Please Help!

I'm going insane! Ok.. I guess I should explain (sorry if this topic was posted elsewhere).

GuildWars runs fine.. I never seemed to have any issues whatsoever with it until one of those updates came along (I'm unsure which one it was exactly). But! Here's the problem. LAG! Total freeze my system up lag! But it only happens on the mission and/or bonus shields (and not all the time, mind you).

My system (and I will list its stat later in this mini rant/hair pulling session/ begging for help post). I email tech support AND after having my run a dxdiag and email back the report (there were no problems found), giving them all of my computers stats, telling them what internet connection type I have, that I do not run things in the background IE: anti virus, firewall, etc etc etc, that I have no viruses, tracking junk, adaware or anything else... there simple reply was this... "post it on the forum, the more people complain about it the more serious it's taken". I will refrain from ranting on this one.. But anyway back to the issue... does anyone know how to resolve this or is it seriously just an ArenaNet server latency issue or something?

Computer stat:

Nvidia FX5500 (up to date)(256 mb Ram)
WinXP home edition (up to date)
Bios (up to date)
80 gig HD
P4 2.40 GHZ
My onboard graphics video card is disabled in all profiles (this did not resolve the issue with the lag on shield)
System ram 512 MB


I think that about covers everything...

Nope! I forgot to say that this lag monster lasts from 10 seconds up to approximately 20 seconds.. and then climbs back into its little demon hole..

I also forgot to add (and this has always been an issue, and one I hear lots of people complain of). Whats with inventory freezing up in the same manner the mish/bon shield does?

I had this same problem. I rebooted and the problem was fixed, did you try that?

yes... I've tried everything..

I did remember something though.. I had a problem installing this card so I called the company, they had me dl forceware version 71.89 to make it work (though I don't think this is the issue since its isolated and not a constant thing, just happens often). Also I noticed that my card is running not 1 but 2 rundll32.exe's (still not convinced its the card) at least I hope it's not..

I have the same video card as you, well not the same but a BFG GeForce FX 5500 256mb OC (Over Clocked). Get the latest drivers from nivida's site. They added shader 3.0 and some other things, I would suggest updating and if you havn't get the latest for Direct X 9.

I thought about that.. the question I have though is this..

When i got the card it wouldn't install with the current software it came with, thus them having me dl that archived forceware.. if I update will my card be right back at square one? As for my directx it is up to date.

this is what it listed:
Windows XP/2000 32-bit


ForceWare Release 80
Version: 81.98
Release Date: December 21, 2005
WHQL Certified


gonna try it.. wish me luck LOL
if it fails I forsee a rollback and a migraine..

If it becomes a real big problem I can help you on MSN or something of that sort.

the update went fine but that miss/shield lag is still an issue.. I don't know what else is left to do

It's ok, I have an Nvidia card as well with 256mb and Mine freezes for 5 seconds or so at a time, repeatedly, in the inventory bags (not the main) and for a few seconds at the mission/bonus shields as well. I've read previous posts and it's always an nVidia card involved. I think I'm going to start looking for an ATI card since my wife's has never locked up and she has one.

What kind of interenet connection do you have? And have you tested its speed and latency with something like CET's bandwidth tester? Perhaps the issue is the internet connection and not your computer. Also, your system RAM is only 512MB with WinXP. You may be pushing the limit of your memory. I upgraded my computer to 1 GB of RAM and it made a big difference because GW pushed the needed memory just over 500MB.

YAY!

First off thank you all for the replies.

In regards to the internet: I have cable, my bandwidths test are fine.

In regards to Nvidia: I will never buy one again..

In regards to the Ram: I refuse to upgrade it with my current MB, I may replace the MB or just get a new system..

In regards to the freeze up! I updated my video drivers, scanned and cleaned 61 spyware/adaware baddies hiding out AND changed a minor setting in my options on GW (I forget what it says exactly but its the one right above enable post process effects) and VOILA! I no longer not only don't have shield lag, I have no inventory lag either! YAY!

OOPS! Edit! I also added that tag there in the target feild that I found in one of the threads that makes it so you can tell how much ram to run for GW. Its running like a dream AND my maps blink open!