help please

Post your debug.err from your game directory. Just copy and paste it into your reply. You also might take a look at the sticky.

WWW Link

Here is my debug.err

Debug Message: Version v1.31 last updated on: Wed Sep 13 18:41:18 2006
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 10/11/2006, 18:25:08
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: YOUR-VW9B0GHCT7
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: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: PPPPPP-ABA MMMMM
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
Physical Memory: 512MB RAM
Page File: 199MB used, 1049MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce4 MX 440
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0171&SUBSYS_86801462&REV_A3
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.13.0010.2942
Driver Date: 5/3/2002 09:06:00
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_8086&DEV_24C5&SUBSYS_57901462&REV_01
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Provider: Avance Logic, Inc.
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.3900
Driver Date: 5/30/2002 19:21:00
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: 1280 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440
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\Michael\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Michael\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:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\./Data/English/Campaigns/Dread Lords Campaign.gc2campaign
*DEBUG ERROR: ***TutorialWnd: Unknown edit field Totorial_GridList_Entry type: CustomListEntry ***
Debug Message: TutorialWnd: Cannot find OBJID Totorial_All_Button
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Michael\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Dread Lords Campaign\*.sav
Debug Message: Error loading mission 16 from C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\./Data/English/Campaigns/Dread Lords Campaign.gc2campaign
Debug Message: Creating 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: Loading custom map: ./Data/English/Campaigns\An Unexpected Visitor.gc2map (0 x 170613151)
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 7
Debug Message: Setting Game Options
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Altarian Republic: Intellence -> 95
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: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled

please help

Your video driver is ancient but that's not your only problem. You can check to see if there's a later version but I doubt there's one that supports DirectX 9.0c. I see you do have DirectX 9.0c installed but that doesn't mean the video card supports it.

I had to buy a video card myself in order to play the game. I bought a BFG GeForce 5500. This is a pretty low end card but it was the only one I could find that supports the game and fits in a standard PCI slot. It's about $50 now with rebate. Of course there are many higher end cards that will work even better (higher frames per second) but they cost more and I'm not familiar with them and can make no recommendation. Be careful that the card says DirectX 9.0c I've seen some that say DirectX 9 compatible that wouldn't work with 9.0c.

As noted by mumblefratz, your video card does not meet the game's minimum requirements. Updating your video drivers may allow you to run it, but it won't be pretty and you're likely to have other issues as well.

If you choose to find a new video card, here are some links to help you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_NVIDIA_Graphics_Processing_Units
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_ATI_Graphics_Processing_Units

GC2 requires a card listed with DirectX 8 version support in order to work properly, and one with DX9 support to use all the graphic features it was designed for. Your current card, as you can see on the nvidia page linked above, only has DX7 support.