Crash to Desktop and/or BSOD

[Rexxus]

Before I begin, let me explain that my playtime is limited and I can go days at a time without logging in - making it ostensibly more difficult to diagnose potential issues. Prior to today, the only times I would ever have issue with FFXIV is if I was trying to run it in Windowed mode, and would on occasion CTD (Crash to Desktop).

Today, I've attempted logging in and playing three times and on all three occasions, I would suffer either a BSOD (on first two attempts) and a CTD on the last. Breakdown on circumstances in-game: Jumping into Duty Finder on first two and crashing inside - after several minutes of gameplay. The most recent attempt was a CTD while riding through Central Shard. After the initial two crashes, I checked the error and reviewed the forums - leading me to suspect that the reason I was having problems was the most recent Nvidia driver update this past week (After installing Skyrim, consumed most of my time).

Here is the System Clip from the launcher (Wall of Text Incoming):

-=-=-=-=-=-=- FFXIV Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

MyDocument	C:\Users\Rex\Documents
FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn	C:\Program Files (x86)\SquareEnix
FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn	Language 1		Region 2
ProxyEnable 0
ProxyServer unspecified
ProxyOverride unspecified


-=-=-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

SYSTEM_OS	Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (9600.winblue_gdr.131030-1505)
SYSTEM_CPU	Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770 CPU @ 3.40GHz (8 CPUs), ~3.4GHz
SYSTEM_CORE_NUM	SYSTEM_CORE_LOGIC 8  SYSTEM_CORE_PHYSICS 4
SYSTEM_BIOS	BIOS Date: 07/04/13 16:00:32 Ver: 04.06.05
SYSTEM_LANGUAGE	English (Regional Setting: English)
SYSTEM_MEMORY	16314.496MB
SYSTEM_VIRTUAL_MEMORY	2047.875MB
SYSTEM_PAGE_FILE	16314.496MB
SYSTEM_STORAGE	C:\    SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE    SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 118.898GB    SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 72.534GB
SYSTEM_STORAGE	E:\    SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE    SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 931.511GB    SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 930.647GB
SYSTEM_DIRECTX_VERSION	DirectX 11
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DEVICE	\\.\DISPLAY1
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_CHIP	GeForce GTX 770
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_MAKER	NVIDIA
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VRAM	1985.684 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM	2048.309 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DAC	Integrated RAMDAC
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE	1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER	nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION	9.18.0013.3221
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_DATE	12/19/2013 2:33:31 PM
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_LANGUAGE	English
3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_PIXEL_SHADER	3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE	SYSTEM_SUPPORT
SYSTEM_SOUND	Speakers (USB PnP Sound Device)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID	{E519748A-488A-4957-8B10-83E7FC438AD2}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME	CM10864.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION	8.00.0008.2163
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE	English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE	10/4/2012 1:59:54 AM
SYSTEM_SOUND	E325BV-FMD-0 (NVIDIA High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID	{611D66EC-11EB-4762-9691-30FD9A2693C2}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME	nvhda64v.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION	1.03.0030.0001
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE	English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE	11/28/2013 7:38:18 AM
SYSTEM_SOUND	Digital Output (USB PnP Sound Device)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID	{D8E63851-0032-426A-B003-00ECC1EF379E}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME	CM10864.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION	8.00.0008.2163
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE	English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE	10/4/2012 1:59:54 AM
SYSTEM_SOUND	Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID	{E8C4BA90-45AA-46D1-BE07-0E8FC5FB34CF}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME	RTKVHD64.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION	6.00.0001.6873
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE	English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE	3/29/2013 7:42:42 AM
SYSTEM_INPUT	{6F1D2B60-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME	Mouse
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS	SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 3  SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 5  SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT	{6F1D2B61-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME	Keyboard
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS	SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0  SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 128  SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT	{69EB6630-65CE-11E3-8005444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME	USB PnP Sound Device
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS	SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 1  SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 5  SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT	{69EB3F20-65CE-11E3-8002444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME	USB KEYBOARD
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS	SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0  SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 3  SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT	{69EB6630-65CE-11E3-8003444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME	USB KEYBOARD
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS	SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0  SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 24  SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0


