Strange Tech Problem

Ok, well I have the latest patch installed, but whenever I start a game it just goes to a black screen, and I can't play. Does anyone know what to do about this. I searched around on the forums but I couldn't find anyone else having this problem, so I decided to make a new post.
4,267 views 7 replies
Reply #1 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.
Reply #2 Top
Ok here it is ----
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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: 6/23/2008, 18:26:39
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: YOUR-6DEAE40C1C
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: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 FX-55 Processor, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.6GHz
Physical Memory: 2048MB RAM
Page File: 431MB used, 3508MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Series GPU
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 6800 Ultra
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00F9&SUBSYS_020F10DE&REV_A2
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.8421
Driver Date: 3/9/2006 15:29:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [9000]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_20021102&REV_04
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0442
Driver Date: 11/18/2003 21:13:54
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_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1680 x 1050, 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 1680 x 1050, 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
Reply #3 Top
also the other versions work fine. Its just Twilight that I can't start up. This may not matter, but When I open up the Task Manager to close it, it says it's running version 1.92, but in Impulse/Stardock central it says its updated to 1.95, so maybe I just need to reinstall it.

P.s. Sorry for the long run on sentence.
Reply #4 Top
So any suggestions, or should I just reinstall?
Reply #5 Top
Looks like you accidentally set the resolution higher than your computer supports (your display is 1280x1024, the game is trying to run at 1680x1050). Just delete the prefs.ini file from My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor to reset the settings, and be more careful next time :)
Reply #6 Top
Problem FIXED. WoW, I can't believe it was that simple. Thanks much guys. Yall Rock!!!
P.s. Stardock is the best gameing company out there!
Reply #7 Top
I had the same problem, modifying the resolution in the perfs file to what I was actually using fixed it for me. I would have guessed it was due to me playing on my 1080p tv for a change, but it does seem odd that only twilight was affected in both our cases.