Lock-Ups, Crashes, Start-Up Errors & Drivers

Identifying Your DirectX Version

If you are planning on updating DirectX and your audio and video drivers, please install the update for DirectX first. After installing the DirectX update, then continue to update your video and sound drivers.

Steps to Identify Your DirectX version:

  1. Click the "Start" button and select "Run".

  2. In the "Open:" field type in "dxdiag" (without the quotes) and Click the "OK" button.

  3. When the DirectX Diagnostic Tool loads up, you will see information about your computer. Near the bottom of the information should be the following field: "DirectX Version:", which will list what version you are currently running.

  4. Check http://www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads/default.asp for the latest version of DirectX and update if necessary*.
*Note: Make sure you can install drivers for your video and sound card that are compatible with the latest version of DirectX, or you may experience problems. If you are not sure about the compatibility of the latest version of DirectX and the latest drivers for your sound and video please consult the manufacturer of your sound and video cards for more information. A list of vendors is available at http://www.blizzard.com/support/?id=mwr0555p.




Video Card Issues

We are aware of various display related problems that stem from video driver incompatibilities, corrupted drivers and incorrect drivers being installed. Even if you are absolutely sure that the drivers you have are the most current drivers available, please double-check AND reinstall them after updating DirectX.

Steps to Identify Your Video Driver version:

  1. Click the "Start" button and select "Run".

  2. In the "Open:" field type in "dxdiag" (without the quotes) and Click the "OK" button.

  3. After the DirectX Diagnostic Tool finishes loading, select the "Display" tab. The driver version currently installed will be listed in the "Drivers" section.

  4. Run the DirectDraw and Direct3D tests by clicking the "Test DirectDraw" and "Test Direct3D" buttons.
A list of hardware manufacturers with contact information can be found at http://www.blizzard.com/support/?id=mwr0555p.



Suggested In-Game Settings:

Turning many of these video options to low can considerably increase your game's performance.

Resolution - Lower resolutions and color depths (i.e. 640x480x16) will usually result in improved performance. Higher resolutions and color depths (i.e. 1024x768x32) will usually result in better visual quality, but performance will be slower.

Model Detail - Changing this setting to Low will increase performance.

Animation Quality - Changing this setting to Low will increase performance. The higher settings will make animations look smoother.

Texture Quality - Changing this setting to Low will increase performance. Texture Quality calls into effect the amount of textures used on a model. The higher the setting, the more textures used.

Particles - Changing this setting to Low will increase performance. Particles refers to anything that adds to a lot of the visual atmosphere in The Frozen Throne. Things like spell effects, smoke, fire, and model effects will all be affected.

Lights - Changing this setting to Low will increase performance. Lights deals with all lighting in game (unit's portrait, particle effects intensity, dynamic lighting, etc.).

Portraits - This setting has a slight effect on performance. Portraits deal with an individual unit's animations next to the Info Panel.

Shadows - Turning this setting off will increase performance slightly.



Sound Card Issues

Some systems may experience crackling sound when using the EAX sound provider. If you hear crackling sound, try using the Miles Fast 3D sound provider. This can be changed via the Main Menu. From the Main Menu, click on the "Options" button, and then click on the "Sound" button.

If you experience any other sound distortions, or if the sound effects cut out, download and install the latest sound card drivers that match the model of sound card in your computer.

Steps to Identify Your Sound Driver version:

  1. Click the "Start" button and select "Run".

  2. In the "Open:" field type in "dxdiag" (without the quotes) and Click the "OK" button.

  3. After the DirectX Diagnostic Tool finishes loading, select the "Sound" tab. The driver version currently installed will be listed in the "Drivers" section.

  4. Run the DirectSound test by clicking the "Test DirectSound" button.
A list of hardware manufacturers with contact information can be found at http://www.blizzard.com/support/?id=mwr0555p.


