In light of all the crashing people have been complaining of, myself included, I have put together some cold data.


The crashing appears to be caused by specific plugins.

None of the plugins crash on first character logon of client session. After that, I couldn't find a pattern.

Each plugin was tested individually.


Eltank:

Occurs while character is entering game.


http://people.clarkson.edu/~meuniecb/images/errors/eltank01.jpg

http://people.clarkson.edu/~meuniecb/images/errors/eltank02.jpg


Lifetank:

Occurs while character is entering game.


http://people.clarkson.edu/~meuniecb/images/errors/lifetank01.jpg

http://people.clarkson.edu/~meuniecb/images/errors/lifetank02.jpg


Spies:

Occurs right as "Enter Game" is clicked.


http://people.clarkson.edu/~meuniecb/images/errors/spies01.jpg

http://people.clarkson.edu/~meuniecb/images/errors/spies02.jpg


My Export:


Decal (DenAgent.exe) version: 2.9.5.0


type, enabled, name, version, clsid

Plugins, 0, Decal Hotkey System, 2.9.5.0, {6B6B9FA8-37DE-4FA3-8C60-52BD6A2F9855}

Plugins, 0, Make It!, 5.9.6.0, {70DD2CC6-E638-4F43-9F15-C84A0FC7DC76}

Plugins, 1, TreeStats 2, 0.1.6.3, {9847B2B7-C7C7-42BA-9361-021D01715E8F}

Plugins, 0, Mule Trade It!, 0.0.0.368, {9D762D6E-6444-485A-B242-C50386013763}

Plugins, 0, Catch It! 1.1, 1.1.0.0, {C77FED2C-45C8-4CCF-B46E-27E6F28BC368}

Plugins, 0, LifeTank XI, 11.7.0.1, {910C0F8E-827A-4E35-A980-50D57D0B1296}

Plugins, 0, ELTank v2.6.0.20-Beta-7, 2.6.0.20, {39E9E0F5-85D7-4C38-87D6-3BBCB853357E}

Plugins, 0, BotShopper, 1.1.0.1, {6367C4F9-0F6D-40F5-91E5-6826CBFCBE86}

Plugins, 0, Spies, 3.0.0.2, {AE757532-46A3-47EE-AEA7-59748ED6B0F5}

Plugins, 1, Idler by Archui, 1.0.0.0, {FC6D04DE-FA1D-4F22-A79D-A92B74D32B63}

Network Filters, 1, Echo Filter 2, 2.9.5.0, {34239EAD-6317-4C40-A405-193BA5232DD8}

Network Filters, 1, Character Stats Filter, 2.9.5.0, {4540C969-08D1-46BF-97AD-6B19D3C10BEE}

Network Filters, 1, World Object Filter, 2.9.5.0, {53092D1B-F0B0-46FF-BF11-8F031EC9B137}

Network Filters, 1, Decal FileService, 2.9.5.0, {5E9B2FC3-C251-4589-8CE3-2BCA542B98B6}

Network Filters, 1, Identify Queue Filter, 2.9.5.0, {B0C05A9A-273D-4BC4-B7BA-E27CF94C8EF4}

Network Filters, 1, SpellFilter, 2.9.5.0, {C2D43735-BE7E-4829-AF73-F2E7E820EB16}

Network Filters, 1, Darkside Filter, 11.7.0.1, {F93FD48F-BA68-4BF5-A7B3-7908D1634331}

Services, 1, Decal .NET Lifetime Service, 2.9.5.0, {71A69713-6593-47EC-0001-0000000DECA1}

Services, 1, Decal Dat Service, 2.9.5.0, {37B083F0-276E-43AD-8D26-3F7449B519DC}

Services, 1, Decal Render Service, 2.9.5.0, {FB3C8286-88ED-4B4D-B413-94B40F346239}

Services, 1, Decal Inject Gateway Service, 2.9.5.0, {FEFE5CAB-10E4-404F-AD4D-184BCB506099}

Services, 1, Decal Input Service, 2.9.5.0, {B33307BA-706D-474A-80B9-70BB8D13EF3E}

Services, 1, Decal Networking Service, 2.9.5.0, {C8C406F8-BA2E-4964-8B04-FF38394A8E0E}

Services, 1, Decal D3DService, 2.9.5.0, {F0CC07A0-2C89-4FA4-9356-714665BC2F8B}

Surrogates, 1, Decal.Adapter Surrogate, 2.9.5.0, {71A69713-6593-47EC-0002-0000000DECA1}

Surrogates, 1, Prefilter Network Filter Surrogate, 2.9.5.0, {443D4A68-5422-4E0C-9460-973F8FBDB190}

