They just keep coming don’t they? Another highly anticipated PC title Aliens vs Predator (commonly known as AVP 3 or AVP 2010) was released to the public  yesterday. AVP 2010 is the third game in the series which kicked off back in 1999. While the game is mainly bug free, some people seem to be having intermittent crashes to desktop (CTD), black screens, stuttering, distorted, delayed or lagging audio both in game + in cutscenes and various other problems. Most of the crashes and other issues seem to be related to DirectX 11 mode and system audio sampling rate. Thankfully, it’s not hard to bypass these annoyances. In this article we list some fixes that will hopefully solve your problems for good and let you enjoy the game without bugs and glitches.

AVP 3 Cover

Change the audio sampling rate

If your system’s audio sampling rate is set to anything above 48hz, it’ll likely cause AVP 3 to go haywire. Most users who experienced crashing, black screens at launch, audio problems and other issues seem to have solved them by reducing the audio sampling rate to a lower value – one that the game can handle. Follow the steps below to change the audio sampling rate.

For Windows 7 / Windows Vista

  1. Go to your sound card’s control panel.
  2. Locate the option that allows you change the default audio format for the card.
  3. Set the default format to 24-bits, 48000Hz or less (if it doesn't work with 48000Hz, try 24 bits, 44100Hz)


Image: How the default format selection looks in RealTek HD Audio manager (select your playback device in  Audio Manager and select the ‘default format’ tab)

If you set your sound card’s audio format to anything higher than 24 Bits, 48000 Hz, you may experience audio issues or crashes with Aliens vs predator 3. Note that this is not an in-game setting. This setting should be changed from your audio card’s control panel (Realtek HD Audio Manager, etc). If you cannot find the option in your sound card software you can try the generic fix below:

  1. Right click volume control on system tray and choose Playback devices.
  2. Choose the your default playback device (usually Speakers) and click properties.
  3. Go to the advanced tab. The default audio format should be selectable from there.

Most of the time adjusting this setting using your sound card’s software will automatically change the same in Windows. However, you may be required to adjust the sampling rate both in your sound card’s software and Windows Audio devices manually if the sound card software does not automatically handle that.

For Windows XP

If you are using Windows XP follow the instructions below to change audio settings:

  1. Click the Start button > Settings > Control Panel.
  2. Double-click the Sounds and Audio Devices icon.
  3. Click the Volume tab.
  4. Under Speaker settings, click the Advanced button.
  5. Click the Performance tab.
  6. Reduce the Hardware acceleration to Basic, the 2nd notch from the left.
  7. Click Apply and then OK 2 times. Run the game now. Don't forget to turn the acceleration back up to restore the high-end features for your sound card when using other applications.

(XP fix quoted from a forum thread for Prototype on Activision forums – applies to AVP 3 as well):

Note that the above is a very popular fix among gamers and was used heavily with games such as Call of Duty 5 and Prototype.

Crashes too often? Don’t run the game using DirectX 11

If you have a look at the AVP 3 installation directory, you’ll notice that there are two main executable files – one that’ll run the game in DX11 mode and the other on Dx10/DX9 depending on your OS. DX11 mode will render better graphics but might also cause crashes on certain hardware configurations. For example, lots of people playing on DX11 have reported crashes when using flashlight in the marine campaign. If you begin to have frequent CTDs or any other graphics glitches, best bet is to try and run the game on a non DX11 configuration. To do this just launch the game using the regular exe in installation directory (not the DX11 executable). Before your try this, please take a moment to update your system using the links below:

  • Install the latest DirectX runtime – Latest DirectX should be available in your Steam directory but if it’s not (or if you didn’t buy the game from Steam), you can download the latest monthly runtime from here. This is a standalone installer that will work in offline mode as well.
  • Install Microsoft Visual C++ runtime libraries – I’m not sure if this is an absolute necessity for this game but it’s required for most games nowadays (as demonstrated by the case with Dragon Age : Origins). You can download the required files from this link.
  • Update sound card and motherboard drivers – Overlooked by many but an essential step to playing games crash free. Please download latest video, audio and motherboard drivers from your hardware manufacturer. If you are too lazy to manually search, Click Here to download 3DP Chip for Windows Vista/XP/7 – This program will automatically detect your hardware and search for updated drivers for them.

Please feel free to report your issues/solutions/findings in the comments section.

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52 Comments

  1. vlada // 2/18/2010 05:14:00 AM  

    ty ppl, but i have a problem only with marine part of the game (predator and alien are fine). Every time i try to turn on FLASHLIGHT my game freeze (not my pc- only game), so all i can do is go to task manager and close game. Everything is up to date concerning dx, drivers etc...
    im running windows 7 64bit ultimate on amd phenom 2 955, with 4 gig memory and a radeon 5850.
    I tried the sound solution, but the problem remains...
    thx in advance

  2. Violated // 2/18/2010 05:16:00 AM  

    Thanks a lot. The sampling rate change worked like a charm. fixed the crashes i was having.

