Game won't load after computer upgrade

Can you post your debug.err please?

Debug Message: Version v1.1 last updated on: Mon Apr 24 19:03:49 2006
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 5/3/2006, 00:39:01
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: WILLIAM-UX6XEHK
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3700+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.2GHz
Physical Memory: 2048MB RAM
Page File: 447MB used, 4516MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Series GPU
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 6800 GT
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00F9&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A2
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: SyncMaster 172X/177X,SyncMaster Magic CX710X/CX714X(Digital)
Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024
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 Audigy 2 ZS Audio [8400]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_20021102&REV_04
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0444
Driver Date: 10/18/2004 16:21:24
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

So basically at this point, my screen is ~ 80% black, the bottom 20% you can see my desktop and task bar. It just hangs like that, until i cancel the program through task manager. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hmmm, go into your prefs.ini file found in your My Games\GalCiv2 folder. Make sure your resolution didn't get messed up somehow. Change these two lines to read:

DisplayWidth=1024 DisplayHeight=768

...if they don't already. Don't forget to save.

EDIT:

My screen resolution is 1280 x 1024 and im running 32 bit colors.

Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Something's not adding up here. I'd say this is the source of your problem. Try running the game and your desktop in the same resolution.

Debug Message: Could not create the render device using default format. Switching to 16bit

And this message looks very annoying ....

I have a similar problem in that I put the hard drive my game was on in my new computer and I get a weird message saying the game is validated but some numbers do not agree "the serial number or the machine SID don't match." Can I play the game I paid for, please, particularly since I put another $600.00 into getting a computer that could play the game, which the previous computer couldn't?

Thanks,

Steve Perrin

OH, and here's the debug.err

Debug Message: Version v1.1 BETA 4 last updated on: Wed Apr 12 18:45:12 2006
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: Can't find galciv2 serial in registry subdirectory GalCiv2.
Debug Message: Can't find any serial numbers.

This may be because of some other action on my part, though, since the game claims to be validated, so it must have gotten my serial numbers...

Steve Perrin

Hmmm, you might read through this Link and see if that pertains to your situation. I'm not real savvy on the SID matching errors, sorry.

Steve, one problem you may be having is that you just moved the HDD from one machine to another without actually installing the program on the new machine. This results in missing registry keys. You may need to actually install the game on the new machine.

To resolve the serial vs SID problem, in the game's install directory you should find a file named sig.bin. This file stores information with the SID of the originally install computer. Remove this file and you should be able to re-activate it.

the problem is the multisampling I do believe, as I had the exact same problem.
change Multisample=1
to Multisample=0
try that.

I have seen some mention of problems with SLI. Maybe thats your problem.

I have a similar problem in that I put the hard drive my game was on in my new computer and I get a weird message saying the game is validated but some numbers do not agree "the serial number or the machine SID don't match."

The serial number is stored in the registry and includes information about your computer. You will need to reinstall, not just move.

Rule number 1 of upgrading a computer is to never, ever use an existing install of an operating system when you change the motherboard. There are literally dozens of components on a motherboard, and the change can severely cripple your registry, operating system, driver configuration and so on.

Back up any important files to CD, DVD, USB key, or another hard drive and reinstall Windows from scratch (or install Windows on a new HD and put your old HD as the secondary drive), including BIOS updates for the motherboard (the one it comes with is *never* up to date) and video card(s) if available, drivers for everything (as recent as possible), and every piece of software.

I had the same problem, though all I did was upgrade RAM. Deleting the .bin file eventually resolved the issue.

I tried changing my monitor's resolution but that had no effect, and I can't find the prefs.ini file. I searched and found nothing. Any other suggestions?

And is there anything posted about a problem with SLI anywhere? I guess I can always try reinstalling, just wanted to avoid that if possible.

My Games\GalCiv2\prefs.ini
Open it with wordpad or notepad and save any changes.

I have no idea about the SLI configuration, but you should definitely check your debug.err to make sure that the game is running at the same resolution as your desktop. It may not fix your problem, but you have given conflicting reports about what is running in which resolution and your debug will show for sure. Maybe just launch the game again and re-post your debug.err?

I had the same problem, though all I did was upgrade RAM. Deleting the .bin file eventually resolved the issue.

You can upgrade RAM without having to do anything about the activation. I have done it several times.

And is there anything posted about a problem with SLI anywhere? I guess I can always try reinstalling, just wanted to avoid that if possible.

I will try to find but what I remember is a post by Frogboy commenting on how SLI was poorly implemented and some problems with it.

I'll repost my debug.err when I get home tonight. I switched my resolution again to match what the game was set to, but it still failed to initialize the direct 3D. Also it keep saying switching to 16 bit mode, very confusing. Like I said, I'll post the file again later, but if you can dig up any SLI problem info that would be great. Thanks.

Ok, I reinstalled GalCiv 2, just to try something different, but got the same result. Here is my debug.err. Thanks again for the help guys.

Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 5/13/2006, 15:42:06
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: WILLIAM-UX6XEHK
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3700+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.2GHz
Physical Memory: 2048MB RAM
Page File: 355MB used, 4608MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Series GPU
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 6800 GT
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00F9&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A2
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: SyncMaster 172X/177X,SyncMaster Magic CX710X/CX714X(Digital)
Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024
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 Audigy 2 ZS Audio [8400]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_20021102&REV_04
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0444
Driver Date: 10/18/2004 16:21:24
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

Hmmm, go into your prefs.ini file found in your My Games\GalCiv2 folder. Make sure your resolution didn't get messed up somehow. Change these two lines to read: DisplayWidth=1024 DisplayHeight=768 ...if they don't already. Don't forget to save.

Ahh, nevermind. I tried this and the game finally worked. Thanks guys, disregard the last post of mine.