Topic: MSS32.dll crash.... need help (Read 8159 times)

FPF-Myriad · « **on:** March 05, 2006, 04:34:21 pm »

Tried to get help from DieHard, but he's stumped too....

I rebuilt my computer last summer and finally got around to installing OP on it. Unforunately the game crashes before it gets to the main menu right after the splash screen. The crash is associated with the mss32.dll, which is the sound library API the game uses. If anyone has any input, that would be helpful.

Here's my system configuration:

Chaintech S1689 ALi M1689 chipset
Realtek AC'97 Sound, driver version 5.10.0.5870
Asus GeForce 4 Ti4200 8X, nVidia driver 5.3.0.3
Athlon64 1.8 GHz
Windows XP
DirectX 9.0c

The first time it crashed, the game generated this error report:

Unhandled Exception!
tMissionSpec::copyData
tMissionSpec::operator =
tScriptLoader::mLoadScript
tScripting::mLoadMission
tMissionPicker::mUpdateMissionList
tMissionPicker::mLoadMissionList
tState_Namespace_Startup::tState_Startup::mLeave
tGameStateMgr::EndState
tGameStateMgr::mSetGameState
tGameStateMgr::mGoToNextGameState
tGameStateMgr::mGoToNextGameState
tGameState::mGoToNextGameState
tState_Namespace_Startup::tState_Startup::mWorkIt
tGameStateMgr::mWorkIt
tGameStateMgr::mWorkIt
tSfcApp3d::mPreRender3D
tApp3dBase::mFrameRender
tSfcApp3d::mHeartbeat
tMyApp::mHeartbeat
~

This is the first time I've run into this error with the game, so any input would be helpful, thanks!

Bonk · « **Reply #1 on:** March 05, 2006, 06:17:56 pm »

1) Have you patched to 2.5.5.2?
2) Have you installed OP+4?
3) Where the heck did you get that error output? (I'm intrigued)

FPF-Myriad · « **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2006, 06:48:58 pm »

The error occurs before -and- after the patch is installed.

OP Plus is -not- installed.

The error report was generated by error report.exe in the game directory, and outputs to UnhandledException.log

I decided to install EAW to see if I get the same error, but it runs fine.

Bonk · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2006, 08:47:19 pm »

Have you edited the shortcut to the game to point to StarfleetOP.exe and corrected the "Start in" parameter? (OP+4 does this automatically if all options are selected) - And use the corrected start menu shortcut to start the game...

Also disable any compatibility modes on the shortcut.

Strangely, I have never seen ErrorReport.exe come up, in fact this is the first time I have even noticed its presence.

If the error persists you could try reducing the hardware acceleration of the sound device under control panel... volume tab... speaker settings frame... advanced button... performance tab... hardware acceleration slider.

FPF-Myriad · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2006, 07:24:02 am »

Well I gave that a shot.... no go. $:-\$

Bonk · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2006, 11:05:55 am »

Quote from: FPF-Myriad on March 06, 2006, 07:24:02 am

Well I gave that a shot.... no go. $:-\$

Which? The shortcut or the audio acceleration?

Have you tried updating your sound or mainboard drivers?
http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/Download/
An audio driver for the S1689 is listed here:
http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/Download/dl_desc.asp?DCSNo=15&PISNo=319
I'd try using it.

Have you got a bunch of stuff running in the system tray? (like quicktime or realaudio crap?) Shutdown all unnecessary apps and disable any anti-virus software.

Have you got the board or cpu overclocked?

FPF-Myriad · « **Reply #6 on:** March 07, 2006, 07:12:03 am »

Both. I updated the drivers after OP was giving me trouble.... didn't make much difference.
As far as I know, my cpu isn't overclocked.

Disabled Norton A/V. No change.

Bonk · « **Reply #7 on:** March 07, 2006, 08:29:03 am »

Try a start..run.."dxdiag"

Is the sound driver "WHQL Logo'd"? Does it pass the DirectSound tests?

FPF-Myriad · « **Reply #8 on:** March 07, 2006, 09:03:21 am »

Ran all the tests with no problems.... the drivers are WHQL....
I'm beginning to wonder if the mss32.dll file is corrupt?

Bonk · « **Reply #9 on:** March 07, 2006, 09:53:08 am »

Quote from: FPF-Myriad on March 07, 2006, 09:03:21 am

I'm beginning to wonder if the mss32.dll file is corrupt?

Could be, or the version is incompatible with your system somehow... Have you installed Pestalence's Orion Pirates Stability Updater?

If not, back up all the files in the root of your OP install folder somewhere and give it a try...

FPF-Myriad · « **Reply #10 on:** March 07, 2006, 10:19:21 am »

Hate to say it, but that didn't work either.... $:-\$

Bonk · « **Reply #11 on:** March 07, 2006, 10:50:02 am »

You could try the latest version of the dll from:

http://www.radgametools.com/down/MilesSndSys/MilesT32.exe

But since EAW is not crashing on the older version of the mss32.dll I'm beginning to suspect that your sounds files may be corrupted.

