Game locks up during startup

Post your debug.err file information; that may help to track down the problem.

It is found in the main program folder.

Debug Message: Version v1.0 last updated on: Mon Feb 6 12:52:05 2006
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 5/19/2006, 00:11:56
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: JANEY2
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: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: Latitude C840
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A13
Processor: Mobile Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 - M CPU 2.40GHz
Physical Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 256MB used, 2207MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: Dell C840
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce4 440 Go
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0174&SUBSYS_00D51028&REV_A3
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1600 x 1200 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.13.0010.4258
Driver Date: 2/10/2003 10:27:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Intel(r) Integrated Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2485&SUBSYS_59591013&REV_02
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ac97intc.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.3523
Driver Date: 8/17/2001 05:20:04
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_NONMASKABLE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1600 x 1200
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): Dell C840
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\Beeker\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\Beeker\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipclass
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Beeker\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: Error loading mission 16 from C:\Games\Galactic Civilizations 2\./Data/English/Campaigns/Dread Lords Campaign.gc2campaign
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Beeker\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Dread Lords Campaign\*.sav
Debug Message: Error loading mission 16 from C:\Games\Galactic Civilizations 2\./Data/English/Campaigns/Dread Lords Campaign.gc2campaign
Debug Message: Creating Galaxy
Debug Message: Set galaxy size.
Debug Message: Killing threads.
Debug Message: Kiling civs.
Debug Message: Killing ships.
Debug Message: Killing rallypoints.
Debug Message: Killing misc objects.
Debug Message: Killing stars.
Debug Message: Killing anomalies.
Debug Message: Killing space resources.
Debug Message: Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message: killing scenario.
Debug Message: MissionWnd: Cannot find OBJID Campaign_MiniMap_Window
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: Num Anomalies: 7
Debug Message: CustomRaceWnd: Cannot find OBJID CustomRace_Description_Text
Debug Message: CustomRaceWnd: Cannot find OBJID CustomRace_Tab_Homeworld
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 50
Debug Message: Altarian Republic: Intellence -> 70
Debug Message: Creating Civs... Done
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Galaxy Create... Done
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Driver internal error
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Driver internal error
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.

Well, first off update the game to version 1.11 - the debug says you are on version 1.0.
Update your video drivers if you can, they are 3 years old.
And your audio drivers are 5 years old.

If you tried doing the auto-update from Stardock, try downloading the file to your hard drive and running it from there. I had trouble trying to auto-update mine, but running it locally worked fine.

Moose,
Thanks for the reply.
I did upgrade to 1.11
I can't get more current video or audio drivers out of dell and even though the video card is made by NVidia, it's in a dell laptop so generic NVidia drivers don't work. here's the last snippet from the current debug run.....
the "flipping" error just goes on forever

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: Loading custom map: ./Data/English/Campaigns\An Unexpected Visitor.gc2map (0 x 101603731)
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 7
Debug Message: CustomRaceWnd: Cannot find OBJID CustomRace_Description_Text
Debug Message: CustomRaceWnd: Cannot find OBJID CustomRace_Tab_Homeworld
Debug Message: Setting Game Options
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 42
Debug Message: Altarian Republic: Intellence -> 65
Debug Message: Creating Civs... Done
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Galaxy Create... Done
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 0
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Campaign Game Started: Dread Lords Campaign
Debug Message: StackedShipsWnd: Cannot find OBJID Stacked_Logistics_Value
Debug Message: StackedShipsWnd: Cannot find OBJID stacked_Fleet_More_Button
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Driver internal error
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Driver internal error
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Driver internal error
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Driver internal error
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Driver internal error

I don't know if it will help, but have you gone into your driver settings and changed things like triple buffering, setting things to application default, that sort of thing? Maybe even trying a lower resolution (both desktop and game, since they should match) to something like 1024x768?
That video chip might just be too old, too.