Common CTDs, Freezes, ILS and memory issues

[hishutup]

 

 

Basic requirements to follow this FAQ

Use the following utilities and have some idea of what they do.

• ENBoost: This extension moves the DX9 texture cache to a different 64 bit process. This reduces the chance of filling up the 32 bit process with textures causing random CTDs.
• Crash Fixes: This is an SKSE plugin that helps catch some issues that cause skyrim to CTD, freeze or hang. 
• Some form of memory fix:
  • SSME: Made redundant by SKSE memory tweaks.
  • SKSE memory tweaks: This changes the initial heap size to make it larger. This avoids the issue where skyrim will not increase the heap causing it to CTD, freeze or hang. This method requires some input for the correct size. This can be found by using Memory Blocks Log. This is a workaround to an issue.
  • Crash Fixes OSAllocators: This is a fix for the same issue that SKSE memory tweaks workarounds. This is a true fix but has its share of issues.
  • Crash Fixes CustomMemoryBlocks: This is a fix to some of the issues caused by OSAllocators. By breaking the heap into smaller blocks, the memory can be allocated and freed as needed. This method requires some input by observing how high you need to set the blocks size. This can be viewed in the console if the toggle is enabled.

 

Info that is typically useless:

• Papyrus logs: These are NOT crash logs. Typically, the last entry could be several minutes before you even experience a crash. Any useful info is typically debugging code in scripts, this is usually removed/disabled before a mod is released. This is a very helpful tool to modders, but not to users.
• Windows logs: These are rarely of any use to a user.

 

Issues caused by SKSE memory tweaks:

Problem: I randomly CTD.

Solution: Check the size against the memory blocks log. If the last element is close to the max size then you may need to increase heap 1 by some amount(~128 MB increments is accurate enough). Heap 2 doesnt need to be increased as it spawns more like it should.

 

Issues caused by Crash Fixes OSAllocators:

Problem: I get "Skyrim has failed to allocate memory"

Solution: This is caused by memory fragmentation and there isn't really a solution for this. Its suggest to use the custom memory blocks instead.

 

Issues caused by Crash Fixes CustomMemoryBlocks:

Problem: Stuff isn't loading in as expected.

Solution: Check to make sure the size is appropriate.

 

How to read and interpret Crash Fixes crash log:

I don't know, I'm curious myself. The hex given isn't a formid, its a memory location by my understanding.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the easiest solution to the memory issue.

 

Install this manually into the "Skyrim" folder(with the TESV.exe)

SKSE Plugin Preloader

Install this manually by moving the SKSE folder into the "Skyrim\Data\" folder

Crash fixes

 

Then open the "Skyrim\Data\SKSE\Plugins\CrashFixPlugin.ini"

Modify the "UseOSAllocators=0" to "UseOSAllocators=1"

Save.

 

You should be good now.

 

I'd recommend removing the old methods of heap modification, ENBoost is fine.

 

[spoiler=Old Post]

I made this sticky because there is a sudden up-rise in CTD relating to the memory tweaks not working. It is flooding The General forum and has kind of spread to the memory blocks log mod topic. 

 

If you are curious how the memory tweaks work, there is an amazing post by keith over here.

 

There are several reasons for one to CTD or freeze but the most common one is that the SSME/Memory Patch 3.0/SKSE memory tweaks are not applying for some reason.

NOTE: SSME is no longer needed and should be removed and replaced with the SKSE Memory Tweaks.

Safety load is also not needed anymore and may cause unexpected issues.

 

 

First, please copy and paste the following into your SKSE.ini file

Make sure your ini is located as such ...\Skyrim\Data\SKSE\SKSE.ini

If you follow STEP check this out.

[General]
ClearInvalidRegistrations=1

[Memory]
DefaultHeapInitialAllocMB=768
ScrapHeapSizeMB=256

To find out if your memory tweaks are working correctly, download and install Memory Blocks Log.

Run the game through MO, I would recommend fully loading into the game but the main menu will suffice. After which close out of the game and open MO again if it closed on you. Go to the overwrite folder and navigate to the "SKSE\plugins\" folder and open up the memoryblockslog.log.