What are the properties on the files in \Assets\Sound in your OP install? Have you tried reinstalling from the CD yet? (if you do, uninstall and delete the folder first)

FPF-Myriad · « **Reply #12 on:** March 07, 2006, 12:34:38 pm »

I reinstalled the game (again), and I had the same result.... another unhandled exception.

Bonk · « **Reply #13 on:** March 07, 2006, 02:22:13 pm »

What are the properties on the files in \Assets\Sound in your OP install?

FRA.E.Kehakoul_XC · « **Reply #14 on:** March 07, 2006, 02:38:06 pm »

I assume the raltek driver is for a onboard sound chip?
IF that is the case , I = me personaly , would disable it and install a real soundcard.

FPF-Myriad · « **Reply #15 on:** March 07, 2006, 03:19:32 pm »

If it comes to that, I will install my SB Live from my old computer; but other than this problem, the Realtek is better in some ways.... I can listen to mp3's without any quantizing noise or distorting graphic eq's.

As far as the sound properties go, it's not default because I replaced some of the sound files with custom ones. But even before I did that, it was crashing before I did that.

Bonk · « **Reply #16 on:** March 07, 2006, 08:16:48 pm »

Quote from: FPF-Myriad on March 07, 2006, 03:19:32 pm

If it comes to that, I will install my SB Live from my old computer; but other than this problem, the Realtek is better in some ways.... I can listen to mp3's without any quantizing noise or distorting graphic eq's.

As far as the sound properties go, it's not default because I replaced some of the sound files with custom ones. But even before I did that, it was crashing before I did that.

Since EAW is running fine using the same hardware and Miles dll, we can eliminate hardware as the issue. (pretty sure anyway).

I assume you left your your stock sound files intact after your last reinstall (?) so we can assume that they are not at fault.

On a hunch... try using your EAW sfcmusic.zip in your OP install...

FPF-Myriad · « **Reply #17 on:** March 07, 2006, 10:05:15 pm »

Nope.... no go... sorry....

Bonk · « **Reply #18 on:** March 09, 2006, 06:10:58 am »

Boy... that is tough one... I'm just about out of ideas.

I searched the forums (shoulda done that earlier....

):

http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163256394.0.html
(Try completely disabling Norton when installing OP... frickin Norton.... grrrr, its pure evil, it is the worst virus there is...)

Other search hits:
http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163345565.msg1122430791.html#msg1122430791
http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163159694.msg1122130291.html#msg1122130291

FPF-Myriad · « **Reply #19 on:** March 10, 2006, 07:08:14 am »

I'll give it a try this weekend... I'll let you know what happens.

FPF-Myriad · « **Reply #20 on:** March 10, 2006, 09:00:38 pm »

Well Bonk, I appreciate all the help you've given me so far, but unfortunately that did not work either.

Bonk · « **Reply #21 on:** March 11, 2006, 07:15:43 am »

Well poop!

I'll let you know if I can think of anything else.

FPF-Myriad · « **Reply #22 on:** March 19, 2006, 10:30:14 am »

Hey Bonk,

Finally got the game working.... I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the error I was getting, but it seems the game doesn't like me editing the Metaassets files. Go figure....

Bonk · « **Reply #23 on:** March 19, 2006, 10:41:58 am »

Quote from: FPF-Myriad on March 19, 2006, 10:30:14 am

Hey Bonk,

Finally got the game working.... I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the error I was getting, but it seems the game doesn't like me editing the Metaassets files. Go figure....

Interesting. Glad to hear you got it working.

Which MetaAssets files were you editing? You should be able to if you do so correctly, the game is very fussy about the format. Use notepad and do not change the spacing. Also, if you edit \MetaAssets\ServerProfiles\SinglePlayer\MetaMap.gf then make the same changes to MetaMap.war.

Looks like the mss.dll was a total red-herring, lol.

What changes to the singleplayer game were you trying to effect?

FPF-Myriad · « **Reply #24 on:** March 20, 2006, 07:15:11 am »

Assets, Character, Economy, Score, Ship, and Time.

I went ahead and edited them anyway, and the game still runs. I don't think I'll ever figure this game out from a technical standpoint.

FPF-Myriad · « **Reply #25 on:** March 20, 2006, 08:26:42 pm »

Ok, new problem.... When I'm in spacedock to supply a ship with fighters, there's no fighters available to change. It's blanked out and no fighters are on the ship when I'm in a mission, but ships with PFs are selectable in spacedock. Am I missing something here?

Bonk · « **Reply #26 on:** March 20, 2006, 09:13:24 pm »

Edit your shortcut as indicated in the 2552 readme. (Add the "Start In" Parameter). Or just copy StarFleetOP.exe and paste as a shortcut on the desktop and use this shortcut to start the game. Should fix that problem. (OP+4 includes this fix among others)

FPF-Myriad · « **Reply #27 on:** March 21, 2006, 07:12:41 am »

Thanks Bonk. It worked.

FPF-DieHard · « **Reply #28 on:** March 26, 2006, 12:27:36 pm »

Huh? That was fricking weird. Glad to see it working again

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Topic: MSS32.dll crash.... need help (Read 8159 times)