DA crashing bug

I just bought this game a couple of days ago. It's Dark Avatar 1.59.078. This is the first game I've played on this machine that crashes. It crashes on small or medium-sized galaxies. I haven't tried other sizes. It crashes after you load the game, move some units around, manage planets, etc.. I tried playing with some settings and turning down BackgroundStars but nothing seems to help. If I start a new game, that eventually crashes as well. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later.

If there's anything else I could do please let me know, but as of right now it's been a waste of $40

since I only got 2 nights of play time and didn't get a chance to even finish a game. Here's the debug.err:

Debug Message: Version v1.50x3 Dark Avatar last updated on: Mon Mar 12 18:37:34 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 4/20/2007, 00:22:15
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: CALIBAN
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: BIOS Date: 09/06/06 17:43:50 Ver: 08.00.12
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6400 @ 2.13GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 2048MB RAM
Page File: 290MB used, 4675MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS

Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 7900 GS
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0292&SUBSYS_22181682&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: ViewSonic VP930 Series
Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9371
Driver Date: 10/22/2006 13:22:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes

Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SoundMAX HD Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_11D4&DEV_1988&SUBSYS_104381E1&REV_1004
Manufacturer ID: 65535
Product ID: 65535
Driver Name: ADIHdAud.sys
Provider: AnalogDevices
Driver Version: 5.10.0001.4530
Driver Date: 5/2/2006 13:12:06
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Debug Message: *********END dxdiag info.*********
Debug Message: Entering WinMain
Debug Message: ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message: Going Fullscreen
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 60
Debug Message: Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message: *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message: A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
Debug Message: RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 7edcf590
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Tim Fisher\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Tim Fisher\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Tim Fisher\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Tim Fisher\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Event Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: Create setup screens.
Debug Message: Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message: Clear influence.
Debug Message: Clear up laws.
Debug Message: Clear first time events.
Debug Message: Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message: Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message: Set mouse.
Debug Message: Set update timer.
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding FullscreenBink
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Tim Fisher\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideW*.png
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Tutorials/*.xml
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=1
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Tim Fisher\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Dark Avatar\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Tim Fisher\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Tim Fisher\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Tim Fisher\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Tim Fisher\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Tim Fisher\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Tim Fisher\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Story Logs\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Tim Fisher\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\temp\*.sav
Debug Message: Killing threads.
Debug Message: Kiling civs.
Debug Message: Killing ships.
Debug Message: Killing rallypoints.
Debug Message: Killing misc objects.
Debug Message: Killing stars.
Debug Message: Killing anomalies.
Debug Message: Killing asteroid fields.
Debug Message: Killing asteroid field mining bases.
Debug Message: Killing space resources.
Debug Message: Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message: killing scenario.
Debug Message: Clearing Turn Event Log
Debug Message: Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message: Clear influence.
Debug Message: Clear up laws.
Debug Message: Clear first time events.
Debug Message: Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message: Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message: Loading Custom Map
Debug Message: Loading Data Defs
Debug Message: Data Defs block size: 1124878
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: Loading TechDefs
Debug Message: Max num techs: 273
Debug Message: Loading ImprovementDB
Debug Message: Loading Component Defs
Debug Message: Loading ShipTypes
Debug Message: Loading ShipTemplates
Debug Message: Loading ParsedHardpoints
Debug Message: Loading AnomalyTypes
Debug Message: Loading RandomEvents
Debug Message: Loading UPIssues
Debug Message: Loading ResourceTypes
Debug Message: Loading InvasionTactics
Debug Message: Loading SBmodules
Debug Message: Loading PoliticalParties
Debug Message: Loading Planet Types
Debug Message: Loading Star Types
Debug Message: Loading AFMBModules
Debug Message: Loading ShipStyles
Debug Message: Loading Game
Debug Message: Loading: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Loading Galaxy
Debug Message: Sectors across: 8 x 8
Debug Message: Loading FOW Map
Debug Message: Loading ZOC Map
Debug Message: Loading Planets
Debug Message: Loading Stars
Debug Message: Loading Anomalies
Debug Message: Loading Resources
Debug Message: Loading AsteroidFields
Debug Message: Loading AFMiningBases
Debug Message: Loading Civs
Debug Message: Loading Colonies
Debug Message: Loading RallyPoints
Debug Message: Loading Ships
Debug Message: Loading Fleets
Debug Message: Loading Turn Event Log
Debug Message: Loading Treaties
Debug Message: Loading ENDGALAXYDATA
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 0
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Game Started
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S2_PirateShip.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Altarian Resistance Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S3_PirateShip.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Arcean Empire Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S6_PirateShip.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Dominion of Korx Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S7_PirateShip.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Drath Legion Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S13_PirateShip.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Dread Lords Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S1_PirateShip.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Drengin Empire Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S9_PirateShip.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Iconian Refuge Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S10_PirateShip.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Korath Clan Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S11_PirateShip.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Krynn Consulate Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: Pirate_PirateShip.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Pirate Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S0_PirateShip.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Terran Alliance Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S8_PirateShip.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Thalan Empire Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S4_PirateShip.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Torian Confederation Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S5_PirateShip.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Yor Collective Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S2_Starbase.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Altarian Resistance Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S3_Starbase.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Arcean Empire Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S6_Starbase.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Dominion of Korx Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S7_Starbase.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Drath Legion Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S13_Starbase.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Dread Lords Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S1_Starbase.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Drengin Empire Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S9_Starbase.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Iconian Refuge Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S10_Starbase.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Korath Clan Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S11_Starbase.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Krynn Consulate Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: Pirate_Starbase.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Pirate Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S0_Starbase.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Terran Alliance Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S8_Starbase.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Thalan Empire Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S4_Starbase.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Torian Confederation Style.
Debug Message: Could not find ship config: S5_Starbase.shipcfg. This core ship will not be available for style Yor Collective Style.
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=20
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding QuarterlyWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=16
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 2
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding ResearchWnd
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 9
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=10
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: EconomicWnd: Cannot find OBJID Template_Button_Back
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1

