Hey,

Got Rome:Total War about a month ago but its been really buggy. My pc keeps doing long reads from HD (the HD light goes solid on) durring which time the game stutters and freezes. It happens every five minutes or so and lasts 3 or 4 seconds.

It doesn't sound like a big deal but its really anoying especially seeing as I just paid a fortune for a new pc so I could run intensive games.

I have 512MB. SANDRA says my phisical memory is 67% free so why is it doing long pages from HD? Could it be to do with the NOCD crack I had to use because of ACTIVISIONS ludicrous software protection or is it a straight forward memory shortage. If I were to end all the processes in the task manager do you think it would run properly (are the any processes that are vital)?

Many Thanxs

Yes, 17 of your proccess are vital, I made the mistake of taking a few off, PC never worked the same after that. I had to reformat. My max of process are 19 including IEEXPLORE (which is this) any one that says SYSTEM is a must keep. Also Network and local service is a must keep. Now on to the lesser. Keep any rundll32 and explorer. anything else is either programs you got during start up and or either programs you installed Example: "point32.exe" thats my mouse. When I reformatted I wrote down what appeared when I first turned PC on. So if I ever ot any spyware I would know. As far as the game goes: have you dowloaded patch that get rid of few gliches(if theres one out there)? If should be running smooth, but I here that Total war games you have to jack down graphics....and then some people say turn them all up... I am having problems with Medieval total war. Campain won't work. everything else does but campain...sucks hope this helped
James D