Search
Forum Home | Login
Stardock Easter Holiday
(Read More)
by Abisnabidam
Apr 4, 2026 8:35

Stardock will be closed for Easter weekend starting on Friday, April 3rd and we will be returning on Tuesday, April 7th. We will be monitoring support tickets and forums during this time, but expect delays in responses during this time.

SK138
SK138
Join Date 02/2006
0

Game Won't Even Start

October 17, 2006 11:20:06 PM from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
I can't get the game to even work anymore. Everytime I try to play the game a black screen comes up and nothing happens. Here is the info from my Debug file:

Debug Message: Version v1.31 last updated on: Wed Sep 13 18:41:18 2006
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 10/17/2006, 23:17:21
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: SEAN
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: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: Dimension 4600
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A12
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 1534MB RAM
Page File: 380MB used, 1775MB 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_00021002&REV_00
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: ViewSonic VA1912w SERIES
Monitor Max Resolution: 1440,900
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6635
Driver Date: 8/22/2006 21:53:30
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB Audigy 2 Audio [CF00]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0008&SUBSYS_10011102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1162
Driver Date: 8/29/2005 19:46:14
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 2
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
Debug Message: WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize start
Locked Post
Search this post
Advanced Search
Subscription Options
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SK138
Marcathonas
Join Date 01/2006
0
Reply #1 October 18, 2006 12:34:51 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
Not entirely sure, but I think the card needs to be 256meg.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SK138
Moosetek13
Join Date 03/2006
+48
Reply #2 October 18, 2006 1:04:19 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
No, 128MB is fine.

Try editing your Prefs.ini file (located in My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2) and set the game resolution to your desktop resolution of 1440x900. You can use Notepad to open and edit the file.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SK138
CariElf
Join Date 08/2001
+68 sdemployee
Reply #3 October 18, 2006 11:45:55 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Also, if you continue to have problems, try installing the drivers from www.omegadrivers.net

To update or re-install your video drivers:

1) Go to www.omegadrivers.net and download the latest ATI drivers
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 something goes wrong and you need to go back to the ati drivers:

http://www.drivercleaner.net/

 

 

Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SK138
Gre_Magus
Join Date 04/2006
0
Reply #4 October 18, 2006 12:20:09 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
Something similar happened to me once after I was messing around with my video settings trying to get my laptop to work with projector at work. I had forgotten that I had turned video accelaration totally off on the advanced tab underdisplay settings. Once I went and turned video accelaration back on to full it worked fine.

Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SK138
Matthew Valante
Join Date 10/2006
0
Reply #5 October 29, 2006 2:09:25 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
Try this if you still have the problem. right click the galciv2 icon, go to properties, then advance, then click the run with different credentials box, then apply. And then see what happens. If the game appears, but is slow, tell me, cause i have the same problem as you. I also have a black screen that comes up.

Later!!
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
View all recent posts
Mark all posts as read Delete cookies created by the forum Return to Top
Stardock Forums v        Server Load Time:   Page Render Time:
About us | Contacts | Privacy Statement | Register
©1995-2026 Stardock Entertainment. Galactic Civilizations is a registered trademark of Stardock Entertainment. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Bank Gothic is a trademark of MyFonts and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All rights reserved.