games crashing at launch

I just recently started having problems with my games that have been working
previously, where they all (except for a few microsoft built-in games such as
Hearts or Solitaire) seem to be crashing to desktop after trying to
initialize graphics. The behavior is once I launch the game, the screen goes
dark, and then the program exits back to the desktop.

I recently upgrade my video card drivers to 180.48 as well as the December
Microsoft fixes, but I have not made any hardware changes.

Some of the games report problems to the 'Problem Reports and Solutions' in
Windows Vista. The common problem seems to be an issue with d3d9.dll.
Sample outputs are below.

Any suggestions you can provide as to cause of my problems would be greatly
appreciated.

--------------------------


System information
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz (3600 MHz)
Operating system: Windows Vista (TM) Ultimate, 64-bit (Service Pack 1)
DirectX version: 10.0
Graphics card information
GeForce 8800 GTS
GeForce 8800 GTS
Driver version: 180.48
Stream processors: 96
Core clock: 513 MHz
Shader clock: 1188 MHz
Memory clock: 792 MHz (1584 MHz data rate)
Memory interface: 320-bit
Total available graphics memory: 2112 MB
Dedicated video memory: 320 MB
System video memory: 0 MB
Shared system memory: 1792 MB
Video BIOS version: 60.80.18.00.01
IRQ: 0
Bus: PCI Express x16





] Problem signature
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Fallout3.exe
Application Version: 1.0.0.15
Application Timestamp: 48ea1bd1
Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
Exception Code: c0000096
Exception Offset: 00017496
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: fd00
Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
Additional Information 3: fd00
Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: makehist.exe
Application Version: 2.1.0.2219
Application Timestamp: 488f6622
Fault Module Name: D3D9.DLL
Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
Exception Code: c0000096
Exception Offset: 00017496
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 5472
Additional Information 2: 1b8ce82475d37263f2e054169e2798bb
Additional Information 3: 31bf
Additional Information 4: 2117be263f7ef02c469bf5964dca9f1b

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Civ4BeyondSword.exe
Application Version: 3.1.3.1
Application Timestamp: 48317e8a
Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
Exception Code: c0000096
Exception Offset: 00017496
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 759f
Additional Information 2: f1cad72b56a2e6adc9c8ae735992dd58
Additional Information 3: 734e
Additional Information 4: 996f9e5d10a9dffbfdf4fe4d3fc78750

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Colonization.exe
Application Version: 1.0.0.0
Application Timestamp: 48908a52
Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
Exception Code: c0000096
Exception Offset: 00017496
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 425d
Additional Information 2: e8fe3a9f4ec5666baba3dce6d7c61811
Additional Information 3: 05b7
Additional Information 4: 3f5ee7a2cde9c1ae7bdf2611f46a78a8

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Tinker.exe
Application Version: 6.0.6000.16748
Application Timestamp: 48c9f435
Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
Exception Code: c0000096
Exception Offset: 00017496
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: fd00
Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
Additional Information 3: fd00
Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160

On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:53:02 -0800, stvwhite
<stvwhite@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I just recently started having problems with my games that have been working
>previously, where they all (except for a few microsoft built-in games such as
>Hearts or Solitaire) seem to be crashing to desktop after trying to
>initialize graphics. The behavior is once I launch the game, the screen goes
>dark, and then the program exits back to the desktop.
>
>I recently upgrade my video card drivers to 180.48 as well as the December
>Microsoft fixes, but I have not made any hardware changes.

Roll the driver back to the previous one.

