Game crashes on startup, won't even open the main screen

from GalCiv2 Forums

Alright, this may have been posted, so I do apologize, but I've updated directx, and I've tried to update the game to the next version, but it can't see my registration so...here's my debug file. any help would be very much appreciated. Thankyou.

Debug Message: Version v1.0 last updated on: Mon Feb 6 12:52:05 2006
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 4/8/2006, 23:16:41
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: JACK
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: Dimension 2350
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1.80GHz
Physical Memory: 254MB RAM
Page File: 310MB used, 315MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: Intel(R) Extreme Graphics Controller
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip Type: Intel(R) 82845G/GL Chip
DAC Type: Internal
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2562&SUBSYS_01471028&REV_03
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Dell E551c
Monitor Max Resolution: 1024,768
Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version: 6.13.0001.3162
Driver Date: 6/21/2002 19:45:42
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24C5&SUBSYS_01471028&REV_02
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: smwdm.sys
Provider: Analog Devices
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3515
Driver Date: 8/5/2002 10:23:58
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: Multisample Type chosen in prefs not supported. Forcing a supported type.
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) Extreme Graphics Controller
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 60
Debug Message: Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message: *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message: Hardware does not support a color cursor.
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\Administrator.JACK\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\Administrator.JACK\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipclass
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator.JACK\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
4,433 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I see two major problems and one more potential problem. First, your video drivers are almost four years old -- that's ancient! Second, your swap file isn't nearly big enough. For the amount of RAM you have, I suggest at least a 1.5 GB swap file. The third problem is that your video card simply might not be good enough at all, even with new drivers. . .
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
That computer is not up to snuff. Your video card drivers are way old - will not support the newest directX 9.0c version. Update them.

You have wayyyy too little RAM - with only 256 XP sp2 must be struggling, let alone any apps on top of it. That said, if you update your vid drivers tha game should still run albeit slowly.

The game requires a page file of at least 1GB. You will have to manually set this as XP will not allocate that much with so little RAM automatically.
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Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

1) Must update video drivers for certain.

2) Must increase page file. You should have your system set your page file for you so that it'll grow as needed.

Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Thankyou very much all of you. Its my girlfriend's comp so...yeah. This thing is ancient, but then again, I really wouldn't know, I keep up with cars not comps. Again, very much appreciate the help. I got it to run all the way to the load screen for a game, but it kicks out again.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I can't even get the demo to load after I do all the early picking of what and who I want to be. I bought my puter in April of 2004. Its a Intel P4, 2.8 GHz w/512MB DDR SDRAM at 333MHz. Where I may falter is in the video card, integrated intel extreme graphics 2 card, and the Intel Pro 100M Inegrated PCI NIC card areas. I do however have direct X 9.0 installed. Before I go out and buy the whole in-cha-la-da I should at least get the demo to work. Do I have to update my video and other cards? This is a Del dimension 4600 series puter, w/ windows xp home edition service pack 2.
Thanks for any help. I can be reached at [email protected] if this is allowed as i'm kinda new at this.
viperbob
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
You should have your system set your page file for you so that it'll grow as needed


Ugh! I have to take issue with this bit of advice Brad - it's OK (almost) to do that if you have the pagefile on a seperate partition, but doing it when it's on the system partition (as most pre-built machines will have) leads to horrible fragmentation-based performance problems.

Best performance is to have a dedicated pagefile partition and set it to 1.5 times physical RAM (or 1GB if you have 512Mb or less physical RAM), and disable the paging executive in the registry so that Windows only uses the page file when it really needs to - not when it thinks that you might do something in the future that may need it to do some paging!