Messages from the Sky
By
Father Xmas,
Posted on: 2012-01-25 12:25 in ALL ACCESS Gameplay Technical Issues Bugs
Temps would be the first thing i'd suspect, but it looks like you have been monitoring them. Next would be drivers, but any nVidia driver in the last couple of years doesn't seem to give me an issue. But this is a laptop, to which I've had very little experience with, my laptop is a couple of years old and basically runs CoH at safe mode specs with the resolution set to match the display. Same with my netbook.
Combat Kangaroos, Justice Server. First 50's
Jirra Roo Plant/Storm/Stone/Musculature Controller
Combat Kangaroo Rifle/Energy/Mace/Spiritual Blaster
Kung Fu Kangaroo Martial Arts/Reflexes/Body/Spiritual Scrapper
Tribal Arc Shield/Elec/Mu/Spiritual Tanker
That's what I was afraid of. Kinda sucks to have a laptop that costs a grand that can't leave Minimum settings. 
Well, it was three years ago, but all the same.
The weird thing is that other games run on higher settings: Star Trek Online, Portal 2, and Mirror's Edge all have no problems, glitching or errors. Framerate chugs at full power, naturally, but otherwise it's fine. City of Heroes is the only game that does this.
Honestly I have no idea where some people get these ideas from.
That, the Asus G72Gx, is a reasonably nice gaming laptop and the Geforce GTX 260M is still a very powerful GPU for laptops.
But heat build up can be an issue, so can outdated or broken/damaged video drivers.
We really need to see a CoHHelper output which will show hardware, drivers and game settings, and a Hijack This report which shows what's running beside the OS to get a more complete picture of your system. See the sticky post at the top of the board called "[Guide] Asking for technical help on the forum", it'll explain what to do.
Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
$725 and $1350 parts lists --- My guide to computer components
Tempus unum hominem manet
Thanks, Father Xmas, I remember long ago when I could post DXDiag directly. Despite playing since 2007, I never used CoHHelper... but I started out with a GeForce 6200, so there really was no need to troubleshoot anything (low end cards may not rock, but they rarely break as severely as the high end ones seem to do). Here you go:
===========
CoH Helper Log
===========
---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.2.0.2---
DxDiag gathered at January 28, 2012 10:27 (-08:00)
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.110622-1506)
System Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
System Model: G72GX
BIOS: BIOS Date: 12/22/09 14:37:04 Ver: 08.00.14
Central Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU P8700 @ 2.53GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.5GHz
Memory: 6144MB
.Net Memory Report: 4466MB out of 6143MB available
Page File: 10394MB (1889MB currently in use)
C Drive: (ST9500325AS) 122841MB out of 238469MB (51%) free
D Drive: (ST9500325AS) 223326MB out of 223469MB (99%) free
E Drive: (HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GT30N) zero-size drive
F Drive: (ELBY CLONEDRIVE SCSI CdRom Device) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\Windows
DirectX: DirectX 11
DirectX Diag version: 6.01.7601.17514 (64-bit version)
Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.
No problems found.
No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.
Monitor:
Monitor's Max Resolution: (blank)
Video Device Name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M
Manufacturer / Chip: NVIDIA / GeForce GTX 260M
Video Memory: 3817 MB
Driver Version: 8.17.12.8562
Driver Date: 10/15/2011 12:53:00 AM
Driver Language: English
Sound Device Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5924
Driver Date: 8/25/2009 3:28:07 AM
Sound Device Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5924
Driver Date: 8/25/2009 3:28:07 AM
Sound Device Description: Realtek HDMI Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5924
Driver Date: 8/25/2009 3:28:07 AM
WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: G72GX
Motherboard Version: 1.00
BIOS Manufacturer: American Megatrends Inc.
BIOS Name: BIOS Date: 12/22/09 14:37:04 Ver: 08.00.14
BIOS Version: _ASUS_ - 12000922
BIOS Release: 20091222000000.000000+000
Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1600x900
3D Resolution: 1600x900 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: Yes
Maximized: No
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: Yes
Physics Quality: None
Maximum Particles: 50000
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No
Anti-aliasing: Off
Anisotropic Filtering: 4x
Texture LOD Bias: Smooth
Water Effects: None
Bloom: 1.000 (turned off)
Depth of Field Enabled: No
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: Yes
Shader Detail: Unknown (5)
World Texture Level: High
Character Texture Level: High
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 0.800
Entity Detail Level: 1.000
Shadows Enabled: No
Shadow Mode: Disabled
Shadow Map Shader: Unknown (0)
Environmental Reflections: Disabled
Advanced Occlusion Settings: No
Ambient Occlusion: Off
Occlusion Strength: Off
Blur: Bilateral
Ambient Resolution: Performance
Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: Yes
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: Yes
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes
Audio Mode: Compatiblity
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 0.000
Music Sound Volume: 0.000
Show Advanced Graphics Options: Yes
Overall Graphics Quality: 0.250
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: Unknown bytes/second
Current Game Version: 2060.201107262317.0.0
Installation Directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\NCsoft\City of Heroes
Mod files in the Data directory
.\texture_library\MAPS\city has 1 file
.\texture_library\MAPS\Midnight_Squad has 1 file
.\texture_library\MAPS\Safeguard has 9 files
.\texture_library\MAPS\sewers has 44 files
.\texture_library\MAPS\static has 38 files
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\City has 1 file
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\Outdoor_Missions has 9 files
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\Static has 16 files
===========
I partitioned my HDD in case I feel like noodling around with Linux. Not a fan of WUBI/SquashFS installations on Windows, plus if I have to nuke it, it doesn't affect Windows 7, just reinstall Win 7 Boot Loader from the DVD, and I'm back in business. Right now, it's blank.