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kryo

Join Date 05/2003

+458

First off, as 1.59.078 doesn't match up with the 1.50x3 version given by the game (1.50x3 is 1.58.072, and 1.59.078 should be 1.6b1), I'd suggest making sure that the "show pre-release versions" option is off in SDC's view menu, and reinstall. It's possible you've got a bad install so that should sort it if that's the case. If not, post back here and we'll dig deeper.

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I just uninstalled everything including Stardock Central and reinstalled. I turned off the "Show prerelease versions" (which is on by default) but it still says 1.59.078 is the only one available to upgrade to. The installed version says 1.50 now. How do I get to 1.58.072?

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kryo

Join Date 05/2003

+458

Well, if SDC won't give you the option for 1.50x3, then there's no other way to get it at the moment.

Do you still have the same issue though after the reinstall?

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Yes this build is quite unstable, it crashes very often. I didn't know the 1.59.078 was a beta version and I can't rollback to the stable version..

I am not using the "Show prerelease versions" anymore.

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This time I uninstalled everything, reinstalled the game and played straight off the CD version with no patching. Playing Friday night, Saturday and this morning, I have only gotten one crash. (Yes that is one more than I should, but still an improvement.) I would say that it is back in the "playable" range now.

I even had a warning of sorts that a crash was coming. In the Research Screen, the sounds you get when you click on a technology suddenly changed. They were better sounds than the normal ones, and it was definitely a noticeable change. Two minutes later the game crashed to desktop. After restarting the game, the Research Screen was back to using the old sounds. Very strange.

Somebody needs to fix Stardock Central so the "Show prerelease versions" actually works. (Currently you get the beta software even if you don't want it and turn off that option.) When that gets fixed, the default should be OFF, not on.

So for now I guess we all have to play with the CD version and no stable patch available?

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kryo

Join Date 05/2003

+458

Well, the issue with SDC's versioning doesn't appear to have been resolved yet. However, if you update to the latest it will give you, then additionally use the files Frogboy posted in this thread, that should get you a complete and proper copy of the 1.6 beta 1 patch, which did fix some crash issues over 1.5x3 (despite what the version number said in SDC, that appears to be what you had when you initially posted this thread).

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