Beta 4 Catastrophe! Uninstall/reinstall killed my game!

No, and I've completely uninstalled and reinstalled several times to make sure the problems I'm seeing aren't a bad install.

What does your debug.err say?

What does your debug.err say?

Debug Message: Version v 0.75 Beta 4 last updated on: Thu Nov 3 14:07:20 2005
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: Can't find galciv2 serial in registry subdirectory GalCiv2.
Debug Message: Can't find any serial numbers.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 11/6/2005, 19:36:15
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: CHILJTOUGH
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Sony Corporation
System Model: PCG-V505DC2(UC)
BIOS: PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0.
Processor: Mobile Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 - M CPU 2.20GHz
Physical Memory: 510MB RAM
Page File: 236MB used, 1013MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: ATI MOBILITY RADEON (Omega 2.6.25a)
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc. (Omega 2.6.25a)
Chip Type: ATI MOBILITY RADEON AGP (0x4C59)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(350MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4C59&SUBSYS_8147104D&REV_00
Display Memory: 16.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6512
Driver Date: 1/19/2005 21:25:56
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: YAMAHA AC-XG WDM Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2485&SUBSYS_8147104D&REV_02
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: yacxgc.sys
Provider: YAMAHA CORPORATION
Driver Version: 6.13.0010.3154
Driver Date: 9/19/2002 19:19:56
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_NONE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): ATI MOBILITY RADEON (Omega 2.6.25a)
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: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\jtough\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\*.StarSystems
Debug Message: No files found matching mask data\*.raceconfig
*DEBUG ERROR: *** Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for Starbase. ***
Debug Message: No files found matching mask data\*.shipclass
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: Max num techs: 260
Debug Message: TitleWnd: Cannot find OBJID Menu_Title
Debug Message: Set mouse.
Debug Message: Set update timer.
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Button with OBJID Size_Spinner_Down has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartX: 16, TileEndX: 16, Width: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Button with OBJID Scenaro_Details_Bottom has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartX: 16, TileEndX: 0, Width: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Tab with OBJID Scenaro_Details_Tab has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartX: 16, TileEndX: 14, Width: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Tab with OBJID Scenaro_Details_Tab has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartY: 16, TileEndY: 14, Height: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Tab with OBJID Scenario_Combo_Tab has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartX: 16, TileEndX: 14, Width: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Tab with OBJID Scenario_Combo_Tab has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartY: 16, TileEndY: 14, Height: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Button with OBJID Scenario_Combo_Bottom has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartX: 16, TileEndX: 6, Width: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Button with OBJID Scenario_Combo_Bottom has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartY: 16, TileEndY: 2, Height: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Button with OBJID Scenario_Combo_Top has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartX: 16, TileEndX: 6, Width: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Button with OBJID Scenario_Combo_Top has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartY: 16, TileEndY: 2, Height: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Tab with OBJID Galaxy_Custom_Combo_List_Tab has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartX: 16, TileEndX: 14, Width: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Tab with OBJID Galaxy_Custom_Combo_List_Tab has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartY: 16, TileEndY: 14, Height: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Button with OBJID Galaxy_Custom_Combo_List_Bottom has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartX: 16, TileEndX: 6, Width: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Button with OBJID Galaxy_Custom_Combo_List_Bottom has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartY: 16, TileEndY: 2, Height: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Button with OBJID Galaxy_Custom_Combo_List_Top has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartX: 16, TileEndX: 6, Width: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Button with OBJID Galaxy_Custom_Combo_List_Top has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartY: 16, TileEndY: 2, Height: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Tab with OBJID Scenaro_MoreDetails_Tab has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartX: 16, TileEndX: 14, Width: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Tab with OBJID Scenaro_MoreDetails_Tab has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartY: 16, TileEndY: 14, Height: 16
Debug Message: Error parsing file C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\Installed\GalCiv2\screens\GalaxyWnd.dxpack. Object of type Button with OBJID Scenaro_MoreDetails_Bottom has out of bounds tiling info. TileStartX: 16, TileEndX: 0, Width: 16

Debug Message: Version v 0.75 Beta 4 last updated on: Thu Nov 3 14:07:20 2005

I don't know why it says this for the version. I just downloaded it tonight, and on SDC it says "0.76[b].003" updated: 11/4/2005

By the way, are there multiple servers for SDC to hit? If so, how do I change the target server? Is there a preferred on to download from?

