strange issue

[Gandolfini]

I sent this into customer support today.

Periodically, the game client will stop updating mini map, other characters and NPCs will disappear and a short buzz will sound every 5 seconds or so. The chat continues to update so there doesn’t appear to be a server disconnect issue. I attempt to close the program and while the icon disappears from the task bar, the executable is still running in Task Manager. Attempts to end the process from Task Manager fail. I am unable to shut down the computer due to the process still running and am forced to do a hard reset.

I have done the update driver dance. Does anyone have some other suggestions?

[Jimer Lins]

Bad memory stick? Maybe get memtest and run it overnight, see if you're hitting a bad RAM chip.

[Gandolfini]

Good thought. I ran memtest and everything was find. Then I ran dskchk and passed with flying colors. I also ran the auslogic disk defrag and went from 15% to 0%. I then ran the game and locked up in less than 30 seconds. So I took the plunge and am no re-installing.

[Bulwark]

Every once in a while I run into something similar. If I run the launcher right after booting up, occasionally it will lock up. It doesn't die when the taskmanager commands it to and I have to do a hard shutdown.

[Jimer Lins]

Good thought. I ran memtest and everything was find. Then I ran dskchk and passed with flying colors. I also ran the auslogic disk defrag and went from 15% to 0%. I then ran the game and locked up in less than 30 seconds. So I took the plunge and am no re-installing.

That is so much suck. All I can suggest is verify your sound and video drivers are up to date- especially sound because you mentioned that buzzing noise. There was a problem in Skyrim that locked it to some sample rates and when the driver wasn't configured for it, the game would lock up, so it's not without precedent.

[Gandolfini]

It appears that a clean install may have solved the issue.