The Spirit Realm

I have been getting a crashing/freezin up problem for a little while.

Basically I will be turning or doing something and EQ will just freeze up, I cannot close EQ, or open up any other applications, I am simply forced to restart my computer.

Usually after a restart I will be fine and not have a crash for a good while, but once in a while I will get one like tonight, 15 min or so after getting back on.

It has usually been happening in newer zones, and I also play in windowed mode without EQ fully maximized, that way I can have browsers at easy access.

Any thoughts? currently doing a full scan as I log back in.

I had this on one of my PC's. Solved by updating the graphics driver to the latest

Have you check for over heating? When did it start? After a patch? After you move to PC to another location? Did you open the case to clean it out? If it started after a patch or an update try reinstalling directx and the video drivers. If it started after moving it or opening the case to blow out the dust I'd bet the farm it's the CPU fan has come lose.

I have this on one of my PCs, too. I replaced the video card, memory, hard drive, and CPU. Still happens. I figured it was the motherboard. Now I'm not so sure.

Interestingly, when I get the lockup I can still move the mouse and see the EQ cursor. Everything else is unresponsive.

If it's only EQ locking up you might try contacting their tech support to help.

In my case everything worked fine and then one day it just started locking up. That's why I thought it was some sort of hardware issue. Probably still is.

BIOS update on the motherboard maybe?

Its funny , I never had an issue for years and several systems, then maybe 6 months ago I started getting Bluescreens occasionally with the what is commonly the videocard error message. I also started getting C++ library errors and EQ would crash completely to desktop or just freeze up(always random as to how long Id be playing sometimes be 3 crashes in a 10 minute period sometimes Id play hours and hours before seeing one), I always got these errors only when I was playing EQ.

Well it did turn out to be a hardware/software issue, what was the culprit was I had upgraded my HDD to a SATA drive and while my MB was able to support it, it was very old bios and since I hadnt updated that since I bought(atleast 5-6 years older than the current SATA tech). The MB had very minimal support and EQ was asking the Videocard and HDD to interact so fast and the Bios drivers for the SATA were so non optimized for it that it would just lose them along the line and they would shut down and stop trying. As soon as I updated my Bios to the latest for the version and serial of my MB all my issues have completely gone away.

I'll try updating the BIOS.

As long as we're at it, here's another piece of information. At one point I decided I would just reinstall Windows. I can't. During the early stage of installation the installer copies the files from the CD to the HDD. It copies a few files then hangs. I've tried a different hard drive, numerous Windows CDs, etc. Same result.

Heh well, as the guy who started this post, so far I have installed new drivers for graphics card and havent had any crashes since, though I have only played 2 or 3 times, hope it lasts!