TF2 particle effects causing crash?

Every time I try to play Team Fortress 2 it crashes (or freezes) and after a while I realized that it when ever it crashed, it only happened when a particle effect was suppose to happen (blood, pyro's flamethrower, soldier's rocket launcher, engineer's dispenser). Melee weapons works fine and weapons like the shotgun worked, but things like rocket launchers, grenade launchers, sticky bombs, miniguns, and others crash the game when used. Could particle effects really be the reason the game crashes? If so, is there way to turn off particle effects?

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System Information
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Time of this report: 5/10/2008, 20:59:44
       Machine name: YOUR-55E5F9E3D2
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: HP Pavilion 061
       System Model: PX759AA-ABA a1120n
               BIOS: BIOS Date: 03/31/05 20:06:54 Ver: 08.00.10
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.06GHz
             Memory: 504MB RAM
          Page File: 609MB used, 523MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

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DxDiag Notes
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  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

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DirectX Debug Levels
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Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

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Display Devices
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        Card name: Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family
     Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
        Chip type: Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Controller
         DAC type: Internal
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2582&SUBSYS_2A08103C&REV_04
   Display Memory: 128.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: HP vs17 flat panel monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1280,1024
      Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.3971 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 12/1/2004 21:19:28, 37951 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: ialmnt5.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 12/1/2004 21:28:14, 776637 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-66C2-11CF-0F7C-020AA5C2CB35}
    &

Did you verify and defragement cahce files first?

I tried both and the game still crashes. I also noticed it crashes when I try play certain maps like Hydro and 2fort.

first off what kind of vid card do you have, or is it integrated, if it is an integrated one, then you probably need to buy a new vid card. Also this is unrelated but you definetly need some more ram, at least 1 gb, but the best would be 2 gb. Sorry that i can't help you but, with some more info i might have a few helpful words

EDIT: It might have to do with directx, make sure you have dx9 or 8

Quote:

Thats the point of the dxdiag log he attached...he's running directx 9, an integrated card, and 512MB of RAM.

So, basically, what you're going to want to do, Muhh, is get some more RAM since verifying and defragmenting didnt help. Follow this link and configurator to figure out which kind you need. Don't buy it, post what kind it is here and I'll give you a link to some cheaper stuff. An additional 1 GB of RAM (to give you 1.5GB) is about $30-50.

If you're serious about playing TF2 regularly, you may want to consiter a new graphics card.

You might be able to turn off particle effects and other graphical options giving you trouble with the TF2Tweaker. It's certainly worth a shot before you start spending money. You should also increase your pagefile size since you have limited RAM and it's being shared with your integrated video anyways.