Any major computer experts out there? Need help! Thanks.

[Disney Dreams]

Hi,

I am having MAJOR vmk computer issues. I know this is long, but I am trying to offer as much information as possible in case anyone out there can help. If you are computer-techie, thanks for reading.

I have always seemed to run VMK relatively quickly. Room loads, trade windows, clothing changes, shopping, etc....

Starting Sunday:
- Takes me 5+ minutes to sign in (used to take about 1)
- Takes me truly a solid 1-2 minutes to change rooms (used to be about 5 seconds)
- I cannot change my clothes if I don't first bring up my inventory screen, wait for about 10 minutes while I click through EVERY page in my clothing tab for each and every clothing item to load (I HATE the green, circly thing!!!)
- I cannot trade if I don't do the same with EVERY inventory screen (green, circly thing go round and round)
- Exiting a pirate game, it takes me about 1 min. to return to dock (never used to)
- Can't get any credits from early morning Jungle Cruise because it is 5 minutes after opening by the time I get to the dock and on a boat.
- Once I am in any mini games or any room, everything is fine. No lag (well, none moreso than anyone else), no slowness, perfect.

It truly is taking the fun out of vmk for me. I can't do quests because it takes to long to load rooms. I can't hop around the kingdom with friends because by the time I get to the rooms they are in, they have left for the next room. I tried to shop at 2 minutes to close Monday. VMK closed while the items for sale were still loading.

And if (ok, when) I dc or crash, I have to load all clothes and furniture all over again (which literally takes about a half hour).

Other details that might help:
- I have a Pentium Centrino Duo Core processor
- Windows XP
- I have done a complete system defrag.
- I do not have this problem in ANY other programs.
- I updated Shockwave last night (didn't help).
- It happens in IE, Firefox, and Pal.
- I have not installed any new programs (other than updating shockwave).
- This only happens on my laptop - everything was "normal" on husband's laptop.
- It happens on all my characters.

Does anyone out there have ANY ideas or tech help they can offer? I am truly on the edge of taking a vmk break because I just can't do anything in a reasonable way, not even follow friends around the kingdom or join a closing party. It's just awful.

Thanks to any techie-talented ppl out there that are willing to help. (And if you are a true angel and are willing, I would be happy to PM my chat s/n if walking me through anything would help.) Any help at all is appreciated.

Thanks,
Dreams (dreaming of getting off the slow train)

 

[mtlhddoc2]

actually, the same thing just started happening to me (except for the room changing part) - mine does not seem as drastic as your though.

Are you using wireless? If so, what speed is your wireless card and wireless router? Do you have DSL or cable?

I assume you have Windows Vista, since you did not specify.

Vista absolutely stinks for pretty much everything. None of the other Disney games are supposed to work on it at all. No gamekingdom, nor Toontown, nor PotC.

 

[dr_zero]

I really think its not your computer and its VMK, when they do updates or upgrades it has to re download the screens and data all over again to your pc and that is why its taking so long to load right now.

When you get on look through all your clothes in inventory so they can load and do the same with your items that should help some and when you get bored go for a walk about and visit all the areas and let them load so when you want to come back they will load alot faster since they are in your cache.

 

[ShadowKittyKat]

Vista absolutely stinks for pretty much everything. None of the other Disney games are supposed to work on it at all. No gamekingdom, nor Toontown, nor PotC.

I would have to agree with this, but:
I have Vista, and VMK runs great on it and I have never once crashed. PotC also runs great on it, even when others without Vista have complained of the game closing on them when my PotC game has not crashed or closed once. Toontown? Ehh, it wants me to shut down my security to play... I'll go play on my dad's computer.

I agree with you because they are not meant to work with them, but Vista has been out for a while and I believe Disney is capable of making versions of the games for the Vista users out there.

 

[Disney Dreams]

actually, the same thing just started happening to me (except for the room changing part) - mine does not seem as drastic as your though.

Are you using wireless? If so, what speed is your wireless card and wireless router? Do you have DSL or cable?

I assume you have Windows Vista, since you did not specify.

Vista absolutely stinks for pretty much everything. None of the other Disney games are supposed to work on it at all. No gamekingdom, nor Toontown, nor PotC.

I knew there was more "tech details."

- Running XP (Vista - evil LOL)
- Wireless
- Cable

Not sure where to find my wireless card or router speed. If you tell me, I'm good at following and can tell you if that's important information.

