Help! Freezing at loading screen

Hi! I installed CoH, and when I start it up, it freezes at the loading screen, then ends up 'not responding' and has to be shut down--it even does this in safe mode. I can't even get into the game to begin with, to report the bug in game. I searched the forums for any advice, but the one hint I got was troubleshooting for Windows 7. I have XP. Can anyone help me?

Please keep in mind I'm not very computer savvy; I'll need things spelled out for me.

Thanks a bunch!

~Leena
itchin' to play...

One thing that's known to cause this problem is it you have WindowBlinds or some other Windows skinning program running. If you do, disabling it for CoH should solve the problem. If you aren't running anything like that, get CoH Helper here:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~dasloth/CoH/CoHHelper.html

run it, and post the results. A HiJack This! log would also be helpful.

---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.1.1.8---

DxDiag gathered at January 30, 2010 14:14 (-06:00)
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
System Manufacturer: Sony Corporation
System Model: PCV-RX470DS(UC)
BIOS: Award Medallion BIOS v6.0
Central Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1500MHz
Memory: 512MB
.Net Memory Report: 176MB out of 511MB available
Page File: 778MB (470MB currently in use)
C Drive: (QUANTUM FIREBALLP AS60.0) 17301MB out of 57247MB (30%) free
E Drive: (PIONEER DVD-ROM DVD-116R) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DirectX Diag version: 5.03.2600.2180 (32-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor's Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Video Device Name: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500
Manufacturer / Chip: NVIDIA / GeForce FX 5500
Video Memory: 256.0 MB
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9371
Driver Date: 10/22/2006 12:22:00 PM
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Driver File: smwdm.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3030
Driver Date: 7/25/2001 2:40:30 PM


WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: WMT-LE
Motherboard Version: REV 1.xx
BIOS Manufacturer: Award Software, Inc.
BIOS Name: Award Medallion BIOS v6.0
BIOS Version: ASUS - 30303031
BIOS Release: 20010425000000.000000+000

Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1024x768
3D Resolution: 1024x768 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: Yes
Maximized: No
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: Yes

Physics Quality: Medium
Maximum Particles: 50000
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No

Anti-aliasing: None
Anisotropic Filtering: 4x
Texture LOD Bias: Smooth
Water Effects: High Quality
Bloom: 1.000 (turned on)
Depth of Field Enabled: Yes
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: Yes
Shader Detail: Unknown (3)

World Texture Level: Medium
Character Texture Level: Very High
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 1.000
Entity Detail Level: 1.000
Shadows Enabled: Yes
Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: Yes
Suppression of Extra Player FX Enabled: No
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: No
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes

Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 1.000
Music Sound Volume: 0.600

Show Advanced Graphics Options: No
Overall Graphics Quality: 0.600
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: 185576 bytes/second
Current Game Version: 1600.20091102.9T4
Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\City of Heroes

Mod files in the Data directory
No modifications found


aaaaand, this is from Hijack This:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.3 (BETA)
Scan saved at 2:27:21 PM, on 1/30/2010
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgwdsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LVMVFM\LVPrcSrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lxdncoms.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\SeaPort\SeaPort.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgrsx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgnsx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Pen_Tablet.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgemc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\WTablet\Pen_TabletUser.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Pen_Tablet.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgcsrvx.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Google Talk\googletalk.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\Logitech WebCam Software\LWS.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logishrd\LQCVFX\COCIManager.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\msiexec.exe
C:\Program Files\TrendMicro\HiJackThis\HiJackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://us.rd.yahoo.com/customize/ie/...ch/search.html
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://us.rd.yahoo.com/customize/ie/.../www.yahoo.com
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.yahoo.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://us.rd.yahoo.com/customize/ie/.../www.yahoo.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://us.rd.yahoo.com/customize/ie/...ch/search.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://us.rd.yahoo.com/customize/ie/.../www.yahoo.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://us.rd.yahoo.com/customize/ie/.../www.yahoo.com
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgssie.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Search Helper - {6EBF7485-159F-4bff-A14F-B9E3AAC4465B} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\Search Helper\SearchHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Toolbar Helper - {E15A8DC0-8516-42A1-81EA-DC94EC1ACF10} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Toolbar\wltcore.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Windows Live Toolbar - {21FA44EF-376D-4D53-9B0F-8A89D3229068} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Toolbar\wltcore.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [googletalk] C:\Program Files\Google\Google Talk\googletalk.exe /autostart
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O9 - Extra button: Blog This - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &Blog This in Windows Live Writer - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra button: Run IMVU - {d9288080-1baa-4bc4-9cf8-a92d743db949} - C:\Documents and Settings\jenny\Start Menu\Programs\IMVU\Run IMVU.lnk
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {1663B0BC-2CCE-4227-99BB-6E8B34FAC9E4} (COPPDetector Control) - https://drm.bittorrent.com/toaster/a...PPDetector.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu...?1167328446615
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgpp.dll
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O20 - Winlogon Notify: avgrsstarter - avgrsstx.dll (file missing)
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: AVG Free8 E-mail Scanner (avg8emc) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG Free8 WatchDog (avg8wd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: Process Monitor (LVPrcSrv) - Logitech Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LVMVFM\LVPrcSrv.exe
O23 - Service: lxdnCATSCustConnectService - Lexmark International, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\\lxdnse rv.exe
O23 - Service: lxdn_device - - C:\WINDOWS\system32\lxdncoms.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: TabletServicePen - Wacom Technology, Corp. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Pen_Tablet.exe

