Random Grey Screen - Vive non-functional

[Magnusvermagnussen]

Hi all.

Noticed this a couple of times now - while playing in the Vive, everything is absolutely fine, and then for some reason, out of nowhere, the Vive just 'greys' out, for lack of a better word. The HMD ceases to work, goes to a grey screen. However, the game continues - I can see it in the on-screen window, and even control it still, but it is left at the last point of reference for where I was looking with my Vive.

When I disconnect, the Steam VR indicates that the HMD is tracking and is "Ready".

Doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to why this happens - anyone else had this happen? It's getting quite frustrating as I was forced to log out while in combat in an asteroid field(!). The rebuy isn't much for me, and I don't have an abundance of bounties collected yet, but I would like to avoid this in future in case I respawn inside an asteroid when I log back in(!).

 

[SpitTheDog]

Hi all.

Noticed this a couple of times now - while playing in the Vive, everything is absolutely fine, and then for some reason, out of nowhere, the Vive just 'greys' out, for lack of a better word. The HMD ceases to work, goes to a grey screen. However, the game continues - I can see it in the on-screen window, and even control it still, but it is left at the last point of reference for where I was looking with my Vive.

When I disconnect, the Steam VR indicates that the HMD is tracking and is "Ready".

Doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to why this happens - anyone else had this happen? It's getting quite frustrating as I was forced to log out while in combat in an asteroid field(!). The rebuy isn't much for me, and I don't have an abundance of bounties collected yet, but I would like to avoid this in future in case I respawn inside an asteroid when I log back in(!).

I generally only see this happen when head tracking is lost. Got any reflective surfaces near to your sensors?

 

[El_Labero]

Nvidia Card with the newest driver? 368.22?

 

[Mike Kangaroo]

The only hiccup I ran into with the Vive during setup was the USB port. It didn't make any sense to me at the time but just going from one USB 3 port to another USB 3 port, solved all its problems. I have heard others say to use a usb 2 port as well but I haven't needed too.

 

[Magnusvermagnussen]

Thanks for the replies!

Using the latest 368.22 drivers.

Only reflective surfaces are my monitors (3 screen setup) - no mirrors... but I'm beginning to wonder whether you might be onto something SpiritTheDog. I have a window into my computer room that looks out to another window outside where it is a bright, sunny day. Wonder if closing that window might help. I'll give that a try and check back in to see whether it worked.

Thanks all!

 

[El_Labero]

i think the new Nvidia driver sucks...had the same problem, a rollback fixed the tracking issue..

 

[HitSqdTheUpper]

My Vive just grayed out during a mission. I am a little frustrated.....My cargo scoop and 8 limpets were out when 4 ships jumped in to check me out. I was just collecting a few black boxes that were lost so I could give them a ride home. About half the drones were still out when the first shot hit. I let loose a heat sink, shield cell, and chaff. HMD went gray. I rip my HMD off and pray the enemy is getting pounded by my frag and pulse turrets. Shields down, armor below 50% and a sudden shudder shakes Annie and the thrusters exploded. The enemy passes in front of mt twin 3D Frags and explodes in mist. Now I am adrift with no way to jump or move. next time I log in I have to eject. I have just enough insurance to cover a rebuy once, but not twice. Time to go earn some credits.

 

[TorTorden_VR]

My Vive just grayed out during a mission. I am a little frustrated.....My cargo scoop and 8 limpets were out when 4 ships jumped in to check me out. I was just collecting a few black boxes that were lost so I could give them a ride home. About half the drones were still out when the first shot hit. I let loose a heat sink, shield cell, and chaff. HMD went gray. I rip my HMD off and pray the enemy is getting pounded by my frag and pulse turrets. Shields down, armor below 50% and a sudden shudder shakes Annie and the thrusters exploded. The enemy passes in front of mt twin 3D Frags and explodes in mist. Now I am adrift with no way to jump or move. next time I log in I have to eject. I have just enough insurance to cover a rebuy once, but not twice. Time to go earn some credits.

