[punk4evr]

I was having a similar issue of CTD after re-installing Vista 64, and I was getting CTD upon any time loading a save, or a new game. HOw I solved is this:

First, it is Good to make sure you are up to date with drivers, ( I know, its said in a million other posts, but it bears repeating).

I do believe that dxdiags is ok, but often only give clues, and NOT spicifics as to why App Crashes occur.

( Please make sure you system is up to specs with game requirements first).

My first steps often is to look in the Windows Log Files. Many times it allows you to more quickly find the exact point or problem loading the game.

Start - Control Panel - Administrative tools - Event Viewer - Then go to The Error Tab

Scroll down the errors entries till you find the Application Errors. Click on those, and paste them if you need to! often times it may tell you what module it was loading that threw out the Error! ( See much faster than guessing with dxdiags).

If it lists an offending file, this may tell you what is going on that is wrong.. for example, in a previous one, AC3Filter.dll ( for the Codec Packs).
- I find this the fastest way to find the potential problem, but it doesn't solve all issues. *( for example, my case)*

In my case, it was just throwing up the error in Fallout3.exe and no other references... So I was a bit stuck.

- What did fix it for me was... For the **** of it, ( and a post in another message, i uninstalled Asus gamer OSD. )

- I then went and installed the "Latest" Creative Labs files for my X FI.
*( I know this falls under drivers, but technically, I had the latest)
I installed the BETA Driver for my Xfi, and for the **** of it, there were some slight newer versions of the Volume panel, and Alchemy ( though not drivers).

And bingo, that fixed the issue.

- I suspect it was the sound driver, but I can not say for absolute sure. But at least its working now.


* Please note: I had a similar issue with Oblivion, but in that case, it was codec Pack, I installed, that was halting the game, but again, it was clear as day, in the error Log.
So, I looked for that first in this issue.

I hope this helps. (* I often go to the manufacturer for drivers for onboard sound cars, since they can often be much, much newer than on the Motherboards pages ) .



Before anyone asks, My system specs are as follows:

AMD Phenom 2, 3.0 gig quad core
8 gig ddr2 G.Skill 1066 memory
Asus M3a79-T mobo
Vista Home prem. 64.
UAC OFF

Asus 4870x 2 video card
1 1tb hdd
1 1.5 tb hdd
2 320 hdd.
Creative XFI
Merc Zboard.
Blue Ray DVD drive.