Any thoughts?

THANK YOU.
- Dreams

 

[mtlhddoc2]

I would have to agree with this, but:
I have Vista, and VMK runs great on it and I have never once crashed. PotC also runs great on it, even when others without Vista have complained of the game closing on them when my PotC game has not crashed or closed once. Toontown? Ehh, it wants me to shut down my security to play... I'll go play on my dad's computer.

I agree with you because they are not meant to work with them, but Vista has been out for a while and I believe Disney is capable of making versions of the games for the Vista users out there.

Right, but Disney puts warning all over all the games that they are not Vista compatible. Toontown does not run right on Vista, and Gamekingdom will not run at all. Vista is a huge hunk of junk and you would be hard pressed to find a tech who is willing to run it on his home PC.



Dreams:
The model number of the router should tell you the speed. The most commen speeds are A, B, G, and N. If you have A or B, you are not running at full potential and there may be a conflict with your wireless card (if it is a new computer, then it is probably N speed) - G is the most universal. You also may want to have someone check out your settings. Router security settings can slow down a connection big time, and if the settings on your laptop do not 100% match the router, that could be causing some issues as well.
I really cannot help you much more than that without sitting down in front of the equipment (and charging you $75 an hour).

 

[Disney Dreams]

I really cannot help you much more than that without sitting down in front of the equipment (and charging you $75 an hour).

Okay, thanks anyway.

Anyone else willing to offer any help or insight?

- Dreams

 

[SorcererDonald16]

Not really helpful I know, but just wanted to say: welcome to my world! The load times and such you are talking about have been that way or worse (used to be far worse) for me since I first started playing VMK. It can get frustrating at times, but you learn to live with it. As far as quick, timed quests though: use teleport magic when you can to move across the room to make up some of the time in cases where you have to walk over an item (gem, Hidden Mickey, etc.). Not computer advice, but it's a way to compensate for some of the slowness at least.

Hope things return to normal for you soon. If not, it is tolerable eventually. Then again, I've known nothing different, so perhaps my opinion is not the most helpful.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Mods, you can close this.

For anyone who is wondering what the trouble was:
The world will never know.

After deleting and reinstalling Shockwave, removing temp files, cookies, etc., running defrag, scandisk, and on and on the problem clearly not wanting to be found, but was ONLY affecting VMK and ONLY on my laptop on my Windows user account. So... I created an entire new user account on my system, transferred all files, settings, programs, etc... over and VMK is back to the way it was a week ago. Some wild hair must have gotten mixed into VMK or Shockwave or who-knows-what somehow some way.

It just didn't know that it picked the wrong person to mess with! It has been left behind in a different partition of Windows and funville is once again - Fun!

Thanks also to everyone who sent me tips. I tried them all before deciding to build an entire new user account. Believe me, I appreciate it!

Sorcerer, sorry you are still having slow issues. I truly could not enjoy VMK the way has been the last week. Dare I suggest building yourself an entire new user id......

- Dreams

 

[cyre]

Yay Dreams! Glad it got all sorted out for you! See ya on vmk!

 

[SkippyPaul]

Mods, you can close this.

For anyone who is wondering what the trouble was:
The world will never know.

After deleting and reinstalling Shockwave, removing temp files, cookies, etc., running defrag, scandisk, and on and on the problem clearly not wanting to be found, but was ONLY affecting VMK and ONLY on my laptop on my Windows user account. So... I created an entire new user account on my system, transferred all files, settings, programs, etc... over and VMK is back to the way it was a week ago. Some wild hair must have gotten mixed into VMK or Shockwave or who-knows-what somehow some way.

It just didn't know that it picked the wrong person to mess with! It has been left behind in a different partition of Windows and funville is once again - Fun!

Thanks also to everyone who sent me tips. I tried them all before deciding to build an entire new user account. Believe me, I appreciate it!

Sorcerer, sorry you are still having slow issues. I truly could not enjoy VMK the way has been the last week. Dare I suggest building yourself an entire new user id......

- Dreams

Hi there Dreams
Just curious. Is your wireless secure? Trust me I am no computer dude but I was having similiar issues and the dude that does my computer said I need to secure my wireless. Which I havent yet but thats another story. But if someones tapped in to yours could cause it to be slow.

Just a thought.
Rob