Delay in starting game

Guys, this is starting to get me pretty frustrated. After running the desktop shortcut for LockOn 1.1, it can take as many as 15 minutes before LockOn finally loads and I get to the main menu.

Why is that the case? Is it something to do with activation? I don't see any windows popping up. If I put my mouse in the center of the screen, the cursor DOES change to the game's hourglass cursor.

Please help me out here.. it's becoming one of those "bash your head against the desk" things. :confused:

I have seen several post like this, Post up your specs, so we can try and help out anyway we can. Also, try searching the forums, like I said, I have seen a few posts like this.

cheers

I looked through several pages and couldn't find any... but I get the feeling I saw something like this before also.

Strange that my sig didn't show... the specs are in it. Here they are in case it doesn't show for you:

P4 3.0 GHz, 1.5 GB RAM, 9800XT, CH FS/FSP/PT/PP/TQ/Yoke, Aimsworth MFDs/ICP, X-Keys 20/58, Logitech LX700 keyboard/MX1000 laser mouse, TrackIR3 Pro

Try these posts.

http://forum.lockon.ru/showpost.php?p=53997&postcount=12

http://forum.lockon.ru/showthread.php?t=7373

Running LockOn.bat isn't helping matters... the only other thing I saw in that thread was to try reinstalling (without uninstalling) and use manual activation (I used auto on this install).

Any other suggestions before I try that? I'd like to avoid a reactivation, because in the near future I'll be buying a new mobo and CPU, and probably a new video card (I'm moving towards 64bit and PCI Express).

I have the registry key backed up.

Try this thread to possibly avoid a activation use

http://www.simhq.com/simhq3/sims/boards/bbs/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=37;t=006820

When the last time you did a defragg? Mine was a little slow starting and my internet browser was a little slow after quiting the game, I defragged twice and it runs alot better.

other than that, I would reinstall.

I already tried copying the clean install back over it. Perhaps uninstall, then copy the clean on back, and then add the reg keys? I suppose Starforce would still be active.

Im really not sure, just trying to throw out everything I can for ya, its so new, its kinda trail by error.

I did a reinstall and a manual activation and it didn't help.

There seems to be some kind of conflict between drivers or any other software and Lockon.

This is really weird. What are your graphic card drivers?

Catalyst 5.2 drivers for the graphics... and I'm pretty sure I have Creative's latest drivers for the Audigy2 ZS.

do you have an antivirus program running? that can slow down loading times. What about the weather textures? Lockon 1.02 loads much faster than 1.1 but 15mins.. wow

I have Norton Systemworks and Internet Security 2005 running. Never had them interfere in a game before either. ::shrug:: I'll try disabling it.

15 minutes is generous. It's more like an hour.

Disabling autoprotect didn't help.

I also tried setting my desktop to 1024x768 before starting LockOn, but that didn't help either.

What mobo you got?

Also, plug out everything you don't need (only keyboard and mouse) and try again.

Same for running processes in the background.

I have no idea what mobo is in this computer... it's an HP that I got retail and upgraded.

I tried shutting down a lot of processes and it didn't help. I'll try unplugging USB stuff next.. after that the only thing I can think of to do is a clean Windows install.

Take a look in the Lock On/Temp/ folder for the files named Error.log and System.log.

It should have info on the last time you started the game. Post that info here and see if anyone can pick out a problem.

Also have you done a spyware/trojan sweep lately?

Use one of the online checkers in case your Norton has been compromised.

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

I have no idea what mobo is in this computer... it's an HP that I got retail and upgraded.

 

I tried shutting down a lot of processes and it didn't help. I'll try unplugging USB stuff next.. after that the only thing I can think of to do is a clean Windows install.

Hi,

The same guy having your problem solved it by...formating the pc.

Clean XP install did not work. I haven't even installed Norton yet, so I know that's not interfering.

I'm now down to 2 activations left. I sure hope someone solves this.

error log

4/10/2005 15:54 V502031740

system log

Input focus: true

DirectInput8Create()

DirectInput8->EnumDevices()

Input device found: Mouse

Instance: 9421---1--668800

ProductName: Mouse

Product: 9421---1--668800

Type: A mouse or mouse-like device (such as a trackball).

Subtype: Subtype could not be determined.

Detected: 8 buttons, 3 axes, 0 povs

DIDC_ATTACHED: The device is physically attached.

