Trying so hard to play so little...

Continuous crashes

from GalCiv2 Forums
I bought the game fairly new because of rave reviews about game play and lack of installation bugs. So far I haven't had luck with either one! After not being able to even run the store bought game as-is, I looked thru forum posts, updated all my
PC's driver innards to have a game I could play about 15-20 min and display would start flashing, floating text boxes and then freeze. If I hurried up and quit the game, I could come back again, reload everything and keep playing for another 15-20 min before repeating the cycle and this is without a PC reboot. I came back online downloaded 1.0X and now my problem actually seems same but worse. It will freeze with little or no warning and my play time is limited to about 2-3 turns before I have to race to quit and then try to reload the game. I am only trying to play on tiny maps with only 3 players. I have tried turning aliasing off, full screen off, turning all music off, muting sound all together, running at lowest play resolution of 1024x768 (both desktop and game), and setting my Virtual Memory out to 3-4 GB. I know my Creative Labs SB Live sound card isn't the newest out there but are no newer drivers and problem seems to center around display / menu changes, not sound.

I will post my Debug.err file at the bottom but only difference I can see between my original version and my 1.0X Debug is that 8 out of 12 pages of a continuous message changed from:

"Debug Message: Unallocated Mem: 8 bytes of memory from line 1112 of .\Source\editfields.cpp
Debug Message: Not all memory has been freed from memory system EditFields.
Debug Message: 2064 bytes of memory still allocated."

To This:

"Debug Message: Unallocated Mem: 8 bytes of memory from line 1135 of .\Source\editfields.cpp
Debug Message: Not all memory has been freed from memory system EditFields.
Debug Message: 2160 bytes of memory still allocated."

Mucho El Thankso to anyone that takes the time to help me out. It seems like it could be a cool game if I could actually play it!

1.0X debug file:

Debug Message: Version v1.0X.2 last updated on: Tue Mar 7 15:02:59 2006
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 4/5/2006, 11:47:28
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: MASTERPUTER
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp2.050301-1526)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Compaq
System Model: Compaq PC
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 1900, ~1.6GHz
Physical Memory: 512MB RAM
Page File: 173MB used, 2305MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce3 Ti 200
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0201&SUBSYS_51001462&REV_A3
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.8421
Driver Date: 3/9/2006 15:29:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB Live! Wave Device
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0002&SUBSYS_806B1102&REV_07
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: emu10k1f.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3507
Driver Date: 8/10/2001 10:12:30
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_NONE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200
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: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 369e99
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
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: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\BB22\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\*.StarSystems
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for PirateShip. ***
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for Starbase. ***
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\BB22\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipclass
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\BB22\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\BB22\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Dread Lords Campaign\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\BB22\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Logos\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\BB22\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\BB22\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\BB22\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Portraits\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\BB22\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\BB22\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\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 space resources.
Debug Message: Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message: killing scenario.
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: 993088
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Loading TechDefs
Debug Message: Max num techs: 248
Debug Message: Loading ImprovementDB
Debug Message: Loading Component Defs
Debug Message: Loading ShipTypes
Debug Message: Loading ShipConfigs
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\BB22\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
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 Game
Debug Message: Loading Galaxy
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 Civs
Debug Message: Loading Colonies
Debug Message: Loading RallyPoints
Debug Message: Loading Ships
Debug Message: Loading Fleets
Debug Message: Loading Influence
Debug Message: Loading ENDGALAXYDATA
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 5
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: DomesticWnd: Cannot find OBJID Domestic_Government_Tab
Debug Message: DomesticWnd: Cannot find OBJID Domestic_Governor_Tab
Debug Message: DomesticWnd: Cannot find OBJID Domestic_Stats_Tab
Debug Message: DomesticWnd: Cannot find OBJID Domestic_Graphs_Tab
Debug Message: EconomicWnd: Cannot find OBJID Template_Button_Back
Debug Message: StarbaseDetailsWnd: Cannot find OBJID Starbase_Details_Disband_Button
Debug Message: Error. String Not Found. Table: StarbaseDetailsWnd String Name: DisbandBtn
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Diplomatic Relations
Debug Message: Torian Confederation (4): Researching: Ion Drive
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Driver internal error

