StarCraft freezes after 1-5 minutes of playing

[oktoberfest]

I actually just had this happen to me for the first time. Normally it would run without freezing at all (I play quite a bit of Starcraft I should note, ie. a few games every day) but this time it happened after about 10 minutes into a game.

Running Windows 7 64-bit build 7600. I have ObjectDock running in the background, that may have something to do with it

 

[KnowledgeWorker]

I also use Stardocks Object Dock Plus. I don't think this is the issue, I even closed all other programs, the problem still persists.

@Damocles: I'm not sure if that helps, because my/our problem is not the graphics.

 

[KnowledgeWorker]

Another solution I just found here in this forum:

1. Click properties and go to Compatibility tab
2. Run with Windows XP Service pack 3
3. Check all other boxes there.
4. Start StarCraft then pres alt+tab and go to Task Manager
5. Find StarCraft.exe in processes then right button Set Affinity...
6. Make it run only on CPU 0
7. Stop Processes that use most of your CPU such as Sidebar Bittorrent ETC
8. All processes that you want to use that are soft of your choosing like Winamp Skype ETC make them run on the other CPU(s) not on CPU 0.
It's Done you should be able to play Starcraft in LAN etc without having your system crash every 15 minutes.

Did not try it yet. My question would be: Can one make fix this "run only on CPU x" for a program / SC somewhere in the settings of Windows or SC?

 

[Damocles]

One thing I'd like to run by everyone else having these issues is what you're running int he background. I think the only times I've experienced the freezing is when Skype is running. Does everyone else that freezes have Skype running too?

 

[hax]

I always have skype / miranda / ultramon / daemon tools running.

setting the affinity to one core doesn't help.

will try closing skype to see if that helps.

running windows 7 rtm 32bit!

 

[donutsrgood]

safe mode isn't a solution

I ran into the problem in safe mode too thinking safe mode with networking would avoid it. It didn't.

Another thing one could try is checking with "Safe Mode" and/or "Selective Startup".
Yet this probably won't track down the issue, just help when you really want to play.

 

[hax]

closing all background programs helps for me, no crashes/freezes when I close:

firefox, skype, miranda, outlook, vlc media player ...

so if I basically run windows and then start starcraft and nothing else before it doesn't crash at all. if I have skype running in the background - it crashes. if I have miranda running - it crashes (altough I have disabled all miranda sounds anyway, so not sure if it's related to sound issues).

I don't set the affinity to one core anymore or do anything else other than just closing the background programs. I also let programs like daemon tools, ultramon etc. run - since they don't seem to interfere.

 

[KnowledgeWorker]

The solution from Elfus doesn't work for me! Also closing all programs doesn't help!
But I'll try the Aero solution. How can I most quickly deactivate and reactivate Aero again?
Because I don't want to waste additional time just because of stupid Starcraft.

 

[KnowledgeWorker]

Solution: Deactivate Aero. Click right on your desktop, choose "Personalize", scroll down, choose one of the Basic themes, e.g. "Windows 7 Basic", click apply, wait 30 seconds, start up Starcraft, it works!

 

[handcold]

Disabling Aero didn't work for me... it ran fine for one game then froze again :/

Does anyone who runs Starcraft on Windows 7 NOT have these problems?

 

[KnowledgeWorker]

@handcold: Ok that is bad news. I admit I didn't try it a second time, so then I had good luck only. Which graphics card + motherboard do you have/use again?

 

[bytebull]

I had a fix for this in vista but it's not working in 7 ..... working on my fix. some have said if you right click destop and personalize you don't get the crazy login colors. haven't tried it because that really isn't a FIX.

right now most people are complaining about the 1.16 patch asking for CD on 7 working on a registry fix for that as I write this post.

 

[handcold]

@handcold: Ok that is bad news. I admit I didn't try it a second time, so then I had good luck only. Which graphics card + motherboard do you have/use again?

2 Radeon 4870s in crossfire
MSI 790FX-GD70

I tried it again earlier... it ran fine for about 20 minutes before freezing again.

Again, is there anybody who doesn't have problems running Starcraft in Windows 7 64-bit?

 

[hax]

I had these Problems, and don't have them anymore. Disable skype and any other media players while playing starcraft and update to the latest graphic card drivers and chipset driver (for nivida -> Welcome to NVIDIA - World Leader in Visual Computing Technologies - latest gpu and !!!! nforce driver)

 

[KnowledgeWorker]

@hax: I've got the newest NVIDIA drivers. Or do you mean BETA drivers? I never had Skype or music running while playing SC. Or how do you mean disable?

 

[KnowledgeWorker]

Ok, I found two things, one solution (?) and one reason. Solution:

Right click the Starcraft icon -> Properties -> Compatibility tab
Check ALL the Settings, but do NOT check Compatibility Mode

(Source: The article linked here)

*edit* Ok, doesn't work!

Reason (maybe):

My theory is that it relates to widescreen monitors. I first installed it on my laptop (1280x768) and it had issues but the latest drivers and the DH mobility modder worked wonders in conjunction with changing the compatibility settings.

(Source)

What didn't work, is setting the "Extension limit" in the NVIDIA (Global 3D) settings to "On".

 

[hax]

@hax: I've got the newest NVIDIA drivers. Or do you mean BETA drivers? I never had Skype or music running while playing SC. Or how do you mean disable?

I run 191.07 - but you could try updating to the beta drivers maybe that will help.

I meant just closing Skype and other unneeded programs while playing.

What also seemed to be important is to update windows, and also to update to the latest nvidia chipset drivers (nforce drivers), they released an update not so long ago.

hope that helps - as I said starcraft used to freeze on me every second/third game, and now it doesn't anymore at all. I haven't changed anything hardwarewise.

 

[KnowledgeWorker]

Isn't nforce included in the driver package anyway? Windows is always up to date for me.

Ok, so what did you do? ^^ The 191.07 drivers are not really "new" imho.

Btw., currently it works also for me, what did I do: I googled around and found the

Resolution Expander (v.5.1)

and after extracting it (seems you can put it anywhere), SC BW now works without any flaws (yet), although the resolution sadly didn't change. (Any idea how to make it work? Didn't use my Widescreen resolution 1680x1050 but the next smaller 1440x900.)

 

[KnowledgeWorker]

Ok, indeed the Resolution Expander didn't help in any way, except the single player is working, yet I get freezes while playing in Battle.net! -.-

Will now install the NVIDIA beta and although I doubt it'll help from looking at the Release Notes, I'll try. Another thing we should check:

Is anyone over- or underpowered in terms of PSU?

I know I'm somewhat slightly underpowered (500W, see stats), as I wrongly calculated my energy use when building my PC. Next time I'll do better or upgrade as soon this is absolutely necessary.

 

[YottaByte]

I have a 750W PSU and am encountering the same problems... it's definitely not due to underpowering...