DIDC_EMULATED: If this flag is set, the data is coming from a user mode device interface, such as a Human Interface Device (HID), or by some other ring 3 means. If it is not set, the data is coming directly from a kernel mode driver.

Mouse added to list

Using mouse elements: 8 buttons, 3 axes

Input device found: Keyboard

Instance: 9421---1--668800

ProductName: Keyboard

Product: 9421---1--668800

Type: Keyboard or keyboard-like device.

Subtype: IBM PC Enhanced 101/102-key or Microsoft Natural® keyboard.

Detected: 128 buttons, 0 axes, 0 povs

DIDC_ATTACHED: The device is physically attached.

DIDC_EMULATED: If this flag is set, the data is coming from a user mode device interface, such as a Human Interface Device (HID), or by some other ring 3 means. If it is not set, the data is coming directly from a kernel mode driver.

Keyboard added to list

Input device found: Logitech Cordless USB Mouse & Enhanced Keys

Instance: ---5---1-1668800

ProductName: Logitech Cordless USB Mouse & Enhanced Keys

Product: 141-000000876876

Type: Device that does not fall into another category.

Detected: 255 buttons, 0 axes, 0 povs

DIDC_ATTACHED: The device is physically attached.

DIDC_EMULATED: If this flag is set, the data is coming from a user mode device interface, such as a Human Interface Device (HID), or by some other ring 3 means. If it is not set, the data is coming directly from a kernel mode driver.

Input device found: Logitech Cordless USB Mouse & Enhanced Keys

Instance: ---5---1-2668800

ProductName: Logitech Cordless USB Mouse & Enhanced Keys

Product: 141-000000876876

Type: Device that does not fall into another category.

Detected: 3 buttons, 0 axes, 0 povs

DIDC_ATTACHED: The device is physically attached.

DIDC_EMULATED: If this flag is set, the data is coming from a user mode device interface, such as a Human Interface Device (HID), or by some other ring 3 means. If it is not set, the data is coming directly from a kernel mode driver.

Input device found: Logitech Cordless USB Mouse & Enhanced Keys

Instance: ---5---1-3668800

ProductName: Logitech Cordless USB Mouse & Enhanced Keys

Product: 141-000000876876

Type: Device that does not fall into another category.

Detected: 0 buttons, 0 axes, 0 povs

DIDC_ATTACHED: The device is physically attached.

DIDC_EMULATED: If this flag is set, the data is coming from a user mode device interface, such as a Human Interface Device (HID), or by some other ring 3 means. If it is not set, the data is coming directly from a kernel mode driver.

Input device found: Xkeys Matrix

Instance: 354----1-6668800

ProductName: Xkeys Matrix

Product: -592000000876876

Type: Device that does not fall into another category.

Detected: 128 buttons, 0 axes, 0 povs

DIDC_ATTACHED: The device is physically attached.

DIDC_EMULATED: If this flag is set, the data is coming from a user mode device interface, such as a Human Interface Device (HID), or by some other ring 3 means. If it is not set, the data is coming directly from a kernel mode driver.

Input device found: Xkeys

Instance: 354----1-7668800

ProductName: Xkeys

Product: -5-2000000876876

Type: Device that does not fall into another category.

Detected: 88 buttons, 0 axes, 0 povs

DIDC_ATTACHED: The device is physically attached.

DIDC_EMULATED: If this flag is set, the data is coming from a user mode device interface, such as a Human Interface Device (HID), or by some other ring 3 means. If it is not set, the data is coming directly from a kernel mode driver.

Input device found: CH Control Manager Device 1

Instance: -814---1-1668800

ProductName: CH Control Manager Device 1

Product: -61-000000876876

Type: Joystick.

Subtype: Joystick that does not provide the minimum number of device objects for action mapping.

Detected: 0 buttons, 5 axes, 1 povs

DIDC_ATTACHED: The device is physically attached.

DIDC_EMULATED: If this flag is set, the data is coming from a user mode device interface, such as a Human Interface Device (HID), or by some other ring 3 means. If it is not set, the data is coming directly from a kernel mode driver.

