I have a big problem with LFS. There is another similar thread on it but I am running out of ideas now and really need to get it sorted so I thought it would be worth a thread of its own.

After a varying amount of time, LFS screen freezes for about 5 seconds during which time the sound loops. The game then continues. Usually by the time it comes back round I’m stuck in a barrier. Happens online and offline. When online, if I view the replay my car disappears while the freeze happens, then I reappear in the barrier. I assume that means that when the freeze happens communication with the master server is lost temporarily. When offline and I view the replay, the car doesn’t disappear but continues in a straight line.

Also, much less regularly my graphics go crazy. Textures and polygons go mad and it’s a struggle to hit escape and click the end game button.

Even less occasionally I get very occasional black thin polygons appearing on the screen during the game, probably only for one frame. I have only noticed this a few times.

I was suspicious of the graphics card, so I borrowed an NVIDIA 6600 and installed the latest NVIDIA drivers for the 6xxx series. It still freezes, but the behaviour is different. The screen freezes for 5-10 seconds, then the screen goes blank, then LFS crashes and returns me to windows with the standard error capture message (with Send/Don’t send boxes).

I havn’t had any other graphics problems. At the moment I only play LFS but previously I have played several other racing games with no problems.

I have recently started testing using single player and 10 AIs only. The symptoms are different – the screen freezes and the game stops. I need to do some more testing on this, will update this post when I have more info.

I can’t remember when this problem started, maybe 6 months to a year ago. I only started to try and solve it when I entered a league a few weeks ago (the GFC) so it’s really important that I get it solved now.

My PC
AMD Sempron 2800+ (never overclocked)
Motherboard: EPoX EP-8HMMi-A, K8M800
Mainboard: Chipset/northbridge: VIA K8M400 (VT8380)
Southbridge: VIA VT8237
BIOS: Phoenix Version 6.00 PG 10/11/2005
Memory: 512MB DDR 200MHz PC3200 Corsair VS512MB400
Graphics: Gigabyte NVIDIA FX5900XT (never overclocked)
Microsoft Wireless USB
Netgear WG111T Wireless USB Adapter
Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000 Keyboard and Mouse

Software
Windows XP Pro SP2
DirectX 9.0c June 2007
VIA Hyperion INF Driver 2.90A 17-05-2007
VIA Hyperion AGP Driver 4.60A 17-05-2007
Realtek Audio AC'97 Driver v2.11.15.0
AVG 7.5
Logitech Gaming Software (Wingman Profiler)
Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0
Netgear WG111T Program
NVIDIA Drivers - Forceware Version 93.71
MSXLM 6.0 Patrser
VIA Rhine-Family Fast Ethernet Adapter
RealTek AC'97 Audio
Windows Installer 3.1

What I’ve tried (all without success L)
Removed all PCI cards
Close all programs not required to run LFS (inc. virus checker)
Reinstalled LFS.
Format (not quick format) a different hard drive, reinstall XP and LFS and required programs.
Turned Direct X sound acceleration to BASIC
Updated to latest directx 9.0c (June 2007)
Enable write combing on GFX card - unticked
Haze effect OFF
Ran Prime95 stress test for 11 tests (approx 1hr)
Check CPU temperature – runs at about 35C with LFS
Run DXDIAG graphics test – no errors reported.
Updated RealTek Audio driver
Run without Logitech Winman Profiler
Used MemTest to run a memory test for 1 hour - no errors
Run with PC side panel removed to aid cooling
Reset before playing LFS
V-Sync on in LFS
Hard drives set to “never turn off” on power saving options
Used Process Explorer to try and see if anything is hogging the CPU during the freezes.
Turned off automatic Windows Updates
Tried running LFS with Netgear USB wireless network receiver uplugged.
Tested main hard drive with HDTune and did surface scan of hard drives - OK.

Still to try
Run LFS with all USB devices unplugged.
Run LFS with integrated sound disabled.


Firstly, thanks for taking the time to read my post to the end! If you have any suggestions I’d be very grateful. I don’t mind if I have to replace components of my PC, as long as it solves the problem. There are several other threads around discussing the same or similar problems so if I can’t get this fixed I may post it as an LFS bug as no-one has reported having the same problem with other games and as far as I could see no-one has reported this as a bug either.

