DA crash on race selection screen

from GalCiv2 Forums
Running into an annoying issue under Vista (64 bit). This is a fresh install and I have the latest video/chipset drivers installed (NVidia 8800gt). I can get a 100% crash repro by:

1) Starting a new game.
2) Surrendering.
3) Starting a new game (crashes on screen after galaxy size selection).

Crash seems to happen on that screen whenever you have previously been in a game, so there are more ways to repro this than just what's above.
3,422 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think I have the same problem. The game simply freezes, and when I finally get back to Windows after Ctrl-Alt-Del, it appears to be a video driver problem, at least, that's what the windows box will pop up and tell me, something like the video card driver stopped encountered a problem but managed to recover.

I'm using a NVidia 7600 on a laptop myself. Doesn't really bother me though, I just start the game and get back into it. Thankfully Gal Civ II doesn't have huge loading times, and intros that can be bypassed with a click of the mouse button.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
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.
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sure. First of all here's the details of the crash dialog:



Here's the debug output:

Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I think I have the same problem. The game simply freezes, and when I finally get back to Windows after Ctrl-Alt-Del, it appears to be a video driver problem, at least, that's what the windows box will pop up and tell me, something like the video card driver stopped encountered a problem but managed to recover.

I'm using a NVidia 7600 on a laptop myself. Doesn't really bother me though, I just start the game and get back into it. Thankfully Gal Civ II doesn't have huge loading times, and intros that can be bypassed with a click of the mouse button.
End of quote


In my case it's just a plain old crash. Such and such application has stopped responding, etc.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Eek, more nVidia driver problems. Reports of buffer-flipping crashes with nVidia's newer cards (pretty much the entire 8000 line aside from 8800GTS/GTX, it seems) are under investigation. But since this isn't a random occurrence but rather something that is specifically triggered, the simplest thing to do for the time being is to restart the program if you finish a game and want to go again.

I think I have the same problem. The game simply freezes, and when I finally get back to Windows after Ctrl-Alt-Del, it appears to be a video driver problem, at least, that's what the windows box will pop up and tell me, something like the video card driver stopped encountered a problem but managed to recover.

I'm using a NVidia 7600 on a laptop myself.
End of quote


Your issue likely is a different one--go ahead and post your debug.err as well.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
No worries. Started a new game, played a few turns, retired, started a new game, and then it died. I do have hard drive activity in the background when it happens, but Ctrl-Alt Del is the only way to get anywhere. Oh, I hope this helps with any future developments, like I said, I'm not too worried, just restart and off I go again... Such is life :)

Anyway, here goes:





Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6000) (6000.vista_gdr.070828-1515)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: TOSHIBA
System Model: Satellite P200
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL0
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7400 @ 2.16GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
Physical Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 1334MB used, 4630MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce Go 7600
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0398&SUBSYS_FF011179&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256 MB
Current Display Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
Driver Version: 7.15.0011.6371
Driver Date: 9/16/2007 22:37:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0862&SUBSYS_1179010E&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5374
Driver Date: 2/14/2007 15:11:26
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: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1440 x 900, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 4
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1440 x 900
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600
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\Josh\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Josh\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Josh\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Josh\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: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Josh\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Josh\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\Josh\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: GalaxyWnd: Cannot find OBJID Scenaro_MoreDetails_FText
Debug Message: GalaxyWnd: Cannot find OBJID Scenaro_Details_FormattedText
Debug Message: No files found matching mask E:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Scenarios/*.GC2Scenario
Debug Message: No files found matching mask E:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Title
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Disctiption_Spinner_Back
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Disctiption_Title
Debug Error: CustomShipStyleWnd: Unknown edit field ShipList_List_Entry type: CustomListEntry
Debug Error: CustomShipStyleWnd: Unknown edit field ShipList_Avalible_List_Entry type: CustomListEntry
Debug Message: WARNING: GetShipStylePrefix called for civ and civ has no ship style
Debug Message: LoadHardpointsFromPrefsFile failed to load ship config file: ./Data/ShipCfg/\(null)_ColonyShip.shipcfg
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: Star Frequency: 1 Max Num Stars: 42
Debug Message: Planet Frequency: 3 Max Num Planets: 134
Debug Message: Galaxy Size Set: 8 x 8
Debug Message: Creating Random Map
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message: Star Density: Tight Clusters.
Debug Message: Number of Unplaced Stars: 0.
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Planets
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: Total planets placed: 65
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Anomalies
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 199
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Resources
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Done
Debug Message: Distributing bonuses on planets...
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Asteroid Fields
Debug Message: Setting Game Options
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Korath Clan: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Dominion of Korx: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Altarian Resistance: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Torian Confederation: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Drath Legion: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Creating Civs... Done
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Creating ships...
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Galaxy Create... Done
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 5
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Game Started
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled
Debug Message: Destroying ship Altarian Resistance Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Torian Confederation Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Destroying ship Korath Clan Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Dominion of Korx Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Destroying ship Drengin Empire Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: About to auto save.
Debug Message: Save Game: About to save
Debug Message: Saving game C:\Users\Josh\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\AutoSave.tmp
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 8
Debug Message: Saving: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Number of ships: 30, Number of Fleets: 0
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: Finished auto save.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: About to auto save.
Debug Message: Save Game: About to save
Debug Message: Saving game C:\Users\Josh\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\AutoSave.tmp
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 8
Debug Message: Saving: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Number of ships: 46, Number of Fleets: 0
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: Finished auto save.
Debug Message: Doing final stat calculations.
Debug Message: End of Game Save
Debug Message: Save Game: About to save
Debug Message: Saving game C:\Users\Josh\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\EndGameSave.tmp
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 8
Debug Message: Saving: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Number of ships: 46, Number of Fleets: 0
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: SummaryWnd: Cannot find OBJID Summary_Epic_Button
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: Star Frequency: 1 Max Num Stars: 42
Debug Message: Planet Frequency: 3 Max Num Planets: 134
Debug Message: Galaxy Size Set: 8 x 8
Debug Message: Creating Random Map
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message: Star Density: Tight Clusters.
Debug Message: Number of Unplaced Stars: 0.
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Planets
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: Total planets placed: 65
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Anomalies
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 199
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Resources
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Done
Debug Message: Distributing bonuses on planets...
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: D3DERR_DEVICELOST
Debug Message: Device lost
Debug Message: Attempting to reset device.