Windows 2000 users:

If you have a sound card that supports Direct Sound 3d with EAX1.0 or EAX 2.0 support, and you are not hearing sound in either mode, please try the steps which follow.

  1. Click on the "Start" button, select "Settings", and then select "Control Panel".
  2. Click on "Sounds and Multimedia".

  3. Click on the "Audio" tab.

  4. Click on the "Advanced" button in the "Sound Playback" section.

  5. Click on the "Performance" tab.

  6. Make sure the "Hardware acceleration:" and "Sample rate conversion quality:" sliders are set to "Full" and "Best" respectively.

  7. Click the "OK" button to apply the changes and close the "Advanced Audio Properties" box.

If you continue to have problems with Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne after you update your sound card drivers, you can try disabling the sound card as a troubleshooting step.

To open the Device Manager:

Windows 98/Me:
  1. Right-click on "My Computer" and select "Properties".

  2. Select the "Device Manager" tab at the top.
Windows 2000:
  1. Right-click on "My Computer" and select "Properties".

  2. Select the "Hardware" tab at the top and click on the "Device Manager" button.
Windows XP:
  1. Click on the "Start" Button and select "Control Panel".

  2. Click on "Performance and maintenance"

  3. Select "System" and click the "Hardware" tab at the top.

  4. Click the "Device Manager..." button.

To disable the sound card:
  1. Expand the "Sound, video, and game controllers" branch.

  2. Select the sound card and click the "Properties" button.

  3. Disable the device from the active profile.

  4. Click "OK".

  5. Reboot your computer and start the game again.


Brief pauses with the SBLive / Audigy AND Windows 2000

You may experience brief pauses (up to 5 seconds), possibly with sound looping or stuttering.

We are looking into this issue. For more information, please visit our web site http://www.blizzard.com/support/?id=msi0587p.



System RAM and Performance

Another method of increasing performance in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne is to add RAM to your computer. For example; if you are playing on a system with only 128MB of RAM, Windows 98 will use approximately 5MB of your available RAM, which will cause Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne to use virtual memory. Virtual memory emulates system RAM by using space on the hard drive, which is much slower than actual system RAM.

Windows XP requires 64MB of system RAM (128MB recommended) but will rely heavily on virtual memory if you only have 128MB installed. This process is slower than using system RAM directly, and while the speed of your processor is a factor in the performance of the game, additional memory can improve your game speed, especially on systems that only meet the minimum requirements for Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.



Disable Background Applications

Programs that run in the background, such as web browsers, instant messaging services, media programs, and voice communication applications, cut into the speed at which Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne plays. In order to increase your game speed, quit open applications before you play.

To display a list of all currently running programs, hold down CTL-ALT-DEL. This will display the Task Manager.

From there, select a program and click on the "End Task" button. Repeat this for each task on the list except "Explorer" and "Systray". "Explorer" and "Systray" should remain running. Once all tasks other than "Explorer" have been ended, click on the "Cancel" button and try to install Warcraft III again.



Run Scandisk and Defrag

It is good practice to run Scandisk and Defrag regularly to keep your system file management at peak performance. If you have had any Windows and/or hard drive problems, you may want to run a thorough Scandisk and Defrag.

Use the following steps to run Scandisk:

  1. Click on the "Start" button, select "Programs", select "Accessories" and then select "System Tools".

  2. Click on the "Scandisk" icon.

  3. Mark the "Standard" radio button for a quick scan, or "Thorough" for a more detailed scan (which takes longer but is a more intensive check).

  4. Make sure the "Automatically Fix Errors" box is marked.

  5. Select the hard disk you wish to scan and click "Start".


Use the following steps to run Defrag:
  1. Click on the "Start" button, select "Programs", select "Accessories" and then select "System Tools".

  2. Click on the "Defrag" icon.

  3. Select the hard disk you wish to defragment.

  4. Click "OK" to start the scan.

For the latest information regarding errors and steps to fix them, read http://www.blizzard.com/support. Please check the support site frequently, as we will make updates as they become available.