 

Your log should look similar to this:

logging of blocks enabled
logging max values only
Timer disabled
Block1 Block2
512MB 256MB

However, people that experience a lot of crashing will have something like the following:

logging of blocks enabled
logging max values only
Timer disabled
Block1 Block2
256MB 256MB

The most common "fix" is to open the "Modify Executables" window by clicking the gears on  the top part of MO and select the SKSE executable and add the Argument 

-forcesteamloader

It should then look something like this.

After which, click the modify button and then relaunch the game through MO then close it and make the comparison again. 

 

If your results did not change then make a post below, otherwise search for topics that already exist in the General forum. If your particular issue does not already exist then make a new topic and there will be someone to answer your questions.

 

[phalen]

this is the 2nd time i installed step, from scratch.  takes me almost 3 days to do.

 

there must be a better answer than 'reinstall'

[DoubleYou]

Map crashes? Redownload and reinstall SkyUI (it is possible it is corrupt).

[phalen]

Map crashes? Redownload and reinstall SkyUI (it is possible it is corrupt).

tried what you said, and it didnt work.

 

my game only crashes to desktop when i press the map button.

[hishutup]

Can you open the map on a new game?

[keithinhanoi]

tried what you said, and it didnt work.

 

my game only crashes to desktop when i press the map button.

There are two mods in STEP Core & Extended which enhance the map graphics - High Quality 3D Map and A Quality World Map. Have you tried disabling both of these and then checking if opening the map still causes a CTD?

 

Another thing to look at is your Skyrim.ini file, in the [MapMenu] section. Did you add/change any settings there?

[phalen]

There are two mods in STEP Core & Extended which enhance the map graphics - High Quality 3D Map and A Quality World Map. Have you tried disabling both of these and then checking if opening the map still causes a CTD?

 

Another thing to look at is your Skyrim.ini file, in the [MapMenu] section. Did you add/change any settings there?

 

tried what you said - and i made a new game.

 

disabled both the mods, - no change  (i did LOOT and bash after i disabled the two mods)

removed the [mapmenu] section - no change

 

anything else?

[hishutup]

That is really strange and I dont really know what it could be...

Try moving the d3d9.dll to the desktop and report back.

Keep in mind the game may crash prematurely.

 

Does the crash happen regardless if you are an interior or exterior location?

[phalen]

**sigh**

 

removing the d3d9.dll didnt help :(

 

yes, its both outside and inside that it crashes when i try to access the map

 

 

i am like 1mm away from giving up.  i have spent over 2 months now on this project and another one i tried before STEP. (and yes, i started step with a fresh & clean skyrim install, before anyone asks).

 

so tired of not being able to play the game....  never had issues like this when i blindly installed mods with NMM.

[DanimalTwo]

Post a list of whats in your actual Skyrim and Skyrim/Data folders. Since you say you use to used NMM is it possible you have leftover junk?

[phalen]

no, it is not possible that i have left over junk - read my post above, and quote below from that post:

 

(and yes, i started step with a fresh & clean skyrim install, before anyone asks).

quoted from my last post.  there is nothing in my skyrim folder.

Edited March 23, 2015 by phalen

[Nozzer66]

It's not your 'skyrim' folder that's the issue. It's whether there's something weird in the 'skyrim\data' folder is what they were getting at.

 

I can understand it's getting frustrating, but we are actually trying to help.

[phalen]

like i said - it is a fresh install - from steam - i removed my old skyrim folder completely - and redownloaded skyrim again.

 

that is what i meant when i said a fresh & clean install.

[minos55]

Have you also removed the inis in the documents folder, had the same mistake once, fixed with removing all the inis

[Nozzer66]

Bit of a stretch, but have you tried verifying game cache via STEAM?

[phalen]

 

Have you also removed the inis in the documents folder, had the same mistake once, fixed with removing all the inis

 

dont i need my skyrim.ini & skyrimprefs.ini for the game to work? those are the only ini files in my documents folder.

 

Bit of a stretch, but have you tried verifying game cache via STEAM?

just did that - and it said that 5 files failed to verify - installscript.vdf, update.esm, dragonborn.esm, dawnguard.esm & hearthfires.esm

 

weren't those the files that were cleaned by TES5Edit? - well, steam re-downloaded them now, so now i've lost those edits.

 

in anycase - it dit not fix my problem.

 

still crashing to desktop when attempting to access the map.

Edited March 23, 2015 by phalen