  3. TEAM FILEnetworks // 2/18/2010 05:18:00 AM  

    @vlada,
    Run the game using the non DirectX11 exe (as mentioned in the last part of article).

  4. vlada // 2/18/2010 05:37:00 AM  

    Thanks, i used the non Directx11 exe and the problem is gone. I didnt tried that before couse i wanted to play the game with tessalation in dx11... gonna wait for some dx11 game patch or smthng.. thx again for effort and speed in reply ^^

  5. Unknown // 2/18/2010 06:53:00 PM  

    Great... Was looking forward to this game because of DX11 and now I can't run it in DX11 because it crashes whenever I use flashlight...

  6. Anonymous // 2/18/2010 09:49:00 PM  

    I fall through the floor to my death, right when the marine gets up from the stretcher in the beginning... the floor and roof are missing... there's a post about this issue on the official site, but now resolve... happens in both dx9/10 and dx11 versions

    btw, how do i uninstall the razor version lol?

  7. Joshua L. Williams // 2/18/2010 09:59:00 PM  

    the problems I'm having are totally different. I get this 15 second freezing every minute or so, and there's a ton of other people having the issue as well. Check these out.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_S9JuXRLIU

    and the steam forums here.

    http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1148991&page=25

    as well as the sega forum here

    http://forums.sega.com/showthread.php?t=315396

  8. Unknown // 2/19/2010 05:00:00 AM  

    Im using razor proper version.
    I can save a game, but i cant load it again. The menu hasnt a load saved game option!
    Anybody has the same problem?

  9. Unknown // 2/19/2010 11:24:00 AM  

    My game is just horrible. The first day I had it it only crashed a few times, but now it crashes 99% of the time while loading, whether it be MP or SP. It WILL crash. I've tried running DX9 exe and DX11 exe.
    I have a 4870X2.
    I really don't understand whats wrong. I messed around with the sound setting but mine weren't even above 24 bit. :/
    Someone please help. I'd love to play this game again.

  10. Unknown // 2/19/2010 04:57:00 PM  

    Enad

    You shouldn't be trying to play in DX11 because you don't have DX11 hardware. It is normal for game to crash in DX11 if you don't have DX11 hardware.

    If you are crashing in DX9 also, it could be something to do with drivers, DirectX etc...

  11. Unknown // 2/19/2010 08:12:00 PM  

    i have a asus 5870 1gb card but game says direct x 11 hardware not found

  12. Unknown // 2/20/2010 12:59:00 AM  

    Spliffy

    That sounds like unusual problem. Did you update your drivers?

  13. Unknown // 2/20/2010 01:01:00 AM  

    @Igor, Yes I know but it constantly crashes in DX9 mode also. I recently updated drivers for my video card and Im pretty sure I have the latest DirectX drivers. All other games are fine and NEVER crash. Only this game. What the hell is wrong with it.

  14. Unknown // 2/20/2010 05:35:00 AM  

    Well, in that case, I must agree with you, there might be something wrong with this game.

    I've heard bunch of people complaining on all sorts of problems. Few of them are often crashes. So, I guess, you are not the only one with this issue.

    This leaves us to wait for patch...

  15. asdfg2210 // 2/20/2010 09:12:00 PM  

    Having same problem here with high spec pc. Goes to desktop after intro when you should begin playing. Tried everything and still the same. Having this problem with reloaded and razor release. Needs a proper crack.

  16. Unknown // 2/22/2010 06:17:00 AM  

    Having the same problem as F. Crashes right after the intro movie, only happens on DX11 though.

    Have a 5870, AM3 965, 4 gb ram, x86.

  17. Earthshaker87 // 2/23/2010 07:51:00 PM  

    My machine runs the game 100% fine, no crashes, nothing 60~100FPS. I have PhenomII 965, 4870DK, 4GB Kingston HyperX 1600 DDR3, Silent Pro 600W, Asus 790FX chipset motherboard, Win7 Pro X64. My colleague has a C2Q Q9550, P35 chipset, GTX260, 8GB RAM, Win7 Ultimate X64 and his game freezes when he turns the flashlight on...why is this? Also i know another guy with same spec PC as me except for a 5870 and he hasn't had any problems as far as i know in DX11 mode...this is weird, seems to be very inconsistent. Game patch should be out soon.

  18. Earthshaker87 // 2/23/2010 07:55:00 PM  

    Oh and i know another guy with a C2Q Q9550, GTX260, 4GB RAM, P35 chipset and his game runs fine as far as i know. Doesn't seem to have anything to to with hardware but some software/drivers/game code issues.

