Game crahes upon startup

from GalCiv2 Forums
Iv been playing GCII loads recently and not had a single problem or glitch with it.... until now! Im don't know what could have triggered it but sometime soon after I updated the game it now refuses to load at all. Half the screen goes black and it just sits there doing nothing until I have to alt ctrl del it. Ive tried everything, updated graphics drivers, made sure game is fully updated, even tried system restores but nothing! The debug.err file is as follows: Debug Message: Version v1.3 beta 2a last updated on: Tue Aug 8 16:18:51 2006
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 8/14/2006, 11:45:22
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: BECCA
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: MSI
System Model: MS-6702
BIOS: Version 07.00T
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.0GHz
Physical Memory: 512MB RAM
Page File: 234MB used, 1011MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 6800
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 6800
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0041&SUBSYS_080010B0&REV_A1
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
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: Realtek AC97 Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_00801462&REV_60
Manufacturer ID: 65535
Product ID: 65535
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5620
Driver Date: 6/21/2004 09:53:20
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 I seem to remember that the last time i couold play the game, on exiting my desktop was stuck on the in-game resolution, not the usual one. This is the first time this has happened. If anyone can offer any suggestions I'd be very grateful.
4,770 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It looks like it is having problems with your video settings.
Perhaps you changed monitors?

Try editing the Prefs.ini file - located in your My Documents\Games\GalCiv2 folder - and set the game resolution to your desktop resolution of 1440 x 900.

Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Excellant! Just tried that and its works, problem solved, though dont know how that could have gone screwy. Anyways many thanks, much appreciated!
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Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
crashes upon start up 2 and ive tied yours moosetek13 and it dnt work help plz
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Midgetben, please post your own debug.err so we can analyze it and help troubleshoot your problem. The file Debug.err is located in C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2; jsut open it up in notepad and copy/paste the whole thing to a post here.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I all am also having this problem. I can't find the Prefs.ini file and my resolution goes as high as 1280x1024. Also, it's in 32 bit color.

Debug Message: Version v1.2 last updated on: Mon Jun 12 18:04:26 2006
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 8/20/2006, 21:14:50
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: YOUR-55E5F9E3D2
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: HP Pavilion 061
System Model: PY030AA-ABA A1133W
BIOS: BIOS Date: 04/29/05 17:55:16 Ver: 08.00.10
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 2936MB RAM
Page File: 505MB used, 3794MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce FX 5500
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0326&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: HP vs17 flat panel monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.8443
Driver Date: 4/5/2006 17:03:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes

Display device 2:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY2
Card Name: Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip Type: Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Controller
DAC Type: Internal
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2582&SUBSYS_2A08103C&REV_04
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.3971
Driver Date: 12/1/2004 14:19:28
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I all am also having this problem. I can't find the Prefs.ini file and my resolution goes as high as 1280x1024. Also, it's in 32 bit color.


Is that all of your Debug.err? There should at least be a few more lines than that from the game attempting to initialize, and they would be helpful to post if they were in there.


Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It works now. I downloaded the latest update and my problems went away. Thank for trying to help.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

It works now. I downloaded the latest update and my problems went away. Thank for trying to help.

BTW, you have 2 displays enabled. Posting more lines of the debug.err would have explained which display was used. My guess is the second display with the drivers from 2004 And I don't think you want to play with the intel graphic card given the memory and resolution of your nvidia card.