ArmA: Armed Assault: Troubleshooting Vista

Unofficial, unsupported troubleshooting page for Windows Vista 32-bit and Windows Vista 64-bit.
This information is until now current with Patch: v1.08hotfix

Getting ArmA to run properly on Vista

• Install all updates available from Windows Update
• Install DirectX9/10 Redistributable (Links: Guru3d)
• Install one of the latest ATI or Nvidia drivers available (Links ATI, NVIDIA and Guru3d)
• Install Vista SP1 (when released) OR pre-SP1 hotfixes 940105, 936710, 938194 and 938979
• Adjust ArmA shortcut to include -maxmem=512

Known Issues and Resolutions

64-bit Windows with 4GB RAM, black loading screen

• Until either Bohemia Interactive, Microsoft or the Video Card producers come up with a solution, you can workaround this problem by limiting your System Memory to 3GB by a simple change of settings and a reboot:
  • Press windowskey+R, and run msconfig
  • At the boot tab, pick advanced options and put maximum memory to 3072
  • Reboot
  • You can also revert the setting by above method to get your full 4GB back
• More methods might be listed soon, together with a method to get a selection screen at system boot up to pick "Normal Operation" and "Limited to 3GB"
• You could add this selection by using command-line tool (administrator-privileges needed) BCDEdit with following commands:
  • bcdedit /copy {current} /d "Limited to 3GB"
  • bcdedit /set {Insert given new entry ID here} truncatememory 3221225472
• More info on boot parameters available below, in the section Related Links

D3DX9_30.dll Not Found

• Check above for the DirectX9/10 redistributable, this resolves this issue.

When shutting down the game, you get a bluescreen "Process has locked Pages"

• This is a problem confirmed with X-Fi cards and their drivers. Driver Release 2.15.0004 or 2.15.0002 resolves this issue
• Otherwise, You can add the startup parameter -dsound to ArmA Shortcut but other weird sound problems might arise in that case.

After a shortwhile I get weird textures and models

• Make sure you have adjusted your startup shortcut to include -maxmem=512, in some cases it might be necessary to tweak it further back. Try 384.

Unable to connect to any servers, or game locks up when going to multiplayer list

• Make sure your Windows Firewall allows ArmA.exe
• Make sure that (if installed) other firewall applications allow ArmA.exe access
• Make sure that your router/modem also allows ArmA's outgoing UDP ports towards the internet

Related Links

Current Forum Discussion Thread

• BIS Forums Vista Troubleshooting thread, the one and only

Resources

• Windows XP & Vista Boot parameters explained

Old Forum Discussion Threads

Note: Most of these are outdated and the proper information has been substracted and processed in this wiki

• Vista Black load screen?
• Vista Compatibility
• Instant crash, game does not even load (Vista 64)
• Got my ArmA working properly on Vista/8800GTS
• Connection issues in Vista
• Hotfix for Vista related to out of memory errors
• Nvidia drivers 163.44 and Vista 32/64 bit Hotfix
• Vista64 w/4gig of ram black screen **FIX*
• Any Fix for Black Screen Vistax64
• To help all Vista & 8800 users read here!
• No problems with Vista
• Windows Vista with ATI Graphics Card
• Vista 32 bit Problems
• Vista and Sound Issues
• 8800 ultra vista 64 problem
• Vista x64 + Radeon X1900XT unplayable
• Microsoft releases Vista performance fix packs
• FIX Memory errors back to desktop (VISTA)
• Vista 64Bit
• Armed Assault Vista X64 issues
• TrackIR 4 Vista
• Speed up SATA Hard Drives in Windows Vista
• Vista Performance Tip
• Windows Vista or d3dx9_30.dll
• 8007000e Error in Vista
• Vsync and Vista
• Vista or Patch issue when trying to launch?

See Also

• Bug List
• System Requirements