I recently installed Windows 8.1. I have an interesting problem. Before, when I ran windows 7,I couldn't use Google Chrome without frequent crashes. This was before installing Planetary Annihilation. Then I installed Windows 8, and I started getting an issue where Google Chrome pages wouldn't load after a browsing session of about 10 - 15 minutes. Not only that, but I wouldn't be able to launch programs, or shut down my computer. Ctrl+Alt+Delete also didn't work. If task manager was already open, it would say that CPU/Memory usage were pretty normal. It's just like my computer is sitting there and nothing is happening. I also can't open task manager if this issue occurs. I uninstalled Chrome. Then found that Skype caused the same issue. Found this on the Skype website: http://community.skype.com/t5/Windows-desktop-client/Skype-not-compatible-with-windows-8/td-p/949894 That user has the same issue. So I've disabled uPnP. I also have the same issue after playing PA for about 30 minutes. The game works perfectly, but the only way to open another program is to restart my computer by turning it off at the power button.
Honestly, at least 3 of the weirdest issues I've had with my computer was caused by, or related to, Skype. That program is a curse. The latest issue I had with Skype was that it caused explorer.exe to hang up while logged in to Skype. If I logged out from Skype (but the program was still running) everything worked fine, but as soon as I logged in, everything would freeze again. I don't think I could use Ctrl+Alt+Delete either IIRC. The solution for me was to downgrade Skype to an earlier version. Don't remember which verison but you might be able to google something about it.
I also have similar issues with the windows 8 Metro Skype. And also i have some issues with some startdock sofwares too, but they seem to be unrelated to PA and just problematic softwares on thier own. I'm not sure why PA is causing the system to become unresponsive. Can you post up your DxDiag storming ?? I will see if there is anything i can suggest to help with increaseing windows stability.
Talk about it - I'm wondering if PA uses uPNP or something - Skype isn't running, and yet the problem occurs infrequently when I play PA. Thankfully it is really rare to occur, unlike bloody Skype where it occurred every single time Skype was running. Strangely enough it isn't even Metro - I hate using apps in Windows because I couldn't get notifications to work properly, so I'm using desktop Skype. There you go. I'm not convinced it is PA - I think it's something going on with the internet connection, not actually the PA program. I guess I'll know for sure post release.
I have similar issues when i use the Video driver that wasn't supplied by acer. i updated my driver to play PA but acer have crippled the OS and drivers, so it causes issues using non Acer issued drivers. I think i need to take SXX's advice and install a Plain copy of windows 8 (im using Acer's bloated internal restore version). I'm not %100 on why your having issues. I will upgrade to 8.1 and see if i have similar issues and i'll see what i can do to improve things for you
PA don't need uPNP, it's not required for client-server games. In PA only server have to keep some port open.
How odd then. I also disabled Skype's ability to use a couple of ports. Righto Thanks. It's very odd - I actually have an Nvidia graphics card (650M) which is used to play games. That has the latest drivers. Notice that I should have at least directx 11.1, if not directx 11.2
As I hear it, anything that's Flash or HTML5 will cause Chrome to use video memory. So maybe there's an issue with you running out of video memory while using the game and Chrome at the same time?
Nope it's a possibly unrelated problem with Chrome itself, whose symptoms are the same. The problem existed before PA, it's just translated across. Video memory is basically empty as well according to task manager. It happens infrequently while only running PA.
