Computer whiz?

[Naheal]

What's your video card looking like?

How many programs are you running?

Are you running any addons? If so, what kind of addons are you running?

Where are you running around? Wintergrasp has always given me issues (unless that was fixed in a fairly recently).

I run minimal programs, in fact before I start WoW I turned background stuff off to see if that helped.

Not running any addons anymore, as above.

I've tried running around in various places from cities to quiet old world places to see if it's made a difference, but nope

Ok, a couple more questions:

What's your video card? I was running WoW with some framerate issues on a Studio 17, and my issue was the Mobile card that they put in the thing.

How much RAM do you have? WoW's normally low impact, but that changed a bit when Wrath hit, and I'm expecting something similar to happen when Cata hits.

 

[YourlocalPCsnob]

Well here's your problem! p.e.b.k.a.c.

thumbs up to anyone who can tell me what that means.

 

[Hateren47]

When I downloaded SystemInfo it added in this thing called RegistryReviver? Is that essential to this? Because it scanned my laptop and found over a thousand errors :\ just things like missing files. The full download is like £25 though but could this be a problem?

Did you get SIW from gtopala.com? Here's the direct link http://www.gtopala.com/download/siw.exe. It should be all free for the non-commercial version. If you didn't get it from there delete it right away and run a malware scan.

To fix your registry use the registry cleaner in Ccleaner [http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner]

Edit.
Since whatever program you found, found a lot of errors in you registry I suggest you fix it with Ccleaner. Ccleaner can back up you registry before it changes anything. This is another good idea.

 

[Nanaki316]

When I downloaded SystemInfo it added in this thing called RegistryReviver? Is that essential to this? Because it scanned my laptop and found over a thousand errors :\ just things like missing files. The full download is like £25 though but could this be a problem?

Did you get SIW from gtopala.com? Here's the direct link http://www.gtopala.com/download/siw.exe. It should be all free for the non-commercial version. If you didn't get it from there delete it right away and run a malware scan.

To fix your registry use the registry cleaner in Ccleaner [http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner]

Edit.
Since whatever program you found, found a lot of errors in you registry I suggest you fix it with Ccleaner. Ccleaner can back up you registry before it changes anything. This is another good idea.

Oh the SystemInfo thing was free, that's all fine but it added in the RegistryReviver thing, I've now removed that as I don't fancy paying £25 to remove the errors in my Registry... but I've also gone on the CCleaner thing you linked and that's trying to charge me too. Did you say there was a free version?

What's your video card looking like?

How many programs are you running?

Are you running any addons? If so, what kind of addons are you running?

Where are you running around? Wintergrasp has always given me issues (unless that was fixed in a fairly recently).

I run minimal programs, in fact before I start WoW I turned background stuff off to see if that helped.

Not running any addons anymore, as above.

I've tried running around in various places from cities to quiet old world places to see if it's made a difference, but nope

Ok, a couple more questions:

What's your video card? I was running WoW with some framerate issues on a Studio 17, and my issue was the Mobile card that they put in the thing.

How much RAM do you have? WoW's normally low impact, but that changed a bit when Wrath hit, and I'm expecting something similar to happen when Cata hits.

System Info -
Intel Core i3 CPU M 330 @ 2.13GHz, 4.0GB RAM, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 545v

My point being though, the game has always run perfectly before, I just don't understand why this would have changed in like a month? I know they've changed the graphics but not this drastically since the latest big patch.

 

[Nanaki316]

Ok since a few posts back I've been on Warcraft, and it actually ran for about half an hour which is the longest it's run in a long time but now I've realised what is causing my system to destroy itself.
The half an hour WoW ran successfully (and well) was on the battery, the second I plugged in the charger it crashed dramatically and the laptop became pretty much unuseable.
By the time I plugged it in to charge it was down to about a quarter life, and the system was quite warm.

So is this a problem with the charger, the battery or the fact that when I plug it in to charge it heats the system up so much it can't handle Warcraft as well?
If that's the case I don't understand why. I can play all my other games with the charger in, and can run the system normally with it charging - why does running WoW at the same time destroy it? And why so suddenly when I've been able to play WoW for hours on the charger before?

 

[Hateren47]

Oh the SystemInfo thing was free, that's all fine but it added in the RegistryReviver thing, I've now removed that as I don't fancy paying £25 to remove the errors in my Registry... but I've also gone on the CCleaner thing you linked and that's trying to charge me too. Did you say there was a free version?

