I tried to lower the resolution but as soon as I did it crashed again. I'm running in SLI mode using 8800GT cards at the full 2560x1600 resolution. I've also tried turning off SLI but no luck.

I wonder if there is a way to change the resolution by altering an xml or text file?

I have the exact same problem since I've upgraded to Vista Service Pack 1. Both 'DisplayWidth' and 'DisplayHeight' are already set to my desktop size in my prefs.ini file. I'm using a dual 8800M GTX in SLI mode which is similar to what the OP is using. mjolnier, I see that you also have SP1 installed, did the game used to run before you installed SP1?

I have the latest drivers provided by Dell.

Here's a copy of my debug.err file in case it helps.

Debug Message: Version v1.80g Dark Avatar last updated on: Wed Dec 19 15:10:23 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 4/3/2008, 20:56:01
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
Machine Name: LEIA
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1 (6001.longhorn_rtm.080118-1840)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: MXG071
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A06
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T9300 @ 2.50GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.5GHz
Physical Memory: 3262MB RAM
Page File: 1339MB used, 5378MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: NVxx
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_060C&SUBSYS_019C1028&REV_A2
Display Memory: 1870 MB
Current Display Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
Driver Version: 7.15.0011.6755
Driver Date: 1/10/2008 05:54:26
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Speakers / Headphones (SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC)
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7616&SUBSYS_102801F7&REV_1002
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: stwrt.sys
Provider: SigmaTel
Driver Version: 6.10.5614.0000
Driver Date: 1/1/2008 23:44:40
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Digital Output Device (SPDIF Out) (SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC)
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7616&SUBSYS_102801F7&REV_1002
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: stwrt.sys
Provider: SigmaTel
Driver Version: 6.10.5614.0000
Driver Date: 1/1/2008 23:44:40
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_8_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1920 x 1200, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 8
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX
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\Stéphane\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Stéphane\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Stéphane\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Stéphane\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\Stéphane\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Stéphane\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: GalaxyWnd: Cannot find OBJID Scenaro_MoreDetails_FText
Debug Message: GalaxyWnd: Cannot find OBJID Scenaro_Details_FormattedText
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 ./Data/English/Scenarios/*.GC2Scenario
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\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: 4 Max Num Stars: 65
Debug Message: Planet Frequency: 4 Max Num Planets: 260
Debug Message: Galaxy Size Set: 5 x 5
Debug Message: Creating Random Map
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message: Star Density: Tight Clusters.
Debug Message: Number of Unplaced Stars: 31.
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: 291
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: Dominion of Korx: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Torian Confederation: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: D3DERR_DEVICELOST

It's nVidia's drivers. They initially fixed the buffering issue in 101.41, but it since reappeared with G84-G92 cards in newer drivers. Some users have reported that turning off certain graphic features in the game's options helps. There is also a new 174 beta driver out that has fixed a similar issue with Sins which might help.

No, I'm still having the same problems. I also tried using the Portal game that uses the Stream engine, crashes right away as well. I even tried going into SLI mode, now the game won't even start.

Also sometimes I get a "Fatal Error - Invalid Call", not sure what that's about.