Game will not start

from GalCiv2 Forums
The launch screen opens, when I click play game the screen changes but then goes back to the desktop, the game appears to stay open and downsized. Same thing happens everytime I click the game. I have increased the pagefile already.

Here is the debug.err

Debug Message: Version v1.0X.1 last updated on: Mon Mar 6 13:57:14 2006
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 3/29/2006, 05:32:02
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: PHOENIXMOBILE
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: TOSHIBA
System Model: Satellite M45
BIOS: BIOS Version 1.50
Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) M processor 1.60GHz
Physical Memory: 958MB RAM
Page File: 2478MB used, 1273MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: ATI RADEON XPRESS 200M Series
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: ATI RADEON XPRESS 200M Series (0x5A42)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5A42&SUBSYS_FF101179&REV_00
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6539
Driver Date: 4/12/2005 05:34:12
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_1002&DEV_4370&SUBSYS_FF101179&REV_02
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5820
Driver Date: 3/26/2005 07:04:40
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Bluetooth Audio
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: {95C7A0A0-3094-11D7-A202-00508B9D7D5A}\BTAUDIO
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: btaudio.sys
Provider: WIDCOMM Inc.
Driver Version: 3.00.0001.0901
Driver Date: 4/12/2004 13:50:52
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): ATI RADEON XPRESS 200M Series
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
3,360 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Hmm...can you go to your game's root directory (ex. c:\program files\stardock\totalgaming\galciv2\) and run the game directly from there (dblclick galciv2.exe)? Perhaps the auto-loader isn't playing nice with the game.

I'm fwd'ing this issue to some of the more skilled coders to see what suggestions they can offer

Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
-update your year old video drivers
-update your audio drivers (you have two devices enabled, are they conflicting?)
-try running in window mode
-run the game and your desktop in the *same* resolution

Note: If you can't change your game resolution, do it manually in your prefs.ini file found in the mygames/galciv2 folder.

That should give you a starting point.
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Well, you're definitely creating the device correctly, so it must be something with the window. Go into your Prefs.ini file in your My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2 folder and set the window size to be 1280 x 800 and see if that works.

You may also want to try the omega drivers at www.omegadrivers.net if that doesn't work.

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'd be more worried about what else you've got running that is using 2.5Gb of page file Even if you do get the game started, with that much paging going on a 1.6Ghz processor isn't going to have a lot of spare CPU cycles...
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks guys, other than a patchy startup, changing the game resolution to the screen resoulution worked, as well as starting in windows mode