Trainz???!!!!!

[bazz180]

I started using Trainz with Ultimate Trainz. I then purchased TRS2006, then Trainz Classics, then Trainz Classics 3, and finally Trainz 2009.
I was quite happy with UTC, although I wanted to make more intricate layouts and scenarios, so I upgraded to TRS2006. I bought the DVD Limited edition. I uninstalled UTC and cleared the registry of any files left. I then installed TRS2006. This was ok until I installed SP1 and then my problems started. I found that CMP was not archiving my routes properly. Any downloaded content misbehaved or caused the game to 'not respond' and crash. I decided that I should re-install but leave sp1 off. The game seemed to work well apart from CMP not working properly. Downloaded content did not work, it had missing dependancies, became faulty, and my own content (Routes and sessions) would not archive properly - they didnt work when re-installed. Also tried to download content from the download station website - again downloaded content caused problems.
I purchased Trainz Classics and installed it - I also installed the service pack. It worked a couple of times then stopped. I re-installed it without the service pack - still running irratically. I uninstalled it.
I then bought the download copy of TC3 - worked ok for a while and again started playing up. First of all, AI locos passed signals at danger then they missed locations and finally began to just do what they wanted to do. CMP went the same way as the CMP for TRS2006.
I recently bought TRS2009. - Big mistake! Worked fine first time, after that froze, not responding, video problems - you name it - it went wrong - CMP useless.
I decided that I should clear my computer back to factory conditions, so after some three weeks of carefully backing everything up onto CDs, I did a clean reboot of the system. I reloaded my software in stages, setting reset points for each program (mainly MS Office, my internet, & other like programmes).
Now came the crunch - re-install TRS2006 - wonderfull, works fine, oops spoke too soon, after running it a few times and getting into making a route which had taken me about three to four weeks, it started playing up again. Not responding - freezing - CMP makes it very unstable and you cant use it.
Install TC3 - CD Key is invalid!!!!! The programme then lets you go into surveyer, but when you load a route the graphics mix up and you have the loading page and the route displayed in chunks.
I tried TRS2009 again - graphics all up the creek.
Took the computer to the shop to have it checked out. £49.95 later - computer running ok with no problems, all drivers up to date and a clean bill of health. So I asked the 'Techie' why my Trainz programmes do not work properly? He checked them with me and his opinion was 'Faulty Software' as the sytem requirements were exceeded and should run the programmes ok. There was no viruses on the system so that wouldnt affect them.
I also bought Ship Simulator Deluxe - that wont work at all. It just starts to load then a blank grey screen - again my system exceeds the recommended requirements.
I am not a very happy person now. I have given up. I have spent loads on buying the programmes and getting the first class tickets to download content - only to throw it all away!

 

[klambert]

Trainz has many bugs and I have had my fair share, but your case sounds exceptional. Have you tried contacting auran themselves?

 

[Mike10]

Whilst I have no doubt you have issues with running trainz, the fact that you have problems with three seperate versions whilst a good many people have no problems with them would rather indicate that the common factor, for you, is your machine. This may be hardware or a combintion of the software installed.

Have you tried installing only Windows with no other software (apart from drivers, obviously) and see how you fair with that?

If 100 cars filled up with petrol at three petrol stations, and only one car broke down each time it filled up, where's the problem? Is it dodgy petrol at all three stations, or one dodgy car?

Ship Simulator doesn't work either you say, different software, same machine, same problem.

Mike.

 

[johnwhelan]

Took the computer to the shop to have it checked out. £49.95 later - computer running ok with no problems, all drivers up to date and a clean bill of health. So I asked the 'Techie' why my Trainz programmes do not work properly? He checked them with me and his opinion was 'Faulty Software' as the sytem requirements were exceeded and should run the programmes ok. There was no viruses on the system so that wouldnt affect them.

First comment is "there were no viruses on the system" is a very strong statement. My favourite tale came from Microsoft security about a server they had been passed as an oddity. They spent two weeks going over it but couldn't detect any viruses or Malware on the system however at 3 am each morning there was a number of packets of data sent to an unknown ip address. When they reformatted and reinstalled the operating system there was no further activity IP activity. Malware can bury itself deep in the system. The only machine you can be certain has no Malware is one with no internet connection where the operating system has just been freshly installed.

