will not run at all

from GalCiv2 Forums
Everytime i try to run the game, my screen goes completely black except for the right most portion of the screen which still manages to display my desktop. There is no cpu activity in the task manager. Can anybody advise me to what the problem might be. I have tried every single remedy posted in these forums yet nothing seems to work. Here is ym debug info for those who may need it. Display Info Display device 1: Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1 Card Name: RADEON X800 XT Platinum Edition Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc. Chip Type: RADEON X800 XT Platinum Edition AGP (0x4A50) DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz) Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4A50&SUBSYS_003A1043&REV_00 Display Memory: 256.0 MB Current Display Mode: 1280 x 720 (32 bit) (60Hz) Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200 Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6587 Driver Date: 11/22/2005 23:51:09 DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes Sound info Sound device 1: Description: SB Audigy Audio [E400] Default Sound Playback: Yes Default Voice Playback: Yes Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_00511102&REV_03 Manufacturer ID: 1 Product ID: 100 Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys Provider: Creative Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1164 Driver Date: 12/8/2005 12:55:46 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: Could not create the render device using default format. Switching to 16bit Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE Debug Message: Could not create the render device. Debug Message: InitializeDirect3D Failed. Debug Message: Now Fullscreen Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
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Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Would be good to have the whole debug log. Need to see your system specs too.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Here's the info in a little easier to read format.

My debug info is as follows -



Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: RADEON X800 XT Platinum Edition
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: RADEON X800 XT Platinum Edition AGP (0x4A50)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4A50&SUBSYS_003A1043&REV_00
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 720 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6587
Driver Date: 11/22/2005 23:51:09
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB Audigy Audio [E400]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_00511102&REV_03
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1164
Driver Date: 12/8/2005 12:55:46
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: Could not create the render device using default format. Switching to 16bit
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message: Could not create the render device.
Debug Message: InitializeDirect3D Failed.
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ah, thats better. We need all the specs, and more of the .err
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Reminds me of the problem I had when trying to run the game at 1600x1200 or higher on my DAW with a 21" monitor and a 9600Pro. - it would only work in those modes in windowed mode - not full screen - (though if it was the same res as the desktop then it looked the same as fullscreen anyway).
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Do you have the latest drivers for your ATI card?
What seems to be happening is the game fails to render but starts up anyway as indicated here:
Debug Message: Could not create the render device.
Debug Message: InitializeDirect3D Failed.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I have installed the latest versions of directx and my ati drivers just last night thinking that might be the problem but i didn't change anything at all. Same error everytime.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 720 (32 bit) (60Hz)

could you try a more standard resolution for you desktop? There is a mimum resolution and the program is trying to get a full screen display and your resolution has one side lower than the corresponding minimum resolution side.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I have installed the latest versions of directx and my ati drivers just last night thinking that might be the problem but i didn't change anything at all. Same error everytime.


The newest version of ATI's drivers was released last month, while yours are months old. Go to ATI's site and download the newest version.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i have tried it in 1024 x 768 as well as 1280 x 1024 and still nothing.

Now here's a bit of info, i just went into the run properties of the game and adjusted the run credentials. It finally allowed me to get one step further. It will finally load in windowed mode, BUT if i try to access any of the options menus i have a problem in that it won't allow me to click on any of the boxes unless i put my cursor about half an inch below the box i want to check. It does not display any resolutions for me to choose from, nor does it allow me to return to the main menu once i'm in the options menu.
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Without your full systems stats it is very hard to hlep you.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i have tried it in 1024 x 768 as well as 1280 x 1024 and still nothing.

Now here's a bit of info, i just went into the run properties of the game and adjusted the run credentials. It finally allowed me to get one step further. It will finally load in windowed mode, BUT if i try to access any of the options menus i have a problem in that it won't allow me to click on any of the boxes unless i put my cursor about half an inch below the box i want to check. It does not display any resolutions for me to choose from, nor does it allow me to return to the main menu once i'm in the options menu.
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i have tried it in 1024 x 768 as well as 1280 x 1024 and still nothing.

Now here's a bit of info, i just went into the run properties of the game and adjusted the run credentials. It finally allowed me to get one step further. It will finally load in windowed mode, BUT if i try to access any of the options menus i have a problem in that it won't allow me to click on any of the boxes unless i put my cursor about half an inch below the box i want to check. It does not display any resolutions for me to choose from, nor does it allow me to return to the main menu once i'm in the options menu.
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i have tried it in 1024 x 768 as well as 1280 x 1024 and still nothing.

Now here's a bit of info, i just went into the run properties of the game and adjusted the run credentials. It finally allowed me to get one step further. It will finally load in windowed mode, BUT if i try to access any of the options menus i have a problem in that it won't allow me to click on any of the boxes unless i put my cursor about half an inch below the box i want to check. It does not display any resolutions for me to choose from, nor does it allow me to return to the main menu once i'm in the options menu.
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
sorry for all the posts, but for some reason it was timing out yet apparently it was sending them anyways.
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
HI Guys

Can I get an update on this. I have the exact same issue and i'd love to know how to fix it.
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ok i finally manged to fix mine.

I went to the pref.ini file in C:\Documents and Settings\