>Some of the games report problems to the 'Problem Reports and Solutions' in
>Windows Vista. The common problem seems to be an issue with d3d9.dll.
>Sample outputs are below.
>
>Any suggestions you can provide as to cause of my problems would be greatly
>appreciated.
>
>--------------------------
>
>
>System information
>Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz (3600 MHz)
>Operating system: Windows Vista (TM) Ultimate, 64-bit (Service Pack 1)
>DirectX version: 10.0
>Graphics card information
>GeForce 8800 GTS
>GeForce 8800 GTS
>Driver version: 180.48
>Stream processors: 96
>Core clock: 513 MHz
>Shader clock: 1188 MHz
>Memory clock: 792 MHz (1584 MHz data rate)
>Memory interface: 320-bit
>Total available graphics memory: 2112 MB
>Dedicated video memory: 320 MB
>System video memory: 0 MB
>Shared system memory: 1792 MB
>Video BIOS version: 60.80.18.00.01
>IRQ: 0
>Bus: PCI Express x16
>
>
>
>
>
>] Problem signature
>Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
>Application Name: Fallout3.exe
>Application Version: 1.0.0.15
>Application Timestamp: 48ea1bd1
>Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
>Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
>Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
>Exception Code: c0000096
>Exception Offset: 00017496
>OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
>Locale ID: 1033
>Additional Information 1: fd00
>Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
>Additional Information 3: fd00
>Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
>
>Problem signature
>Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
>Application Name: makehist.exe
>Application Version: 2.1.0.2219
>Application Timestamp: 488f6622
>Fault Module Name: D3D9.DLL
>Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
>Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
>Exception Code: c0000096
>Exception Offset: 00017496
>OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
>Locale ID: 1033
>Additional Information 1: 5472
>Additional Information 2: 1b8ce82475d37263f2e054169e2798bb
>Additional Information 3: 31bf
>Additional Information 4: 2117be263f7ef02c469bf5964dca9f1b
>
>Problem signature
>Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
>Application Name: Civ4BeyondSword.exe
>Application Version: 3.1.3.1
>Application Timestamp: 48317e8a
>Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
>Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
>Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
>Exception Code: c0000096
>Exception Offset: 00017496
>OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
>Locale ID: 1033
>Additional Information 1: 759f
>Additional Information 2: f1cad72b56a2e6adc9c8ae735992dd58
>Additional Information 3: 734e
>Additional Information 4: 996f9e5d10a9dffbfdf4fe4d3fc78750
>
>Problem signature
>Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
>Application Name: Colonization.exe
>Application Version: 1.0.0.0
>Application Timestamp: 48908a52
>Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
>Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
>Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
>Exception Code: c0000096
>Exception Offset: 00017496
>OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
>Locale ID: 1033
>Additional Information 1: 425d
>Additional Information 2: e8fe3a9f4ec5666baba3dce6d7c61811
>Additional Information 3: 05b7
>Additional Information 4: 3f5ee7a2cde9c1ae7bdf2611f46a78a8
>
>Problem signature
>Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
>Application Name: Tinker.exe
>Application Version: 6.0.6000.16748
>Application Timestamp: 48c9f435
>Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
>Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
>Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
>Exception Code: c0000096
>Exception Offset: 00017496
>OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
>Locale ID: 1033
>Additional Information 1: fd00
>Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
>Additional Information 3: fd00
> Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160

