Game freezes at startup on a black screen

from GalCiv2 Forums
Game gose to black screen after launching game and never gets off the black screen only way to exit is to Alt ctrl del and bring up task manager and end task. Just bought the game today and have yet to be able to play it.

ebug Message: Version v1.2 last updated on: Mon Jun 12 18:04:26 2006
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 8/3/2006, 22:18:40
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: FIRST-BASE
Operating System: Windows 2000 Professional (5.0, Build 2195) Service Pack 4
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: GBT___
System Model: AWRDACPI
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: AMD Duron(tm) processor, ~1.3GHz
Physical Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 272MB used, 2189MB available
Windows Dir: H:\WINNT


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY2
Card Name: NVIDIA Dualview
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 6600
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\DISPLAY\nvWin2kDualView
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9131
Driver Date: 6/1/2006 17:22:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Avance AC97 Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_A0021458&REV_50
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Provider: Avance Logic, Inc.
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.4010
Driver Date: 9/16/2002 04:25:02
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: 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
2,114 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Try deleting your Prefs.ini file, located in your My Documents\Games\GalCiv2 folder.
That will force the game to create a default file when you next start the game.
Go into options and set what you need to, but make sure the video is set to 1024x768 and fullscreen. With the Nvidia card you should also make sure that the mouse cursor is set to 'hardware cursor'.

See if that helps.


If not, you may have a hardware problem or a software problem in the OS.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Nope still dont work this is the only game or program i have yet to run into problems running
Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY2
Card Name: NVIDIA Dualview

I wonder about the DISPLAY2 mentioned here.

In Windows display properties, do you have two monitors enabled?
The game may be trying to use the DISPLAY1 device.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I do have dual monitors but have it set to single monitor only
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Problem resolved found that in device manger that there were 8 default monitors and 2 pNP monitors removed all but 1 PNP and also noticed that Dual video was set at default not easy to find but after a reboot of changeign settings was finially able to get in the game thnaks for the help of leading me in the right direction.