Black screen instead of GCII

from GalCiv2 Forums
I last played GCII some time ago after getting the Dark Avatar expansion. It has been a while and for some reason when I try to play now, the screen goes mostly black and I cannot see anything. I can ALT+TAB but the blackness is impenetrable... except for the Start menu thankfully so I can do a graceful reboot.

The things that have changed are that I have a new monitor and a new sound card. Of course I also have recent Nvidia drivers for my GF 7900GS. I tried changing my desktop reoslution from 1680x1050 to 1024x768 but the only difference was that the entire screen was back where before I did have a small strip of desktop on the right. Ah, well also I was able to bring up an ALT menu for GCII and select Close and it actually worked, maybe that is important. Previously I could not even ALT+F4 GCII, requiring a reboot.

Any ideas?
68,226 views 109 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

If anyone else gets this error, the fix is to go into your prefs.ini and change the resolution to match your monitor resolution.

For GalCiv2: Dread Lords, the Prefs.ini is located in My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2

For Dark Avatar, the Prefs.ini is located in My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar

For Twilight of the Arnor, the Prefs.ini is located in My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor

Also, if your monitor came with a disc, make sure that you install the driver because GalCiv2/DarkAvatar/Twilight doesn't always get along with the generic Windows driver.   You can also check the website for the monitor's manufacturer for the most recent version.

 

Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
My screen constantly goes black after 1-3 turns then I have ialmrnt5 display driver failure that causes my desktop to become freaky and sometimes completely unusable. I have downloaded and upgraded drivers My computer runs better now but the game is fucked.
ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, not quite black. Right now working like a champ except (LOL) when I quit the game the computer reboots. I play on my best machine but that is the one I use for work too. So, I have a lot of stuff running. Anybody else having this happen to them or is it just me?

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It is not a good idea to have a lot of background processes and programs running. That is just asking for trouble.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

So, I have a lot of stuff running
End of quote

Are you playing in fullscreen or in windowed mode?

Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
My screen constantly goes black after 1-3 turns then I have ialmrnt5 display driver failure
End of quote


Another user posted this potential solution:
I have had exactly the same issue with GalCiv II.

ialmrnt5 is the driver for your Intel Extreme Integrated Graphics. To resolve the issue, I changed the following graphics settings: (a) Turned on the Hardware Mouse Cursor (b) Disabled Hardware Transform and Lighting (c) Disabled Point Sprites

I have never had the problem since.
End of quote




Well, not quite black. Right now working like a champ except (LOL) when I quit the game the computer reboots.
End of quote


A spontaneous reboot often means your computer is tossing a Blue Screen of Death but is set to not display it. BSODs are generally caused by hardware or driver problems, and the error message it shows can help pin down exactly what the issue is.

To have your computer display BSODs instead of rebooting immediately, go to Control Panel->System Properties->Advanced Tab->Startup and Recovery Settings and uncheck 'automatically restart'.

The next time it crashes, you may get a BSOD similar to the one below (not all highlighted parts may be present):


Write down the information in the highlighted areas before turning your computer off. The information there can then be researched online to see if others have experienced similar problems, and what the cause was. You may also get a 'windows has recovered from a serious error' message when you turn your computer back on--if you do this, you should agree to send the report to microsoft. You'll then be forwarded to information about that error on Microsoft's knowledgebase, if they have any.


Also, go ahead and post your debug.err file's contents here--if your drivers are just out of date, that will show it.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thank you! I had made a msitake on my settings for galciv2 and your answers aided me in finding a resolution to the problem without having to erase and reinstall.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Cari - thanks for your post. I was having this exact with a fresh install of all the games, and changing the prefs to match my screen res allowed my game to finally launch. Thanks!  :) 
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I'm having the same problem with DA: please note that i tried changing the resolution in the prefs.ini file but didn't work. Dread Lords works fine.

Here is my debug.err file.