(This goes on for about 8-10 pages continuously, then:)

Debug Message: Driver internal error
Debug Message: WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize start
Debug Message: Killing 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 space resources.
Debug Message: Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message: killing scenario.
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: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing Galaxy: Completed
Debug Message: Desplay_ShipList_Entry_Down.png not cleared 90 counts left.
Debug Message: Desplay_ShipList_Entry_Over.png not cleared 90 counts left.
Debug Message: Desplay_ShipList_Entry_Up.png not cleared 180 counts left.
Debug Message: Desplay_Small_Status_Frame_Up.png not cleared 180 counts left.
Debug Message: Gfx\Overlays\Starbase_Mill_48.png not cleared 29 counts left.
Debug Message: Gfx\Overlays\Starbase_Mine_48.png not cleared 7 counts left.
Debug Message: Gfx\Overlays\Starbase_Res_48.png not cleared 41 counts left.
Debug Message: Gfx\Overlays\Starbase_So_48.png not cleared 13 counts left.
Debug Message: TextFiledBack.png not cleared 180 counts left.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize end
Debug Message: Device not cleared. 12 counts left.
Debug Message: D3D not cleared. 1 counts left.
Debug Message: Destroying Window.
Debug Message: Main Shell terminating normally
Debug Message: Unallocated Mem: 8 bytes of memory from line 1135 of .\Source\editfields.cpp

(This goes on for about 3-4 pages continuously, then ends at:)

Debug Message: Unallocated Mem: 8 bytes of memory from line 1135 of .\Source\editfields.cpp
Debug Message: Not all memory has been freed from memory system EditFields.
Debug Message: 2160 bytes of memory still allocated.


Not sure of significance, but the "driver error message" wasn't on the store bought orignal version Debug and when I first installed 1.0X it originally crashed on start up first couple of times. Then after a while it just resulted in a turbo boosted version of same problem I was originally having.
5,171 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Looks like maybe a memory leak to my untrained eye, but that doesn't help you much. I believe GalCiv2 is only officially supported on Windows XP SP2, so you might try updating that.

*shrug*

-Dewar
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yes, please make sure you have all the latest updates for all your drivers. That includes video, os, sound, and directx, etc.
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yeah, sound drivers are ancient, but keep track of what it's doing with ctrl-shift-esc, and make sure it isn't leaking memory.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
You have a seriously outdated video card. I'm surprised that GeForce 3 can be updated to DX 9.0c. It's not easy to set-up and run a modern game with a 64 MB GF3. Plus, Compac's are known for having compatibility problems with many programs, due to the highly proprietery nature of their systems ( custom chipsets, intergrated graphics and audio, etc.). It's quite possible that the game is simply too much for your VC. Heck, I have a 256 MB FX 5500 running 1280 x 960 (2XAA), and it tends to chug in certain areas (usually on the tech completion screens). So, the minimum requirement of 1024 x 768 might really be straining your card. Then again, it could also be that your card is just giving up the ghost.. metaphorically speaking.

Do yourself a favor.. Save up $80-100. Buy a newer AGP video card, and give it a try again. Or try installing it to a newer computer ( if you have one available). I don't have a top of the line rig, it's almost 2 years old, and I don't seem to have any problems.

My specs (for comparison):

HP Pavillion a562n
Pentium 4 3.00e w/HTT
1 GB RAM (PC 2700)
256 MB FX5500 AGP 8X
Sound Blaster Live!
200 GB HDD (31% free)
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Wow an old Ti 200!... Im surprised your even getting to the game screen!

