RPG Maker VX Ace causes 100% disk usage upon opening and starting test play

[KadoDragon]

I have searched all over the internet using google, I have asked at many other forums and even dug through all my knowledge of computers and cannot find a solution to my problem. This forum is actually my last hope.

I have had this computer for almost a year now and I have been using vx ace since I got it. Starting a little over a week ago now, whenever I open RPG Maker VX Ace or start test play, my computers disk usage spikes up to 100% causing my computer to become unresponsive. This lasts for a good 1-2 1/2 minutes before the disk usage returns to its normal 1-9% usage and RPG Maker either opens or begins test play. This hasn't stopped me from being able to use RPG Maker, but it becomes increasingly frustrating especially when I need to test a new function. I'm sure everyone here knows how often the test play button is pressed. On top of that, if my disk usage truly is spiking up to 100%, it cannot be good for my hard drive. Here is everything I have tried to right the problem.

Reinstalling

Clean and Thorough Uninstall and Reinstall

Reinstalling to a different location

Running in administrator compatibility

Running in windows 7 compatibility

Running in windows XP compatibility

Turning off page filing

Turning page filing back on

Virus Scan

Malware Scan

PC Repair Scan

Defragmentation

Additionally me and my friend have the exact same computer. A Toshiba Satellite with Windows 8. He is able to run VX Ace perfectly fine. It has been suggested that my video card may be the issue, but I know it's not since I have regular gaming sessions and all my games run fine, most of them are set to ultra high settings.

That's everything. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping someone will be able to shed some light on my problem.

 

[Zalerinian]

I know for a fact that the disk usage monitor is a load of crap. It almost ALWAYS says 99% usage for my system when it's writing around a total of 3 MB/s through every process running on my system, yet it still says 100% when a program starts going to around 30MB/s.

Are you running the steam version of Ace, or not? If you are, are you in the Steam Cloud beta? That's given me some issues with Ace before.

 

[KadoDragon]

No, I am not running the steam version. I should also note that I tried on a 100% new project and the problem still persisted. 

 

[Celianna]

If it's only started recently, is it due to the fact you're using too many events? Too many events on the map, plus too many parallel processes running at once, can really suck the life out of your CPU.

 

[Shaz]

I don't think so Cel, because the issue is when opening the editor itself, or launching a test play - before it even gets to the title screen.


KadoDragon - can you confirm that this is NOT when actually Playing the game, not when trying to continue a game or start a new game, but before you even get to that point?


Sounds to me like there's some virus/malware scanner or something that's detecting the launch and grabbing hold of it. Are there any other programs that are slow to start up recently?

 

[KadoDragon]

I don't think so Cel, because the issue is when opening the editor itself, or launching a test play - before it even gets to the title screen.

KadoDragon - can you confirm that this is NOT when actually Playing the game, not when trying to continue a game or start a new game, but before you even get to that point?

Sounds to me like there's some virus/malware scanner or something that's detecting the launch and grabbing hold of it. Are there any other programs that are slow to start up recently?

Confirmed. This does NOT happen when playing the game but before I even get to that point. Once the test play actually starts after the freeze/hang I can run my game fine without any problem. I tried opening RPG Maker about 10 mins ago and this time my computer actually froze causing me to have to do a forced shutdown. This only happens with RPG Maker which is what's so mind boggling for me.

 

[Andar]

How much free disk space do you regularly have? What are your settings for virtual memory?

This looks to me like Windows tries to get maximum virtual RAM at program start to handle something, and that could either be due to a damaged file from the windows system itself, a wrong setting for the virtual memory or even that your antivirus program (or another background checking program) suddenly starts an intense check of the editor for whatever reason (listed as false positive perhaps?).

 

[Jomarcenter]

If it a virus or a window side problem you probably need to re-install windows. If that doesn't works then your pc is busted.

 

[KadoDragon]

I'm not able to do a complete reinstall as my computer had Windows 8 on it when I bought it and I was not given a disk for it. I do not think it is a virus as my anti-virus is up to date and does not find any threats. This is so mind boggling. I fear a windows reinstall is my only choice and I cannot do that...

*EDIT*

I also wouldn't go as far as saying my PC is busted. This happens with RPG Maker ONLY. I repeat, this happens with RPG Maker ONLY. My computer runs perfectly fine otherwise.

 

[Shaz]

You didn't answer Andar's questions.


Can you disable your internet connection and turn off any scanners that are continually running? Virus scanners, malware scanners, etc. Then try it and see if there's a difference. Make sure you turn those things back on again before reconnecting to the internet.


