United3dArtists Archive

Whenever I close tS it always says it crashed as soon as it disappears from the taskbar. No matter how I close it it always does it, file>exit, the X button, however I do it. Any way to fix it? It's not that big a problem, but is annoying.

Are you on the Model Side or workSpace side when you close? Which version are you using? Do you have the Luuv plugin on the Model side open when you close trueSpace? Is there a message after it crashes?

Hi Excalibur,

Whenever you ask for help with the software, you need to include basic information such as:

1 - What version of trueSpace you are running.
2 - What kind of computer you are using (include the operating system version, CPU, amount of main memory, graphics card and graphic memory, available hard disk space, what other programs were running at the same time such as antivirus software, etc.)

As a general rule whenever a program crashes---even when it happens when the program is being closed---it is a good idea to close all of your other programs, restart Windows, and check your hard disk for problems. Programs often create temporary files while they run and when a program crashes during shutdown, it may not be able to do its house cleaning. It is also common for programs to write to the hard drive during shutdown to record your latest user settings. In some cases, file fragments will be left because the crash occured during this file I/O.

Another reason to restart after a crash is because the program may have created a memory leak when it crashed. This is where some of the memory and system resources that it had previously been using were not properly released back to the operating system. Restarting Windows will clean memory and the Windows resources and insure that nothing is left from errant programs.

Here are the steps to take after a crash to accomplish all of the above:

1 - Run the Windows Explorer (keyboad shortcut Option or Windows button + E).
2 - Right-click on the drive icon where trueSpace is installed and select "Properties" at the end of the popup menu.
3 - Select the "Tools" tab and click on the "Check Now" button in the "Error-checking" section at the top.
4 - Check "Automatically fix file system errors" at the top and click on the "Start" button.
5 - A dialog will probably appear to inform you that the disk check utility can't do what you asked until your computer is restarted. It will ask you if you want to schedule the disk check for the next restart. Click on the "Yes" button. Otherwise, the disk check will start immediately.
6 - Restart Windows. You should see the disk check run when your computer restarts if the dialog in Step 5 appeared and said that a restart was required.

Note about Step 5: Most of the time, trueSpace will be installed on the same hard drive partition as the Windows operating system, itself. This is usually the "C" drive. In this case, Windows can't allow the hard drive to undergo a low-level test at the same time as Windows is running or it will create a potential security hole that malicious software (like a virus) could exploit. That's why you usually have to restart Windows so the disk check can run before the operating system has loaded.

These steps will help you keep your hard drive in good condition.

Best regards, First Light

This is usually an issue with model-side plugins. The TSX plugin API is not clear about how or when memory is or should be freed up. Because of that, many of the plugins free memory that trueSpace then later re-frees on exit, thus causing a crash.

I'm in workspace when closing. (I only use model to export.) Yes, the luuv plugin is installed.

I'm running tS 7.6 with a five year old HP a305w running Windows XP Home and Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackolope with 512 MB RAM, an Intel card from the 845G series, 5GB free space, 10GB if I uninstall Ubuntu, I may have been running Thunderbird at the time.

P.S. You don't need to tell me how to do much with a computer, I know a lot about them. I know how to use "Run" and how to use a terminal, and I know how to get to Windows Explorer, it's as easy as opening "My Computer." If I need to know something, I'll ask. However, with tS you'll have to explain a lot, although I have a brother who'll most likely do freelance modeling and have experience myself, I'm new to tS and hardly know anything that I wasn't taught via the organics course.

ouch... 512 MB ram... that's not really enough to run trueSpace. An intel onboard graphics card really isn't going to cut it either. You need at least a nvidia geforce 6600.

BTW, doesn't matter if your in Workspace or not, some of the Model side plugins will cause the crash when close issue just by having been loaded. I think LUUV is ok though, I don't remember having that problem with it.

Excalibur wrote:P.S. You don't need to tell me how to do much with a computer, I know a lot about them. ...

Hi Excalibur,

I apologize if my message came across as being a bit pedagogical. I tend to write for newcomers. They may not understand as much as you or I about computers and I usually try to post with them in mind. Plus, even us old-timers can sometimes forget the obvious. So please forgive me if my future posts return to the basics from time to time.

BTW, I agree with Jack, it seems like you don't quite have enough computer for trueSpace 7.6. Your two biggest problem areas are memory and graphics. But you also don't have much available hard drive space and I wouldn't be surprised if your hard drive gets pretty fragmented.

Memory and hard drives are pretty cheap. I just bumped my wife's 2-year old computer from 1 GB of RAM to 4 GB for about US$45. Your graphics system definitely needs to be upgraded for trueSpace. Unfortunately, your 305-watt power supply will hamper your video choices. For example, I'd recommend an older NVidia 8600 series card with 512 MB of video memory as a good low-cost solution with full DirectX 10 support. I've picked up cards like this new on eBay for around US$60-70. But you'll need at least a 400-watt power supply for it. This is all doable and you don't have to spend much but it would involve major work under the hood of your machine to upgrade your power supply.

At the very least, I'd be using MSConfig to disable as many unnecessary startup programs as possible and make Windows as lean as you can so you'll have as much of your 512 MB available for trueSpace. If you disconnect from all networks including the internet, you can also temporarily disable all antivirus, antispyware and firewall software to free up even more memory and system resources when you run trueSpace. Plus, you can disable unneeded services. For example, if you turn off hard drive indexing, you can safely disable the indexing service.