Thanks, Gerry


Debug Message: Version v1.80e Dark Avatar last updated on: Thu Nov 8 10:48:23 2007
Debug Message: Can't find TGN or GalCiv2 serial number.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 5/4/2008, 17:16:07
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: PIRATONI-36062E
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.061030-0016)
Languages: Italian (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: n/a
System Model: n/a
BIOS: n/a
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6400 @ 2.13GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 157MB used, 14808MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 7100 GS
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 7100 GS
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_016A&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A1
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor Name: Philips Brilliance 109P (109P2)
Monitor Max Resolution: 1920,1440
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0011.6921
Driver Date: 12/5/2007 01:41:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: HD Audio rear output
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_1106&DEV_1708&SUBSYS_14627255&REV_1005
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: viahduaa.sys
Provider: VIA Technologies, Inc.
Driver Version: 5.10.0001.1060
Driver Date: 7/5/2006 15:46:00
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 hardware vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1280 x 1024, Windowed: 1, Multisample: 4
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Debug Message: Running in windowed mode.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 7100 GS
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 32
Debug Message: RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message: Now windowed.
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'm having the same problem with DA: please note that i tried changing the resolution in the prefs.ini file but didn't work. Dread Lords works fine.
End of quote


Is the game properly activated? That's what would be next after the last line of the file.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Is the game properly activated? That's what would be next after the last line of the file.
End of quote


I have the European version of DL: i patched and tried a manual activation on my home computer not internet connected (received a code from support). As i said, the game works fine (so i guess that it is activated) but it seems that DA is not seeing it. Also on this pc (with internet) DA works fine too.

Thank you.
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If it's not the same issue as the OP or an activation issue, I'm not sure what it could be. I'd advise contacting [email protected] for further troubleshooting.
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If it's not the same issue as the OP or an activation issue, I'm not sure what it could be. I'd advise contacting [email protected] for further troubleshooting.
End of quote


Kryo, i actually contacted support three days ago (ticket n.ZZS-619469). No answer. I guess they must be busy but i paid for the game 10 days ago and still can't play it. Thank you.
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Like the original poster, I formerly had no problems with GC2, then got a new monitor and suddenly the screen goes black every time I try to start the game.

The new monitor is a Samsung Syncmaster275T.

I reconfigured the Prefs.ini files for the monitor's native resolution of 1920x1200, but the only difference is that now my entire screen goes black, instead of just the upper left 1280x800 pixels of it.

I have all the latest drivers for both monitor and video card installed. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling entire game. No joy.

Any idea how I can play my game?
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hi I am having a similar problem as the original poster I got TA game worked fine for a couple of try’s now completely black however unlike him I have no new hardware or software and the only change if can think of is I have installed the newsiest version of Norton I tried uninstalling and reinstalling TA but I continue to have the same problem. Oddly despite the inability TA to start both DL and DA seem to work fine

edit never mind did reinstall of all verisons of gal civ 2 works fine now
Reply #18 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Any idea how I can play my game?
End of quote


Please post your debug.err and we'll go from there.
Reply #19 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I suspect debug.err will show that I quit from the program with ctrl-alt-del, because that's exactly what happened. There was no other way to make the empty black screen (with no sound) go away.

Nonetheless, here's the debug from TA:

Debug Message: Version v1.91 Twilight of the Arnor last updated on: Thu May 1 12:15:51 2008
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 5/18/2008, 17:11:56
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: JONPUTER
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Model: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
BIOS: BIOS Date: 09/24/04 19:41:11 Ver: 08.00.09
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 426MB used, 2037MB available
Windows Dir: E:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: Radeon X1950 Pro
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor AGP (0x7280)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_7280&SUBSYS_E190174B&REV_9A
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: SyncMaster 275T(Digital)
Monitor Max Resolution: 1920,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6727
Driver Date: 9/28/2007 23:06:17
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB Live! Wave Device
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0002&SUBSYS_80611102&REV_07
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: emu10k1m.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3300
Driver Date: 8/17/2001 08:19:26
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 hardware vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1920 x 1200, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 4
Debug Message: Could not create the render device using default format. Switching to 16bit
Debug Message: Using hardware vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1920 x 1200, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 0
Debug Message: Could not create the render device.
Debug Message: InitializeDirect3D Failed.
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize start




And here's the debug from DA (same problem):

Debug Message: Version v1.80e Dark Avatar last updated on: Thu Nov 8 10:48:23 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 5/18/2008, 16:56:20
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: JONPUTER
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Model: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
BIOS: BIOS Date: 09/24/04 19:41:11 Ver: 08.00.09
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 461MB used, 2002MB available
Windows Dir: E:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: Radeon X1950 Pro
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor AGP (0x7280)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_7280&SUBSYS_E190174B&REV_9A
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: SyncMaster 275T(Digital)
Monitor Max Resolution: 1920,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6727
Driver Date: 9/28/2007 23:06:17
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB Live! Wave Device
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0002&SUBSYS_80611102&REV_07
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: emu10k1m.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3300
Driver Date: 8/17/2001 08:19:26
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 hardware vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1920 x 1200, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 4
Debug Message: Could not create the render device using default format. Switching to 16bit
Debug Message: Using hardware vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1920 x 1200, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 0
Debug Message: Could not create the render device.
Debug Message: InitializeDirect3D Failed.
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.