Also make sure you have no other programs open when you try this.

 

[KadoDragon]

Whoops, sorry for not answering those questions.I have a 1 TB hard drive and usually have above 500 GB free space. Its kind of an OCD thing for me where if my free space goes below half its total I get a little weirded out. OCD can sometime make good habits. As for my virtual memory I have the initial size set to 400 whereas my maximum size is set to 4471. These are what windows recommended for me which I followed since I know very little about virtual memory. Shaz, I shall get back to you with your suggestion soon.

 

[Andar]

I'm not able to do a complete reinstall as my computer had Windows 8 on it when I bought it and I was not given a disk for it.

You weren't given a disc for reinstalling, because Win8 no longer fits on any disc.

Instead there is a program supplied with it to make a bootable USB-Stick for reinstalling it.

Depending on wether the computer manufacturer made a base reinstall partition or an advanced partition (with additional programs), that USB stick needs a size between 8 GB and 16 GB. It might also be neccessary to change the BIOS-Settings to enable booting from USB, that depends on your Mainboard - contact the manufacturer's support for this.

I still think there is a program running in the background that conflicts with RM, because that is the only reason why there is such a spike in disc usage - but it can't be a regular task, because that would never take that much disc space as virtual memory (It would be different if your disc was smaller and had more files on it).

To find that program you have no other choice than to experiment, and as Shaz said you better do that with internet disconnected in while you test with disabled antivirus or disabled firewall programs.

And just fyi: Antivirus programs aren't perfect. They provide good basic protection, but if you accidentially stumble on a virus with a zero-day-exploit before that exploit is fixed in the next update from the antivirus program, then nothing can stop that virus.

I'ts generally considered that an antivirus program is useless if it's last update is older than a week - and worse than useless if the last update is older than a month.

 

[Shaz]

Also, if you have more than one program designed to do the same thing (antivirus is a common one - people seem to think the more they have, the safer they'll be), they will often conflict with one another. Only use one antivirus program.


Security Essentials does the lot for me, and I've never had a virus or malware issue (though I can't remember if it's still called Security Essentials on Windows 8 - I think they might have renamed it).

 

[KadoDragon]

Ya, I guess I do put too much faith in my anti-virus. I'm aware that there is a possibility that I could get a virus that is not detected, but the odds are so slim but there none the less. I only have one program, Advanced System Care Ultimate, which has all my scanning needs all in one program. I haven't been able to do the no internet test yet and I may not do it until later today since I'll be busy most of the day. But when I get the chance to, I will post an update.

 

[KadoDragon]

You didn't answer Andar's questions.

Can you disable your internet connection and turn off any scanners that are continually running? Virus scanners, malware scanners, etc. Then try it and see if there's a difference. Make sure you turn those things back on again before reconnecting to the internet.

Also make sure you have no other programs open when you try this.

I did this. No change unfortunately.

*EDIT*

Didn't realize i double posted. Whoops.

 

[Andar]

How far ago did this problem first occur? Can you still use system recovery to go to a point before that or would you loose too much other work?

 

[KadoDragon]

How far ago did this problem first occur? Can you still use system recovery to go to a point before that or would you loose too much other work?

This happened about a week and maybe one or two days ago. I would loose way too much work if I went back that far, not only in my RPG but other personal projects as well. I don't even know what I've worked on since then and it would be too much to back up anyways. Ugh... This is the stupidest thing a computer has ever done to me...

 

[Celianna]

Well, you could always back up those files you've been working on, and save them to an external hard drive, then do the system recovery.

 

[KadoDragon]

Well, you could always back up those files you've been working on, and save them to an external hard drive, then do the system recovery.

...not only in my RPG but other personal projects as well. I don't even know what I've worked on since then and it would be too much to back up anyways. Ugh... This is the stupidest thing a computer has ever done to me...

I just explained why I don't want to do that. And I don't have anything to store memory on. I know a USB is really cheap these days but my pockets are empty these days too. This is a set of unfortunate  events... Looks like I wont be able to use RPG Maker until I can back up my stuff. Stupid everything...

 

[Andar]

I just explained why I don't want to do that. And I don't have anything to store memory on. I know a USB is really cheap these days but my pockets are empty these days too. This is a set of unfortunate  events... Looks like I wont be able to use RPG Maker until I can back up my stuff. Stupid everything...

Try dropbox, if there is no data that has to remain secure. Dropbox will give you limited free internet storage similiar to an USB Stick (you only have to pay if you pass that limit, but it's rather high in my opinion). Of course that means the data is stored somewhere on the internet, which might be a problem if that data is for business purposes...