Menu Freezing Problem

[JDeck88]

Mid-game, at any given point (though occurring at random), if I open the menu screen--including the item, materia, configuration screens, sometimes even the EXP screen, the video seems to completely freeze. However, the game seems as though it's still playing in the background, as 1. the music is still going, and 2. I can hear myself opening and closing the menu screens and scrolling down the item list, so I know the game isn't completely locked up. Only the video is.

I use a GeForce 6800 card, having installed the Nvidia patch.  I also have the windows XP patch, the Chocobo patch, and the upside down video patch installed, as all were needed.

I was wondering if anyone has an idea of what this problem might be?

[*:.Griever.:*]

You might want to uninstall the XP patch.

That bad boy causes trouble for a lot of people.

[auxili160]

XP Patch = virus.

[JDeck88]

Well, I completely wiped FFVII from the PC, deleted the remaining files manually (save for the save data) and reinstalled it along with my needed NVidia patch. However, the problem persists. The screen just gets stuck every so often when I see a menu screen / exp window. I noticed that my 8-bit palleted textures aren't marked as fail nor pass, but rather as ----. Perhaps this is the problem?

[Prince Lex]

Thats not what your problem is, as thats what my 8-bit textures says, and my game works fine.

[auxili160]

Your 8-bit is supposed to say failed or ----.
Not sure what your problem is.

[JDeck88]

I'm pretty stumped myself, I can't seem to find anything else quite like this problem. 

[Terid__K]

What video driver version are you using?

[JDeck88]

The most current Nvidia drivers, 175.16

[auxili160]

What about directx?

[guitar_dudester91]

Don't know if this help, but what about your display properties? Just totally random, because you might not be usiong the best option. I don't know, and I don't think that's it, but like if you changed it from 256 to 16 bit or True color or someting like that. Don't think that's it, but just a guess


P.S. Maybe the XP patch and NVIDIA patch are conflicting?

[JDeck88]

I don't think it could be a conflict, as the issue continued after I completely removed FFVII from my computer and reinstalled with just the nVidia patch.  I'll take a look at the display properties and see what I can come up with, however.

[JDeck88]

Oh, heres another problem / symptom I've noticed; something like 2/5 times when I go into the FFVII configurations window, my monitor appears to shut off for a brief period of time, then comes back on with some distortion--sometimes lines across the top, sometimes full screen colored distortion.  This leads me to believe its either my monitor or my video card that is the issue. As far as directx goes, I believe I'm using 9.0c, though I can't quite remember how to check that.

[Terid__K]

Your Video Card doesn't benefit at all from the newer drivers, and they also break both FF7/FF8. I recommend using the 93.71 Forceware drivers. Those are the best for your 6800. I use them myself with my 7600.

The newer drivers are meant for next-gen cards. Since our cards will never be able to play next-gen games, there's no problem on sticking with an older driver release. I strongly recommend you to try it. Let me know if it works.

[JDeck88]

I believe that may have been the solution--for now, anyways. I played around with the game for a bit, doing a sort of stress test with opening and closing the menu screens, and fought a couple of battles... so far, so good. If At any point it happens again, I'll post it here--but otherwise, thanks for all the help!

[Terid__K]

Anytime mate.