Screen blacks out after 5 minutes

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.

Hope this helps. I've gone through most of the forum already and can't find a solution that helps (running in windowed mode is slow and really laggy)


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: 2/19/2008, 12:28:49
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: FLAGSHIP
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: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
System Model: MS-7253
BIOS: )Phoenix - Award WorkstationBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 3200+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.8GHz
Physical Memory: 1022MB RAM
Page File: 314MB used, 1953MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: Radeon X1650 Series
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x71C7)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_71C7&SUBSYS_0840174B&REV_9E
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6734
Driver Date: 11/1/2007 23:09:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Realtek HD Audio output
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0883&SUBSYS_14627253&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5324
Driver Date: 11/15/2006 01:34:00
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: Going Fullscreen
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1440 x 900
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): Radeon X1650 Series
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 369e99
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
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: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
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 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: Galaxy Size Set: 8 x 8
Debug Message: Creating Random Map
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message: Number of Unplaced Stars: 21.
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Planets
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Anomalies
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 118
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Resources
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Done
Debug Message: Setting Game Options
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Terran Alliance: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Altarian Republic: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Arcean Empire: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Torian Confederation: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Centari Alliance: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Creating Civs... Done
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Galaxy Create... Done
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 10
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Game Started
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled
Debug Message: Destroying ship Terran Alliance Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Arcean Empire Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Terran Alliance (0): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Altarian Republic (2): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: Arcean Empire (3): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Torian Confederation (4): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Pirates! (26): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: Destroying ship Drengin Empire Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Altarian Republic Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Torian Confederation Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: DomesticWnd: Cannot find OBJID Domestic_Government_Tab
Debug Message: DomesticWnd: Cannot find OBJID Domestic_Governor_Tab
Debug Message: DomesticWnd: Cannot find OBJID Domestic_Stats_Tab
Debug Message: DomesticWnd: Cannot find OBJID Domestic_Graphs_Tab
Debug Message: EconomicWnd: Cannot find OBJID Template_Button_Back
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Terran Alliance (0): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Altarian Republic (2): Researching: Basic Logistics
Debug Message: Arcean Empire (3): Researching: Universal Translator
Debug Message: Save Game: About to save
Debug Message: Saving game C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\QuickSave.sav
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 8
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Saving: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Dread Lords Campaign\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Logos\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Portraits\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\temp\*.sav
Debug Message: Save Game: About to save
Debug Message: Saving game C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\QuickSave.sav
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 8
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Saving: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Terran Alliance (0): Researching: Universal Translator
Debug Message: Torian Confederation (4): Researching: Planetary Improvements
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: New Propulsion Techniques
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Terran Alliance (0): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: Arcean Empire (3): Researching: Planetary Improvements
Debug Message: Destroying ship Centari Alliance Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Dread Lords Campaign\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Logos\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Portraits\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\temp\*.sav
Debug Message: Save Game: About to save
Debug Message: Saving game C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\QuickSave.sav
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 8
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Saving: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Starship Defenses
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Yearly Status Dialog
Debug Message: Yearly Status Dialog 0a
Debug Message: Deleting previous save game.
Debug Message: About to auto save.
Debug Message: Save Game: About to save
Debug Message: Saving game C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\AutoSave.sav
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 8
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Gregory\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Saving: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: Finished auto save.
Debug Message: Terran Alliance (0): Researching: Starship Defenses
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Space Weapons
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End

Is that the entire debug? Nothing obviously wrong at the end of it there.

You might try updating to Catalyst 8.2 from ATI's site. Also, for windowed mode, if you're getting really bad performance there it's most likely due to having something else with transparency on the screen. If you close that, then the game should be fine (ATI's drivers can't handle transparency and Direct3D on the same screen).

Alright. Tried that and overall it worked for a few seconds. Instead of the monitor shutting off, I just get a black screen. BUT! I can succesfully alt-tab and do a graceful reboot if need be. Besides this, when GCII died this time, i got an error message from ati saying the following (couldn't screen shot):

"VPU Recover has reset your graphics accelerator as it was no longer responding to graphics designer commands"

Suggestion?

That'd tell that there's something wrong with your video card or the drivers. Are you overclocking it by any chance? As that's generally the purpose of ATI VPU Recovery (to undo overclocking when a problem occurs).

Not purposely that I'd know of. Anyway to check? or possibly turn it off if it is?

Also check to make sure the card isn't overheating. I had a very similar problem when I installed the game and it turned out to be a defective fan on my Sapphire Radeon X1600. No problem running Windows - including Vista Aero - but as soon as GalCiv2 started exercising the card it overheated and eventually shut down.

There may be something about it in the ATI CCC. I don't have an ATI card anymore myself, so I can't check.

There's no overclock turned on, all running as it should according to the CCC.

  

Think about surfing over to www.microsoft.com/downloads and download/run
their Direct X End-User Runtime file (#5 on front page list)

Also try setting the settings to default in the ATI / 3D /
all settings section. Just click the Default button at the bottom.

Thankx,

  

Awww!!! It worked for a good 20 minutes and just blacked out again. I'll keep tinkering here but if anyone thinks of something, please try again.

I wanted to update: It's fixed!!! It's an ATI problem, something to do with the chipset, and it's not isolated to just one type of card, but to all. The problem is with ATI2dvag.dll. There is no known official solution.

What I did was totally remove all ATI drivers, cleaned out the registry, opened my computer, cleaned the dust (this is known to help if not solve the issue) and installed the ATI drivers again. I also installed Omega drivers for ATI as it does have a fix, although it doesn't always work.

This problem is to all games, so try it even if it's just this one that doesn't work.

Interesting.

I've never had this problem with my X1950GT. I do find I'm looking at a black screen after my screensaver activates + goes away, but alt tabbing in and out fixes that 90%+ of the time, and I'm fairly positive that issue isn't ATI-specific.

dude.. i am having the same problem in gears of war and UFO Extraterrestria.. i dont seem to have it in CS 1.6 or heroes 3 tho... i have radeon x1650 with the latest 8-4 driver installed and i get the black screen and then the error... any idea on how i can fix it?