SDC server settings: Tools, Settings, Internet - you have a choice of Chicago or California.

Okay, what is the file size of galaxywnd.dxpack?

It should be 297,910 bytes.

You can try downloading from Cali server.  It's in tools->Settings->Internet.  But I want to learn more about this galaxywnd.dxpack because this could be quite serious.

Okay, what is the file size of galaxywnd.dxpack? It should be 297,910 bytes.

The size of the file in my install directory is the same size that you said it should be.

Did you try downloading from the California server?

I'm at the office right now. I will try that when I get back to the hotel tonight.

I'm at the office right now.

You have a job? From the amount of testing you do and the number of posts you generate I figured either you were retired or a student. I admire your devotion

You have a job? From the amount of testing you do and the number of posts you generate I figured either you were retired or a student. I admire your devotion

hah! Nice one. When I'm on the road, I call GalCiv (and now GalCiv 2) my "away game". My laptop is a pathetic VAIO that my company supplied and it can't play any resource intensive games. Turn Based Strategy games are great for laptops, and they're great when you're in airports too, because you can save it anytime and pick up later. I just can't enjoy an RTS if I can't play the rounds from start to finish, and I also can't play them (effectively) without a mouse and adequate desk space.

Well I got the thing running again. I uninstalled, reinstalled, uninstalled. Switched to the California server. Reinstalled. No difference. Still can't run.

Then...

I was reading a post about Aloriel not being able to get her game to run due to a registration/CD-Key problem. Someone suggested that she try launching GC2 from inside SDC. I figured it was worth a try, since I tried everything else. IT WORKED! That probably would have worked all along!

So now the quesiton is: Why would the game launch properly from SDC, but chokes when I try to run it from the Start Menu shortcut?

PS: I still captured a SmartException from one of the failed Start Menu launch attempts and emailed it to the GC2 Bugs email address in case that is of any help to the devs.

OK, just one more comment on this one from me. I forgot to mention that I have NEVER (and I mean NEVER!) launched GalCiv2 from inside SDC before. I always use the Start Menu shortcut. So why did that continue to work fine when I just let SDC auto-update Beta 3 up to Beta 4 (and then 4A), but after I did a full uninstall/reinstall, it all went to hell? I wanted to add this extra info in case it makes a lightbulb go on for one of the devs who is looking into bugs.

OK, just one more comment on this one from me. I forgot to mention that I have NEVER (and I mean NEVER!) launched GalCiv2 from inside SDC before. I always use the Start Menu shortcut. So why did that continue to work fine when I just let SDC auto-update Beta 3 up to Beta 4 (and then 4A), but after I did a full uninstall/reinstall, it all went to hell? I wanted to add this extra info in case it makes a lightbulb go on for one of the devs who is looking into bugs.

I was the one who suggested to try launching from SDC. I'm having the same (or similar) activation problem that Aloriel is. I could launch Beta4 from a shortcut ok, but after uninstalling and then installing Beta4a, I can only start it from (a) SDC or (b) the GalCiv2 Configuration program.

I had to rebuild my gaming rig recently. The new build has only had the first Beta 4 on it. That build will not launch from the shortcut. I haven't tried to launch it from SDC, but I did find that I can get GC2 Beta 4 to run by using the GC2 Config to launch it.

Beta 4 also installs the sound effects at 0 volume/off. The installer probably needs to set them, or the default for them should be different from "Zero Out".

It seems that a lot of people's shortcuts from the startmenu were corrupted by the installer when they updated.  You can also use GCConfig to launch GC2.  Or you could modify the shortcut to GalCiv2 so that it points in the right directory.

The shortcut that's not working for me points to:

D:\Stardock\TotalGaming.net\GalCiv2\GalCiv2.exe

which is, indeed, where GC2 is installed.

What does your Start in field on your shortcut show?

The "Start in" field is:

%APPPATH%\

I just uninstalled Beta4A and installed 0.77[b].008, and starting from the shortcut works again! Thank you, thank you!

Hurray, jmgarth!

Now, you get to update your client again.

(latest version is .009!)

Yes, noticed that and upgraded to .009. Two upgrades in one day (especially this late at night where Stardock is) is overachieving!