There's lots of tricks you can do like this and the best place to learn about them is on the various PC gamer forums because they're always looking to squeeze more performance from Windows.

Best regards, First Light

Sounds like he's using a store bought computer. I doubt it has a dedicated graphics slot to upgrade his video card with. More than likely he's looking at a full motherboard and CPU replacement. Add the video card, power supply, ram, and HD and you're basically at a new computer.

I recommend http://www.newegg.com" as the place to get your parts. As a general rule, you never want to buy a prebuilt computer if you intend to use it for games or 3D graphics of any kind. Pre-built computers usually have way too small a power supply, no 3D card, and the motherboard performance is usually terrible.

If you do have to buy from a local store, ASUS computers are likely the way to go:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 8044029168"
Just make sure you get one with a dedicated 3D card and at least 3GB RAM

Depending on where you are, and your appetite for risk, you could go to Tigerdirect or another parts distributor and assemble your own. If you have no clue how to do this buy one that is assembled by someone else but based on a specification you provide.

I built my last 5 PC's and find it strangely enjoyable. Also, I get a little more bang for my buck. If you use a place like Tigerdirect have one of the guys that works there walk you through the parts and make some recommendations.... CPU cooling is one of the critical things to watch for. First on my list is making sure that the cooling tower will fit in the case and also allow room for the cables to move freely inside.

Thermaltake, Palit and Antec are really good names in the PC parts game so check out their web sites. I have used Thermaltake cooling on my last 3 machines and have not had any cooling issues whatsoever.

If you want to look at reviews try these sites: http://www.computerpoweruser.com/ or http://www.tomshardware.com/us/

Good hunting!

Another good site is: http://www.anandtech.com"

Ok, one thing you need to know is I'm also getting a new computer, custom built, sometime after the next two weeks. (When I get back from a trip to Alaska and can use my money however instead of saving for souvenirs.) That is, if Mom ever realizes me and my brother are serious and actually forwards the e-mail to the guy who made hers. We plan on that on it having the following specs: Intel Celoron 2 GHz, Nvidia GeForce 6600 GT/normal (I may see about changing this to the ATI card my brother's getting for Blender.), 1 1/2-2 GB RAM, 150GB HD, Windows XP Home, and a 350-550 watt Power Supply. Think those are good specs? If not what should I change? I derived them mainly for Linux gaming and FlightGear, (A free open source flight sim.) 'cause I can survive with my current specs. I also didn't know tS existed then. By the way, I actually can run tS rather fine with my current specs, you probably would think so, but I can. My graphics card stinks, yes, but I live with it. However, yes, bad power supply, definitely, it's dying, that's the only part truly rotting inside my computer. We have it on an extension cord into Mom's office, the only plug it won't reboot infinitely in. And it still works there, too! It only restarted a few times on startup in mid-May, but it stopped after three days. Also, I don't really care for upgrading the computer, as I don't actually need to, I only 3D model as something fun to do, I'm not too serious about it, unlike my brother. If I wasn't an animal lover I'd probably go into computers and think about it, but since I'm an animal lover I set myself on being a vet back when I was six. Though, if I do need better hardware down the line, I'll be sure to check the websites you linked to.

I doubt you can get a 6600 card new these days -- they are about 10 years old. What's your budget?

My recommendations would be a Core2Duo CPU on an ASUS motherboard, GeForce 9800, 4 GB Ram, 500-600 Watt power supply, at least a 500 GB harddrive. Also you need to get a decent flat panel monitor if you're going to be doing graphics work. And a Wacom tablet would help as well.

If you've got some room in your budget, the new Core i7 CPUs are a significant performance increase over the older Core 2 Duos. Whatever you do, don't get a Celeron. They don't have a floating point math co-processor so they suck at 3D and 3D rendering.

I agree with Jack wholeheartedly on the issue of Celeron. Nvidia does seem to garner favour over ATI these days. The PC I built for TS and 3d games uses dual Nvidia 8600 GT cards in SLI mode.

If you are running xp the max memory it will use is 3gb. I have 4gb just in case I get the urge to upgrade.

But then again I have been going to Vista Anonymous meetings and they talk me down when I need it.

LOL v3rd3! I like Vista x64 and having 8 GB of ram is rather nice. There is the option of xp64 but it's harder to get drivers.

Were you not paying attention to my rambling? I don't care about it being that good for 3D modeling! I'm most likely gonna change it to ATI 'cause the card my brother's getting on Monday has full Linux support, I have no need for 4 GB RAM 'cause I'm not gonna be using Vista EVER, 7 maybe, but NEVER, EVER Vista. I'm not quite sure what the budget is, most likely 250, Mom got her computer for 100 bucks, so we might be able to get a fairly good computer from the guy who made hers for under 200. And, I don't need anything close to professional modeling hardware, 'cause if 512MB and a five year old Intel card fit my needs, I don't need better. I would prefer much better, though, 'cause my hardware is outdated, but it fits my needs so I don't need anything else. A monitor is something I definitely want though, 'cause mine only looks right with 800x600. However, concerning tablets, I actually already own a Bamboo Fun, I draw, scan, and then color my drawings on the computer, and so I already have a Wacom tablet. It also came with PSE6 and Corel Painter Essentials 4.

TS7.6 did that to me all the time. I have some very old plug ins that I refuse to live without. I had accepted it as a fact of life even with my dedicated graphics card.
But when I put them in TS7.61, it closes just fine.