Random NWN Crashes and unable to end process

[Legacy_FnH Bloodshot]

               I installed NWN over the weekend on my new Alienware m11x R2.  The installation went fine with only a minor problem in updating, I then used the critical rebuild tool and everything proceeded to work.  I encountered the crash on intro video problem and fixed it per suggestions by running in xp sp2/3 mode, admin mode, and disabling desktop composition.

However I am having a problem that has not been resolved as far as I can tell by browing these forums (though in other posts I have seen other users describing similiar issues).

My problem:  The game will load perfectly and allow me to enter the game, I've created multiple characters and played through the tutorial multiple times, however after random increments of time and in random places of the game my client will just freeze.  Windows does not recognize it as not responding unless I alt-tab and pull up the task manager.  I can then close the client via end program, however in the process field the nwmain.exe*32 process remains open and I am unable to end it by clicking end process.  This is a problem because it proceeds to stay open and using CPU and ultimately freezes my computer entirely forcing me to hard restart it.

The freeze always happens at random places, ive had it happen 5 minutes in, and ive also been able to play for over 2 hours before it occurs.  It's occuring on all of my characters, and when doing different things.  Once it happened while leveling up, and most of the time I notice it while im just running around.  It has not yet happened during combat though I cannot say that it won't.

Things I have tried.
- CPU affinity is set to -2 (I have also tried running it as 0, 1, and -1)
- Attempted to run game with sound disabled in nwn.ini
- Set all .exe files to run as admin, run in xp sp3 mode, and disabled desktop composition
- made sure that firefox was closed while running game
- made sure that resolution and refresh rates matched my screen
- tried running the game from every possible exe (desktop shortcut, nwn.exe, nwnmain.exe) none of the files ran without encountering the lockup eventually
- made sure that nwn.exe and nwnmain.exe had full permissions
- tried running the game without ever alt-tabbing
- tured off UAC in windows
- I installed the direct x 9 redistributable version and made my target look like this "C:\\NeverwinterNights\\NWN\\nwn.exe -dx9"

This issue is frustrating to say the least.  My biggest concern is that I am unable to end the nwmain.exe*32 file in my process tab, if the game was simply locking up I could cowboy up and deal with it, however having to hard restart my computer everytime that the game locks up is unacceptable.

System specs:

Time of this report: 1/17/2011, 16:45:22
       Machine name: MIKE-PC
   Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.100618-1621)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Alienware
       System Model: M11x R2
               BIOS: Default System BIOS
          Processor: Intel® Core™ i5 CPU       U 520  @ 1.07GHz (4 CPUs), ~1.1GHz
             Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3894MB RAM
          Page File: 1822MB used, 5963MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
   User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
 System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
     DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 64bit Unicode

Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0665&SUBSYS_10280465&REV_1000
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6083 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: n/a
          Date and Size: 4/18/2010 19:17:12, 2337440 bytes

Display Devices
---------------
          Card name: Intel® HD Graphics
       Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
          Chip type: Intel® HD Graphics (Core i5)
           DAC type: Internal
         Device Key: Enum\\PCI\\VEN_8086&DEV_0046&SUBSYS_04651028&REV_02
     Display Memory: 1696 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 64 MB
      Shared Memory: 1632 MB
       Current Mode: 1366 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: unknown
         Monitor Id: AUO105C
        Native Mode: 1366 x 768(p) (60.045Hz)
        Output Type: Internal
        Driver Name: igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumdx32,igd10umd32
Driver File Version: 8.15.0010.2202 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.15.10.2202

Note: The dxdiag is not displaying my other video card, I have an geforce 335m that switches on during gameplay.


If you need anymore information please just let me know, and thanks in advance for any help/responses.

TLDR:  Getting random game lockups, can close the program via task manager but unable to end the process thus resulting in my computer eventually freezing and having to hard restart it.  Crashes occur and various places, doing random actions and after random intervals of play.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Lord Sullivan]

               If I were you, I'd check if I can disable display adapter switching and if "Yes" I'd dedicate the 335m and test some play time to see if the same issue occurs regardless.

EDIT: Oh and if you can dedicate temporarely your 335m, I would run the NWN Config util and scan first before running the game.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Lord Sullivan, 17 janvier 2011 - 10:55 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_FnH Bloodshot]

               Well I played for a bit when I first installed using the onboard card, and that's when the game first froze, and I thought that it may have had something to do with the GPU so I changed my settings in optimus to force the 335m when playing NWN.  So I've had the lockup's occur when using both my onboard card as well as the 335m.



Oh and I also disabled threaded optimization for my 335m per someone's suggestions and that did not help either.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Lord Sullivan]

               Ok, did you check in your "nwn.ini" if your graphics card listed is the Intel or the 335M?

Because if the Intel is listed instead of the 335M when your trying the game with the 335M...
it could have an effect. This is why I said you should run the config scan while you're using
the 335M. It's worth checking
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Lord Sullivan, 17 janvier 2011 - 11:06 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_FnH Bloodshot]

               Oh ok, I misunderstood.  I'm not sure which card this is referring to but perhaps you can help.



[Video Card]

Type=RDPDD Chained DD

VRAM=2048

Desktop Resolution=1366x768

Desktop Color Depth=32

Result=2

Skip=0



I'm assuming "VRAM" means virtual RAM which would refer to the onboard card, though I'm not positive.



And another thing that I just noticed is that in my .ini file it says:



[Processor]

Type=Intel Pentium II

Vendor=Intel

NumCPUs=4

Speed=1061

Result=2

Skip=0



I'm paying specific attention to the part that says numCPUs=4, would that have any bearings on what my cpu affinity should be?  IE:  Someone when only a dual core cpu would set theirs to -2, however with mine (im assuming that those are emulated/virtual cores or something? because im positive that it's a dual core cpu) would it need to be set to = -4, or something similiar? Just a thought
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Lord Sullivan]

               VRAM = Video Ram



Considering the amount displayed and the "Type" name I believe this is the "Intel" graphics display.

Normally it should say Type=NVIDIA Geforce 335M if the scan was done while your 335M was active.



The "NumCPUs=4" is just the number of CPUs detected but I'm not sure if you can set affinity changing that entry as I never had to deal with cpu affinity myself even if I have a dual-core.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_FnH Bloodshot]

               oh ok, well I can try to set my 335m as the card whilst it does the scan, ill let you know how it goes