  19. Unknown // 2/24/2010 09:54:00 PM  

    my game is in russian :s

  20. simon scarrow // 2/25/2010 12:25:00 AM  

    I'm having major issues with the pc version of this game. It doesn't allow you to save and if you do and someone else plays on the machine then they overwrite your saved checkpoints. WHat kind of mad freak came up with that game feature? Anyone know of a fix?

  21. Unknown // 2/26/2010 04:42:00 AM  

    I have a problem when I get to the third map in singleplayer, tried alien and predator campaigns, I just keep falling through the ground, it won't load the textures on the map, only the marines and some props, then I fall through the ground. I die and it says "Mission failed" or something.

  22. Unknown // 2/26/2010 05:46:00 AM  

    Nvm, reinstall worked.

  23. Unknown // 2/26/2010 04:12:00 PM  

    Trying to run AvP in DX11 but my game freezes when I turn on the flashlight as Marine.

    I have Radeon HD 5770 1GB and run Catalyst 10.3 BETA drivers. I hade the same problem with official release 10.2 drivers.

    I'm using the Razor 1911 release. There is no way I will buy this game if I cannot play it in DX11.

  24. matt // 2/27/2010 03:08:00 AM  

    Where does avp3 install in vista, cant find the folder nor the exe file, only have two games installed, the other is doom3 and its in the program files, tried a search, it appears in games explorer folder and can be played from there.

  25. Unknown // 3/03/2010 11:16:00 PM  

    Hey guys i need help my game works fine on dx9 and 11 but my sound isnt 100% like i cant here in-game cut scene sound also cant hear people talking.

  26. Unknown // 3/09/2010 02:13:00 AM  

    Have lockups on certain levels,

    Currently the predator level, right after the ruins cutscene of getting a new mask, I see a hall of red predator holograms and "check point" text then game freezes my computer every time I've tried it... None of these fixes work for me.

    XP sp3, DX10 , Nvidia 9400gt newest drivers

  27. Unknown // 3/12/2010 04:03:00 AM  

    Whet i run game on DX11 my game crashes when i use flashlight, and there is some other graphic bugs.And when i run game with normal .exe i hawe problems with sound i cant here in game cut scene sound and i cant hear people talking.

  28. lol3k // 3/13/2010 11:39:00 PM  

    my sound still doesn't work. I'm using XP professional (cracked) and I used the sampling rate fix and my sound still doesn't work. i'm very disappointed cause i waited soooo long for that game :( tnx anyway for help

  29. weeky // 3/30/2010 04:37:00 AM  

    I cannot lauch the game and it state that "The procedure entry point except handler4 common could not be located in the dynamic link library msvcrt.dll", any pro pls help to solve this problem!!

  30. Unknown // 4/06/2010 07:55:00 PM  

    hi,i am giovanni from italy sicilia..i have a problem with alien..the game run ok,but no sound game..no effect sound.windows 7 original homr premium,nvidia geforce gtx260m,intel core i7 q720 1,6g,realtek hd audio(alc663)

  31. Anonymous // 4/17/2010 08:19:00 PM  

    They bring a DirectX 11 game out, with the teselation future in grapichs options, and it crashes you .. are these people joking with us ? :S, AMD Phenom Quad 2.3 / ATI Radeon HD5770 1 gig / 4 Gig Ram .. So we need to wait for a patch of AvP 3 that makes Teselation and hopefully more Dx11 futures ?? Thanks for reading.

  32. A.parvanov // 5/15/2010 08:53:00 AM  

    hi guys . I installed without any complications and it seemed to run smoothly right to the point where it loads the level. I've only tried with the Alien Campaign and I 've only got to the first introscene then I get on the loading screen and from there it just won't budge at all.
    Help
    Ill try with human and predator too

  33. Anonymous // 6/21/2010 09:44:00 PM  
    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
  34. Unknown // 6/26/2010 10:29:00 PM  

    Where is the avp.exe file located on XP? I'm having a huge problem! The first is the sound. Just when I begin playing marine intro the guy that says,"coming in low and smooth."
    keeps repeating coming in,coming in,coming in... It stops and goes to the next sentence and does the same. It also does this in the part where weyland is in that temple. and it keeps loading just after the intro. When it fishes after like an hour... i just hear rookie getting up once then my screen is black and no sound. When I first got the game this happened. (I thought it was going to work when i could hear rookie getting up but the graphics were all messed up!(It was grey and black!) So please help as soon as possible! Thank You.

  35. aztec // 7/05/2010 12:58:00 AM  

    halla, i've tried everything ya mentioned here but i still got crash to desktop right after start avp.exe!
    i've noticed that exe makes new file named AvP.exe.2024.STEAMSTART. help anyone???