Ccleaner is free. Direct link [http://download.piriform.com/ccsetup236.exe]. Priority Support costs $25 but you don't need that. You've got me.

 

[Nanaki316]

Oh the SystemInfo thing was free, that's all fine but it added in the RegistryReviver thing, I've now removed that as I don't fancy paying £25 to remove the errors in my Registry... but I've also gone on the CCleaner thing you linked and that's trying to charge me too. Did you say there was a free version?

Ccleaner is free. Direct link [http://download.piriform.com/ccsetup236.exe]. Priority Support costs $25 but you don't need that. You've got me.

Yeah sorry I found it just after I posted back to you, was being dim and not looking properly >.<

 

[Hateren47]

Ok since a few posts back I've been on Warcraft, and it actually ran for about half an hour which is the longest it's run in a long time but now I've realised what is causing my system to destroy itself.
The half an hour WoW ran successfully (and well) was on the battery, the second I plugged in the charger it crashed dramatically and the laptop became pretty much unuseable.
By the time I plugged it in to charge it was down to about a quarter life, and the system was quite warm.

So is this a problem with the charger, the battery or the fact that when I plug it in to charge it heats the system up so much it can't handle Warcraft as well?
If that's the case I don't understand why. I can play all my other games with the charger in, and can run the system normally with it charging - why does running WoW at the same time destroy it? And why so suddenly when I've been able to play WoW for hours on the charger before?

Try setting the power setting to the same when it's plugged in as when it's on battery. Could be your powersettings that messes it up if you're lucky. If you're not it could be that you need a new powerbrick or a repair. Is it still under warranty?

Edit.
Can your computer power on with the powerbrick plugged in and the battery taken out?

 

[Nanaki316]

Ok since a few posts back I've been on Warcraft, and it actually ran for about half an hour which is the longest it's run in a long time but now I've realised what is causing my system to destroy itself.
The half an hour WoW ran successfully (and well) was on the battery, the second I plugged in the charger it crashed dramatically and the laptop became pretty much unuseable.
By the time I plugged it in to charge it was down to about a quarter life, and the system was quite warm.

So is this a problem with the charger, the battery or the fact that when I plug it in to charge it heats the system up so much it can't handle Warcraft as well?
If that's the case I don't understand why. I can play all my other games with the charger in, and can run the system normally with it charging - why does running WoW at the same time destroy it? And why so suddenly when I've been able to play WoW for hours on the charger before?

Try setting the power setting to the same when it's plugged in as when it's on battery. Could be your powersettings that messes it up if you're lucky. If you're not it could be that you need a new powerbrick or a repair. Is it still under warranty?

Edit.
Can your computer power on with the powerbrick plugged in and the battery taken out?

I'll try changing the power settings and try it again in a little bit, the system is overheated as we speak as I've been on it quite a lot this morning trying to fix it.
It should still be under warranty as I only got it in May this year and they all come with a standard year's warranty from Dell.

I don't know about the powerbrick and the battery being out, I'll get out the documentation and try it in a bit.
Thank you so much for your continued help by the way, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it x

 

[Hateren47]

I'll try changing the power settings and try it again in a little bit, the system is overheated as we speak as I've been on it quite a lot this morning trying to fix it.
It should still be under warranty as I only got it in May this year and they all come with a standard year's warranty from Dell.

I don't know about the powerbrick and the battery being out, I'll get out the documentation and try it in a bit.

Most newer laptop can run on just the powerbrick. It help conserve the battery if it's plugged in all the time.

Thank you so much for your continued help by the way, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it x

No problem. You are very welcome.

 

[TheComedown]

I could really do with a hand as I'm experiencing trouble with my laptop. I've done so many things I'm at a complete loss of what to do now so I hoped my fellow escapists would have an idea?

I got a new laptop back in May this year, it's a Dell Studio 1558.
It's run really well for ages, runs most decent games and rarely has a problem.

Basically I've gone back to World of Warcraft, only to find I can no longer play the game.
I could when I first got the laptop, ran on high graphics and had no problems at all.
Like I said I went back since the last big patch, runs really well for about 5 minutes, then it just destroys my laptop. The fps crashes completely and the game freezes so I can't even exit it properly.
On top of that, when I finally get it to exit, the entire laptop is unuseable until I reset it.

