Serious Sam 3: BFE Crashes at start up

Ilriyas

So as in the title it's crashing for me whenever I try to start the game, I've been looking around the internet for answers and so far I've learned that Zonealarm's ISWSVC program is preventing me from loading the game at all.

Unfortunately I don't have permissions to end the process so I was wondering if anyone on Icrontic could help me work around it.

primesuspect

Wait... you don't have permission to shut down zone alarm? is this your computer or is it like a school or work machine?

Ilriyas

I'm not the primary admin (That would be my father) so all my attempts to end the process have been met with a lack of permissions

But I'm trying something atm will edit in how it went.

Aight, got past the load issue now all I need to do is upgrade my video drivers (Which are months out of date apparently)

Strange things happen when one tries to update their Nvidia Drivers. *shudder*

Ilriyas

Alright I fixed it, so please excuse the double post I'd just like to have this here for anyone else who encounters the error.

The problem was indeed Zone Alarm's ISWSVC process. So if you don't have Zone Alarm you won't experience this problem.

For those who do however there are two solutions, one permanent and one temporary.

Permanent: ISWSVC is a process created by the Zone Alarm taskbar, the simplest way of removing this is to simply uninstall the taskbar, from what I've read uninstalling the taskbar doesn't affect Zone Alarm in any way that could potentially bring harm to your system.

For those like me who aren't that tech-savy (Or for those who know diddly squat about computers) The Zone Alarm Taskbar is easily found in the add/remove programs section on your control panel, the uninstall process takes about five seconds.

Temporary: The temporary solution to the issue is to simply open your task manager every single time before running SS3:BFE, simply end the process and boot the game. After ending the process takes about five seconds (Tested) before it re-initializes itself but if you managed to boot SS3:BFE within that time-frame the game will start and run no problem. The only downside to this is that it must be done EVERY single time before you can run the game.

Hope I was able to help anyone who may have been having the same issue.

Tushon

And that's why I don't use ZA. I've continually seen experiences like this popup in relation to their AV products and how in the world a taskbar would do this is beyond me.

Ilriyas

Believe me I don't know enough, nor will I make the claim to understand how it affected the game launch.

All I know is that after searching the web for about half an hour I uninstalled the taskbar and poof the game was working like clockwork.

My guess from what I've read however is that for whatever reason the taskbar thinks the game application is a virus and forces it to close.

Also while we're on the topic any suggestions for replacing ZA?

Tushon

Personal preferences (with a source backing, I just picked the ones out of the possible that I typically recommend):

Free - Avast or MSE (if you are running Vista or 7)

Paid - ESET

Source

The other big component of my "dumb" AV strategy is using FF or Chrome with Ad-block plus installed as primary browser. This will nullify a TON of threats that may get past A/V.

Ilriyas

Question is Avast Vista/7 only or is there an XP version?

Edit: Nm, there is but now for a more intelligent question.

You mentioned Vista/7 specifically so is the XP version inferior in some way?

Tushon

It works on XP as well.

@prime: does the forum automatically linkify those names? Cause I sure as hell didn't