Thank you for your attention.
Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Go to My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar and My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor, open the file prefs.ini, and make the following changes:

Change
Fullscreen=1

To
Fullscreen=0

Then save the file and start the game.
Reply #22 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I get the black screen for a couple seconds, then it just goes to desktop. This only happens with DA, GC2 works fine. The debug.err for DA just ends at shell initialization complete, and up to that point it looks like the one from GC2. I updated drivers, tried setting size to my desktop resolution, running in window...any other ideas?
Reply #23 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hi everyone,

I seem to be having a somewhat related problem:

I have a laptop (a toshiba satellite pro if it makes much difference) connected to an extra (newer bigger nicer) monitor as my secondary monitor. Incidentally if anyone knows how to change that one into my primary monitor I would be VERY grateful - I've tried everything (all the tips I can find online, every which way I can play with the windows display settings, reloading drivers, using ultramon)

Anyways: GC2 - accepting the fact that I am stuck with my nice monitor as the secondary, I can't find any way of getting GC2 to load onto my secondary monitor. If I play with the resolution to fit the bigger monitor and disable the laptop screen with it's function buttons, it can load on the big screen but then I get this black screen error.

I've edited the preference file to fit my resolution perfectly, tried changing it to run in windowed mode or in fullscreen, neither seems to help.

Anyways, sorry for the long post but if someone can help or has been in a similar situation it would be great to hear back!

Thanks,

Nic
=
Reply #24 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I get the black screen for a couple seconds, then it just goes to desktop. This only happens with DA, GC2 works fine. The debug.err for DA just ends at shell initialization complete, and up to that point it looks like the one from GC2. I updated drivers, tried setting size to my desktop resolution, running in window...any other ideas?
End of quote


Please open your debug.err file in notepad, and copy/paste the contents into a post here. This will give us some technical information that can help troubleshoot your problem. The location you'll find the debug.err in varies depending on your game version:

Dread Lords, all versions:
C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2

Dark Avatar 1.5-1.6 (non-Vista):
C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar

Dark Avatar 1.6+(Windows Vista), 1.7+(non-Vista):
My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar

Twilight of the Arnor:
My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor

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.

I have a laptop (a toshiba satellite pro if it makes much difference) connected to an extra (newer bigger nicer) monitor as my secondary monitor.
End of quote


Depends on what sort of video you have on the laptop. I know ATI can do it, and I'm pretty sure nVidia can as well. If you're using Intel though there may not be an easy solution. Also a number of laptops (HP/Compaq do at least) have one of the function keys mapped to toggle/swap the internal and external displays on the fly.


Reply #25 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Debug Message: Version v1.80e Dark Avatar last updated on: Thu Nov 8 10:48:23 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 5/21/2008, 19:58:46
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: TIM-5B9583260F3
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: NVIDIA
System Model: AWRDACPI
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.8GHz
Physical Memory: 1536MB RAM
Page File: 139MB used, 3546MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 7600 GS
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_02E1&SUBSYS_A5423842&REV_A2
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0011.6921
Driver Date: 12/5/2007 01:41:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Microsoft Digital Sound System 80
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: USB\Vid_045e&Pid_0014&Rev_0100&MI_00
Manufacturer ID: 65535
Product ID: 65535
Driver Name: usbaudio.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 5.01.2600.2180
Driver Date: 8/3/2004 23:07:56
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Realtek AC97 Audio
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00EA&SUBSYS_A0021458&REV_A1
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5900
Driver Date: 8/19/2005 18:31:52
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 hardware vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1440 x 900, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 0
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1440 x 900
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 7600 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


This is the latest one. I've tried different resolutions. 1440x900 matches my desktop. Also tried different sizes in window mode. The only differences I noticed between this one and the GC2 debug.err is the 'using hardware vertex processing', and GC2 works fine.