It shows sound drivers as being out-of-date, but I play City of Heroes on mute all of the time due to Ventrilo. Glowie hunting sucks, but I have other teammates who have OCD, so it works out. I could care less about in-game Audio unless it's known to cause issues with the Graphics for some weird reason.
===========
HijackThis Log
===========
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 10:30:34 AM, on 1/28/2012
Platform: Windows 7 SP1 (WinNT 6.00.3505)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v9.00 (9.00.8112.16421)
Boot mode: Normal
Running processes:
C:\Users\Micah Collard\AppData\Roaming\SanDisk\Sansa Updater\SansaDispatch.exe
C:\ExpressGateUtil\VAWinAgent.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Real\RealPlayer\Update\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ASUS Data Security Manager\ADSMTray.exe
C:\Windows\AsScrPro.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\Power2Go\CLMLSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\ASUS\Turbo Gear\TurboGear.exe
C:\Program Files\ASUS\Turbo Gear\GearHelp.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Users\Micah Collard\Downloads\HijackThis.exe
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://asus.msn.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://asus.msn.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\Windows\SysWOW64\blank.htm
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=userinit.exe
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: RealPlayer Download and Record Plugin for Internet Explorer - {3049C3E9-B461-4BC5-8870-4C09146192CA} - C:\ProgramData\Real\RealPlayer\BrowserRecordPlugin \IE\rpbrowserrecordplugin.dll
O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\GROOVEEX.DLL
O2 - BHO: URLRedirectionBHO - {B4F3A835-0E21-4959-BA22-42B3008E02FF} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\URLREDIR.DLL
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BCSSync] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\BCSSync.exe" /DelayServices
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VAWinAgent] C:\ExpressGateUtil\VAWinAgent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Real\RealPlayer\Update\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe ARM] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SansaDispatch] C:\Users\Micah Collard\AppData\Roaming\SanDisk\Sansa Updater\SansaDispatch.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Se&nd to OneNote - res://C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\ONBttnIE.dll/105
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Se&nd to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: OneNote Lin&ked Notes - {789FE86F-6FC4-46A1-9849-EDE0DB0C95CA} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\ONBttnIELinkedNotes.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: OneNote Lin&ked Notes - {789FE86F-6FC4-46A1-9849-EDE0DB0C95CA} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\ONBttnIELinkedNotes.dll
O11 - Options group: [ACCELERATED_GRAPHICS] Accelerated graphics
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.cinemanow.com
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{F2D69A67-15BB-4785-B519-80FD8F85590B}: NameServer = 216.146.35.35,216.146.36.36
O18 - Filter hijack: text/xml - {807573E5-5146-11D5-A672-00B0D022E945} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\OFFICE14\MSOXMLMF.DLL
O23 - Service: Adobe Acrobat Update Service (AdobeARMservice) - Adobe Systems Incorporated - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\armsvc.exe
O23 - Service: ADSM Service (ADSMService) - ASUSTek Computer Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ASUS Data Security Manager\ADSMSrv.exe
O23 - Service: AFBAgent - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\FBAgent.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: ASLDR Service (ASLDRService) - ASUS - C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ATK Hotkey\ASLDRSrv.exe
O23 - Service: ATKGFNEX Service (ATKGFNEXSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\ATKGFNEX\GFNEXSrv.exe
O23 - Service: Creative ALchemy AL6 Licensing Service - Creative Labs - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Creative Labs Shared\Service\AL6Licensing.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Audio Engine Licensing Service - Creative Labs - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Creative Labs Shared\Service\CTAELicensing.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\efssvc.dll,-100 (EFS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\fxsresm.dll,-118 (Fax) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\fxssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Palm Novacom (NovacomD) - Palm - C:\Program Files\Palm, Inc\novacomd\amd64\novacomd.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (nvsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\nvvsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Update Service Daemon (nvUpdatusService) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\NVIDIA Updatus\daemonu.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\sppsvc.exe,-101 (sppsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\sppsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D Driver Service (Stereo Service) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\3D Vision\nvSCPAPISvr.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vaultsvc.dll,-1003 (VaultSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: VideAceWindowsService - Unknown owner - C:\ExpressGateUtil\VAWinService.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Wat\WatUX.exe,-601 (WatAdminSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\Wat\WatAdminSvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\wbengine.exe,-104 (wbengine) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbengine.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: WB VGA Service (WBVGAservice) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\Turbo Gear Enhanced VGA Driver\WBVGAservice.exe
O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing)
--
End of file - 8572 bytes
==========
Didn't know I "trusted" cinemanow.com. Freakin' Best Buy and their bloatware crap.