Surrogates, 1, ActiveX Plugin Surrogate, 2.9.5.0, {7559F22F-C56F-4621-AE08-9C354D799D4B}

Surrogates, -1, Version 1 Plugin Surrogate, 2.9.5.0, {3D837F6E-B5CA-4604-885F-7AB45FCFA62A}

Input Actions, 1, Delay Input Action, 2.9.5.0, {324D76B8-D8C7-4A81-B867-E4E1F874E488}

Input Actions, 1, Mouse Move Input Action, 2.9.5.0, {57D18578-0BF0-4DE5-A0A9-E7CB531C0429}

Input Actions, 1, Restore Input Action, 2.9.5.0, {6EE2F682-7129-44BE-84B9-787BAE35EC1C}

Input Actions, 1, Polled Delay Input Action, 2.9.5.0, {762335B2-2274-4BB4-8B1F-F7286C949FF7}

Input Actions, 1, Typing Input Action, 2.9.5.0, {9CDCEEDC-F8AC-42D5-9A05-52B9346D00A4}

Input Actions, 1, Event Input Action, 2.9.5.0, {D6E4BD19-4900-4515-BCE2-A9EA4AAE2699}


Operating System:

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)


[Protected Storage Service] : Automatic


Decal Settings

: Timer (Default)

[Portal Path] : C:\Asheron's Call\

[Launcher App] : acclient.exe

: http://update.decaldev.com

[memlocs.xml] : 24464 bytes, Version 0.0.11.2806

[messages.xml] : 53271 bytes, Version 2006.08.22.1

[Video Memory] : 257916864


D3DX Libraries (Only d3dx9_30 is required)

[d3dx9_24.dll] : Installed (9.5.132.0)

[d3dx9_25.dll] : Installed (9.6.168.0)

[d3dx9_26.dll] : Installed (9.7.239.0)

[d3dx9_27.dll] : Installed (9.8.299.0)

[d3dx9_28.dll] : Installed (9.10.455.0)

[d3dx9_29.dll] : Installed (9.11.519.0)

[d3dx9_30.dll] : Installed (9.12.589.0)


---Support Libraries ---

Note: The following libraries are not necessary for Decal to function and are only provided to be of use to plugin developers.


.NET Frameworks

[v1.0.3705] (1.0 Final) : Not Installed

[v1.1.4322] (1.1 Final) : Installed (Service Pack 1)

[v2.0.50215] (2.0 Beta 2) : Not Installed

[v2.0.50727] (2.0 Final) : Installed


C++ Libraries

[msvbvm60.dll] : Installed (6.0.97.82)

[atl70.dll] : Not Installed

[mfc70.dll] : Installed (7.0.9466.0)

[msvcr70.dll] : Installed (7.0.9466.0)

[msvcp70.dll] : Installed (7.0.9466.0)

[atl71.dll] : Installed (7.10.3077.0)

[mfc71.dll] : Installed (7.10.3077.0)

[msvcr71.dll] : Installed (7.10.3052.4)

[msvcp71.dll] : Installed (7.10.3077.0)


Microsoft XML Libraries

[msxml3.dll] : Installed (8.70.1113.0)

[msxml4.dll] : Installed (4.20.9818.0)


---Video Device Information---

[Device] : RADEON 9800 SERIES

[Device Name] : \\.\DISPLAY1

[KeyDeviceID] : Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E48&SUBSYS_30021002&REV_00

[KeyDeviceKey] : \Registry\Machine\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{E9CC44E8-4FED-4BF7-8EAF-B9A26AA0DCDC}\0000

[Manufacturer] : ATI Technologies Inc.

[ChipType] : RADEON 9800 PRO AGP (0x4E48)

[DACType] : Internal DAC(400MHz)

[Revision] :

[MemoryLocalised] : 128.0 MB

[MemoryEnglish] : 128.0 MB

[DisplayLocalised] : 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)

[DisplayEnglish] : 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)

[DisplayWidth] : 1440

[DisplayHeight] : 900

[DisplayBpp] : 32

[RefreshRate] : 60

[MonitorName] : Plug and Play Monitor

[MonitorMaxRes] : 1600,1200

[DriverName] : ati2dvag.dll

[DriverVersion] : 6.14.0010.6635

[DriverAttributes] : Final Retail

[DriverLangEnglish] : English

[DriverLangLocal] : English

[DriverDateEng] : 8/22/2006 20:53:30

[DriverDateLocal] : 8/22/2006 20:53:30

[DriverSize] : 260096

[MiniVdd] : ati2mtag.sys

[MiniVddDateEng] : 8/22/2006 20:53:14

[MiniVddDateLocal] : 8/22/2006 20:53:14

[MiniVddSize] : 1723904

[Vdd] : n/a

[RenderWindow] : Yes

: No

[Debug] : No

[Signed] : No

[SignValid] : No

: {D7B71EE2-0D08-11CF-596A-0810A1C2CB35}

[DDIVer] : 9

[DDIVerEng] : 9 (or higher)

