Wish i could play the game

from GalCiv2 Forums
I downloaded the game the other day but i can't play it at all. if i manage to actually load a game without it freezing at the race select screen or another menu, it freezes within five seconds. i already updated my video card drivers and i'm running 32 colors (those seem to be the most suggested solutions) and i have no idea what to do. any help would be appreciated.

edit: here's the debug.err file:

Debug Message: Version v1.0D-1 Digital: Bonus Pack last updated on: Fri Feb 24 12:35:33 2006
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 2/27/2006, 20:04:45
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: VUK-SRJBT7G7M3D
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
System Model: MS-7125
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3200+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.0GHz
Physical Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 229MB used, 2230MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 6600 GT
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0140&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A2
Display Memory: 128.0 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: 6.14.0010.8198
Driver Date: 12/10/2005 03:06:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Realtek AC97 Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0059&SUBSYS_75851462&REV_A2
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5830
Driver Date: 4/18/2005 21:40:52
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_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT
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: Set mouse.
Debug Message: Set update timer.
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\*.StarSystems
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for PirateShip. ***
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for Starbase. ***
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipclass
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
*DEBUG ERROR: ***TutorialWnd: Unknown edit field Totorial_GridList_Entry type: CustomListEntry ***
Debug Message: TutorialWnd: Cannot find OBJID Totorial_All_Button
6,976 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

The version you're running dosent have a Framerate limit, so it may be workon so hard that it's heating up your card and freezing the game. We're working on a fix for this bug that will be out on Thursday, but for the time being you can try the EXE linked to here: https://forums.galciv2.com/?ForumID=164&AID=103280#805562.

Let us know if this fixes your problem!

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
that didn't work. in that other conversation with the fix it said it would probably take 10 min to heat up to that extent. when i just tried it it froze while i was picking a race, so within about a minute of launching the game maybe. this is all the more annoying because of the fact that i can play games like civ IV no problem.
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Compared to the graphic engine of Galciv2, civ4 is a 2d game
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Sounds like you need to run down the standard system troubleshooting list:
1) Make sure you have the motherboard/chipset drivers for your system. Motherboards for AMD processors seem especially picky about this.
2) If you're overclocking anything, set it back to normal.
3) Search for memtest86, drop it onto a floppy or recordable cd and run the full test when you go to sleep.
4) Try disabling sound (I'm not sure if there's an option in game, but worst case you can probably disable the device in the device manager or bios).
5) Kill any background processes (Instant messenger, virus protection, any third party 'personal firewall' products). If you're concerned about safety with those off, unhook your network connection while testing.

Those seem to be the common gotchas with games these days. If any of those fixes the issue then you have a starting point to work on figuring out exactly what's wrong.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
none of those stopped the game from freezing
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
no one has any other ideas?
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What is the airflow like in your case? The gfx card will be heating up but you might not be getting rid of the warmer air fast enough and not drawing in enough cool air. What power supply do you have? It could be that the graphics card is trying to draw extra power the power supply cant provide which is upsetting everything else. If your case hasnt been opened in a while have a look and see if its dusty inside. If it is, power it down and use some compressed air to remove it.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
no one has any other ideas?

Have you tried to download smartException and launch it before GC 2? The generated log file might help the devs to see where the problem is.

BTW, I assume that you have posted your whole debug.err file.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Yeah, if these suggestions dont fix it, downloading smartexception should lead us right to the problem. In Stardock Central, go to "Free Stuff", download Smart Exception, and have it running in the BG while you play GC2. It'll create a crash log that we can use to track-down your bug.

Thanks!

edit: Actually, please wait until the new update is put out. Smart Exception will return the address of the crash, which may be off if youre using an old EXE. Try the new update (being released this afternoon), and if that dosent fix it, try smart exception. Thanks agiain for your paticence...hopefully we can get this sorted out.

Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i know i'm by no means proficient to a great extent with computers, but i was wondering something. my computer freezes every once in a while at random times. today it did and took a while before the computer would restart properly. is this a cooling issue? right now (i'm only running norton antivirus, norton firewall, and firefox) the temp is about 51 degrees C. is that too hot and might it explain why the game freezes not only IN the game but if i try to access menus like options, etc.
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
no one has any opinions?
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
any input at all is appreciated since right now i'm forced to play this great game on my really crappy old computer and no one's said anything for a while.
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Your Video Card Bios is @ Fault. Go to www.mvktech.net and look up the relevant bios and flash it. Use Nbitor, wait the forum people to help you etc. If you don't know how, look at the tutorials. I know what happened to your 6600GT, as I had exact problem with it when there's a background animation in the menus, it freezes up. I hate to tell you that Stardock won't be able to fix your BIOS problems, but an update to lossen the TIMINGSET05 in your 6600GT video card BIOS might. A warning though, usually, flashing the BIOS can be dangerous if not done right.

If it's not the bios problem, underclock your Video Card to 300/700mHz during 3d using Rivatuner, if can't underclock or overclock, then change the bios and find one that matches your manufacturer model. Probably an older version of bios will work.
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
can you elaborate a little bit more on what bios i should try to get? i have a msi ms-7125 motherboard by the way.