Very frustrating

from GalCiv2 Forums
I researched this game and it looked good enough that I went out and purchased it. After loading it I went and uploaded the update then tried to play the game. It would crash at the new game right after I selected the galaxy type and hit the "next" button.

So after reading all the posts here I could find about my problem, I upgraded my video drivers, and direct X, even though I don't believe they were out of date or corrupted. Still same problem, so I uninstalled and reinstalled the game. even worse, now it crashes as it attempts to load, reinstalled the patch and still same problem.

So after 5 hours of working on this it seems I paid 45 dollars for two drink coasters!

Here is the debug file I get and hopefully someone can help.

Debug Message: Version v1.4x last updated on: Mon Oct 23 17:43:56 2006
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 10/29/2006, 01:33:47
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: YOUR-03667082DE
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp.050928-1517)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: HP Pavilion 061
System Model: PP177AA-ABA a813w
BIOS: BIOS Date: 12/03/04 13:39:44 Ver: 08.00.10
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 1536MB RAM
Page File: 436MB used, 3250MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: RADEON X700 Series (Omega 3.8.291)
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc. (Omega 3.8.291)
Chip Type: RADEON X700 PRO (0x5E4B)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5E4B&SUBSYS_23021002&REV_00
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
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 Live! Audio [E400]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0002&SUBSYS_100A1102&REV_0A
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0296
Driver Date: 9/18/2003 21:47:22
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 X700 Series (Omega 3.8.291)
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 75
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 a6f2ccd0
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: Not all child windows deleted for window ID: 1, pos 0, 0, size 1024, 768.
Debug Message: Child TitleWnd_Back with ID: 3, pos 0, 0, size 1024, 768.
3,434 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ok, it seems to be the disks themselves. reinstalled a 3 time and now I can get into the game BUT none of the buttons are labeled nor is there anything written on the tooltips.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Did you update through Stardock Central?

If so, you might try downloading the 1.4X update from the downloads section of this site.
Then uninstall the game, and install only the file you downloaded. It contains the complete game. And you don't need the cd in the drive to play the game, by the way, just in case you have it loaded.

When you uninstall, don't forget to delete any files in the My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2 folder as well - especially the Prefs.ini file.
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If it's the disks register the serial number and download it through Stardock central.

I'm not a computer wiz by anyone's standards so I can't make heads or tails of debug files, did you uninstall the driver's before you installed the new ones? That's the only thing I can think of that you didn't mention and I'm not sure if it would effect anything.

Good luck with getting it to work, it'll be well worth it!
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Already on it. Just to make sure things are clear, I did download the update all three times. Also I did the driver updates while I had the first install. I didn't mess with my computer after that but the next two game installs had different completely unique and different problems to the others.

So hopefully just doing a direct install from the website will be the trick.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Some users have a lot of trouble with SDC, just to let you know.

I always download the file to the hard drive before updating because of that, and I have no problems.

Sometimes, because of anti-virus programs or something, files get corrupted through SDC.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ok, after the 5th install it would appear that I do have a working game (hopefully). Thankyou everyone for your suggestions even though that only thing that did work was reinstalling until I got something aproaching a game.

If it weren't for the premise and all the good reviews I would have already taken this game back where I got it, now I only hope I am not disapointed with playing it.

For the devs. These are the actions I performed:

Install 1: would crash after first selection screen. Updated graphics drivers, DX9

Install 2: CTD immediately. No driver updates

Install 3: game would load but buttons and tooltips were blank

Install 4: download from SDC..CTD immediately

Install 5: apparently a good download, have gotten into game but not played so not positive on how stable it is.

Additionally I downloaded all patches after the install but didn't work.

The single most frustrating thing is all the advice I read in the support section pointed at my computer being the culprit and spent hours trying to work my computer to play this game, when what I needed to do was keep reinstalling the game until I got a good copy! In truth it might be something on my computer conflicting with the game but nothing other than reinstalling worked. *note* I did disable antivirus while installing.

Again for those that responded with suggestions I thankyou for the support.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Wow, that's frusterating and I hope that fifth time was the charm... If you enjoy 4x games, you're in for a treat that I think will make your efforts worth it. Let us know if it turns out to be stable
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
When you get blank buttons on the menus, usually after an update for whatever reason, reboot your PC. That tends to fix things up.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Just wanted to rport in after actually playing the game. I can't seem to play the campaign without crashing alot and evolution has taught me to NEVER click the civiliaztion manager button. However the sandbox mode is not too bad...about middle of the game it will start randomly crashing every 30 minutes or so, but I get around that with by saving alot.

The game itself is pretty good and hopefully they can figure out whats wrong with it and make it stable for my computer, in the meantime I wil continue dominating the universe.