MA3 crashes on load

[rctneil]

Hey,
It was all working perfectly last night, no problems in sight. I turned my pc on this morning and ran the .scr file to see it again this morning and I see the logo and the first two seconds of music before I get the following error:

"Marine Aquarium 3 has stopped working"

Is there a way to find out what is causing this crash?

Thanks

Regards,
Neil


Edit: Specs:

Operating System:
-----------------
- Microsoft Windows Vista - Ultimate 64bit Retail DVD

Hardware:
---------
- Intel Core 2 Q6600 Quad G0 Stepping - stock speed
- Asus P5W DH Deluxe - Bios: 2206
- OCZ 4GB Kit (2x2048) Reaper HPC Edition DDR2 PC2 6400 800MHz CL4 Dual Channel Patent-Pending Reaper HPC Heatsink - (OCZ2RPR800C44GK)
- Asus ATI Radeon AX700 Pro 256Mb
- Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB SATA 10KRPM 16MB Cache - OEM
- Western Digital Caviar WD5000AAKS 500GB SATA II 7200RPM 16MB Cache - OEM
- 530W Hiper Type R Modular PSU
- Mountain Mods U2-UFO case - Black with Original Top
- Asus DRW-1814BLT Lightscribe DVD-RW
- NEC DVD RW Drive External
- Panasonic Internal Floppy Drive with Lian Li Mounting Adaptor
- 2 x Samsung SM2032BW 20" LCD Monitors
- 24 in 1 Standard Internal Card Reader USB with Lian Li Mounting Adaptor
- 300Gb Maxtor One Touch 3
- Logitech DiNovo Edge Bluetooth Keyboard
- Logitech MX Revolution Mouse
- AC Ryan dual Blue Cathodes
- AC Ryan dual UV Cathodes
- Packard Bell NXT Flat 2.1 Speaker System

Custom Watercooling:
--------------------
- Thermochill PA120.3 Radiator
- Swiftech Apogeee GTX - CPU Block
- XSPC Clear 5.25" Bay Reservoir
- Laing DDC 12V Ultra Pump with Alphacool Plexitop
- Danger Den Maze 4 Acetal top GPU Block
- Masterkleer 1/2 Tubing
- Fesser 1 - UV Green Coolant
- Primochill Clear Coils

Previous Updates:
-----------------

3/09/08 - Removed Seagate 400Gb Sata2 HDD due to failure. Replace with Western Digital Caviar 500Gb.
26/07/8 - Replaced Yusmart and Edge10 monitors with 2 Samsung SM2032BW's


Previous Items:
---------------
- Swiftech MCRes Micro 1/2 Barbs
- Intel E6600 - at stock 2.40Ghz
- 2 x A-DATA Value Series 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - Model: VDQVE1A16
- Yusmart 198YP 19" Monitor
- Edge10 F197 17" Monitor
- Seagate 400Gb Sata2 HDD - ST3400620AS
- Logitech MX 1000 Mouse

------------------
Specifications Updated: 05/09/2008 - 14:42PM
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[clifdene]

OOPS. Changed the fish numbers and types and MA3 crashes and will not open. Had been working perfectly.

AMD Athlon 64, 2200 MHz (11 x 200) 3500+, 2048 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM), Radeon X600, XPHome SP3. DirectX 9.0cops.

[Jav400]

Right click on the icon and choose configure and see if you can change the settings back and get it going. Then see if you can replicate whatever you did and make it happen again.

[clifdene]

Michael. Very many thanks for the solution. I never knew what Configure was used for.
I have tried various different fish settings. Sometimes it crashes and sometimes it does not. There is no consistency in it. I will continue to try and let you know if I can replicate it. I am very glad to get MA3 back again. Keep up the good work.

[Jim Sachs]

If you are comfortable working with the Registry, you could delete the entry for MA3 and that would force the program back to its default state. The Registry Key is HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/SereneScreen/MarineAquarium3

[rctneil]

Hey Jim,
I removed all entries for serene screen from my system and that sorted my issue this morning and am glad I can now run the aquarium but will let you know if it continues to work after a do a restart. I also managed to remove the keys for version 2.6 which I now no longer need on my system

[Jim Sachs]

MA3 needs the Registry entries for MA2.6, in order to read the Key Code. If you type in your v2.6 Key Code into MA3, it will create a Registry entry for MA2.6.

[rctneil]

I am using the testfish code at the moment, I removed all seren screen registry entries along with the key which I was using for 2.6 but now the person who purchased that agggesss ago is now using that for 3 beta 1. They stopped using 2.6 a while ago so let me use the code and now I have shown them 3 beta 1 I removed the entries which fixed my crashing issue and also removed the key so when 3 is finally available I shall purchase my own key.

By the way: will the price of MA3 be higher than 2.6 is currently. If the price will be increased then I might as well purchase 2.6 now

[Jim Sachs]

The price will be the same. In fact, it already IS the same. Anyone who currently purchases v2.6 will automatically gat a 3.0 Key. Older versions of 2.6 would need to be upgraded for $9.95. There will be a grace period, which we're still determining.

[rctneil]

So, If I purchase 2.6 later today, I would 100% get a free upgrade to 3.0 final?

[clifdene]

MA3 has not crashed since and I have set up various tanks without a problem.

[Jim Sachs]

Neil - Yes. I must have been really bad at getting the word out on this. After waiting 6 years for MA3, I thought there would be a huge rush in sales yesterday, but volume was near an all-time low.

[feldon34]

Folks, If there is anything I can do to clarify the 2.6 vs. 3.0 keycode issue please let me know. I figured the psychadelic colors would draw sufficient attention.

Jim, I sent 2,500 e-mails yesterday (of which over 600 bounced). But I think folks are gonna test it some before buying the upgrade.

[Ralph]

For the moment there is no compelling reason to purchase.. the "beta" works just fine and renewals have been promised.

[kona001]

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

Neil - Yes. I must have been really bad at getting the word out on this. After waiting 6 years for MA3, I thought there would be a huge rush in sales yesterday, but volume was near an all-time low.  

I think that once you release the final build Jim, more people will purchase a license. Perhaps getting word about the beta on serenescreen.com's homepage would also get more people on board who are first time buyers or who purchased years ago interested if they knew getting or upgrading to 2.6 today would mean a free upgrade to 3.0 and the ability to use the beta version as well. This is going to get out by word of mouth in other forums and that will boost sales as well. It is a shame so many e-mails bounced back though however I have high hopes things will pick up once the word gets out about 3.0..

[Jim Sachs]

As with all software, there's no such thing as "finished". There just comes a point where you put it on a CD and send it to stores. After that, work continues and customers come back to the website for updates.