stvwhite wrote:
> I just recently started having problems with my games that have been working
> previously, where they all (except for a few microsoft built-in games such as
> Hearts or Solitaire) seem to be crashing to desktop after trying to
> initialize graphics. The behavior is once I launch the game, the screen goes
> dark, and then the program exits back to the desktop.
>
> I recently upgrade my video card drivers to 180.48 as well as the December
> Microsoft fixes, but I have not made any hardware changes.
>
> Some of the games report problems to the 'Problem Reports and Solutions' in
> Windows Vista. The common problem seems to be an issue with d3d9.dll.
> Sample outputs are below.
>
> Any suggestions you can provide as to cause of my problems would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> --------------------------
>
>
> System information
> Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz (3600 MHz)
> Operating system: Windows Vista (TM) Ultimate, 64-bit (Service Pack 1)
> DirectX version: 10.0
> Graphics card information
> GeForce 8800 GTS
> GeForce 8800 GTS
> Driver version: 180.48
> Stream processors: 96
> Core clock: 513 MHz
> Shader clock: 1188 MHz
> Memory clock: 792 MHz (1584 MHz data rate)
> Memory interface: 320-bit
> Total available graphics memory: 2112 MB
> Dedicated video memory: 320 MB
> System video memory: 0 MB
> Shared system memory: 1792 MB
> Video BIOS version: 60.80.18.00.01
> IRQ: 0
> Bus: PCI Express x16
>
>
>
>
>
> ] Problem signature
> Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
> Application Name: Fallout3.exe
> Application Version: 1.0.0.15
> Application Timestamp: 48ea1bd1
> Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
> Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
> Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
> Exception Code: c0000096
> Exception Offset: 00017496
> OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
> Locale ID: 1033
> Additional Information 1: fd00
> Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
> Additional Information 3: fd00
> Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
>
> Problem signature
> Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
> Application Name: makehist.exe
> Application Version: 2.1.0.2219
> Application Timestamp: 488f6622
> Fault Module Name: D3D9.DLL
> Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
> Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
> Exception Code: c0000096
> Exception Offset: 00017496
> OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
> Locale ID: 1033
> Additional Information 1: 5472
> Additional Information 2: 1b8ce82475d37263f2e054169e2798bb
> Additional Information 3: 31bf
> Additional Information 4: 2117be263f7ef02c469bf5964dca9f1b
>
> Problem signature
> Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
> Application Name: Civ4BeyondSword.exe
> Application Version: 3.1.3.1
> Application Timestamp: 48317e8a
> Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
> Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
> Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
> Exception Code: c0000096
> Exception Offset: 00017496
> OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
> Locale ID: 1033
> Additional Information 1: 759f
> Additional Information 2: f1cad72b56a2e6adc9c8ae735992dd58
> Additional Information 3: 734e
> Additional Information 4: 996f9e5d10a9dffbfdf4fe4d3fc78750
>
> Problem signature
> Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
> Application Name: Colonization.exe
> Application Version: 1.0.0.0
> Application Timestamp: 48908a52
> Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
> Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
> Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
> Exception Code: c0000096
> Exception Offset: 00017496
> OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
> Locale ID: 1033
> Additional Information 1: 425d
> Additional Information 2: e8fe3a9f4ec5666baba3dce6d7c61811
> Additional Information 3: 05b7
> Additional Information 4: 3f5ee7a2cde9c1ae7bdf2611f46a78a8
>
> Problem signature
> Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
> Application Name: Tinker.exe
> Application Version: 6.0.6000.16748
> Application Timestamp: 48c9f435
> Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
> Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
> Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
> Exception Code: c0000096
> Exception Offset: 00017496
> OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
> Locale ID: 1033
> Additional Information 1: fd00
> Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
> Additional Information 3: fd00
> Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
>

Did you completely uninstall the previous NVIDIA Driver before
installing the new one. You may have to grab the NVIDIA Clean-up
utility if you did uninstall via Vista Uninstall.

Note the new 180.48 drivers have built in SLI and PhysX support. Run
the NVIDIA Control panel and try taking those out

The http://www.vistax64.com/#vista-forums is an excellent source of help
on all things x64 and in particular Graphics cards

Google d3d9.dll and you will find lots of references to problems with
this directX file.

Frenchy

Yes, I tried uninstalling and re-installing as well as removing both cards
independently and running them alone to rule out a hardware issue with either
of the cards.

I have also tried to roll back to a previous driver, so I am leaning to the
problem being elsewhere, such as DirectX? Is there an option to
remove/re-install DirectX in Vista?

Other suggestions?


"Kotuku" wrote:
> Did you completely uninstall the previous NVIDIA Driver before
> installing the new one. You may have to grab the NVIDIA Clean-up
> utility if you did uninstall via Vista Uninstall.
>
> Note the new 180.48 drivers have built in SLI and PhysX support. Run
> the NVIDIA Control panel and try taking those out
>
> The http://www.vistax64.com/#vista-forums is an excellent source of help
> on all things x64 and in particular Graphics cards
>
> Google d3d9.dll and you will find lots of references to problems with
> this directX file.
>
> Frenchy
>
>

I was in the process of re-installing Vista via the Upgrade option (so as not
to lose my applications), which requires me to remove Vista Service Pack 1.
However, after removing SP1, my games and applications that were not working
started working again. I have since re-installed SP1 and everything is back
to normal.