[DDIVerLocal] : 9 (or higher)

: 0

[VendorID] : 0x1002

[DeviceID] : 0x4E48

[SubSystemID] : 0x30021002

[RevisionID] : 0x0000

[WHQL Level] : 0

[NoHardware] : 0

[DDAccelEnabled] : Yes

[3DAccelExists] : Yes

[3DAccelEnabled] : Yes

[AGP Enabled] : Yes

[AGPExists] : Yes

[AGPExistsValid] : Yes

i recall reading somewhere here in the utilities recently about crashes on toons that had no patron/vassals associated.

 

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I'll go down the list:

(regarding Lifetank anyway)


Make sure your firewall isn't blocking Asheron's Call, Decal, or the websites www.lifetankxi.com or lifetank.fissionweb.net/

Do you have MS XML 4.0 Installed? (edit) I see this is installed as well.

Do you have MS Scripts 5.6 installed?

Do you have D3DX Installed, which is required by Decal?

It does look like you have the .NET Framework installed


Do you have the latest Windows Update with Sp2?

Have you tried upgrading your ATI Video Drivers?

Will Decal/AC Launch with no plugins enabled?

Are you doing this with just one plugin enabled or multiple? (edit) Answered as well

Have you tried disabling Charstats before logging in? (Actually, this may break Lifetank come to think of it, but I haven't personally tested with the no vassals/patrons.. I'll try that later)


Thanks =)

-C

 

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Read my post?


They all work fine the first logon.


I'm not the only one having these problems. And the patron/vassal thing someone mentioned earlier is for treestats, this is something different.


This problem with decal/plugins crashing when switching toons has been around for months.

I just figured I'd finally put some data together since whenever someone brings this up, all the devs point fingers elsewhere and don't acknowledge a problem exists.

Usually when we try to help (we being the devs), we get negative responses such as this... you can see why then we suddenly stop caring.

And, of course, none of my questions were answered, again.


So, just to let you know, I'm fairly sure Lifetank utilizes CharStats within the Darkside Filter to retrieve your Character Name, your AC ID, Your Monarch, and your Patron as a self test once the plugin has been initialized to make sure things are working correctly. That is why I suggested disabling Charstats, but because of this it may not help.


Also, it is a known issue I believe with Decal to crash sometimes while switching characters.. be it just switching one time, or many times. Personally I believe it depends on your current hardware setup. Myself for instance, I can switch toons about 6 times before AC crashes. Since I don't switch toons often anyway I've learned to deal with it, and hit "Login" with ACDC and keep moving. Decal is still in it's alpha stages and still has known issues with it. I'm sure I don't have to remind you, that alpha usually refers to something being unstable.

 

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If you talk to any of the decal devs they deny a problem exists, and probably rightfully so, because this crashing problem only occurs when plugins are loaded. And yes, it's usually a couple char switches before it crashes, does that mean plugin developers should ignore the fact a bug might exist in their program?


EXCUSE me for doing a little experimenting and taking the effort to supply devs with what I hope is meaningful information to help fix these crashes.


Yes I know decal is in alpha. Again, does that mean I shouldn't report bugs that I come across? I'm not the only chap discouraged by these crashes.


And yes, I have all that [MOD-Edit] installed.

Well, Decal Devs are not plugin devs. Nothing we do with our plugins will help or hurt Decal from working any better. More than likely whatever is broken is something that is commonly used between all plugins and after awhile the memleaks catch up to your PC from logging in and out and crash the game.


All I'm trying to get to, is stop implying or using plugins as a scapegoat. Maybe it's just me, but it really bugs me to see a few people with generic Decal plugins and blame all plugin devs for no reason.. or worse, blame Lifetank (but that last one is probably just me)


Reporting bugs with Decal is a good thing, but unforchunately the Util boards might not be much help to you. Try http://www.decaldev.com/. I'm pretty sure most of the Decal Devs do not check these boards regularly. You would probably have a better response to your issues there.


But, for the reporting information part... what you found was good I suppose. Honestly, nothing you posted really means much to me from a LT Dev standpoint based on the problems you've reported. All I can tell you is basically everyone is having this problem and it's the general concensus it's not really based around one or two plugins...


Thanks,

-C

 

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I get these issues when my laptop runs out of memory. post your system stats...

 

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Tree Stats.. This happens to me when i have tree stats on, and try to enter game with no alleg/ vassels.

 

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