But seriously, it might be rather difficult to just upgrade your video card. As was previously stated alot of these systems have proprietery software (and hardware) that don't react well to new stuff. (even extra RAM)
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What you are describing is a either a heat, memory leak, or power problem. If it was power, I'd expect it to happen much faster, and the age of your video card suggests otherwise as well. I am going to go with heat. LIke others have said, it is not going to fully support DX9 and as such is probably not handling the calls as it should. This can easily cause the processor to work much harder than designed, at lest with a stock cooler. With such an old card, the GPU throttling may not be working correctly either. I agree with everyone else, you probably need a newer video card.

However, that being said....

If you still want to try some free things first, you can update windows to SP2. This will help with the .Net and DX calls, thus maybe (and very unlikely) helping the problem somewhat. There were a few fixes included there that could apply to your situation. Second, you could disable your sound card in the Device Manager of Windows. That would keep the game from using it and determine if that is an issue. If all goes well after that, go buy a nice new sound card that is not AC'97 Realtec based. They suck. Period.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
1st Thanks to all the folks that replied. As a gamer myself, I'm sure you'd rather be playing the game than helping me trouble shoot so the feedback is appreciated. As far as not being XP sp2. Long story short, the old hard drive crashed out on me a few months back and I just recently restoring and upgraded a new drive from OEM XP sp 1. With all these freezes and power down crashes, it's not too much of a stretch to think it may have restored back to OEM load.

Following the advice of friendly techies: I have re-updated XP sp 2; tried disabling sound card all together; for heat issues, I opened up the tower and put a medium sized vortex fan blowing directly into box (in addition to the 3 internal fans already installed). Basically to end up in same spot. First, time I ran it after this I actually made it to a "4 turn auto save" before the bright lights and menus started flashing. I let it run until it froze and then crashed Windows to the blue screen of death talking about some kind of mini-boot dump before rebooting. When I checked the debug file it basically says same message since 1.0X upgrade: "Unallocated Mem: 8 bytes of memory from line 1135. "

As far as advice to get a new video card, buying the latest and greatest stuff for the ole PC is always great in the mind but not so wonderful on the pockets. Not to mention, I am not having trouble playing any other 3d graphics games. Some for up to 12 hrs straight (as far as the heat concerns). Geoforce3 Ti 200 is still listed as a DX 9.0C compatible game on NVidias website and they just updated the Geoforce drivers just last month. With the uncertainty of spending $80-$120 MORE to play $40 game when my system requirements are almost double all the min. listed requrements on the side of the box I already bought and then still end up with exact same problems would definitely make anyone go a little E-postal I think. I will admit going down the Compaq road has been a "bumpy" one at that, but honestly I would have never bought the game if I didn't meet min. req's listed. As much as it hurts the PC ego, some games are just out of your systems reach.

PS - What's a memory leak? Is that a system issue or program one? And how would I stop one if I had it?
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Doubt it is a memory leak - that is when a program grabs memory and never releases it - eventually it uses up all free memory and crashes.

Do you have CPU throttling checked in the Game options menu? Just curious.

Have you actually checked your system temps? Try speedfan - it's a free program that can help. Even though you added a fan, did you remove your CPU heatsink, clean it, and put on fresh silicon paste? After a few years the stuff dries out and your CPU can get really hot, especially if it is running a program that really works it out. Speedfan can help you determine your core CPU temp from windows. http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

Also, have you run a mem test? If you had a HDD crash a while ago, and have had frequent power issues, damage could have been done to your memory sticks. This can also cause the issues you are having.

Just because all other games may run, does not mean this one will...each is it's own beast and has it's own stress points - some may not be apparent, some will.

Invest in more RAM - 512 is not enough anymore. XP sp2 does not run fully optimized on anything less than 1GB- let alone run apps optimally.

Finally, I will echo that you need a new video card - AGP makes a big difference. And having 128+ vid memory is almost a requirement these days. You can find some sweet deals on older but not too old 128 MB cards now - $30-$50. It's an not an investment just for the game, but for your overall pc if you plan to keep using it for a while.

Good luck. Sorry I can't be of more help.