-=-=-=-=-=-=- Application Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

FFXIVLauncher


-=-=-=-=-=-=- Install Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

BOSS
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware version 1.75.0.1300
NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D Driver
Steam
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Java 7 Update 45
FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn
Java Auto Updater
Intel(R) Management Engine Components
7.1 SOUND EFFECT GAMING HEADSET
NVIDIA PhysX
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.6161
Intel(R) Manageability Engine Firmware Recovery Agent
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010  x86 Redistributable - 10.0.40219
Realtek High Definition Audio Driver


-=-=-=-=-=-=- Proccess Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe	000003EC
C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) ME FW Recovery Agent\bin\ismagent.exe	0000090C
C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) ME FW Recovery Agent\bin\updateui.exe	00000908
C:\Program Files (x86)\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbamgui.exe	000006FC
C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\NVIDIA Update Core\NvTmru.exe	000007A4
C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\Update Core\NvBackend.exe	00000A20
C:\Program Files (x86)\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn\boot\ffxivlauncher.exe	0000226C
C:\Program Files (x86)\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn\boot\ffxivsysinfo.exe	00001B0C
C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology\IAStorIcon.exe	00000904
C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Smart Connect Technology Agent\iSCTsysTray8.exe	00000E9C
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\rundll32.exe	00000EF0
C:\Windows\System32\TiltWheelMouse.exe	00000A14

First thing I noticed was that the driver had last been updated back on the 23rd. However, I know that I've installed the GeForce 332.21 Driver on 1/7/14. There really haven't been any hardware adjustments made in the last week or two. Installed Skyrim and a ton of mods, but nothing that would affect this program. (A Java install earlier this morning maybe?)

In game settings are managed by NVIDIA Geforce Experience and have been adjusted to Optimal Settings. If there's anything specific that I can list to better assist with technical issues, feel free to ask.

[Raist]

may very well be issues with the Win 8.1 drivers. A lot of people have been having issues in 8.1 that others with the same series of cards don't/didn't experience in Win7 or vanilla Win8. Might be worth hitting the nVidia forum for your card/series to see if there's any chatter there. Issues with specific games (inclucing both XI and XIV) come up there from time to time and they release some beta drivers periodically while they work on the issues.

Otherwise, may want to verify the usual hardware stuff--power supply is a certified 80+ or SLI model with enough power to support your system, cooling is working as it should, if you overclocked anything, try lowering the clocks or putting them back to stock, etc., etc.

[Rexxus]

Performed a Clean Reinstall of my Geforce Driver - and still experiencing the error. Game logs in normally, plays for a few minutes - before I receive the 'Final Fantasy XIV has stopped responding' message. I doubt this has to do with the graphics driver at this point, otherwise we'd likely see quite a number of people on the forums experiencing the same issue - of which that is not the case. However, if it is a local issue on my part - I'm having difficulty determining what it might be. Given that the game loads and begins playing before it crashes, it leads me to believe it might be something sound or memory related. Unfortunately, I haven't the foggiest on how to diagnose said issues - and why they would only be affecting this game.

[Raist]

may be a longshot... but I've recently experienced some bizarre issues with my system.

Double-check that your sound/video cards are seated snugly in their slots--check your RAM as well. Things can creep a little loose during the heating/cooling of your system (expansion/contraction theory) if they aren't snug fittings. They can also be more susceptible to oxidation on the contacts as well--especially if your area frequently suffers from high humidity. The simple act of removing/refitting can sometimes remove some of that buildup and result in a cleaner contact. Unwanted resistance can be crucial with the really low voltages we deal with these days.

My 5870 has one h3ll of a cooling system on it (Vapor-X OC edition), and it literally was creeping out of it's slot slightly at the back edge. There's a clip there to prevent it from coming out and all, but it just wasn't snug enough. It was just a matter of time before it would creep out enough and then I'd start getting weird corruption periodically on screen. If I let it go too long, I'd see gold vertical bars on a black background start flashing on screen, then intermittent flashes of black screen, then a full on system freeze. Went in and rigged up a little support system by literally tying the card to the side of the case that the motherboard is mounted on. There's a few holes on the top edge of the card... I simply ran some twine through it, and lopped through a cut-out in the case and tied it just tight enough to keep the card snug in the slot. I know.. bizarre McGuyvering... but it's worked so far.

