Blue screen of death?

from GalCiv2 Forums
Not actually. It _was_ a blue screen. But it said that I had a hardware issue. I recently Downloaded Dark Avatar and had no problems with GalCiv2. I have noticed that on mining heavy areas, my screen starts chunking. I've turned anti-aliasing to no avail. This may not be connected with my actual issue, but is a problem...

I've also done a bit of modding. this may or may not contribute to the problem. And finally: the bellow may or may not be the full debug.err; I don't know if it was able to print before crashing...

Debug Message: Version beta 2b last updated on: Fri Dec 22 12:15:30 2006
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 12/30/2006, 10:06:11
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: LOIOSH
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: VIA Technologies, Inc.
System Model: KT400-8235
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) , MMX, 3DNow, ~2.2GHz
Physical Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 235MB used, 2226MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: SAPPHIRE RADEON 9600SE Edition
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: ATI RADEON 9600 Series AGP (0x4151)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4151&SUBSYS_7C20174B&REV_00
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: ViewSonic VX1935wm-3
Monitor Max Resolution: 1440,900
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6635
Driver Date: 8/22/2006 17:53:30
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Emu10Kx Audio [D400]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_00401102&REV_03
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: e10kx2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0129
Driver Date: 7/13/2001 04:29:12
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: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_2_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running in windowed mode.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): SAPPHIRE RADEON 9600SE Edition
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_IMMEDIATE
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 0
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: Border size reported as 6 by 28
Debug Message: RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message: Now windowed.
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 369e99
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Gfx\Tutorials\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
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: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding FullscreenBink
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideW*.png
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=1
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Dark Avatar Campaign\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Story Logs\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\temp\*.sav
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 asteroid fields.
Debug Message: Killing asteroid field mining bases.
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: Loading Custom Map
Debug Message: Loading Data Defs
Debug Message: Data Defs block size: 1852678
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: Loading TechDefs
Debug Message: Max num techs: 274
Debug Message: Loading ImprovementDB
Debug Message: Loading Component Defs
Debug Message: Loading ShipTypes
Debug Message: Loading ShipTemplates
Debug Message: Loading ParsedHardpoints
Debug Message: Loading AnomalyTypes
Debug Message: Loading RandomEvents
Debug Message: Loading UPIssues
Debug Message: Loading ResourceTypes
Debug Message: Loading InvasionTactics
Debug Message: Loading SBmodules
Debug Message: Loading PoliticalParties
Debug Message: Loading Planet Types
Debug Message: Loading Star Types
Debug Message: Loading AFMBModules
Debug Message: Loading ShipStyles
Debug Message: Loading Game
Debug Message: Loading: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Loading Galaxy
Debug Message: Sectors across: 8 x 8
Debug Message: Loading FOW Map
Debug Message: Loading ZOC Map
Debug Message: Loading Planets
Debug Message: Loading Stars
Debug Message: Loading Anomalies
Debug Message: Loading Resources
Debug Message: Loading AsteroidFields
Debug Message: Loading AFMiningBases
Debug Message: Loading Civs
Debug Message: Loading Colonies
Debug Message: Loading RallyPoints
Debug Message: Loading Ships
Debug Message: Loading Fleets
Debug Message: Loading Turn Event Log
Debug Message: Loading Treaties
Debug Message: Loading ENDGALAXYDATA
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 0
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Game Started
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: Year: 2226. Krynn Consulate traded Extended Life Support to the Iconian Refuge in exchange for Enhanced Miniaturization
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=18
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding QuarterlyWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=14
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 2
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding ResearchWnd
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 9
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=8
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=8
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
Debug Message: Destroying ship Drengin Constructor M0-7 1798. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Altarian Colony Ship M0-7 1789. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: LentzLandians (19): Researching: Laser
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: EconomicWnd: Cannot find OBJID Template_Button_Back
Debug Message: DomesticTradeWnd: Cannot find OBJID DTrade_TradeMiniMap_Title
Debug Message: DomesticTradeWnd: Cannot find OBJID DTrade_Button_Back
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=8
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=8
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=8
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=8
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=10
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding RandomEventWnd
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: Year: 2226. Torian Confederation traded Chaff to the Drath Legion in exchange for General Life Support
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 7
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 6
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 7
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=19
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding QuickProjectWnd
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=10
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding RandomEventWnd
Debug Message: Destroying ship LentzLandians Constructor M0-7 1999. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=8
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
Debug Message: Year: 2226. Drengin Empire traded Diplomatic Relations to the Drath Legion in exchange for General Life Support
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: LentzLandians (19): Researching: New Propulsion Techniques
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=32
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding GNNWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=8
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=8
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=45
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding ShipReportWnd
6,649 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What was the error message on the BSOD?
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I don't recall exactly. It said something about hardware and contacting my manufacture. Since I built this rig myself, that's a bit hard...
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If it happens again, write down the error message itself (the all caps line near the top), the file it occured in (if given), and the address information:



The 'If this is the first time you've seen this...' bit is just explanatory text and has no bearing on the actual issue involved--the marked parts are what's important. This is just a sample BSOD so the actual one you get will vary, but the general format will be the same.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I don't have the beta, but I'm assuming that we're still supposed to have the newest drivers we can get. Yours are quite old for both the video and sound. Might want to update those, especially the sound, if possible.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
my video drivers are from 8/22/2006. They can't be _that_ old?! (can they?)

As far as my sound drivers go-- this soundcard and I have had a long history. Too long, I think. the important part (for this conversation, anyway) is that only the drivers it shipped with actually work not the ones I download from the manufacturer's site. Just the ones on the disk. Tres annoying...
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, your audio driver suggests a Soundblaster, but they usually show up as a Soundblaster - not Emu10Kx Audio.

Is your card from Creative Labs and a true Soundblaster, or is it a clone that uses that chip and/or driver?

Have you had more blue screens since your first post? If so, did you note the info Kryo asked for? That screen should tell which file is causing the problem. If it is related to the audio drivers it should be apparent.

And your video drivers are well into the up-to-date category, by the way.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The sound card is so old that I don't even remember any more. I am almost positive that it's from creative, though...

I have only had one gaming session since that the crash. It went alright; though I did notice that the game was using over 600megs of RAM! Is there any way of throttling this back?
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Only by restricting yourself to the smallest galaxy sizes.

On my system it is not uncommon to go into the 2.5GB range on Gigantic galaxies.
And Gigantic with abundant everything can go even higher.

Perhaps it is time to upgrade the sound card? Something that old can have worn out components - which may also lead to crashing. You can find inexpensive cards that will work better for $30 or so. ClubIT has Audigy 4 SE cards for $26, and Audigy 4 cards for $40. I am using the Audigy 4 in my system.

All you need is a free PCI slot.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
2.5gigs of RAM? sounds like a bug, not a feature...

And thanks for the tip on the sound cards; I'll make a trip to comp USA today. There's one right by my work...

Ought I expect better sound quality? Or is that going to remain unchanged?
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There is alot going on late game in the larger maps, so it needs a lot of ram. It's no worse than Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 though in my experience. Just make sure you have a swap file to handle it, which you do so you shouldn't have issues with it unless you run a lot of other programs simultaneously.
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Better sound quality - probably.

Better sound coming from the speakers - depends on the speakers.


And as for the ram usage, the devs have gone to some trouble to tweak the memory usage in several of the updates. It uses less, and uses it better now than it did when the game first came out.
But it still does require a lot to keep track of all that is going on. As DeathAdder said, just make sure your swapfile is large enough. If you notice a lot of disk usage later in the game on larger galaxies, and the game slowing down too much, you might want to throw in another gig of ram.