comp lag help

[Psychosoldier9]

Well, when ever i try to play DoD:S i have to click on it at least four time (two-double clicks). the first time i get the "preparing to launch Day of Defeat source" window, then nothing happens, then i click it a second time and the game launches. By now according to my CPU meter, It's usage is at a range of 60-80%, and throughout the game I'm lagy, (normal ping is 72, now it 95-110)
(My video cards are good so I don't need fancy pants console commands)

And when I exit game, my CPU usage is now at 100% and lag my whole computer, vent, firefox everything. it changes from time to time but never drops to a suitable level. And it doesn't fall below those numbers until I re-start my computer.

Some help on how to fix this would be nice, this started happening on Saturday (7/10/10)

Specs:
Processor:AMD Atholon™ II X2 240 processor at 2.80GHz
Memory: 5GB
System type: Windows 7, 64-bit


Here's the CPU read out: Big circle is CPU, Little one is RAM

 

[Psychosoldier9]

***bump***

 

[ronpaul]

Have you verified all your game cache files? Did this happen after a Steam update or after you installed some software? If you can remember the day it started happening, do you have a system restore point for the day before that? It sounds like a corrupt process/file that's looping and eating resources. Scanned your machine for viruses? Use an online service for that as your PCs AV may be compromised.

Actually, you say you have to click 4 times to start the game, there's a possibility you're creating 4 instances of the game process which each consume a ton of resources. Open your task manager when you're in-game and see how many hl2.exe processes you have running and how many resources they're each consuming. When you exit the game, if you still have 3 of those processes running then that's probably why the rest of your machine is lagging.

Let us know

 

[ronpaul]

^^ follow-up. I think the extra processes theory is going to be right, so it seems your problem will become: why does my game hang at "Preparing to launch.."? Verify Game cache, update your graphics card drivers and use directx 9. Also try the system restore and see if you can nail down when this happened or what has changed to make it happen

 

[mattM_-]

Have you verified all your game cache files? Did this happen after a Steam update or after you installed some software? If you can remember the day it started happening, do you have a system restore point for the day before that? It sounds like a corrupt process/file that's looping and eating resources. Scanned your machine for viruses? Use an online service for that as your PCs AV may be compromised.

Actually, you say you have to click 4 times to start the game, there's a possibility you're creating 4 instances of the game process which each consume a ton of resources. Open your task manager when you're in-game and see how many hl2.exe processes you have running and how many resources they're each consuming. When you exit the game, if you still have 3 of those processes running then that's probably why the rest of your machine is lagging.

Let us know

Steam will only open 1 copy. You could have 4 different games open, but never have I seen 4 (or even 2+ instances) of the same game or steam itself.

 

[Psychosoldier9]

It's really not four, its more like its acting like its 2, but as Ron said to look for the hl2.exe processes through the Task manager, and it comes up as one. all my game cache files are verified and all. As a fail safe of sorts I put in a letter thing into the steam help desk with this response

Hello,

A staff member has replied to your question:

Hello Shawn, Thank you for contacting Steam Support. Please exit Steam and go to the folder called Crogram FilesSteam (this is the default location for a Steam installation - if you set a different installation directory, you will need to browse to it). Delete all of the files in this folder except: The Steamapps folder and Steam.exe (this file is listed as an application and features the black and white Steam logo) Restart your computer. Then, launch Steam.exe from within the Steam installation folder, and not from a pre-existing shortcut. With Steam running, re-test the original issue. Note: This process will not affect your currently installed games. Additionally, please complete this process for your installed game(s): Title: Verifying Game Cache Files (GCF) Link: http://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2037-QEUH-3335 If the issue persists, please follow the link below for suggestions. Title: Games do not run after 'Preparing to Launch' (PTL) Link: http://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=6218-USFX-5568 Let us know if you have any further questions or concerns.

I've tried that and it still won't work, unless I did something wrong.

So, what else have we got?

 

[ronpaul]

Steam will only open 1 copy. You could have 4 different games open, but never have I seen 4 (or even 2+ instances) of the same game or steam itself.

I've had problems where two dods processes and two BFBC2 processes were running with only one game and one window open for either. When I closed the game, Steam Community would say I was still in the game because of the other processes. I never noticed how much memory or CPU the rogue one cost, but it looks like that isn't the case here.

Also, before the new snazzy Steam update I could have several more than one Steam.exe process running after waking my machine up from Sleep on Vista 64-bit.

Psycho: when you were in Task Manager, did you notice the process eating up a ton of CPU/mem? Were you also lagging if so? When you closed the game were you still lagging and was the hl2.exe process still running or were any other processes eating up large amounts of resources?

 

[NipeR]

it sounds like your computer is being robbed somewhere. It might help a little to see if your computer is rather dusty and clean it, but of course a dusty case wont cause all of that. Does it happen on other source games as well or just DOD:S, if just DOD:S it might need file defragging or a re-install. it might do good to do a hard drive defrag.

 

[Psychosoldier9]

Psycho: when you were in Task Manager, did you notice the process eating up a ton of CPU/mem? Were you also lagging if so? When you closed the game were you still lagging and was the hl2.exe process still running or were any other processes eating up large amounts of resources?

The biggest process that was taking up a lot was one called "rundll32.exe" at a peak of 50 CPU usage and at 3,496 K memory

and yes the hl2.exe was still there when i was at my desktop but not taking up and CPU usage...but taking 1,220 K of memory.


And I've already tried take steam completly off my computer and all, and still the problem is still there, this is only for DoD, i have no problems w/ CS:S or RnL.

 

[ronpaul]

The biggest process that was taking up a lot was one called "rundll32.exe" at a peak of 50 CPU usage and at 3,496 K memory

and yes the hl2.exe was still there when i was at my desktop but not taking up and CPU usage...but taking 1,220 K of memory.


And I've already tried take steam completly off my computer and all, and still the problem is still there, this is only for DoD, i have no problems w/ CS:S or RnL.

50% usage on rundll32.exe could be a runaway module and an indicator of spyware/malware. What happens when you close the hl2.exe process, does the system return to normal? Does rundll32.exe still exceed 50% usage? What happens if you end the rundll32.exe process? The system should return to normal at that point.

Download CCleaner and run the cleaner and registry tools. Download Spybot Search and Destroy and run the scan. In CCleaner, also disable any Startup items that you don't recognize or anything with random names like xxyzyxyyzzy, Adobe Updater, tray icons, etc.