FE gets Smart Exception support

from JoeUser Forums

Unlike Beta 1 where users had to post their stuff for us to get their crash logs, in Beta 2, crashes are automatically uploaded to us via Smart Exception which is something originally developed for WindowBlinds but was put into FE beta 2.

Here’s what we see on our end:

image

You should definitely post crashes and other info in the beta forum so that we can work directly with you. But this way, we at least get all the good details.

So far, stability seems to be very OS specific (Windows XP users are definitely suffering according to the logs).

55,022 views 29 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Very Cool. I imagine FE will be getting pretty stable in future.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

I've had remarkably few crashes so far, and have posted them all, but this is a good enhancement.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

FB, I'm not on XP, and I'm dying over here; stability is really an issue.  I've submitted crash reports all weekend; haven't really seen or heard from you folks.  That's fine, but it would be nice to know if you're getting the reports.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Good to see we are on the same page here. Reporting is getting really efficient. I have started using videos to show bugs instead of walls of text. That should help too. 

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

(Windows XP users are definitely suffering according to the logs).
End of quote

Do you have data about OS used by all beta testers or only by crash sources? Could you share how many beta testers use respective OS? I'm just curious.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

I think I see my email address in there.  Been crashing enough so it's not a big surprise  (on XP).

But the partly-obscured email addresses remind me what I've read about how many kinds of anonymized user data aren't as anonymous as they are supposed to be.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top



You should definitely post crashes and other info in the beta forum so that we can work directly with you. But this way, we at least get all the good details.

End of quote

 

Sorry for being thick, but I'm confused on this issue. In the thread on how to report crashes for FE it says to email the crash dumps to support:

If you run into a problem, like a game crash there will be a file in your \programdata\stardock\elemental – fallen enchantress direcotry. It’ll be a ZIP file which will contain a debug.err (always helpful) and a crash dump file. Send that to us at [email protected] subject: Fallen Enchantress report.
End of quote

This is what I've been doing.   Would you rather every crash be posted to the forum instead?

To be honest, I'd rather just email the run of the mill crashes so I don't have to mess with the whole Pastebin/Dropbox rigamarole.

But if you'd prefer they be posted on the boards, I can do that.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top


Nothing, then?  FE is currently unplayable.  That's a shame.

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

Don't give up.  They work on crash reports even if they don't respond to them in the forums.  I'm in a special position to confirm this because of a post by FB early in the beta with video & sound showing what they do with crash reports and explaining how important they are.  The report he was working on was from me, but as best I recall they never replied to my crash-report post.

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

Sorry if this has been answered already, but I believe I read in a Journal that some crash reports are sent automatically from the Windows OS?  In other words, when the program crashes and it says it is sending the crash report to Microsoft or something, is this what you get?

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

As I understand it, every crash you have will be sent to support automatically. 

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

I am in the same boat as Winnihym. I'm on Win 7 64 and have all latest drivers, but can only get about one game in four to go past about 20 turns without having FE crash as soon as I end the turn.

Its a little frustrating. I realize its beta, but its really difficult to even try to test, because I have no feedback on what to try to detect/avoid the crash.

 

Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top

I like the idea and think its great -easier for everyone.  That said, I hope there's something in writing somewhere indicating that folks sending this information authorize it by participating in the beta, etc.  Probably not a sticking point, just a thought. 

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting cww256, reply 12
I am in the same boat as Winnihym. I'm on Win 7 64 and have all latest drivers, but can only get about one game in four to go past about 20 turns without having FE crash as soon as I end the turn.

Its a little frustrating. I realize its beta, but its really difficult to even try to test, because I have no feedback on what to try to detect/avoid the crash.

 
End of cww256's quote

 

That's weird. I'm on Windows 7 (Ultimate) x64 myself and although I've seen occasional crashes, things aren't as bad as you're describing them... :|

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting dainamis, reply 14

Quoting cww256, reply 12I am in the same boat as Winnihym. I'm on Win 7 64 and have all latest drivers, but can only get about one game in four to go past about 20 turns without having FE crash as soon as I end the turn.

