Dancer42

Join Date 05/2003

Galciv crashes on game load

(Matrox G550 Compatability?)

After going through all the new game screens, The game pretends to load (The progress bar doesn't advance) then crashes.

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Itai

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Lucky_Jack

Join Date 01/2002

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Do you have SmartException installed and running? Did you look at the Debug.err file in the GalCiv2 directory? Is this the first time you have tried to start the game?

Take a look at the followning links and see if they help. If not, post back here and someone will try to help again.

https://www.galciv2.com/Forums.aspx?ForumID=274&AID=72056
https://www.galciv2.com/Forums.aspx?ForumID=274&AID=69926

BTW, your description (although I can't really be sure without more detail) sounds just like what I ran into when I first downloaded the beta and tried to start it for the first time. It turned out I had a back level video driver. The best way to tell is to look at the video data the game captures and puts into the debug.err file (near the top of the file) and check with the manufacturer of your video card to see if it is the latest.

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Thanks for the quick reply.

I sent in the .err and .cra files by email
The crash on the .err and .cra files were with an older driver, but I jist finished downloading and installing the new driver and it still crashes in the same manner.

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Itai

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Lucky_Jack

Join Date 01/2002

+62

Be sure to look in the debug file and verify that the date and version of the driver used is the same as what you installed. Some driver install instructions can be a little on the short side of comprehensible, so you have to check to make sure it went on correctly. The debug file is a really nice verification tool for this.

So far, everyone I have seen mentioning this particular symptom has found something with either the level of display driver or the level of DIRECTX they were using (it should be 9.0c IIRC). Also, I remember reading a systems requirement file or post somewhere, but I can't seem to find it right now.

You may also find the Journals interesting. It has lots of clues about the mechanics of the UI mixed in with all of the rest of the chatter.

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here's the info from debug.err file:

DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

Driver Version: 6.12.0001.1930
Driver Date: 9/14/2004 10:35:40

the date on the driver is correct, but the version number is supposed to be 5.93.9.0 (This is the version number stated in the website to be the latest and this is the number shown when I check the driver version in the device manager)

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Lucky_Jack

Join Date 01/2002

+62

Well, you have just exhausted my knowledge of the problem. I guess you will have to wait until tomorrow morning (GMT - 4) for the Stardock people to see your e-mail.

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I think that the driver version that dxdiag (and debug.err) list is something that it gets from the driver file and may not be the same as what is posted on the website. You can check the driver version in the hardware device manager to see if it's the same there. At any rate, the driver date is less confusing.

I had Scott forward your e-mail to me and I replied to that.

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I have exactely the same problem with my Matrox G450. I have the latest driver installed as well as DirectX 9.0c. I get the first config screens of the game (race setup etc.) - but when the game tries to start the screen freezes.

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I was reading posts on their forum, and it sounded like the Matrox drivers that support DirectX 9.0c are a bit buggy. The driver developers were promising updates so that people could play World of Warcraft, but I don't know if that ever came about. You may want to check their website to see if they ever did post new drivers, and the forums for a status report if they haven't.

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Windows has a known bug, that will allow drivers to install, but on reboot will revert to the prevous version. I can't remember the fix for it, been awhile since I have seen the problem. If I remember correctly, after inital install if the version do not match, reinstall. Windows should not prompt reboot, if it does cancel it if you can and then try the game.

Glenn

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