Right panel functions.
Bottom near self destruct there is a reboot and repair button.
This is there so destroyed mods can be brought from 0% to 1%.
Just enough so you can limp to station and repair the ship.

I too have these random greyouts and it's not really as if I should loose tracking but most likely a steamvr software issue.
And it always happen at the worst possible times.

 

[mp4x]

I have had that a couple of times, it seems in relation to tracking but it hasn't happened to me enough to know

 

[atlas974]

Windows with bright sunny day can sometimes alter the tracking of the HMD, try coveringthe window and see if it keep going grey.

 

[Lestenio]

Had it a few times too. I think something crashes out on the headset
Only thing that seems to fix it is to reboot the headset

 

[gcase]

Had it a few times too. I think something crashes out on the headset
Only thing that seems to fix it is to reboot the headset

This happens to me seemingly once per play session on average and I have no choice but to reboot the headset, which also causes the ED client to be killed. This probably looks like "combat logging" to any other players in the instance or any anti-cheating analytics that FDEV might have running, which is worrying.

To those suggesting closing windows and the like: this problem is different from a typical loss of tracking. If you lose tracking, the SteamVR info panel alerts you (showing "not ready" and greying out the headset and/or one/both lighthouse icon), and the game returns to normal once tracking is restored.
With this problem, the SteamVR info panel claims nothing is amiss (status is "Ready" and all icons are green) and the game never comes back even after waiting several minutes, fiddling with the positions of the lighthouses, etc.

This only seems to happen after playing for a fairly long time, at least an hour. I don't think I've ever had it happen less than an hour into a session. I've also never had it happen in any game except ED, but I've not spent much time in other Vive games so that's not saying much. It's hard to tell whether this is an ED problem, a SteamVR problem, or a Vive hardware problem. Has anyone filed bug reports with FD and/or Valve?

EDIT:
Found this in the known issues list:

VR may experience a memory leak causing Windows OOM message and Rift image freeze

I haven't seen a Windows OOM message, but otherwise this sounds like it could be the same issue. The fact that it takes a long period of play for the issue to occur suggests that a memory leak could be the culprit...

 

[Lestenio]

T It's hard to tell whether this is an ED problem, a SteamVR problem, or a Vive hardware problem. Has anyone filed bug reports with FD and/or Valve?

EDIT:
Found this in the known issues list:


I haven't seen a Windows OOM message, but otherwise this sounds like it could be the same issue. The fact that it takes a long period of play for the issue to occur suggests that a memory leak could be the culprit...

I have had it in other games too. Kinda annoying when playing battle dome and suddenly the screen is dead. I assume it's driver thing

 

[Rafs]

I generally only see this happen when head tracking is lost. Got any reflective surfaces near to your sensors?

This is probably a dead thread but I believe my response to the quote above will add value to hopefully anyone who experienced the issue like I did as well since the random grey screen while playing beat saber was annoying as hell. At first I thought this was a driver thing as well so I made sure all the drivers were up to date but I still got the random grey screen of death. It was the mention of reflective surfaces that finally tipped me off as to what the issue could be.

I wanted to kick myself for days when I realized there was a wall mirror sitting in the corner of my room that I normally don't pay attention to because it was sort of out of the way. Covering it up with a towel worked wonders.

This was going fine during the day and then suddenly in the evening I started getting the same issue and the tracking of my saber was jumping all over the place. I then realized that it could be that my screen monitor in the dark now becomes the new reflective surface with the screen shining brightly in the dark. Or at least I think that too contributed to the grey screen, because once I switched off the monitor and turned on my LED bed lamp for low illumination...I stopped having grey screen issues and tracking appeared to work seamlessly. I haven't had any problems since except for the fact that the vibration in the one controller just stopped working one day.

I hope that my experience of the issue helps others also sort out the grey screen and tracking problems.

Edit: and also apologies as I noticed this was a forum for Elite Dangerous, but yet I experienced the exact same issue in other games, I will probably get in trouble for this lol.