Blank Game Buttons on Laptop

from GalCiv2 Forums
I have posted this twice now, but I think it gets tacked on to other threads where ppl keep posting pages and pages of dump files (ought to be attachments if you ask, but nobody did).

I have GalCiv2 installed on a Dell Inpiron laptop with Intel 82845G? (just 32MB) graphics. Screen is 1024x768 and 32-bit color. The Demo ran fine, except at startup, the game always said it detected 16-bit color and recommended I changed to 32. Otherwise the game ran fine and I was impressed enough to be buy it.

Now it seems I am part of an extended post-purchase Beta program, since the StarDock GC2 versions I've downloaded (both 1.0X and the 1.1+ betas) in addition to still reporting 16-bit color, now fail to display the buttons on the main menu and beyond. They are there, and they are functional, just solid white with no readable text.

I am hoping this is something I can fix by following suggestions on editting the galciv2.ini or perf file, since I definitely have the latest driver for this minimal yet effective graphics device. This is a turn=based strategy game, not a high frame rate FPS!
Everything in the demo worked fine.
7,295 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
More Info...  it's not just the Buttons.  All the pulldown menus on the subsequent game config screens are also blank.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
not enough video memory maybe? you really should post your debug.err
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
install stardock central, load it up, under free stuff get smartexception. Wait till the game crashes (force a crash though alt+tab then alt+f4 if necesary) and check your debug.err file, if you cant make sense of it post the final lines, first page, and last few pages (preferably in that order) here, and we'll all be glad to help.
EDIT:
This is a turn=based strategy game, not a high frame rate FPS!

Dear god, read the journals well over 100 fps. It was actually killing high end systems, by being too fast and overheating new videocards. And some of the user posted models have about 1 million polys, and run fine. This is VERY high end graphics, just aren't fully utilised.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
OK here's the deal: 1st off, I was wrong about the 32MB... it's actually a whopping 64MB of slow clunkin' video memory.
2nd, I completely uninstalled the game, Stardock =AND= the demo, Rebooted, uninstalled and reinstalled the Intel video driver, rebooted, Then defraged pagefile and cleaned/compacted registry, Rebooted, Finally install Stardock fresh, allowed it to install retail version of GalCiv2 1.0X, AND it works! Next I went for broke, and let Stardock update to 1.1B(zzz) and it worked too. happy, happy.

Lastly, concerning the snitty 100fps comment: You forget yourself, sir. It is still a strategy game. It is wonderful for ppl with high end machines to be able to turn on all the bells and whistles, and burn up their expensive video cards. However, most strategy game players are looking for the challenge of AI, not the eye-candy. Most of that extra stuff will get turned off by folks who just want to play the game.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I too have the same problem. The previous version (1.0) worked fine so I downloaded the current beta and all the button text has disappeared. Tried uninstalling and re-installing everything twice now and still the same problem. Come on Stardock! I can't believe this is a driver problem - the darn thing worked before!
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
The Demo ran fine, except at startup, the game always said it detected 16-bit color and recommended I changed to 32.

Well, there is a very good reason for Stardock to ask you to switch to 32bit-color. Why didn't have you changed the setting to the one recommanded?

However, most strategy game players are looking for the challenge of AI, not the eye-candy.

Well, I have a nice setting for you: set the tactical level to the minimum, you will play only with icons on the main map
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

DocUppy: Did you by any chance download the demo as well? Perhaps this is an unforseen conflict between the Demo and the Full Version when installed on the same machine We havn't touched the underlying Text Display code in a LONG TIME, so I'm a bit befuddled as to what could be causing this.

We have received some Debug files on the matter, so hopefully we can narrow down the problem ASAP

Thanks for everyones paticence on the matter

Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Peace Phoenix, I don't mean to flame you, since perhaps English is not your primary language, or maybe you just have a reading comprehension problem.

The very first post states emphatically that I am running 32-bit color "Screen is 1024x768 and 32-bit color." but the game is incorrectly detecting 16-bit. Thanks for the mininal display tip. My suggestion to you is to reseach the "Universal Translator" a bit more before you offer tech support to others.

For others: The game runs fine now that I uninstalled the demo and am running a fresh load from Stardock. I think it was a palette switching thing; however the game still pops-up with the 16-bit warning at startup.

Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Russ: Could you post the first few paragraphs from your debug.err file? I'd like to try and get a system running the game with the same specs a you have and see if I can reproduce this 16bit bug. It sounds fairly annoying and, if you're getting it, im sure others have as well.

Thanks!

Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sure Boogie and looking at it myself, I think I see something that might be causing it. As I stated earlier, the game runs fine now and I am liking it a lot! My laptop is attached to a docking station that happens to have a VGA port though I don't use it. I think the program is seeing the specs for the unused "display 2" and reporting it, because for all it knows, I could switch to that display during gameplay. Appreciate your attention and support.

Here's the first bit (and I do wish there was a way to attach these debug.err and not have scroll thru them to read posts).

Debug Message: Version v1.1 BETA-2A last updated on: Thu Mar 30 21:37:53 2006
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 4/3/2006, 12:33:32
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: [withheld]
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp.060210-1526)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: Inspiron 1100
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A32
Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.00GHz
Physical Memory: 1016MB RAM
Page File: 401MB used, 3568MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS

Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip Type: Intel(R) 82845G Graphics Controller
DAC Type: Internal
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2562&SUBSYS_01491028&REV_03
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Digital Flat Panel (1024x768)
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4342
Driver Date: 10/19/2005 09:59:12
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes

Display device 2:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY2
Card Name: TARGUS USB PORT REPLICATOR DEVICE(DISPLAY).
Manufacturer:
Chip Type:
DAC Type:
Key Device: Enum\TARGUS\USB2VGA_D
Display Memory: n/a
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (16 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: TdxVgaDisp.dll
Driver Version: 1.30.0001.0002
Driver Date: 3/3/2005 11:12:16
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
[snip]
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_NONE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 60
Debug Message: Bit Depth: 32 bit.

[runs fine from then on!]
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
OK, I tried something: though I dont have a monitor attached to the port, I went into graphic properties and changed the docking station's port to 32 bit. And Lo, the 16-bit warning went away. Der.

My apologies to Stardock for me not catching this earlier. I probably should have mentioned I was using a docking station, but since I just have a printer and ext HD attached to it, I didn't think it would contribute to the problem.
Really liking GalCiv2 now, though still not sure what made the buttons blank earlier. Thanks
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
Peace Phoenix, I don't mean to flame you, since perhaps English is not your primary language, or maybe you just have a reading comprehension problem.

Sorry, I have read too fast. And yes, english isn't my first language
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Russ: Wonderful! Glad that got fixed I have a feeling that alot of these problem are stemming from computers that have a junky onboard video card, but have a better card installed, and somewhere DirectX is getting confused and sending info to the wrong card or something.

Or it could be something we did, but Isn't it always easier to blame a scapegoat 

Again, thanks for looking into that and finding the root of the 16bit problem

Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
BB: Most welcome, and awesome of you to look into it, Thanks!

PP: Aucun problème, mon ami. Imaginez si j'essayais de dire toute la ceci dans la langue vraie de la civilité et de la diplomatie. J'apprécie votre intention et effort !