To be certain reinstall the operating system.

Next you are probably running with non ecc memory, this means roughly once a month or more frequently if its tatty memory, a memory bit will be in a wrong state. Translation the address the operating system thought it wrote to the hard drive isn't what got written and when it loads up the file from the hard drive again its corrupt.

It is likely that you don't have a UPS attached to your computer something like an APC unit. This may cause problems when your voltage level drops at the power point. If you have a fridge when it starts up it causes a drop in the voltage on all the power points near it. There are other things that can cause this but a fridge or freezer will certainly do it. Low voltage means there isn't quite enough voltage to flip the hysteresis loop when writing to the hard drive so the file you were writing gets corrupt. Adding UPSes to computers in people who were working at home caused a 95% drop in software trouble calls to helpdesk when we did it. One user who lived next to large factory in an industrial town complained because the UPS was configured to beep on bad power, it was beeping continually.

Reinstalling the operating system will clean up any corruption on the hard drive. Adding a UPS will provide more stability.

Power supplies can be a source of low voltage as well. There is no consistent way to measure them. Tomshardware found a ANTEC power supply delivered clean power to a higher amperage level than many competitors who claimed a higher wattage. No name power supplies may not be reliable nor deliver the wattage you expect.

The wife thinks its amazing these computer things actually work sometimes and I confess I agree with her.

If you want to post your computer specs maybe we can spot a weak point or two.

Thanks

Cheerio John

 

[geoffwilliams]

Hi
Have run all versions of Trainz on all sorts of computers under Windows and Linux, and whilst there have been problems and frustrations with some versions, I have never experienced most of the problems you seem to be having. Like the others, I suspect the problem here is your computer, either hardware or software.

TRS2006 and TC3 CMP can be troublesome, the trick here is patience. Whilst it often appears to freeze leaving it for a few minutes to finish whatever it is doing usually cures the problem. TC3 always gave me some problems but at the time I don't think my system was up to running it properly. It does need a lot of resources.

Just as an aside, years ago I had two computers custom built, both by different local companies with a decent reputation. I had nothing but trouble with both of them. I did find that some previously Ok software (not Trainz, it was well before this time) would not run properly. In the end I cut my losses and bought a system from a reputable manufacturer,have done this since and never looked back.
Geoff

 

[Johnk]

Line voltage can be a serious issue. In a suburb where I once worked, the lights would always dim for no apparent reason. The electricity people who were located in the next block said it was all in our imagination - until they installed one of the city's first mainframe computers. Guess what? Now more dimming lights after all the transformers in the entire area were replaced.

Your forty pound richer computer man may well be right, but it sounds like your graphics card isn't up to it, which may indicate your computer is not exactly be the latest model also. Trainz requires a reasonable graphics card and I guess Ship Sim would be in the same league.

 

[Sourdough]

A computer tech gives your computer the once over and charged you about 50 pounds....you come back and say Trainz still doesn't work....what's the obvious thing he's going to say? Any other answer would indicate he didn't do his job.....you can either throw in the towel and write off your investment or accept the real possibility that you have a system problem that needs attention....

 

[johnwhelan]

A computer tech gives your computer the once over and charged you about 50 pounds....you come back and say Trainz still doesn't work....what's the obvious thing he's going to say? Any other answer would indicate he didn't do his job.....you can either throw in the towel and write off your investment or accept the real possibility that you have a system problem that needs attention....

Well to be honest he would probably have been better stating the problem here and seeing what we could come up with. The things the computer techi probably did are probably software related. Things like run some software which detects some common viruses but not root kits and run windows update.

The difference is we don't charge 50 quid and I have noticed that some people prefer to pay for advice.

What would the advice have been? Run belarc and see what's there. Run Windows update, check to see if the account used to access the internet is a user account rather than an admin one for a start. It would probably be worth while running some error checking software on the memory to see if its up to par and do a disk check looking for erros. Thinking of which I haven't done one recently. Admin level account, right click a drive, properties, tools, error checking.

Cheerio John