MrSpank

Thanks for the quick replies. I'll try these things tonight when I get home.

Does anybody know where I can download user designed ships? I can't seem to find any in galciv2.

You desperately need to upgrade your memory. I alt-tabbed out of a medium sized galaxy in the early stages of a game and checked the task manager. GalCiv2 was already eating up a whopping 550Meg. You'll notice a definite improvement by simply doubling (and I'd recommend at least tripling) your memory.