Dark Avatar - Game Lock on Movie

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. If this is a DA report, you'll find the debug in C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar instead. This will give us some technical information that can help troubleshoot your problem.

Be sure to copy the debug immediately after the error occurs; if you start the game again, the debug will be erased and recreated for the new session.

Note: If running on Vista with DA 1.6b2 or later, the debug.err is now located in My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar.

The error report really doesn't say anything. I'm going to guess it's because there was no error window or whatnot, as the game just locks up in the Starbase movie screen and doesn't go back to the normal game, and I just close it.

But here's what it says anyway:
Install switch found
DarkAvatar
Install directory: C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar\
DLL path: C:\PROGRA~1\Stardock\TOTALG~1\GalCiv2\DARKAV~1\GDFDarkAvatar.dll
Game exe path: C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar\GC2DarkAvatar.exe

Interestingly enough, I started a new game and just built a constructor to make a base with, and that movie went through normally. I'm not sure why, maybe something triggers or maybe the game just dies after x amount of movies?

If there is a debug.err file on your computer, please do post it anyway. If there isn't one, update to 1.6 and it should get written properly.

What I pasted was all the error report said. I'm going to start a new game and see if the lock was somehow reproducible or was just an unfortunate occurrence.

There should be a file named debug.err on your computer--that's what I'm talking about. I'm not sure where you're getting what you posted, but that's not it.

Turns out I'm an idiot

Here's the lengthy paste:

Debug Message: Version v1.6 Dark Avatar last updated on: Wed Jun 6 08:51:50 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 6/14/2007, 19:40:25
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
Machine Name: NORMAN-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Basic (6.0, Build 6000) (6000.vista_rtm.061101-2205)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: MM061
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A13
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo CPU T2250 @ 1.73GHz (2 CPUs), ~1.7GHz
Physical Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 765MB used, 3545MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce Go 7300
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01D7&SUBSYS_20031028&REV_A1
Display Memory: 128 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll
Driver Version: 7.15.0010.9746
Driver Date: 12/13/2006 16:16:38
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Speakers / Headphones (SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7690&SUBSYS_102801BD&REV_1022
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: stwrt.sys
Provider: SigmaTel
Driver Version: 6.10.5343.0001
Driver Date: 2/7/2007 22:11:04
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Digital Output Device (S/PDIF) (SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7690&SUBSYS_102801BD&REV_1022
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: stwrt.sys
Provider: SigmaTel
Driver Version: 6.10.5343.0001
Driver Date: 2/7/2007 22:11:04
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
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 hardware vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 800
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 60
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: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 da7a64
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 C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Event Music\*.mp3
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:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet
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: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Tutorials/*.xml
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=1
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Dark Avatar\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\SandboxGames\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Story Logs\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Norman\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: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: Loading TechDefs
Debug Message: Max num techs: 273
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: 4 x 4
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: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=20
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding QuarterlyWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=16
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: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=12
Debug Message: WARNING: CloneFrames failed
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding RandomEventWnd
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Unknown
Debug Message: n/a
Debug Message: Unknown error when flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Unknown
Debug Message: n/a
Debug Message: Unknown error when flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Unknown
Debug Message: n/a
Debug Message: Unknown error when flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Unknown
Debug Message: n/a
Debug Message: Unknown error when flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Unknown
Debug Message: n/a
Debug Message: Unknown error when flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Unknown
Debug Message: n/a
Debug Message: Unknown error when flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Unknown
Debug Message: n/a
Debug Message: Unknown error when flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Unknown
Debug Message: n/a
Debug Message: Unknown error when flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Unknown
Debug Message: n/a
Debug Message: Unknown error when flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Unknown
Debug Message: n/a
Debug Message: Unknown error when flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Unknown
Debug Message: n/a
Debug Message: Unknown error when flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: D3DERR_DEVICELOST
Debug Message: Device lost
Debug Message: Attempting to reset device.

It's a known bug with nVidia's Vista release drivers. Pop over to laptopvideo2go and grab the latest Vista 32bit driver they have. If it won't install (it should), just ask for help with it on their forums and you should be able to get someone who can help mod it so it will install.

Those drivers worked out wonderfully! Thank you very much!