Crash on start always

help

from GalCiv2 Forums
my computer is xp running with g force mx 440 card

i click play but it loads up then crashes or sometimes loads up to main menu u set up a game and i click next it goes black and does nothing then a message appears saying close error please help me
3,093 views 12 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Please go to C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2 (or wherever you installed the game at), open the debug.err file you find there in notepad, and copy/paste the contents into a post here. This will give us some technical information that can help troubleshoot your problem.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I thought the geforce 4 MX series weren't supported? Or am I thinking of another game.
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I thought the geforce 4 MX series weren't supported? Or am I thinking of another game.


they dont support direct x 9 so there are going to be alto of problems.
but you can get it to run.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

The earliest NVidia card to support DirectX 9.0 is the GeForce 2 Ultra.  If it IS a Geforce 4, he should be able to run it, although he'll have to turn off point sprites and anti-aliasing.

To update or re-install your video drivers:

1) go to www.nvidia.com and download the latest drivers for your card

2) Right click on your my computer icon and choose properties
3) Click on the hardware tab
4) Click on the Device Manager
5) Select your video card under Display adapters and right click on it. Choose Uninstall.
6) Reboot
7) Cancel the Found New Hardware wizard when you log back into windows
8) Install the drivers you downloaded (you may need to reboot again after installing them).

Also, here is a link to a driver removal tool in case more drastic measures are called for:

http://www.drivercleaner.net/

 

Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
AppName: galciv2.exe AppVer: 1.0.0.1 ModName: lib3d.dll
ModVer: 0.0.0.0 Offset: 00008e43 ive got this but it come up with close error i click view and click it again view technical details but i cant copy them ill keep trying
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
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: 8/17/2006, 21:52:50
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: YOUR-VZEERWDKI1
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Time Computers
System Model: 8366-8233
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2000+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.7GHz
Physical Memory: 256MB RAM
Page File: 206MB used, 411MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce4 MX 440
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0171&SUBSYS_84701462&REV_A3
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (85Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.13.0010.2942
Driver Date: 5/3/2002 10:06:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Realtek AC97 Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_39001462&REV_40
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.4050
Driver Date: 10/16/2002 17:27:02
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_NONE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440
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: Set mouse.
Debug Message: Set update timer.
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Ben\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\Ben\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipclass
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Ben\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done

i think this is it
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What the heck does all that crap mean!!!
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What the heck does all that crap mean!!!

The generic stuff is in the first 3 paragraphs, provides the system config. The rest is only meaningfull if you are a developer or have intimate knowledge of the game code. Most problems can be resolved just by inspecting the system config.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

midgetbean, you definitely need to update your video drivers.  Follow my instructions above, and also open up your Prefs.ini (My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Prefs.ini) and add these lines under video:

NoPointSprites=1
GfxForceNoPointSprites=1

While you're there, set Multisample=0 (turns of anti-aliasing).

You'll have much better performance.

Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
That was a retorical question CraigHB.
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
thanks for your help but i cant find prefs folder inside the galciv 2 folder so dnt worry i wont be able to afford a new g force card
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Prefs.ini is a file in your My Documents\Games\GalCiv2 folder.

And you were not advised to buy a new card, but to update your drivers and make a couple changes in the Prefs.ini file.

It would also be a good idea to increase your swap file to at least 1GB, update GalCiv2 to version 1.2, and update your audio drivers as well.

Adding ram would improve game play dramatically.

Also, your desktop resolution is set to 1024x768, and your game resolution is set to 1920x1080
You should never have the game resolution set higher than your desktop setting, not to mention the MX440 may not even be capable of a resolution of 1920x1080. And judging from your basic system specs, your monitor almost certainly isn't.