========
HOSTS File
========
For some reason, HijackThis couldn't edit/load this file, but when I opened it, it just has loopback IP4/IP6 addresses, but everything's commented out. For some reason if that's important, here it is.
# Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
# 127.0.0.1 localhost
# ::1 localhost
====================
Anything to upgrade, kill, or change, let me know.
Soft bump, still watching. No replies in a week, I understand.
Howdy. First I've seen this. Dunno how I missed it.
I would turn off Turbo Gear, completely. I mean, uninstall it. You can download it again, I just went to the Asus page and saw that.
I would also go through a session with MSCONFIG and turn off anything I didn't need.
With the software outta the way, turnin' to the drivers...
Current Nvidia drivers for your video is the 285.62WHQL drivers from them directly, so you're current there... HOWEVER, being a laptop, sometimes the manufacturers MUST be used.
From Asus, they're showing the September 7, 2009 update... quite a while back, but I might, MIGHT, try those.
And back to software, have you verified the files? Perhaps there's a bad texture somewhere.
Temps, as have been mentioned, could be the case here... but it looks like maybe everything else is right... maybe it's video memory... but I'd think there'd be other issues too.
All the time, or just at night?
Other than that... I dunno. Seems like, excepting a kitchen sink of stuff running, everything is in order to me...
August 31, 2012. A Day that will Live in Infamy. Or Information. Possibly Influence. Well, Inf, anyway. Thank you, Paragon Studios, for what you did, and the enjoyment and camaraderie you brought.
This is houtex, aka Mike, signing off the forums. G'night all. - 10/26/2012
Well... perhaps I was premature about that whole 'signing off' thing... - 11-9-2012
WTF? I thought Turbo Gear was the Power Management program. What's a VGA Driver doing there? Never looked into this the last three years I've had this machine. Good tip, thanks!
Cranked open MSCONFIG, hid MS Services and deselected everything. Processes, anything from ASUS I've disabled, left the rest alone.
While that's made my frame rate much more stable, the "rogue texture" still appears. You're right, it IS only at night when it appears (daylight may be simply covering it?) I don't believe it's the client doing this: it passes verification (both after a patch, and when I trigger it by right-clicking COH on the NCLauncher), and I've had this problem when I had to reinstall Windows throughout the years. (Did it the first time I installed on purchase, did it just today three reinstallations of Windows 7 later... as I said, I dabble in other OSes, and sometimes they eat the MBR when they go.)
Alas, it still happens. On Performance settings:
I'll try removing the NVidia driver, flushing with Driver Sweeper and reinstalling, I'll report back.
Otherwise, I'm out of ideas... I DO live in a desert. Maybe it got too hot one summer day and I had no idea.
[QR]Driver Sweeper swept, no files left. Reinstalled Verde, reboot, and still doing it. FML, off to bed. I'll cry about it tomorrow.
Sept. 2009 driver at the top of the list. For now, sleep.
So far so good...
And for nightfall, it's fixed for the most part.
So much for using NVidia drivers. Hope the old ASUS driver doesn't break my other games. Thanks guys! 
Yeah, I was 'fraid of that, but hey, if it works, then old Asus drivers it is!
Glad it's workin' for ya!
August 31, 2012. A Day that will Live in Infamy. Or Information. Possibly Influence. Well, Inf, anyway. Thank you, Paragon Studios, for what you did, and the enjoyment and camaraderie you brought.
This is houtex, aka Mike, signing off the forums. G'night all. - 10/26/2012
Well... perhaps I was premature about that whole 'signing off' thing... - 11-9-2012
Well, if it's a message I can't read it.
I'm having problems, and when I asked on NVidia.com, I got no reply whatsoever. My sky is broken. (Another song title, but who listens to Moby anymore?)
Is there something I can set to make this stop? Any setting I make over Minimum eventually does this. My computer has BSOD'ed on Bloom settings on CoH, so I shut it off. It's not that. I was offline for a while, and this never happened with Issue 16 and prior. Haven't touched Ultra Mode until now, and this happens almost instantly when I do.
PC Specs: Core 2 Duo, 6GB RAM, NVidia GeForce GTX260M 1GB, Windows 7 64-bit. ASUS G72Gx Laptop. I do use a cooling pad, it does get understandably warm during play, but I've never overheated it as far as I know... I do keep an eye on the temps. Running at stock speeds, overclocking a laptop just seems nuts when living in a desert. Normally I'd post DXDiag, but apparently I can't attach or post it here without the forum refusing to post it, so I can share bits/pieces on demand if needed.
I'm no expert on Computers... well, that isn't completely true, I'm good with Operating System stuff... If it helps to explain, I can slipstream Service Pack 3 into an old Windows XP ISO with my eyes closed if that makes any sense. Just don't ask me to open up PowerShell or a Hex Editor. I've been gone for a while...
Any ideas?