Cannot load properly (CTD) and stutter

[665c9d196c2c1Iceman1991]

I really want to play this game but I have a serious problem - some savefiles just won't load at all. It's really weird, the older ones load properly, while loading the new ones just gives me a CTD. I have installed the game as described in the guide seen on this site as well as SS2MM with mods installed and activated in the right order. And this happen some 7 or 8 times out of 10 tries, so yeah, I'm a bit frustrated 

My setup:
Win 7 Ultimate x64
i5 760 3.4 GHz OC (could that be the problem perhaps?)
Gigabyte P55A-UD4
nVidia GT 520 (had to sell my GTX 560 Ti)
8 GB Corsair DDR3 1600 MHz
Asus Xonar DG (cheapo soundcard, maybe the culprit?)
Samsung F4 320GB in RAID0

I also have a problem with stuttering when moving the mouse or when changing the direction while moving ('slide' in controls). I have the latest Logitech SetPoint installed and a few options changed. This is obviously not my primary issue, the crashing is.
Thank you for your time spent reading this and trying to help 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/11/ss2us.png/ (SS2MM Setup)

[665c9d196c4fbvoodoo47]

I would try running a clean, unmodded install of the game, just to make sure it's not one of those mods.

[665c9d196c6b9Kolya]

What voodoo said.
Have you activated any new mods while playing?

[665c9d196c7fcIceman1991]

I tried reinstalling it two times and it's the same thing. I mean I CAN load those savefiles, but after 7 or 8 tries, that's how much I like this game. No new mods, all of them were activated BEFORE starting a new game.

[665c9d196c96cKolya]

Make sure that the game dir is in a short path (<80 chars), eg C:/games/shock2
Make sure it's not in the Programs dir.
Turn off your antivirus and or proactive firewall (only for testing).

A Ted Bundy avatar, huh? Oh well.

[665c9d196ca8bIceman1991]

Just tried your advice to no avail, unfortunately. I read somewhere before this that the game shouldn't be located in Program Files so I didn't copy it there, and the path is 'short', too.

What's wrong with my avatar, is it offensive or something? I just liked his passion in the courtroom that's all. Emo avatars aren't my thing to be blunt 

[665c9d196cb77Kolya]

If the problem happens when you just started the program, try starting a new game and then loading the save from there.

[665c9d196cc6aIceman1991]

Won't that erase my previously made savegames?

[665c9d196cd3bKolya]

no

[665c9d196ce3fIceman1991]

Thanx, but still crashing. It's a mystery even more so because I am able to load savegames made a few days go (older ones, right after training) but not the ones made 10 minutes ago  (Medical Sector) 

[665c9d196cf1fKolya]

What if you save in training now?

[665c9d196d017Iceman1991]

Saves perfectly fine, whether overwriting an existing file or creating a new one.

[665c9d196d158Kolya]

Okay, but does it floatload?

[665c9d196d271Iceman1991]

The savefile I just made (new slot) while playing the training level loads just fine. Maybe it has something to do with the Medical Sector level? I am out of options.

[665c9d196d34fKolya]

You could try using the level selector mod to enter a different level (after med) and see how saves work there.

[665c9d196d474Iceman1991]

Thank you I will try that mod. It is no wonder that a game developed twelve years ago acts like a moody teenager, Dark Engine is not known for its affinity towards modern platforms anyway. I am just pleased to play it at all, heavily modded of course. You guys really haven't given up on this game, have you? Hardcore cult followers 

[665c9d196d8d3ZylonBane]

You guys really haven't given up on this game, have you? Hardcore cult followers

This from the guy who chose a misogynistic necrophiliac serial murderer as his avatar. 

[665c9d196daa5Iceman1991]

Why is he bothering you so much? Lighten up, guys. And who said that misogyny is necessarily so vile? I tend to think of it is a great tool for counter-attacking misandry. Wouldn't you agree? And necrophilia, well if homosexuality was approved twenty years ago, why not this? It is just another form of sexual deviance.

What's with the off-topic anyway? 

[665c9d196dba5ZylonBane]

Wow. Just wow.

[665c9d196dca6voodoo47]

well everybody has to have a hero, I guess.

[665c9d196dde6Iceman1991]

Finally a voice of reason here, thank you sir 
Not that he is my hero, more like an intriguing character - possibly misunderstood and ahead of his time.

But come on, does Kolya usually tolerate off-topic? I am aware of the fact that this is a small, 'tight-knit' community, but still...

[665c9d196df0evoodoo47]

been called many things, but voice of reason is certainly a first. not sure what is Kolya going to do with this topic (we never had a serial murderer fandom off-topic here before), but I guess we are going to find out soon.

[665c9d196e02cIceman1991]

Well, locking this thread once and for all because there is apparently no solution to my problem, none that I see at least. You guys tried to help and I appreciate it, thanks. Not much that I can do for you here, since I am not into modding, coding or whatnot.

[665c9d196e1d4voodoo47]

let's try to steer this back on the original track - do you have the loading issue with the unmodded game as well? try creating and loading a save with a unmodded install.