Blank/Black screen (Galatic Civilization 2 Dread Lords)

In your prefs.ini try changing the following (via notepad or similar): -

SkipIntro=1

Fullscreen=1

This will stop the opening videos and force the game into fullscreen.

If this does not work then delete the prefs.ini and try running the game again.

On a side note your graphics drivers are out of date and could really do with being updated too. This can have an effect on the game running so you may want to update them first if you can.

I tried both of the pref things neither worked. 

Previously, I tried updating the drivers at nvidia, and they said they were up - to - date. 

So if there is anything else I can try.... 

Have you run the game with that machine in the past? Your video card is quite below the minimum requirements, so even if it does work, you will most certainly experience issues.

Otherwise, please post the entire debug.err file. It appears to have been cut off after the first page, so we cannot really see what sort of issue it is encountering.

No, and:

Debug Message:  Version v1.52 last updated on: Tue Jul 15 17:23:38 2008
Debug Message:  Checking DX Version.
Debug Message:  *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 3/31/2011, 13:55:43
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: A Name-DBSZIQ6AE
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.101209-1647)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: Dimension 8200               
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1.80GHz
Physical Memory: 256MB RAM
Page File: 518MB used, 291MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce2 MX/MX 400
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0110&SUBSYS_009110DE&REV_B2
Display Memory: 32.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Dell P991
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9371
Driver Date: 10/22/2006 12:22:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
 


Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Santa Cruz(tm)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: TURTLE_BEACH\SANTA_CRUZ_WDM_INTERFACE
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: tbcwdm.sys
Provider: Voyetra Turtle Beach
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.4112
Driver Date: 8/29/2001 16:19:44
Type: WDM
Other Drivers: 
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 
Sound device 1:
Description: Modem #2 Line Playback (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: 
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 81
Driver Name: 
Provider: 
Driver Version: 
Driver Date: 
Type: Emulated
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 software vertex processing
Debug Message:  Multisample Type chosen in prefs not supported. Disabling multisampling.
Debug Message:  Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message:  Could not create the render device using default format. Switching to 16bit
Debug Message:  Using software vertex processing
Debug Message:  Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
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

  Try setting your display to 16bit before starting GCII (btw I have 32MB video card too;  it works ok on 32bit 1024 X 768),  or to 1024 X 768.  This sort of technique has worked for me with severe display problems in other PC games.

  HOWEVER,  your RAM is only 256MB.  I had problems and slowdowns in GCII with 500MB RAM (I now have 1.5GB).

Change this in the .ini right?

Change Color Depth from 32 to 16 (I haven't seen a display setting in the .ini)?

He meant your desktop, not the game. But it's a long shot as your card is only DirectX 7 compliant (the game requires a DX9+ card). If there are no newer drivers and the game is still unable to initialize D3D after adjusting your desktop settings to match the game's defaults, your best bet is to try playing on a more modern machine which does meet the game's minimum requirements.

I tried the bit thing, but it didn't work...