My Xonar DX sound card also has an issue with it's power connector. It is actually a plug that accepts the old floppy disk power connector--and as usual, the connectors don't fit that molex very snugly, and there's no locking clip. I had to use some cable ties to keep that thing from coming loose when I jostled the case around. So, may want to double check your power fittings on devices as well while you are in there.

Last but not least, make sure your cooling is working properly. Many apps come with hardware now to monitor their temps--if not, should be able to find something online. I've got a small program for my laptop that can read the temp of each of my CPU's cores as well as my nVidia and post them in systray if I want (I just do one CPU core and the GPU though, so it doesn't fill the notifications area). It's called RealTemp, and is completely free from techpowerup. Getting it to load automatically in Win8 was funky though... wound up doing it via a scheduled task. Don't have t worry about flipping back and forth to check temps either--it tracks the min/max of each one you monitor. I can just mouse over the numbers in my systray and balloon help pops up to show my GPU min/max, and it breaks out my 4 CPU core temps. A double-click opens the interface and it shows the min/max of each CPU core and other stats.

[Rexxus]

may be a longshot... but I've recently experienced some bizarre issues with my system.

Double-check that your sound/video cards are seated snugly in their slots--check your RAM as well. Things can creep a little loose during the heating/cooling of your system (expansion/contraction theory) if they aren't snug fittings. They can also be more susceptible to oxidation on the contacts as well--especially if your area frequently suffers from high humidity. The simple act of removing/refitting can sometimes remove some of that buildup and result in a cleaner contact. Unwanted resistance can be crucial with the really low voltages we deal with these days.

My 5870 has one h3ll of a cooling system on it (Vapor-X OC edition), and it literally was creeping out of it's slot slightly at the back edge. There's a clip there to prevent it from coming out and all, but it just wasn't snug enough. It was just a matter of time before it would creep out enough and then I'd start getting weird corruption periodically on screen. If I let it go too long, I'd see gold vertical bars on a black background start flashing on screen, then intermittent flashes of black screen, then a full on system freeze. Went in and rigged up a little support system by literally tying the card to the side of the case that the motherboard is mounted on. There's a few holes on the top edge of the card... I simply ran some twine through it, and lopped through a cut-out in the case and tied it just tight enough to keep the card snug in the slot. I know.. bizarre McGuyvering... but it's worked so far.

My Xonar DX sound card also has an issue with it's power connector. It is actually a plug that accepts the old floppy disk power connector--and as usual, the connectors don't fit that molex very snugly, and there's no locking clip. I had to use some cable ties to keep that thing from coming loose when I jostled the case around. So, may want to double check your power fittings on devices as well while you are in there.

Last but not least, make sure your cooling is working properly. Many apps come with hardware now to monitor their temps--if not, should be able to find something online. I've got a small program for my laptop that can read the temp of each of my CPU's cores as well as my nVidia and post them in systray if I want (I just do one CPU core and the GPU though, so it doesn't fill the notifications area). It's called RealTemp, and is completely free from techpowerup. Getting it to load automatically in Win8 was funky though... wound up doing it via a scheduled task. Don't have t worry about flipping back and forth to check temps either--it tracks the min/max of each one you monitor. I can just mouse over the numbers in my systray and balloon help pops up to show my GPU min/max, and it breaks out my 4 CPU core temps. A double-click opens the interface and it shows the min/max of each CPU core and other stats.

Performed a Linpack Test, and CPU stability is confirmed.

Core Temp runs at around 23.2C idle and 28~ at load. No Soundcard exists on my system - using onboard sound (After a couple rigs, I seldom bother with wasting a PCI slot on one).

800W PSU - I haven't overclocked anything, and even if I had - wattage shouldn't be an issue.

I've always imagined re-seating cards to be one of those old wives tale type fixes (Blowing in the cartridge..), but I'll give it a try and perform a few more runs of the game to see if it has any direct impact.

[Rexxus]

Well. Had to shut down to do the re-seat and ensure everything was nice and snug. After logging back in, I played consistently for the next hour or so without incident. I'm skeptical the fix had anything to do with touching the hardware, but since things are working properly now - I'm not apt to complain.

If a moderator would be so kind as to lock this topic. Should the issue return, I will simply start a new thread and reference this one (unless it gets filed away in an unseen corner).

Thanks.

[Furlamseere]

Greetings folks,

Per Rexxus's request the thread is locked, should anyone need additional assistance with this topic feel free to make another thread.

-Furlamseere