Could anyone with similar problems please describe them and post your full PC spec - maybe there is something in common?

I’ll keep this post updated with things I’ve tried and any other observations.

Last edited by Nick A, Sun 15 Jul 2007, 06:29.

Well i got that sorted but the original problem is still there. There's a thread in teh tech forum about it. I'm going to try a different GFX card next. Must get it sorted for 2 weeks time!

Cheers Dru. As you know it worked, or I wouldn't have raced at the weekend

I’ve still not got this sorted. This is what I’ve tried so far:

Turned off Logitech Profiler
Unplugged unused USB devices
Reset before playing LFS
V-Sync on in LFS
Hard drives set to “never turn off” on power saving options
Then I used a separate hard drive to reinstall Win XP, SP1, LFS, GFX drivers etc – still no joy
Unplugged all PCI devices
Did a memtest – passed
Check CPU temp immediately after the problem occurred in LFS – only around 35C.

Tonight I’ll try updating the mobo drivers and do a CPU stress test. If that doesn’t work I think it must be a hardware problem. I think I’m going to try buying a new GFX card next. If that doesn’t work I might try the PSU.

Better! I was thinking it would be slower for £30! Thanks for the links. As I'm having suspected problems with my current card I'd like to go safe and buy from a big retailer and also get a decent brand. I've heard of ASUS - are they OK?

I noticed the 5200s are cheap (~£20) but found some charts on Tom's hardware for NASCAR which showed the 5900 maxing out at 60fps and the 5200 only managing 35fps so I'm guessing I'd be better spending the extra £10 on the 6200? Do you know if GFX RAM (128MB) is important for LFS?

If it doesn't fix the problem I'll just have to sell it on ebay.

Thanks for your quick help - really appreciate it! Had to borrow a laptop for my first league (Gentlefoot) race last night so need to get it working for the next one in 2 weeks time.

Edit: Forgot to mention my current card is only 128MB so I guess that would be OK.

Last edited by Nick A, Mon 18 Jun 2007, 12:26.

That cheap! I was hoping I might get away with £20-30 so that would be fine. Do you think the performance would be ok with my PC?

I am having problems with LFS freezing which I suspect may be due to my GFX card. It's a Gigabyte FX 5900 XT -AGP.

So I'd like to try a new one. LFS is the only game I play and I believe it's not too demanding on graphics so i don't need anything too powerful. My current card is more than adequate. The cheaper the better because I can't be sure it'll solve the problem.

My other specs are: AMD Sempron 1800, 512mb RAM.

Thanks in advance!

Thanks for your replies

When I copied to the laptop it needed to be unlocked again. Also, now that I have copied it onto my normal PC's hard drive with the new XP installation it also needs unlocking. But from what several of you have said, once I unlock it, it should be fine, and shouldn't prevent me from using the other installation on the laptop, so I'll give it a go.

I have been having some problems with LFS freezing recently. I am entering an event this weekend so I have borrowed a laptop and installed and unlocked LFS on that - all working fine.

So at the moment I have 2 unlocked copies of LFS.

As a (hopefully!) permanent fix, I have just made a new installation of XP and LFS on a seperate hard drive in my original PC.

If I also unlock this new install, will I be able to revert to my laptop installation if the new installation doesn't solve the freezing problem? I have 1 unlock left until Friday but must have it working for the event tomorrow so don't want to use it to test my new installation if it will mean that my laptop installation will lock up.

That is for background info really but I suppose the real question is: is there a limit to the number of unlocked copies of LFS you can have, and will an installation ever unlock itself?

[3/8] Thanks for all the hard work Scawen!

Most users online at the forum record has just been broken too!

Here's that video:
http://video.google.com/videop ... 003314136576108&q=lfs

Remember the cars in LFS are more powerful than your Dad's road car (probably!) In real life you wouldn't drive so fast into corners (if you did it would slide around like on LFS) but in the game it's much harder to get the sensation of speed so there is a tendancy to drive faster, and also because you're racing and in real life you're not (usually).

I can't believe you bought a G25 before buying an S2 licence. Sort it out!

Someone had several brand new ones for sale on eBay last year I think, they only went for £80 odd IIRC. Wish I had bought one now...

