Game Fails to Load with widescreen monitor

Acer AL1916W Monitor+GalcivII= :(

from GalCiv2 Forums
Okay, so I bought a new widescreen LCD monitor (Acer AL 1916W), and when I go to load up GalCiv II, the screen goes black for a minute, then only a part of the screen (looks like it's set for a reduced resolution) goes black, but no game at all.

I have tried re-installing the game, deleting everything that was leftover from the previous uninstall, and still it refuses to work.

I'm not entirely sure what to try here. I mean, I can't even get into the game to adjust the resolution- is there any way to do this from outside of the game interface itself? For example, I know that with Red Orchestra: Ostfront, when I had this problem I just entered folder, deleted the file responsible for the saved user resolutions and presto- it was all good.

Anyone have this problem or any idea how to at least get the game started?

Thanks!
5,921 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, there is always the prefs.ini file in My Dcoumens\My Games\Galciv2
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Try using window mode first. I have no problem playing full screen on a widescreen monitor ut I think it depends on the monitor and whether it supports the resolution you want to play at
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I wonder if it is the opening animated splash. I tried running my desktop across both of my monitors. Everything seemed like it would work, however, the opening splash would straight up fail. I don't think it was ever even getting to galciv2.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Can you post a debug.err log - it is in the main game folder.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
you have to set the custom monitor resolution in the prefs.ini file in My Dcoumens\My Games\Galciv2
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yeah I play at 1920 x 1200 (widescreen), and it works fine....so it DOES work. Not sure what your particular issue is, though.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Montag007,

I actually can't find the prefs.ini file at all! Could it be because I've uninstalled and re-installed from scratch (hence no preferences given yet?) Searched all throughough the Galciv2 directory and all sub-folders within it. Also searched my entire D drive (main hard drive), and notta.

I know it works with widescreen format, but I just want to get it started!

By the way, Javascout, I would try and start it in windowed format, but unfortunately I can't even get that far!
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top


Here she be:

Debug Message: Version v1.1 BETA-3 last updated on: Thu Apr 6 14:45:50 2006
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 4/8/2006, 18:01:27
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: BROTHERS-7NK6BD
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: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Model: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
BIOS: BIOS Date: 05/03/05 13:52:41 Ver: 08.00.09
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3700+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.2GHz
Physical Memory: 2048MB RAM
Page File: 393MB used, 3545MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: RADEON X850 Series
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: ATI RADEON X850 XT Platinum Edition AGP (0x4B4C)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4B4C&SUBSYS_03121002&REV_00
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor Name: Acer AL1916W
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6601
Driver Date: 2/21/2006 23:46:46
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB X-Fi Audio [A400]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_00211102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1144
Driver Date: 10/29/2005 20:16:24
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_6_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Could not create the render device using default format. Switching to 16bit
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message: Could not create the render device.
Debug Message: InitializeDirect3D Failed.
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize start


Looks like some freaky shit is happening here, but far be it from me to understand how "direct3D" failed.

Thoughts anyone?
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Looks like maybe your card is not supporting that resolution at 32 bit. The game requires 32bit to run.

Got to the prefs.ini in the \My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ folder and edit the following:

[Video]
DisplayWidth=1152
DisplayHeight=864
ColorDepth=32
Fullscreen=0

Set the first two to a smaller resolution than your desktop that you know is supported at 32 bit. Make sure the Colordepth is set to 32. Set Fullscreen=0 to force Windowed mode.

You may also want to set this line to 1 to skip the itro movie. You can watch it later once everything else is working.
SkipIntro=1

If the prefs.ini file is not there, don't worry. Start the game and let it go as far as it can - it will create the prefs.ini file first thing. Then go back and edit it and start again.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Looks like maybe your card is not supporting that resolution at 32 bit. The game requires 32bit to run.

Got to the prefs.ini in the \My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ folder and edit the following:

[Video]
DisplayWidth=1152
DisplayHeight=864
ColorDepth=32
Fullscreen=0

Set the first two to a smaller resolution than your desktop that you know is supported at 32 bit. Make sure the Colordepth is set to 32. Set Fullscreen=0 to force Windowed mode.

You may also want to set this line to 1 to skip the itro movie. You can watch it later once everything else is working.
SkipIntro=1

If the prefs.ini file is not there, don't worry. Start the game and let it go as far as it can - it will create the prefs.ini file first thing. Then go back and edit it and start again.


Thanks a bunch Oldstatesman! I was looking for the prefs.ini in teh Galciv II folder, not under 'My Documents' and then Galciv II . . . It works!!! Woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
NP - glad to see you are up and running!