Graphics crash on finishing a level in the dark avatar campaign. always.

Every time a finish a dark avatar campaign mission on ANY of my computers it will always crash the video card within a few seconds of displaying the "debriefing" screen.

On my AMD X2 3800+ running Vista64bit with a GeForce 7900OC and the 163.44 beta drivers it will always result in the game crashing and a yellow triangle warning on the side telling me that the video card crashed.

On my AMD Athlon 2500+ running winXP 32bit with a Radeon 9800PRO it will have a 50% chance of the computer freezing completely, and a 50% change of the VPU recoverer catching the crash, resetting the video card, and allowing me to move on to the next mission.

On my dads Pentium 4 running WinXP 32bit with a Radeon 9500 the result is the same.
2,844 views 8 replies
Reply #1 Top
My debug.err file is dated from 07/30/2007. Seeing as it just crashed on me and its 08/26/2007 I can safely assume that it is NOT referring to this crash.
Reply #2 Top
The debug.err is newly created every time you start the game.
Most likely you are looking at the Dread Lords debug.err (in the \GalCiv2 folder), and not the one for Dark Avatar(in the GalCiv2\DarkAvatar folder).
Each game creates its own file.
Reply #3 Top
my darkavatar folder does not have a debug.err file

Oddly enough, I ran the game with winamp running in the background and the game did NOT crash... I tried doing it again and this time crashed in a far more extreme manner (ie, artifacts, corrupts, system not response for a while, eventually windows terminated the program and told me it crashed).

But at least its something different... I also have a smartexception report (for a regular crash and that crash with winamp)... but I can't host them.
Reply #4 Top
Found it, it was at: C:\Users\User\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar

Debug Message: Version v1.61 Dark Avatar last updated on: Wed Jun 13 14:10:36 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 8/26/2007, 23:34:28
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
Machine Name: TALTAMIR-01
Operating System: Windows Vistaâ„¢ Ultimate (6.0, Build 6000) (6000.vista_gdr.070627-1500)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: GBT___
System Model: NVDAACPI
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+ (2 CPUs), ~2.0GHz
Physical Memory: 4094MB RAM
Page File: 1635MB used, 6706MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 7900 GS
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0292&SUBSYS_C6243842&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256 MB
Current Display Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Dell E228WFP
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum,nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2umx.dll
Driver Version: 7.15.0011.6344
Driver Date: 8/17/2007 16:23:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Speakers (Realtek AC'97 Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0059&SUBSYS_AE031458&REV_A2
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVAC64.SYS
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6243
Driver Date: 6/28/2007 15:21:38
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek AC'97 Audio)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0059&SUBSYS_AE031458&REV_A2
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVAC64.SYS
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6243
Driver Date: 6/28/2007 15:21:38
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_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1680 x 1050
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS
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 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 C:\Users\User\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\User\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\User\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\User\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\User\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: 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\User\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Dread Lords Campaign\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\User\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\User\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\User\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\SandboxGames\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\User\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\User\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\User\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\User\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Story Logs\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\User\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 Campaign Data
Debug Message: Loading Scenario Data
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 campaign.
Debug Message: Loading Galaxy
Debug Message: Sectors across: 12 x 12
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: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
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 = 1
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Campaign Game Started: Dark Avatar
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled
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: Doing final stat calculations.
Debug Message: End of Game Save
Debug Message: Saving game C:\Users\User\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Dark Avatar\The Hearts and Minds of Robots_EndGameSave.sav
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 12
Debug Message: Saving: Game mode is campaign.
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=36
Debug Message: SummaryWnd: Cannot find OBJID Summary_Epic_Button
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding SummaryWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=42
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\User\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: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MissionWnd
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: D3DERR_DEVICELOST
Debug Message: Device lost
Debug Message: Attempting to reset device.
Debug Message: Creating Galaxy
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: D:\Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar\./Data/English/Campaigns/Saving the Torians.gc2map (5 x 5)
Debug Message: Star Frequency: 4 Max Num Stars: 65
Debug Message: Planet Frequency: 4 Max Num Planets: 260
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 291
Reply #5 Top
The SE reports can be e-mailed to [email protected].

Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: D3DERR_DEVICELOST
Debug Message: Device lost
Debug Message: Attempting to reset device.

That is an error in the video driver or card. You are running new enough drivers, though.

It looks like you just finished a game, then went on to immediately begin a new game.
Looks like both games were campaign games, too, but one was on a 12x12 map and the new game on a 5x5. Perhaps there was a problem with memory allocation or something.

Does it crash when starting a fresh sandbox game as well?
Reply #6 Top
Well, on EVERY campaign game that I finish on ANY computer, running nVidia or AMD it always does that. Only difference is that nVidia always terminates the game. While AMD either manages to restart the video card and resume or crashes the computer completely.


Anyways, how would they know which bug it is related to if I just send the exception over?
Reply #7 Top
The report gives a lot of info, and it should help.

Other than that, have you tried exiting the game and restarting it between campaign games?
Reply #8 Top
I dont get the option to. I finish a level, I get the screen where it writes how the story ended. And then it loads the next level and crashes within seconds of loading it. I CAN however just go to "resume campaign" and play the next mission that way. In fact I just finished the campaign, with it crashing after every single mission.