  36. Unknown // 7/09/2010 11:33:00 AM  

    I encounter computer freeze problem went i play the game, all campaign also same. Went i reach certain point like change new level or load CG movie then it were freeze no matte pressing alt+ctrl+del also no responding i have to reboot my pc. Went in gaming my pc running well & smoothly. My pc spec is intel pentium 4 2.8GHz, 4GB DDR-2 Ram 800MHz, ATi radeon 4500HD Series graphic, could someone help me?

  37. wety14 // 7/25/2010 09:10:00 PM  

    i have intel q9300 nvidia 9800gt 8 gig 1066 ddr2 windows 7 64 bit only see intro and close the game don´t let me play .i need rack for no-cd?

  38. Unknown // 10/20/2010 08:42:00 AM  

    Didn't help me one bit. My laptop plays it great up until a few areas that I have pinpointed exactly.

    For Marines it is in the first map when you have to flip the switch. As soon as it flips the game crashes. For Predator it's when you have to look at all 3 predators. When I look at the last predator it crashes.

    I've tried both DX11 and DX9... i'm completely stumped..

    Oh my laptop runs a ATI Mobility Radeon 5650. Which runs other games perfectly including Medal of Honor that just released.

  39. Unknown // 11/13/2010 12:49:00 PM  

    hey guys i have a problem....i've been playing avp 4 months ago but now i want 2 play it again but it doesen't work...when i double click game it says : steam is loading the game for 3 secs then it dissepears and then nothing happens i can still see my desktop...any help pleasE?

  40. Unknown // 11/13/2010 12:49:00 PM  

    hey guys i have a problem....i've been playing avp 4 months ago but now i want 2 play it again but it doesen't work...when i double click game it says : steam is loading the game for 3 secs then it dissepears and then nothing happens i can still see my desktop...any help pleasE?

  41. Unknown // 11/13/2010 12:50:00 PM  

    hey guys i have a problem....i've been playing avp 4 months ago but now i want 2 play it again but it doesen't work...when i double click game it says : steam is loading the game for 3 secs then it dissepears and then nothing happens i can still see my desktop...any help pleasE?

  42. Unknown // 4/19/2011 03:02:00 AM  

    I have a problem in Exit the club every time i get on the elevator and it just crashes i hear someone begginigng to speak to tequila and then crashes!

  43. Anonymous // 8/12/2011 04:54:00 PM  

    Where is the Sound cards?

  44. PRINAL // 1/01/2012 03:25:00 PM  

    hi i have game nfs hot pursuit 2010 when im starting the games everthing is fine ..when i click to begen the game the black screen come out ....i have search in net got solution in taskmanager click on both cpu 0 and 1....but still not working ...im using system 1.8 gigs memory ..256 graphic .... W Xp 32bit...

  45. Xeno-Killer // 1/24/2012 09:40:00 PM  

    It doesn't work. When i'm running in to the elevator when i have hold off xenomorphs, the game stops working. If you have something to fix that problem, tell me.

  46. Unknown // 5/20/2012 07:31:00 AM  

    I have a problem similar to what David has, except it only applies to the 2nd to last predator mission, i start off and i am in blank world, and three seconds later it says i am dead.

    P.S. I bought the game from steam, and for that, i cant figure out how uninstall and then reinstall the game.

    P.P.S. The alien and marine campaigns were just fine... hope they make a sequel!

  47. Unknown // 6/12/2012 01:34:00 AM  

    The procedure entry point _except_handler4_common could not be located in the dynamic link library msvcrt.dll

  48. Dani Soler Tejada // 8/03/2012 08:42:00 AM  

    Thank you, I was trying the marine campaign and voices didn't worked, so I changed the sound configuration and it was repaired.

  49. Rauf Arshad // 9/10/2012 11:00:00 AM  

    it looks an amazing movie
    Just Goals Highlights

  50. Unknown // 1/17/2013 02:16:00 PM  

    My main problem so far is that, in the first Alien mission, when the doctor goes to leave the chamber and release me, he just diddles his winky and derps around in circles. If I am ever released, which works out about a fifth of the time, he's still in the chamber, and he'll cower if I come near while I'm going through the navigation tutorial.
    The second issue in this mission is that, as soon as my first victim is being dragged in, and I hear the Weyland-Yutani guard telling him about the 88c clause, the game crashes. Just as the fun's about to start, figures >.<

    Other than lag, which is to be expected when it comes to my laptop, I don't have any issues with the Marine campaign, and I haven't yet tried the Predator campaign or multiplayer.

  51. Unknown // 9/12/2013 03:26:00 PM  

    My option DirectX 11 hardware not found...and i check my PC DirectX Version is DirectX 11...what the problem is can anybody help me?

  52. ahmed shawky // 8/30/2015 01:16:00 PM  

    hi there, i have another problem in the end of the marine mission when i kill a doctor (bad guy) it is not give me a movie for end the game and i'm daying
    help me please