Random DLL Error

Game runs fine for about 15 mins, sometimes longer and then randomly crashes with a DLL error saying that shdocvw.dll is missing or incompatible. So I read into what the DLL was for (shell operating or some crap) and then downloaded what I thought was a missing DLL, tried to copy to systerm32 and the DLL was already there.

Also updated Direct X and graphics card drivers. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Oh, by the way. The graphics start to glitch out to a yellow before the game crashes. I can get rid of this problem by making the window smaller or sometimes minimizing but it does eventually just crash.

Card is a Geforce FX 5200

Ok, this dll error can occur from the Bofra.A / MyDoom variant a nasty little virus, but it only affects XP users with service pack 1 and below, so if your running XP with service pack 2, this should not affect you.

If you have a full version of XP you can use the system file checker which will do as it says and check critical system files, you will need to insert your XP disk when prompted, this may work, or it may not.

there are a few things this could be including faulty parts i'e memory, graphics card, even a problem driver could be at fault, if you can do the system file check first.

To do this if you don't know click your start button, select Run
and in there type sfc /scannow, exactly as it says.

Graphics glitches indicate overheating problems. Pull the side panel off and try playing. If the errors quit you need to get a better cooling system for the case.

Already using SP2, scan brought back nothing.

According to the ASUS probe everything is staying below 30c while in GW with 4 filtered fans intake and 4 fans out. I even through a PCI fan right under the geforce because there's no fan on the heatsink, so I'm fairly certain that there's no problem there. This doesn't happen with any other game (WoW and BF2, which both take more resources and are harder on gaming systems than GW).

CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2500+ "barton"
RAM: 1gb (512mbx2) GIEL dual channel ddr400 (pc3200)
HDD1: 120gb Maxtor
HDD2: 200gb maxtor
Sound: Soundblaster 5.1 (cheap one from walmart :P)
GFX: PNY Geforce FX 5200 256mb AGP
PSU: 400w no name brand from CompUSA
Onboard nForce NIC running at 100mbps

Looking to build a new PC soon with a pci-e board and a dual core AMD 64 but until then this one is still my baby and I'd very much like for GW to work properly on it. Also submitted this problem to PlayNC and they suggested sending them a DxDiagnostics test result. Argh...

The DX Diag might reveal an issue. They're very good at pinpointing anything wrong in the file.

I'd rename the .dat file and download a new one. Hopefully you have a decent broadband connection. If the issues go away, great, if not you'll have to do somemore digging.