WoW crashing.

[Shade]

My brother recently built a new computer, and installed WoW on it but... it doesn't work.

He says:
WOW loads but the screen freezes after about 30 seconds and im forced to restart, doesnt matter what the graphic settings are on lowest/highest still freezes. other applications/games do not freeze.

Specs:
Windows xp
Service pack 3
Intel duo cpu 3.0ghz
3.25gb ram
Motherboard - Asus P5Q-E
Vidcard - HIS Radeon 4850 w/ omega drivers
Monitor - BenQ 22inch running 1920 x 1080
Not overclocked.

I dunno if anyone can help, but any advice or suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks!

[Correction]

It's unlikely, but check your World of Warcraft/Errors/ directory for any files timestamped at or near the crashes. If you do find something in there, try posting the error dump to the tech support forums at worldofwarcraft.com. They're usually pretty helpful over there.

You say this is a freshly-built computer? Are you positive your OS and video drivers are the latest?

[Shade]

Yeah, they should be. The error directory is a good suggestion though... thanks! ^^

[Robertus]

Vidcard - HIS Radeon 4850 w/ omega drivers

AFAIK, the 3000 and 4000 series cards aren't supported by omega drivers, which haven't been updated in over a year. Might want to use some more recent drivers.

[viperlasson]

Best bet is the video card drivers you are using, looks like they havn't been updated for more than a year, or a bad WoW install. Get latest drivers from ATI:

Drivers & Tools | GAME.AMD.COM

Download option 1, but don't forget to remove your current drivers, I'd use a driver cleaning program along with the uninstall like Driver Sweeper:

http://downloads.guru3d.com/Guru3D--...up)_d1655.html

[Shade]

thanks viperlasson. So I have uninstalled the omega drives, then used the driver cleaning program. Once I install the ATI drivers and do the restart as soon as i hit windows its not detecting my video card. Any suggestions?

[viperlasson]

Are there any yellow question marks in your device manager? right click my computer > properties > hardware tab > device manager . That usually means that a driver is not installed, or didn't install correctly.

[Shade]

let me explain a little better as to what is happening. I installed the new drives, do a restart and I have video up until it loads in to windows. then my monitor displayes "no input". So i do a restart and launch in to safe mode and remove the drivers once again. To answer you question, when im in safe mode it appears as all the drivers are installed correctly. There is no yellow !. Ive tried uninstalling the drivers, restarting. Then using clean sweep and restarting. Once the drivers are uninstalled i can boot into windows without being in safe mode. Is it possible the old drivers left behind files that arent being removed and causing issues? is it possible that when windows attempts to auto install the drivers while im running ATI install causes errors? Thanks!!

[Shade]

ok so I have formatted my pc, re installed windows xp and once i install the drives and do a restart as soon as it loads in to windows my monitor does not detect my video card.

[viperlasson]

Like the monitor gives you a "no signal" picture and turns black? Do you have another monitor to test?

[Shade]

(Shade this time): Okay, actually.. I think he's fixed it.
I'm not sure if WoW is 100% working yet, but he's gotten the new drivers working and everything is booting up fine and at the correct resolution.

Thanks much for the links earlier.

[solsirt]

I had a friend with near the exact setup (asus 4850, but still), and he couldn't dualbox WoW b/c of driver issues...

we just got it fixed last weekend... I believe even the 9.5 ati drivers were having WoW issues, but the new ones fixed it for him (it may or may not be 9.5, but ati JUST updated their drivers this past week)