BSOD Crash.

Tragic.

First of all, I'd like to introduce myself to the GCII community. I was a long time user of WindowBlinds and always thought GCII looked like a good game. I finally made the initiative to buy it, and I'm already addicted!!!

I do however have a rather serious error.

When I installed the game for the first time (downloaded through SD Central) I didn't want to wait for any of the packs so I played it core only, no sound. I had a quick game with default settings, and dominated the easier AI. Once I had learned my way around, I decided to go ahead and install the multimedia, sound and me are old friends.

So I installed and restarted my game, but when I tried to load, I had a BSOD and my system crashed and restarted. Trying again, it crashed any time I went to load a game, make a new game, or start a campaign game.

I un-installed everything and installed just the core again, and played a good game against normal AI, but didn't quite have time to finish it. So I saved. Today when I tried to load it up, I experienced the same BSOD crash.

After a bit more experimentation, it seems that I experience a BSOD the second time I try to play a game. It's only working the first time for some reason.

Heres my debug.err info...

[code]Debug Message: Version v1.5 last updated on: Thu Jan 11 13:39:19 2007
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 2/8/2008, 14:43:02
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: AHRENMOBILE
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: Pavilion zv5000 (PN316AV)
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 382MB RAM
Page File: 211MB used, 900MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS

Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9000/9100 IGP
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: MOBILITY RADEON 9100 IGP AGP (0x5835)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5835&SUBSYS_006B103C&REV_00
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6436
Driver Date: 5/15/2004 21:29:34
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes

Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4341&SUBSYS_006B103C&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: smwdm.sys
Provider: Analog Devices
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.4011
Driver Date: 4/1/2004 12:57:20
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 multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONMASKABLE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9000/9100 IGP
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: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 b2d34430
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Movies\*.bik
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 Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Event Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Sfx\*.wav
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: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Tutorials/*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Curtis Layton\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Dread Lords Campaign\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Curtis Layton\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Logos\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Curtis Layton\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Curtis Layton\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Portraits\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Curtis Layton\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Curtis Layton\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\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 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: Loading TechDefs
Debug Message: Max num techs: 248
Debug Message: Loading ImprovementDB
Debug Message: Loading Component Defs
Debug Message: Loading ShipTypes
Debug Message: Loading ShipConfigs
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 Game
Debug Message: Loading: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Loading Galaxy
Debug Message: Sectors across: 5 x 5
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 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: Loading Turn Event Log
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[/code]

If you need any other details I can upload a DXDiag report to a file hosting source or email it to support. This is with all default settings, trying to load a preciously saved game.

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Try turning off Enhanced Ship Rendering and Anti-aliasing from the Video tab on the Options menu, then restart the game.

You could also try the drivers here for your video driver:

http://www.omegadrivers.net/

Also, check HP's website to see if they have any more recent drivers for your sound. I'm not seeing any errors from Miles in your debug.err, but it tends to be happier with newer drivers.

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kryo

Join Date 05/2003

+458

Yep, identical to my laptop. Omega drivers will sort it, but make sure you get the appropriate ones from the archive there. Support for 9000 chipsets was dropped some time ago.

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Thanks guys, you've resolved my problems.

+1 Lifelong Stardock customer.

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>.<

Well, based on some recommendations, I installed OmegaDrivers. Now I get a BSOD immediately on game startup. How should I go about reverting to stock drivers? (didn't make a restore point)

There's a possibility I installed the Omega drivers wrong. Anyway, here my new debug.err. I don't think it will help much though.

Debug Message: Version v1.5 last updated on: Thu Jan 11 13:39:19 2007
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.

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You may have downloaded the wrong drivers.
Go back and make sure you get drivers that support your chipset. If you simply got the newest available, they won't work.
Remember what Kryo said:
"but make sure you get the appropriate ones from the archive there. Support for 9000 chipsets was dropped some time ago."

Current Display Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor

Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768

The default Windows monitor driver may not support wide screen resolutions so well, or your monitor may not like 1024x768.

Try running the game at the same resolution as your desktop.

If you can't do it through the Video Options screen, then edit the Prefs.ini file.
It can be edited with Notepad, and is located in the 'My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2' folder.

The lines you should look for are:

[Video]
DisplayWidth=1024 (set yours to 1280)
DisplayHeight=768 (set yours to 800)
ColorDepth=32
Fullscreen=1 (for some people setting this to 0 works better)
HardwareMouseCursor=1

If you can find a driver for your laptop's monitor it might help.
And as CariElf said, don't forget to check on newer sound drivers from HP.

Physical Memory: 382MB RAM
Page File: 211MB used, 900MB available

And you should set your swapfile to 2GB. This game likes a lot of ram, and you are in very short supply. You will be into the swapfile as soon as you start the game, so don't expect it to play very fast.

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If you need to revert to the previous drivers, you should be able to use the Rollback function. Right click on My Computer and choose Properties, then choose the Hardware tab and click on the Device Manager button. Find the video driver listed, right click on it and choose properties.

Or you can re-download whatever the latest drivers for your video card are from HP's support website and install those.

I do suspect that you simply installed the wrong ones, though, as our customers with laptops have had very good success with the omega drivers.

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Thanks again. I was able to find a 2005 driver for my video card. Now everything runs great.

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