I've been on the blizzard forums, updated all my graphics drivers, defraged, disk cleanuped, error checked, I'm very computer savvy but am totally confused what I can do now.

I've gone for help on the Dell forums and have had no help whatsoever.
On top of this, I can't email Dell because when I put in my service tag it tells me it is invalid.

Most of my other games run perfectly still, it's only WoW having this problem. Can anyone enlighten me as to what's happening?
I've researched getting to my laptop fan and cleaning it out - but I only wanted this to be a last resort as I don't want to risk cocking something up.
Does it sound like a dusty fan problem? Or something else? Any idea will do.

P.S I'll save you the time now and say "Haha that will teach you for trying to play WoW."

Productive responses? Thanks guys.

I honestly don't really have much advice, the issue could be any number of things, driver conflicts, the game could not like your antvirus, you may have a virus, dodgy install etc etc, I really couldn't tell you, but i will say ignore people saying its a heat issue, while it often is the cause of many laptop issues, it certainty isn't in this case.

You say it only happens in WoW and you play other, newer games perfectly fine, now the newer games are bound to stress out your computer more then WoW would, and would cause the same if not a similar issue. People must not read these posts correctly and just jump to conclusions without checking all the facts.

My best guess is something in the update disagrees with your graphics card, being a mobile card its not uncommon for games to chuck a hissy fit at them.

 

[Nanaki316]

I could really do with a hand as I'm experiencing trouble with my laptop. I've done so many things I'm at a complete loss of what to do now so I hoped my fellow escapists would have an idea?

I got a new laptop back in May this year, it's a Dell Studio 1558.
It's run really well for ages, runs most decent games and rarely has a problem.

Basically I've gone back to World of Warcraft, only to find I can no longer play the game.
I could when I first got the laptop, ran on high graphics and had no problems at all.
Like I said I went back since the last big patch, runs really well for about 5 minutes, then it just destroys my laptop. The fps crashes completely and the game freezes so I can't even exit it properly.
On top of that, when I finally get it to exit, the entire laptop is unuseable until I reset it.

I've been on the blizzard forums, updated all my graphics drivers, defraged, disk cleanuped, error checked, I'm very computer savvy but am totally confused what I can do now.

I've gone for help on the Dell forums and have had no help whatsoever.
On top of this, I can't email Dell because when I put in my service tag it tells me it is invalid.

Most of my other games run perfectly still, it's only WoW having this problem. Can anyone enlighten me as to what's happening?
I've researched getting to my laptop fan and cleaning it out - but I only wanted this to be a last resort as I don't want to risk cocking something up.
Does it sound like a dusty fan problem? Or something else? Any idea will do.

P.S I'll save you the time now and say "Haha that will teach you for trying to play WoW."

Productive responses? Thanks guys.

I honestly don't really have much advice, the issue could be any number of things, driver conflicts, the game could not like your antvirus, you may have a virus, dodgy install etc etc, I really couldn't tell you, but i will say ignore people saying its a heat issue, while it often is the cause of many laptop issues, it certainty isn't in this case.

You say it only happens in WoW and you play other, newer games perfectly fine, now the newer games are bound to stress out your computer more then WoW would, and would cause the same if not a similar issue. People must not read these posts correctly and just jump to conclusions without checking all the facts.

My best guess is something in the update disagrees with your graphics card, being a mobile card its not uncommon for games to chuck a hissy fit at them.

Yeah when this first started happening I managed to grab a few minutes online with my guild here and there and a friend of mine said the latest driver updated to my graphics card was the issue and that I needed to rollback the driver but when I suggested this to Blizzard they told me they hadn't been told of any conflicts between the new driver and the new patch so I wasn't really sure what to believe?
Either way, someone told me how to get to the option of a driver rollback but the option was greyed out.

 

[TheComedown]

Yeah when this first started happening I managed to grab a few minutes online with my guild here and there and a friend of mine said the latest driver updated to my graphics card was the issue and that I needed to rollback the driver but when I suggested this to Blizzard they told me they hadn't been told of any conflicts between the new driver and the new patch so I wasn't really sure what to believe?
Either way, someone told me how to get to the option of a driver rollback but the option was greyed out.

You could go to the ATI website download an older driver (or newer, what version do you currently have? You have catalyst installed yes?) uninstall your current driver and install the new/old one. But again, it could be more then just a driver issue, being a mobile card it could cause issues again, but like I said before thats my best guess.

