You might want to try to disable you're onboard sound (I guess it's onboard; the Realtek AC97 Audio) in the BIOS.

Next step.
Try setting the game resolution to your desktop resolution - 1280x1024 - manually, in the Prefs.ini file (located in your My Documents\Games\GalCiv2 folder).

I don't know, it is not at all obvious.

I know with Nvidia drivers, sometimes they do not install correctly. Especially if you install over the top of previous drivers.

In such cases, it helps to uninstall through Add/Remove Programs, reboot, and install the new drivers.

You might give that a try, but I am shooting in the dark right now.

It could also have something to do with your Regional settings being set to Italian.
There have been problems with certain language settings, but I do not have much experience in that area.

@Darth Kryo I've never been able to run it, so i've still got the default .ini; tried however to delete it.. no luck

@Moosetek I've got an ATI and at the moment i've had no other troubles (Oblivion and Civ IV are working like a charm, and i think that is a good reference ).
The only matter i have is with the driver graphical interface that doesn't start (CLI.EXE), stopped months ago and i've not been able any more to run it. Seems like a trouble with .net framework, still i've neved had any problems so... i said who cares.

I'll try studing on it, 'till i solve it or 'till someone here give me other tips.

Tks however!

Ok, this won't immediately fix your problem, but will give you the info you need to have the devs see where the problem is in the code.

Open SDC, go to Free Stuff on the left, then install SmartException from the list. Run it, then run GC2 and let it crash. SE should generate a file named galciv2.cra or galciv2.exe.cra (don't remember exactly). It ususally puts it in C:\ but you may need to search your computer for it.

Once you have that file, send it in with your debug.err to [email protected] and/or [email protected] and see if they can help.

Faber75, I'm sorry that it took formatting your PC, but I'm glad that it's working now.

I'm having the same problem, but I hadn't considered formatting the disk as an option. Gah, I'd hate to have to go through all of that just for this update to work. The game has worked without problems in every version up until the latest. I updated in mid-June, but haven't touched the game since then until tonight.

I got a bit farther than Faber75's posts indicate he did originally. I had "Use Mods" turned on in the options, and checked the mods folders. They're empty (didn't check all of them, though, but some of the ones that generated errors were empty). I turned off the Use Mods option and restarted the game, this gets to the loading screen, but the game hangs. I received an error in my Application Event Log:
Faulting application galciv2.exe, version 1.0.0.1, faulting module galciv2.exe, version 1.0.0.1, fault address 0x00293847.

It's still looking in the mods folder for scenarios and custom maps. Here's the error message:

Debug Message: Version v1.2 last updated on: Mon Jun 12 18:04:26 2006

Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********

System Info

Time: 7/14/2006, 21:35:17

DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

Machine Name: AMD2800

Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp2.040919-1003)

Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)

System Manufacturer: Ssystem manufacturer

System Model: System product name

BIOS: BIOS Date: 08/15/03 18:27:01 Ver: 08.00.09

Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2800+, ~2.1GHz

Physical Memory: 1024MB RAM

Page File: 182MB used, 2278MB available

Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS





Display Info

Display device 1:

Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1

Card Name: RADEON 9600 SERIES

Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.

Chip Type: ATI RADEON 9600 Series AGP (0x4152)

DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)

Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4152&SUBSYS_7C29174B&REV_00

Display Memory: 256.0 MB

Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (85Hz)

Monitor Name: Hansol 910A

Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024

Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll

Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6575

Driver Date: 9/14/2005 21:58:47

DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes







Sound info

Sound device 1:

Description: NVIDIA(R) nForce(TM) Audio

Default Sound Playback: Yes

Default Voice Playback: Yes

Hardware ID: NFORCE_VAD

Manufacturer ID: 1

Product ID: 100

Driver Name: nvapu.sys

Provider: NVIDIA Corporation

Driver Version: 6.14.0442.0030

Driver Date: 5/25/2004 15:58:04

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: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768

Debug Message: Running fullscreen.

Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): RADEON 9600 SERIES

Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT

Debug Message: Refresh rate: 85

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: * Collectors Edition *

Debug Message: Set mouse.

Debug Message: Set update timer.

Debug Message: Clear data definitions.

*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for PirateShip. ***

*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for Starbase. ***

Debug Message: Reading Star Names

Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done

Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map

Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario

Debug Message: CustomRaceWnd: Cannot find OBJID CustomRace_Tab_Homeworld

Debug Message: Creating 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: Clearing Turn Event Log

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: Galaxy Size Set: 18 x 18

Debug Message: Creating Random Map

Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Stars

Debug Message: Number of Unplaced Stars: 158.

Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Planets

Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************

Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************

Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************

Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************

Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************

Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************

Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************

Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************

Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Anomalies

Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 92

Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Resources

Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Done

Debug Message: Setting Game Options

Debug Message: Creating Civs

Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 42

Debug Message: Altarian Republic: Intellence -> 42

Debug Message: Arcean Empire: Intellence -> 42

Debug Message: Torian Confederation: Intellence -> 42

Debug Message: Yor Collective: Intellence -> 42

Debug Message: Dominion of Korx: Intellence -> 42

Debug Message: Drath Legion: Intellence -> 42

Debug Message: Iconian Refuge: Intellence -> 42

Debug Message: Creating Civs... Done

Debug Message: Updating ZOC.

Debug Message: Updating ZOC.

Debug Message: Galaxy Create... Done

Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 0

Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Game Started

Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled

Debug Message: StackedShipsWnd: Cannot find OBJID Stacked_Logistics_Value

Debug Message: StackedShipsWnd: Cannot find OBJID stacked_Fleet_More_Button

Debug Message: Could not parse file screens\PlanetContextWnd.dxpack for EFDX objects.

Debug Message: PlanetContextWnd: Cannot find OBJID PlanetContext_Window

It was a corrupt download, reinstalling corrected the problem. I was surprised at how easy it was to uninstall/reinstall the game, quite painless compared to others I've played. Actually, everything about GalCiv2 is easy and convenient, the devs did an amazing job on the game.