I got the idea from this website -
http://vistasupport.mvps.org/repair_..._vista_dvd.htm


"stvwhite" wrote:

> I just recently started having problems with my games that have been working
> previously, where they all (except for a few microsoft built-in games such as
> Hearts or Solitaire) seem to be crashing to desktop after trying to
> initialize graphics. The behavior is once I launch the game, the screen goes
> dark, and then the program exits back to the desktop.
>
> I recently upgrade my video card drivers to 180.48 as well as the December
> Microsoft fixes, but I have not made any hardware changes.
>
> Some of the games report problems to the 'Problem Reports and Solutions' in
> Windows Vista. The common problem seems to be an issue with d3d9.dll.
> Sample outputs are below.
>
> Any suggestions you can provide as to cause of my problems would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> --------------------------
>
>
> System information
> Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz (3600 MHz)
> Operating system: Windows Vista (TM) Ultimate, 64-bit (Service Pack 1)
> DirectX version: 10.0
> Graphics card information
> GeForce 8800 GTS
> GeForce 8800 GTS
> Driver version: 180.48
> Stream processors: 96
> Core clock: 513 MHz
> Shader clock: 1188 MHz
> Memory clock: 792 MHz (1584 MHz data rate)
> Memory interface: 320-bit
> Total available graphics memory: 2112 MB
> Dedicated video memory: 320 MB
> System video memory: 0 MB
> Shared system memory: 1792 MB
> Video BIOS version: 60.80.18.00.01
> IRQ: 0
> Bus: PCI Express x16
>
>
>
>
>
> ] Problem signature
> Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
> Application Name: Fallout3.exe
> Application Version: 1.0.0.15
> Application Timestamp: 48ea1bd1
> Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
> Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
> Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
> Exception Code: c0000096
> Exception Offset: 00017496
> OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
> Locale ID: 1033
> Additional Information 1: fd00
> Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
> Additional Information 3: fd00
> Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
>
> Problem signature
> Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
> Application Name: makehist.exe
> Application Version: 2.1.0.2219
> Application Timestamp: 488f6622
> Fault Module Name: D3D9.DLL
> Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
> Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
> Exception Code: c0000096
> Exception Offset: 00017496
> OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
> Locale ID: 1033
> Additional Information 1: 5472
> Additional Information 2: 1b8ce82475d37263f2e054169e2798bb
> Additional Information 3: 31bf
> Additional Information 4: 2117be263f7ef02c469bf5964dca9f1b
>
> Problem signature
> Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
> Application Name: Civ4BeyondSword.exe
> Application Version: 3.1.3.1
> Application Timestamp: 48317e8a
> Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
> Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
> Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
> Exception Code: c0000096
> Exception Offset: 00017496
> OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
> Locale ID: 1033
> Additional Information 1: 759f
> Additional Information 2: f1cad72b56a2e6adc9c8ae735992dd58
> Additional Information 3: 734e
> Additional Information 4: 996f9e5d10a9dffbfdf4fe4d3fc78750
>
> Problem signature
> Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
> Application Name: Colonization.exe
> Application Version: 1.0.0.0
> Application Timestamp: 48908a52
> Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
> Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
> Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
> Exception Code: c0000096
> Exception Offset: 00017496
> OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
> Locale ID: 1033
> Additional Information 1: 425d
> Additional Information 2: e8fe3a9f4ec5666baba3dce6d7c61811
> Additional Information 3: 05b7
> Additional Information 4: 3f5ee7a2cde9c1ae7bdf2611f46a78a8
>
> Problem signature
> Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
> Application Name: Tinker.exe
> Application Version: 6.0.6000.16748
> Application Timestamp: 48c9f435
> Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll
> Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
> Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a65d
> Exception Code: c0000096
> Exception Offset: 00017496
> OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
> Locale ID: 1033
> Additional Information 1: fd00
> Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
> Additional Information 3: fd00
> Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
>