on another HD]
  
4.) Is Fallout 3 the VERY first thing you install, AFTER the installation of windows 7?

No, I have w7 running since the release. I tried installing FO3 3 times the past year.
All three failed with black screen after loading the new game.
 
 
5.) Were you running FO3 on the exact same hardware setup w/ previous OS?

Almost, see no.3 for hardware changes.
 
6.) Are you running all systems at stock speeds, or are you overclocked?
 
Stock Speed.

7.) What Specific FallOut3 version are you installing, and are you using any mods / patches?

Just the normal installation, version 1.0

With this post included: DxDiag

Haxsys · 28 Dec 2009

Warluck said:

Hello, I am glad to here from you.... ;o)

1.) What specific version of Windows 7 are you running? (Both commercial title and build Number)
(Example: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Signature Edition - Build 7600 [6.1.7600])

Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bits, Build 6.1.7600

2.) Upgrade or Clean Install?

Clean Install

3.) Did you change ANY hardware for the migration to Windows 7?

Nope, I did not but later on I installed a 1 tera green hard drive on which none of my windows nor Fallout is running.

4.) Is Fallout 3 the VERY first thing you install, AFTER the installation of windows 7?

Nope and EVERY OTHER THING I installed is running perfectly.

5.) Were you running FO3 on the exact same hardware setup w/ previous OS?

Yes (except for the new hard drive). OS was Windows XP SP2

6.) Are you running all systems at stock speeds, or are you overclocked?

Stock Speed.

7.) What Specific FallOut3 version are you installing, and are you using any mods / patches?

I installed GOTY Edition (I got the black screen problem) and then I installed the 1.7 patch and still have the black screen issue described above.

To further add informations, I am using NVIDIA Drviers 195.62. I downgraded the drivers to version 181.71 as it was suggested somewhere with the exact same issue.

Thanks for helping.

OK, The Blackscreen Issue...
Are you running stock graphic settings (in game)?
Have you tried going from full screen to windowed, and back?
Are there any artifacts before, or after the blackscreen?
Do you notice any type of situation, in game, prior to the blackscreen that you could say is a trigger? For example: Shaders, Smoke, Fog
And lastly, your PC, Pre-built? If so, make/model
If custom built, Motherboard / BIOS

I know a couple of guys who were having that issue, whom were using PC's that I built for them. Installing the Motherboard driver, and/or updating the BIOS fixed the issue. Not saying that's your issue, but it's something to consider if it's a custom built machine.

Be prepared for more questions. :)

~~Haxsys

djcommy · 28 Dec 2009

time to try a bios update than (never did it before, i was to scared to screw something :P)

btw, i am also going to try installing FO3 on my laptop, if the same problem occurs than it's not hardware related.

(btw, my pc is custom build and my laptop is made by the oh so sweet Dell )

Warluck · 28 Dec 2009

Haxsys said:

OK, The Blackscreen Issue...
Are you running stock graphic settings (in game)?

If I use stock graphic settigns : Black Screen

I did try to tweak some of my 3D parameters which none fixed the problem :
Disabling Physx Effect
Modification for the 3d Effect for Fallout3.exe

Inside the fallout setting I disabled V-Sync which fixed nothing.

Have you tried going from full screen to windowed, and back?

Yes I did with the same result.

Are there any artifacts before, or after the blackscreen?

The image freeze and then black screen and then animation resume to freeze again followed by another black screen, after two shot I get a complete lock up and I have to ctrl-alt-del to go out OR the system revert to windows stating a problem with Fallout3 and something like "Display stop responding".

Do you notice any type of situation, in game, prior to the blackscreen that you could say is a trigger? For example: Shaders, Smoke, Fog

Nope, wathever the save I load or even if I start a new game the freezing and black screen happens in the few seconds of the gameplay but never at the EXACT same spot. Sometimes I am SO lucky I can play as much a 28 seconds ;p)

And lastly, your PC, Pre-built? If so, make/model
If custom built, Motherboard / BIOS

Custom built :
Gigabyte motherboard, GA-965P-DS3 with Bios Revision F10

I know a couple of guys who were having that issue, whom were using PC's that I built for them. Installing the Motherboard driver, and/or updating the BIOS fixed the issue. Not saying that's your issue, but it's something to consider if it's a custom built machine.

Be prepared for more questions. :)

~~Haxsys

To narrow up further research I completely uninstalled the game, rebooted and then reinstalled the game but only the base module, no expansions and NO savegame. I started the game and experience the problem during the intro, where you have to select sex and apperance. During the fisrt few seconds of the intro the screen froze and then black screen and then the intro resume to freeze a bit later. I can select the sex and appearance but experience the freeze/black screen all along the intro so I've never made it to the end, there's no point continuing until I can fix the freeze/black screen issue. Hope this can help.

EDIT: Path 1.7 over clean install did not fix the problem.

EDIT2: Updating to latest Bios Release F14 did not solve the problem.

shadowsbane · 28 Dec 2009

Haxsys said:

1.) What specific version of Windows 7 are you running? (Both commercial title and build Number)
(Example: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Signature Edition - Build 7600 [6.1.7600])

Windows 7 Professional 64-bit built 7600

2.) Upgrade or Clean Install?

Clean install

3.) Did you change ANY hardware for the migration to Windows 7?

New motherboard, RAM, processor. Listed in profile.

4.) Is Fallout 3 the VERY first thing you install, AFTER the installation of windows 7?

No

5.) Were you running FO3 on the exact same hardware setup w/ previous OS?

No

6.) Are you running all systems at stock speeds, or are you overclocked?

Tried video card with and without overclock. CPU is currently overclocked from 3.4GHz to 3.6GHz

7.) What Specific FallOut3 version are you installing, and are you using any mods / patches?

Both the regular version and the GOTY version. Tried both with and without patches. No mods.

Here you go.

chev65 · 28 Dec 2009

According to everything I read about this problem online, if you arrive at the Jefferson Memorial without having it on your quests list, the game will crash on and off for no reason at all unless you either delate the game files or just reinstall the game and start over again.

From what I read, Installing the 1.7 patch after the fact will not fix the problem. Hey don't blame me I'm just repeating what I read. It's a well known bug if you google around a bit.

You still need the patch 1.7 either way but it works much better if you delate the old game save files and reinstall the game then install the patch. It's a known bug with the game and there is apparently no way around it.

To me this is still one of the buggiest games ever but it's not too bad now with the patch on a fresh install. I have been through it start to finish a few times and I took the long way.

smarteyeball · 28 Dec 2009

chev65 said:

To me this is still one of the buggiest games ever

Guess you've never payed S.T.A.L.K.E.R then...

Or even Oblivion for PC.

Warluck · 28 Dec 2009

Still, I 've played this game for quite a long time now, I am level 27, almost 28 with the first three expansions. But since I installed windows 7 I have not played and I decided to install GOTY because I was missing this game but so far, no luck in replaying this game. To be honest, this is the first "major" bug I encounter in this game so I don't think it is soooo buggy. We just have to figure a way aroung this one because it is IMPOSSIBLE to play at all as it right now....