Startup = black screen, sound and cursor

from GalCiv2 Forums
ok... maybe someone can help me out here... I have been through most of the posts and can't find anything quite the same. I installed the game just fine. When I go to play it, the screen goes full black, except for the cursor, which I can still move around. And I can here all the audio just fine... It's just that all I get is a black screen. I have updated to the latest version of GC2 and updated all the drivers I could update.... still no luck. Been working on it 3 hours now... I wish this was a console game....

Debug Message: Version v1.2 last updated on: Mon Jun 12 18:04:26 2006
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 7/5/2006, 22:42:58
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: HELL-MACHINE
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (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: Dimension 2400
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A05
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.20GHz
Physical Memory: 510MB RAM
Page File: 258MB used, 986MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce4 MX 4000
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0185&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_C1
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Dell E773c
Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9131
Driver Date: 6/1/2006 17:22:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes

Display device 2:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY2
Card Name: Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip Type: Intel(R) 82845G Graphics Controller
DAC Type: Internal
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2562&SUBSYS_01601028&REV_01
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4342
Driver Date: 6/21/2005 17:04:48
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24C5&SUBSYS_01601028&REV_01
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: smwdm.sys
Provider: Analog Devices
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3555
Driver Date: 2/28/2003 07:17:18
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Modem #0 Line Playback (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID:
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 81
Driver Name:
Provider:
Driver Version:
Driver Date:
Type: Emulated
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Modem #1 Line Playback (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID:
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 81
Driver Name:
Provider:
Driver Version:
Driver Date:
Type: Emulated
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_NONE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 75
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: No string tables in C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default/Data/*.str
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Gfx\*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Gfx\Race\*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Event Music\*.mp3
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: * Collectors Edition *
Debug Message: Set mouse.
Debug Message: Set update timer.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\*.xml
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Techs\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\ShipComponents\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\ShipDefs\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Haze\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\PlanetImprovements\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\TerrainColorSchemes\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\PlanetDescriptions\*.xml
*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:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Anomalies\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Events\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\UPIssues\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Invasions\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\PoliticalParties\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\StarTypes\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\StarbaseModules\*.xml
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize start
Debug Message: Killing Galaxy
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: Clearing Turn Event Log
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: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing Galaxy: Completed
Debug Message: GameUninitialize end
Debug Message: Device not cleared. 1 counts left.
Debug Message: D3D not cleared. 1 counts left.
Debug Message: Destroying Window.
Debug Message: Main Shell terminating normally
10,292 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well... wasn't that fun... I tried increasing my virtual memory from 1.2gig to 2gig... and now when I run the game, same black screen, same movable cursor... and now NO sound at all.... ain't that a peach.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I've ahd the same problem, but not at startup, but in the midddle of a game. Then a message comes up saying
"GalCiv2 has encountered a problem and needs to close"
My video drivers are also up to date.
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The problem appears to be that you have your monitor connected to the Geforce card, but you still have the motherboard graphics chip enabled. It is the mb video that the game is using.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller

Disable the onboard video in the motherboard BIOS and you should be up and running.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Also try updating your sound card drivers, it may not seem obvious at first, but many times the sound card can cause problems. I did a quick search on your sound card and found various drivers that appeared for download after 2003, so depending on your exact model there are updated ones out there. You never know though, doing what moosetek13 said could very well fix it too.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I dont know if this will help but... I had the same black screen when my desktop display was 16bit, so I changed the color to 32bit and then the game work. I hope this helps.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
His bit depth is already at 32-bit. Read the debug.
You guys give advise simply off the top of your head or something, without even reading the debug first? Learn what to look for. He has two display devices, one a card and one on the motherboard. It is a good bet that he has his monitor connected to the card, which he added in himself to get better performance. But in the process he forgot to disable the motherboard video, and as the debug shows, it is that chip that the game is using.

Stop giving half baked ideas, it is a waste of everyone's time.


Desert Pirate, one step at a time. Let's get the video working, then deal with the sound problem if it still exists.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Yes Moosetek, you are absolutely correct about what I did. My computer came with an intigrated video driver, and I added the other card myself to get better performance; and now I see I did indeed forget to disable the integrated video. (is it really forgeting if you didn't know you were suppose to do it, hah). Unfortunately I am still stuck at work for another 2 hours but as soon as I get home I'll be implimenting your ideas and will report how it turns out.

Everyone else - thanks for the helpfull spirit, the effort and good intentions were there, even if Moose did bust yer chops a bit. lol.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Moosetek12, I really don't appreciate you putting down my knowledge of computers. It is commonly known that old audio (and sometimes new) drivers can cause program crippling conflicts with the video card.

I did read the debug.err, that's how I knew that the audio drivers were from 2003, and upon a quick search I found numerous updates depending on the exact model of this SoundMAX Digital Audio (see I really did read the debug.err), plus, it's a dell, so there dell site will have updated drivers for it.

My previous post used the word "Also" before my suggestion, meaning "in addition to" the stuff that you said, not "instead of"

The best thing to do is work together, not put down others because their suggestion may not seem like the correct course of action, or because someone who had a similar problem elaborated on what he did.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sorry for the put down, flayed_one. You're right that the wrong audio drivers can cause problems. My apologies for my post.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Yes yes yes! Moosetek, that was exactly the issue. Game works fine now. Thank you so much for your help; your my new hero!
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Cool. You can now go kick some Drengin butt.