Tweaker - thanks for the advice. I will get some lithium grease and do that at some point. I might think about buying a second Momo Red as a spare aswell if I see a good one, yesterday made me realise how distraught I'd be without it! Or maybe the G25 would make a good "second wheel"

Wildport - why do you have 3?!!?

JJ71 - think you must have missed my reply above, but you were spot on! Mine only had 2 screws though, no sign that one was missing or that the wheel had been dismantled before.

Good news! It's fixed.

I took it apart, took 2 hours to get apart and back together again. I was really impressive with how well made and designed it is.

Anyway the problem wasn't hard to find, the motor had almost fallen off! The screws had worked loose. I'm actually amazed it still worked how it was. Very pleased I decided to investigae before any damage was done, the gears inside still look like new so hopefully she's got another few years of LFS left in her yet!

I had a pm asking how to add a shift light, pit limiter etc...

There are only 12 outputs available through the parallel port. 7 are used by the Gear Indicator, which leaves 5. I have used all 5 for the rev meter. If you want to add more indicators (shift light, pit limiter etc) you would have to loose some of the rev meter LEDs. The wiring is the same, you just define the functions in the config.txt file of the GI program. You could then have say a shift light, pit limiter and a 3 LED rev meter, in which case I would recommend using the rpm3 rpm4 and rpm5 functions for the rev lights in the config.txt file.

I bought it off ebay a couple of years ago. It seems to be in good condition though and I've had no problems with it until now. It has had a lot of use on LFS recently though Maybe I'll pull it apart and see how it's looking inside - thanks.

Here is my version of Kada's GI program, which incorporates a 5 LED Rev Meter. The first file is the program, the second is the source code. I have also attached a pdf (also included in the zip files) which has a circuit diagram and parts list for my gear indicator should you wish to make your own.

If you have any questions just give me an email or PM. Good luck!

Edit 20/12/07: New version for patch Y with support for the FBM and adjusted rev meter redlines.

Edit: 02/03/08: V1.1 Update by Kada including output for braking lights and reversing lights and some bug fixes. Thanks

Edit: 06/03/08 v1.2 Added output for "engine running"

Edit: 26/10/08: Mistake in PDF file corrected. Pin 10 should be connected to +9V.

Last edited by Nick A, Sun 26 Oct 2008, 10:17.

Have done a good search but only found one mention of this on another forum, and no useful advice so would be grateful if anyone has any advice.

My Momo has started to make a grating noise (sounds like the gears) only when I turn left. It comes and goes as the wheel is turned. Anyone else had this and know how to fix it? I hope it's not old age, I'm about to start a league and don't want it to die on me. And before you say it, no it's not a good excuse to buy a G25, I like my Momo!

That's OK. I'm working on a parts list and circuit diagram for the rev meter version at the moment but you can find all the info you need through Kada's site and links from there. Will post it as soon as it's done.

It's finished! I've uploaded a video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGxGe0XiTuQ

I used OutgaugeGateway to forward the Outgauge data to both MomoLEDs and my adapted version of Kada's GI program. Thanks again Kada, I really enjoyed making this!

Last edited by Nick A, Sun 27 May 2007, 08:22.

Any update on this Shinrar? I've got exactly the same problem. If I watch a replay the freeze does not happen so I suspect it must be graphics related. I've got the latest drivers and will try the latest DirectX tonight. If that doesnt work I'll try turning the graphics down like you did as I have a league starting soon so can't afford for this to happen.

Next time it happens I'll also watch the replay to see if the car is responding to the controller (momo red).

I've just finished modifying some OutGauge software for a LED rev/gear indicator I'm making. I'm fairly new to these things and couldn't work out whether the new InSim changes will affect OutGauge. Hope I don't have a lot of reprogramming to do...

Panic over. I just noticed there are some little numbers on the diagram which correspond to the end pin numbers. :doh:

Got the parts today. I need some help with the 7 segment LED though. The pins arn't numbered and the datasheet doesn't say which is which. Is there a convention for the numbering? The display has 5 pins at the top and 5 pins at the bottom.

Here it is:
http://www.rapidonline.com/pro ... isplay&moduleno=64939

There is a link to the datasheet on that page. Thanks.