Joystick added to list

Found joystick element: X Axis

Smoother created: X

Smoother x 0

Found joystick element: Y Axis

Smoother created: Y

Smoother y 4

Found joystick element: Z Axis

Smoother created: Z

Smoother z 8

Found joystick element: Z Rotation

Smoother created: rZ

Smoother rz 20

Found joystick element: Slider

Smoother created: S

Smoother slider 24

Found joystick element: Hat Switch

Found joystick element: Collection 0 - Joystick

GUID_Unknown detected

Using joystick elements: 0 buttons, 5 axes, 1 povs

Input device found: CH Control Manager Device 2

Instance: -814---1-1668800

ProductName: CH Control Manager Device 2

Product: -61-000000876876

Type: Joystick.

Subtype: Joystick that does not provide the minimum number of device objects for action mapping.

Detected: 0 buttons, 4 axes, 0 povs

DIDC_ATTACHED: The device is physically attached.

DIDC_EMULATED: If this flag is set, the data is coming from a user mode device interface, such as a Human Interface Device (HID), or by some other ring 3 means. If it is not set, the data is coming directly from a kernel mode driver.

Joystick added to list

Found joystick element: X Axis

Smoother created: X

Smoother x 0

Found joystick element: Y Axis

Smoother created: Y

Smoother y 4

Found joystick element: Y Rotation

Smoother created: rY

Smoother ry 16

Found joystick element: X Rotation

Smoother created: rX

Smoother rx 12

Found joystick element: Collection 0 - Joystick

GUID_Unknown detected

Using joystick elements: 0 buttons, 4 axes, 0 povs

SoundManager: Starting...

SoundManager: DirectSoundEnumerate

DXMixer Primary Sound Driver : Starting...

DXMixer Primary Sound Driver : Start succeeded

DXMixer SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [b800] : Starting...

DXMixer SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [b800] : Start succeeded

SoundManager: DirectSoundCaptureEnumerate

DXCapturer Primary Sound Capture Driver : Starting...

DXCapturer Primary Sound Capture Driver : Start succeeded

DXCapturer SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [b800] : Starting...

DXCapturer SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [b800] : Start succeeded

SoundManager: Start succeeded

Sound Card Information:

4000 Minimum sample rate specifications that are supported by this device's hardware secondary sound buffers.

192000 Maximum sample rate specifications that are supported by this device's hardware secondary sound buffers.

64 Number of buffers that can be mixed in hardware. This member can be less than the sum of dwMaxHwMixingStaticBuffers and dwMaxHwMixingStreamingBuffers. Resource tradeoffs frequently occur.

64 Maximum number of static buffers.

64 Maximum number of streaming sound buffers.

62 Number of unallocated buffers. On WDM drivers, this includes dwFreeHw3DAllBuffers.

62 Number of unallocated static buffers.

62 Number of unallocated streaming buffers.

64 Maximum number of 3-D buffers.

64 Maximum number of static 3-D buffers.

64 Maximum number of streaming 3-D buffers.

62 Number of unallocated 3-D buffers.

62 Number of unallocated static 3-D buffers.

62 Number of unallocated streaming 3-D buffers.

0 Size, in bytes, of the amount of memory on the sound card that stores static sound buffers.

0 Size, in bytes, of the free memory on the sound card.

0 Size, in bytes, of the largest contiguous block of free memory on the sound card.

RogueSqdn, please describe your hardware, in details.

network configuration (firewall, AD-filters), video, motherboard, CD\DVD devices...

Is it delays before starforce dialog or after? we need information.

System specs are in my signature. I'm behind a router, but no software firewall is running now. I have a DVD-ROM drive and a Sony Dual layer DVD burner.

As stated before.. I have no idea what mobo this is and don't know how to find out.

Starforce activation seemed to go ok. I can hear the "music" of LockOn and see it in the taskbar, but the LockOn menu is not showing.

Found a link on HP's website with my mobo details:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00022505&dlc=en&lc=en&product=374776&lang=en&cc=us&printable=yes&

This is a common problem with starforce. If you have cd/dvd burner starforce doesnt like it. I had starforce completely lock my dvd burner and could no longer play ANY of my games. Reformatting xp and throwing the game in the bin and never had a problem again. But, I dont buy starforce games for that reason either.

I don't think it's a Starforce issue, at least with activation. I HAVE made it to the LockOn main menu before... I had to wait more than an hour to do it though.

Still haven't flown yet.

EDIT: I haven't installed any of the Nero software that came with the burner.

Like i said, pull out everything you dont need for the game to load up --> unpower your dvddrive.