Updated system crashes.

The punishment for updating drivers?

from GalCiv2 Forums
I just installed the latest ATI-drivers and paid a visit to windows update.
I didn’t have much of a problem with the game prior to this, but now for some reason I get a crash. I haven’t pushed it so I can’t say this always happens.
This is beta build 1, I know there are newer releases, but what I really like to know is what caused the crash. Just out of general curiosity.
The game I loaded was from a save from the same build.
Here’s the report:

Debug Message: Version v1.1 BETA-1 last updated on: Fri Mar 24 19:54:46 2006
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 4/13/2006, 17:15:49
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: DEXTER
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Languages: Swedish (Regional Setting: Swedish)
System Manufacturer: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Model: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
BIOS: BIOS Date: 06/30/04 15:16:17 Ver: 08.00.09
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 2600+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.1GHz
Physical Memory: 1022MB RAM
Page File: 205MB used, 2255MB available
Windows Dir: C:\windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: RADEON 9800 PRO
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: RADEON 9800 PRO AGP (0x4E48)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E48&SUBSYS_00021002&REV_00
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: L557
Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6606
Driver Date: 3/22/2006 05:56:42
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB Live! Wave-enhet
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0002&SUBSYS_80611102&REV_07
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: emu10k1m.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3300
Driver Date: 8/17/2001 22:19:26
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_2_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): RADEON 9800 PRO
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\Dex\Mina dokument\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\Dex\Mina dokument\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipclass
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dex\Mina dokument\My Games\GalCiv2\Dread Lords Campaign\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dex\Mina dokument\My Games\GalCiv2\Logos\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dex\Mina dokument\My Games\GalCiv2\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dex\Mina dokument\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dex\Mina dokument\My Games\GalCiv2\Portraits\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dex\Mina dokument\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dex\Mina dokument\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: 1075826
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: 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: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Loading Influence
Debug Message: Loading ENDGALAXYDATA
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 0
Debug Message: StackedShipsWnd: Cannot find OBJID Stacked_Logistics_Value
Debug Message: StackedShipsWnd: Cannot find OBJID stacked_Fleet_More_Button
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: Random Event: Begin
Debug Message: Random Event: Checking for Rebels
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Yearly Status Dialog
Debug Message: Yearly Status Dialog 3
Debug Message: Yearly Status Dialog 3a
Debug Message: Random Event: Begin
Debug Message: Random Event: Checking for Rebels
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.


Any idea what caused it?



Rygel XVI - Dominar to over 600 billion (more or less) loyal subjects.
6,213 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There were quite a few bugs in beta 1 - no way you are going to find out what caused it unless you can run smart exception and decode the crash file yourself, because SD are not going to be interested in debugging an old beta version anymore.

That said, it could well be related to your rather old sound card drivers.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I figured there would be a lack of interest for an old build
Just curios, that’s all.
I also know about the sound driver that were given to me by The Ancients
Problem is that I can’t find any newer one.
I know there should be one, I just can’t find it.
Unless by ‘find’ You mean an endless search on the Creative website that results in nothing but frustration.

If You know about any (newer) sound drivers that can actually be downloaded from somewhere and doesn’t require 14 – 34 Megabytes of additional junk, then please let me know.


Rygel XVI - Dominar to over 600 billion (more or less) loyal subjects.
WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Creative are not good for providing up to date drivers for older cards. You do need to try and find one that was released after DirectX9 though, as the one you've got (which is an MS default driver, not a Creative one) predates Dx9 by a good few years.

Not sure of the exact model you have but www . soundblaster . com is the best bet and it's not too hard to navigate their driver downloads (from the Support page, then pick downloads). I doubt there will be anything post 2003 though.

Can't see anything in the debug that jumps out as the failure. You could also try disabling hardware acceleration on the soundcard (through dxdiag), and see if that fixes it, but going to the latest beta is the best option.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I managed to get a somewhat newer driver
Date: 2002-07-24
Version: 5.12.2.252

I hope that helps. Unfortunately I have to live with an extra folder in Program/.
I just hate the mess some installs make
But I guess there isn’t much to do about that.
Thanks for the help, I have already uninstalled Galciv and reinstalled it fresh.
Do I need 1.0X before installing the latest beta?


Rygel XVI - Dominar to over 600 billion (more or less) loyal subjects.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Just an update.
I got new sound drivers after a whole lot of searching. Of course, being from 2003, I’m using the word “new” in a very wide sense.
Now the game is as stable as anything, so any issues there were seems to have gone.

It seems like windows, at least XP, decide what drivers to use.
All of a sudden the new drivers got replaced with the newer but less functional windows default drivers.

Anyway, with the newest creative drivers the game is more stabile.
Just figure I’ll let those who didn’t know already know this.


Rygel XVI - Dominar to over 600 billion (more or less) loyal subjects.