Its a little frustrating. I realize its beta, but its really difficult to even try to test, because I have no feedback on what to try to detect/avoid the crash.

 

 

That's weird. I'm on Windows 7 (Ultimate) x64 myself and although I've seen occasional crashes, things aren't as bad as you're describing them...
End of dainamis's quote

 

It can be different for everyone, depending on configuration, hence the beta testing and  crash reports.  I suffer from crippling performance slowdowns after mid game, and regular crashing, plus a number of odd save/load related bugs.

Reply #16 from Elemental Forums Top

Some one is running XP 64 bit? Wow. I thought they only made like 6 programs for that platform ever.

 

My luck with W7x64 has been pretty good. 1-2 crashes per about 6 hours playtime on average.

Reply #17 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting cww256, reply 12
I am in the same boat as Winnihym. I'm on Win 7 64 and have all latest drivers, but can only get about one game in four to go past about 20 turns without having FE crash as soon as I end the turn.

Its a little frustrating. I realize its beta, but its really difficult to even try to test, because I have no feedback on what to try to detect/avoid the crash.

 
End of cww256's quote

Have you posted any of your crash logs? I know we send them automatically but I tend to give personal attention to people who post theirs.

While you guys are into "playing" the game, and I'm not saying there's anything "wrong" with wanting to play a video game. I'm in this to debug your crashes. That's what I get out of this whole thing. You want to talk about replayability. :) 

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 17
Quoting cww256, reply 12I am in the same boat as Winnihym. I'm on Win 7 64 and have all latest drivers, but can only get about one game in four to go past about 20 turns without having FE crash as soon as I end the turn.

Its a little frustrating. I realize its beta, but its really difficult to even try to test, because I have no feedback on what to try to detect/avoid the crash.

 

Have you posted any of your crash logs? I know we send them automatically but I tend to give personal attention to people who post theirs.

While you guys are into "playing" the game, and I'm not saying there's anything "wrong" with wanting to play a video game. I'm in this to debug your crashes. That's what I get out of this whole thing. You want to talk about replayability.  
End of Frogboy's quote

I can attest to this! Brad worked some of my stuff in the EWOM beta.

Reply #19 from Elemental Forums Top

I posted my last one in the support forum, but didn't see any reply last time I checked. I keep telling myself I wont play anymore until the next update, because its so frustrating hitting a brick wall crash, but then like a helpless and slightly insane addict I start again.

Since you say you'll give personal attention here is another one.

 

EDIT: Made proper post in support forum. - LINK HERE

 

Even if I do nothing at all for about seven turns it crashes straight to desktop. Notably, it crashes before the debug.err logs "DebugMessage:  Step 5: AI Players Done. Resetting AI thread to wait." Maybe it has something to do with AI. In testing I loaded up the save and stopped all my units from moving and all my cities from building and just click next turn for seven turns and still get the crash.

 

I don't want anyone to think I am complaining, I do realize it is still beta and this is to be expected, it's just a little frustrating. This is my fifth game of 0.86, and only one has made it to the end without a crash.

 

EDIT: Was bored so I opened up the dump summary and got a little laugh.

 

 

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

Some one is running XP 64 bit? Wow. I thought they only made like 6 programs for that platform ever.

My luck with W7x64 has been pretty good. 1-2 crashes per about 6 hours playtime on average.

 

 

Hey! I resemble that remark. :D

Reply #22 from Elemental Forums Top

I'm on Win7 64 bit.

My crash frequency dropped a lot since when I stopped loading games in game. BTW, I only had them in large maps and after discovering at least one faction.

Still I have some 1-minute-freezes during tactical battles, often (but not always) followed by CtD.

 

Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

I've been looking for a reason to upgrade my XP single core machine...I think I found it!  If the wife complains I will just refer her to this post :)

Reply #24 from Elemental Forums Top

Win7 64-bit lets FE use 4GB of memory. On XP it's only 2GB.

Reply #25 from Elemental Forums Top

From a guy who does software support currently (and work about 15 minutes from you, *cough* ;) ), this is kinda hot.