After losing a whole 500gigs drive, i had to restart from a brand new one.
So, i figured might as well pickup a copy of Win7 and go on from there.
Lotsa of files were lost and i have yet to try recuperating a few "important" things from the blasted HD... but that didn't stop me from putting the essentials (SeaMonkey_Browser, AVG_Free, Gimp, a few games, etc) into the new OS.
Problem is, when i went to re-install all three GC2 from a fresh Impulse setup(btw)... downloads seemed to work perfectly but DL & DA crashed at the start_game_loading phase (if that can help, the Hints popup was empty and Win7 game me the following boot warning;
*****
Nom d’événement de problème: APPCRASH
Nom de l’application: GC2DarkAvatar.exe
Version de l’application: 2.0.0.0
Horodatage de l’application: 492b1ca8
Nom du module par défaut: GC2DarkAvatar.exe
Version du module par défaut: 2.0.0.0
Horodateur du module par défaut: 492b1ca8
Code de l’exception: c0000005
Décalage de l’exception: 0028a929
Version du système: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.768.3
Identificateur de paramètres régionaux: 1036
Information supplémentaire n° 1: 1929
Information supplémentaire n° 2: 192996bdd6a18cbbf2921fff32c15c11
Information supplémentaire n° 3: 90e4
Information supplémentaire n° 4: 90e4e2bf95db70348e9425847cb7735f
*****
Below, i include the usual debuf.err (for DA) copy for further analysis should you need it --
.....
Debug Message: Version v2.01 Dark Avatar last updated on: Mon Nov 24 16:26:43 2008
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 4/12/2010, 14:49:14
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
Machine Name: ZYXPSILON-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Édition Familiale Premium 32-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.091207-1941)
Languages: French (Regional Setting: French)
System Manufacturer: ACER
System Model: Aspire M5640
BIOS: BIOS Date: 01/29/08 14:43:24 Ver: 08.00.15
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4600 @ 2.40GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Physical Memory: 3072MB RAM
Page File: 1055MB used, 6214MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 9600 GT
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0622&SUBSYS_C8563842&REV_A1
Display Memory: 1777 MB
Current Display Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (59Hz)
Monitor Name: Moniteur Plug-and-Play générique
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
Driver Version: 8.17.0011.9713
Driver Date: 3/16/2010 02:51:59
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Haut-parleurs (2- Périphérique High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_10250137&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 65535
Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 6.01.7600.16385
Driver Date: 7/13/2009 19:51:47
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Sound device 1:
Description: Haut-parleurs (2- Périphérique High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_10250137&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 65535
Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 6.01.7600.16385
Driver Date: 7/13/2009 19:51:47
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Sound device 1:
Description: Audio numérique (SPDIF) (2- Périphérique High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_10250137&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 65535
Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 6.01.7600.16385
Driver Date: 7/13/2009 19:51:47
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Sound device 1:
Description: Audio numérique (HDMI) (Périphérique High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10DE&DEV_8001&SUBSYS_10DE0101&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 65535
Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 6.01.7600.16385
Driver Date: 7/13/2009 19:51:47
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
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: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using hardware vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1680 x 1050, Windowed: 1, Multisample: 4
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1680 x 1050
Debug Message: Running in windowed mode.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_IMMEDIATE
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 0
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: Border size reported as 6 by 28
Debug Message: RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message: Now windowed.
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: No string tables in ./Data//ToolTips.tips
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 23c34f
Debug Message: No string tables in ./Data//*.str
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:\Users\Zyxpsilon\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Zyxpsilon\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Zyxpsilon\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Zyxpsilon\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: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Zyxpsilon\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Zyxpsilon\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Zyxpsilon\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: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Zyxpsilon\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Danger Will Robinson, no Stars!!!!
Debug Message: No files found matching mask G:\GalCiv2./Data//Tutorials/*.xml
Debug Message: GalaxyWnd: Cannot find OBJID Scenaro_MoreDetails_FText
Debug Message: GalaxyWnd: Cannot find OBJID Scenaro_Details_FormattedText
Debug Message: No files found matching mask G:\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Scenarios/*.GC2Scenario
Debug Message: No files found matching mask G:\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Title
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Disctiption_Spinner_Back
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Disctiption_Title
Debug Error: CustomShipStyleWnd: Unknown edit field ShipList_List_Entry type: CustomListEntry
Debug Error: CustomShipStyleWnd: Unknown edit field ShipList_Avalible_List_Entry type: CustomListEntry
Debug Message: WARNING: GetShipStylePrefix called for civ and civ has no ship style
Debug Message: LoadHardpointsFromPrefsFile failed to load ship config file: ./Data/ShipCfg/\(null)_ColonyShip.shipcfg
Debug Message: Creating Galaxy
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: Star Frequency: 3 Max Num Stars: 36
Debug Message: Planet Frequency: 2 Max Num Planets: 86
Debug Message: Galaxy Size Set: 4 x 4
Debug Message: Creating Random Map
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message: Star Density: Tight Clusters.
Debug Message: Number of Unplaced Stars: 5.
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Planets
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: Total planets placed: 65
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Anomalies
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 167
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Resources
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Done
Debug Message: Distributing bonuses on planets...
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Asteroid Fields
Debug Message: Setting Game Options
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Terran Alliance: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Altarian Resistance: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Arcean Empire: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Torian Confederation: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Yor Collective: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Creating Civs... Done
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Creating ships...
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Galaxy Create... Done
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 0
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Game Started
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled
.....
I even tried Windowed mode, etc.
Danger Will Robinson, no Stars! ??? (Maybe?)
DL also game me a line such as "Collectors Edition" in its own Debug file -- might not be *it* though...
Finally, as you could read, i have the latest NVidia driver (197.13) installed too. Although, i know for a fact that anything above 165+ versions have been experiencing numerous troubles from what i've seen on their Forums.