--
End of file - 6867 bytes

Update your video drivers here as they are about 3 1/2 years out of date.

Did you use a driver cleaner program to clean out your old drivers before installing the new ones and install the new ones in safe mode?

Also, though I'm definitely not an expert, I ran your HiJack This! log through a parser and it red flagged some items:

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB} - (no file)

and

O20 - Winlogon Notify: avgrsstarter - avgrsstx.dll (file missing)
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\browseui.dll

Unless you know what these files are and definitely want to keep them, you should considering using HiJack This to get rid of them.

I also have personal, very negative experience with IMVU, and IMO anything that fights that hard *not* to be deleted can't be good for your computer. I'd get rid of that unless it's something you use frequently.

Good luck!

For an FX 5500 you need to go way back to this driver according to NVidia.

If the 175.19s don't work you may want to go back a little further.
XP is up to SP3 now so you might want to do some Windows Updating.

Odd. I went to the nVidia site and selected your video card and OS and that was what it came up with. Not sure why it gave you that message.

Although, when I run through it now, it gives me the same link that Eislor has in his post. Very odd.

EDIT: And if you like the avatar, you should try the arc that stars most of them. A Day with the South Texas Knights. Arc ID 42969.

I downloaded the old drivers and got the game to run... after eons of sitting at the load screen. I'm glad I get to play, at least! I'm having a severe lag issue in Atlas Park, and every load screen I get takes forever... oy, a whole new bag to deal with.

Also; I've tried getting rid of IMVU... annoying POS--it keeps freezing in the middle of the uninstall.

Oh well. I shall try, try again!

The slow loading is almost certainly due to memory--or lack thereof. If I read the CoH Helper correctly, you have just 512 MB of system memory, which is the absolute bare minimum that CoH will run on.

Unless your computer requires some old and odd type of memory, it should be dead cheap (around $50) to get a couple of 1 GB sticks of RAM, which will improve your loading times immensely. More RAM is a good investment in general, too, since everything will load faster, not just CoH.

Try going to Crucial.com and either input your computer information or download the system scanner. Either way, it will tell you what kind of RAM is compatible with your computer and what your options are for upgrading. You can buy directly from Crucial, but you can also take the info it gives you and buy the memory elsewhere--Newegg.com has a very good rep as an online reseller.

Just looked up your model number for myself, and found out that 512 MB is the max amount of memory for that model. Sorry to steer you in the wrong direction, it's been a while since I've seen a computer that has such a low RAM capacity.

If a new computer is out of the question, about all you can do to improve loading times is to minimize the number of other programs you have running when playing CoH.

For in-game lag, you'll also want to minimize the graphics load. I'd start at safe mode and work your way up through the graphics settings to find the best-looking settings with at least tolerable frame rates.

I bet it's the tablet problem. Not sure what to do about it, I never had a tablet but I remember a problem with tablet drivers and this game.

I just wanted to thank ya'll for helping troubleshoot my issue. The PC I have now is a hand-me-down from an ex. I've never had a nice or new computer lol... hopefully that will be fixed sometime later this year. I've found I can run the game in safe mode ok... there is still an incredibly long load-up time and some lag in densely populated areas, but it's not un-playably bad.

I'm playing on a trial right now, but look forward to playing on a proper paid account next paycheck (after the 15th of this month, weee). I'm playin' Miss Meeka on Virtue if any cares/is curious/bored.

Again, I can't thank ya'll enough for your help. I would've gotten so frustrated and discouraged that I would've given up without the assistance. I'm a happy CoH'in camper now.

hey, i have the same problem, the game freezes on the loading screen, ive already updated my drivers, so i dont think that would be the problem.