 

[Reliq]

What's your video card looking like?

How many programs are you running?

Are you running any addons? If so, what kind of addons are you running?

Where are you running around? Wintergrasp has always given me issues (unless that was fixed in a fairly recently).

I run minimal programs, in fact before I start WoW I turned background stuff off to see if that helped.

Not running any addons anymore, as above.

I've tried running around in various places from cities to quiet old world places to see if it's made a difference, but nope

HWMonitor, Real Temp, GPU-Z and MSI Afterburner are all easy 3rd party apps that give you plenty of good info like temps. I'd recommend GPU-Z for detailed GPU temp readings and Real Temp for CPU readings, but HWMonitor will show all the readings in one place if it can pick up the sensors. So, yeah, HWMonitor might be the simplest one. The other ones are more for overclockers.

System Info for Windows reads all you sensors all on the same page as Current, Highest(the important one here) and Lowest that's why I recommended it instead of getting 2 or 3 apps to do the same thing.

When I downloaded SystemInfo it added in this thing called RegistryReviver? Is that essential to this? Because it scanned my laptop and found over a thousand errors :\ just things like missing files. The full download is like £25 though but could this be a problem?

Registry reviver is basically the same thing as ccleaner, which if free.

 

[Continuity]

Ok since a few posts back I've been on Warcraft, and it actually ran for about half an hour which is the longest it's run in a long time but now I've realised what is causing my system to destroy itself.
The half an hour WoW ran successfully (and well) was on the battery, the second I plugged in the charger it crashed dramatically and the laptop became pretty much unuseable.
By the time I plugged it in to charge it was down to about a quarter life, and the system was quite warm.

So is this a problem with the charger, the battery or the fact that when I plug it in to charge it heats the system up so much it can't handle Warcraft as well?
If that's the case I don't understand why. I can play all my other games with the charger in, and can run the system normally with it charging - why does running WoW at the same time destroy it? And why so suddenly when I've been able to play WoW for hours on the charger before?

You know this is a fairly common problem with laptops, first when you run on battery the fans are less aggressive so your system will heat up much more, that alone can be the cause of many problems. But also there is a windows issue with changing power states when you plug the laptop in, I cant remember the exact cause but it reinitialises the graphics driver or something like that which when running certain games can cause a hard crash.

Moral of the story is always game with the power cord in.

Edit: Second moral of the story is this: even "gaming" laptops are not ideal for gaming with, desktop > laptop by a factor of about 100. but then I'm old school.

 

[tharglet]

If it is overheating, you can give one of those laptop trays with the fans in a go.
Worked for my hubby's laptop when he used to play WoW - could only do it when it was sat on the tray lol.
Also make sure any vents are cleaned out. Dust is a menace. You may need to take the bottom off your laptop to get in there and blow the dust out tho. (Again, my hubby's laptop started crashing a lot because of dust at one point)

If the graphics changes have been applied to live (I'm only on beta so can't see for myself), then it will definitely be a more intense experience for your laptop than of a couple of weeks ago.

 

[LimitedPunctuation]

Well here's your problem! p.e.b.k.a.c.

thumbs up to anyone who can tell me what that means.

Problem exists between keyboard and chair

 

[Continuity]

Well here's your problem! p.e.b.k.a.c.

thumbs up to anyone who can tell me what that means.

Problem exists between keyboard and chair

Ehck, I'm a system admin... I can tell you 90% of calls from users can be resolved to this. Last week I had someone raise a call complaining that a web application wouldn't work in offline mode on their laptop. *sigh*

 

[Nanaki316]

Thanks for the continued replies, I've adjusted the power settings so they're identical whether running on battery or on charge, will test it out on WoW later.

The good news is, I posted in the Dell forums about a week ago and a tech guy has finally found me and responded. So if there's a problem with the machine I should at least be able to sort it eventually.

 

[Nanaki316]

Well here's your problem! p.e.b.k.a.c.

thumbs up to anyone who can tell me what that means.

Problem exists between keyboard and chair

Ehck, I'm a system admin... I can tell you 90% of calls from users can be resolved to this. Last week I had someone raise a call complaining that a web application wouldn't work in offline mode on their laptop. *sigh*

Yeah well thanks for the replies, they're dead helpful (!) but I'm not thick.