I have no idea whats going on.....

Please go to C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2 (or wherever you installed the game at), open the debug.err file you find there in notepad, and copy/paste the contents into a post here. This will give us some technical information that can help troubleshoot your problem.

Debug Message: Version v1.4x last updated on: Mon Oct 23 17:43:56 2006
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 12/15/2006, 17:13:05
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: USER-F186338B53
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: OptiPlex GX240
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1.80GHz
Physical Memory: 512MB RAM
Page File: 261MB used, 412MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: RAGE 128 PRO Ultra GL AGP (Microsoft Corporation)
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: RAGE128 PRO II, (AGP 4X/PCI)
DAC Type: Internal DAC (350Mhz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5446&SUBSYS_04091002&REV_00
Display Memory: 32.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor Name: Korea Data Systems Visual Sensations VS-195e
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvaa.dll
Driver Version: 6.13.0010.5019
Driver Date: 8/3/2004 23:56:42
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_2445&SUBSYS_010E1028&REV_12
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ac97intc.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.3523
Driver Date: 8/17/2001 11:20:04
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_NONE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): RAGE 128 PRO Ultra GL AGP (Microsoft Corporation)
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 75
Debug Message: Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message: *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message: Hardware does not support a color cursor.
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\Owner\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
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: Galaxy Size Set: 5 x 5
Debug Message: Creating Random Map
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message: Number of Unplaced Stars: 20.
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Planets
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Anomalies
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 59
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Resources
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Done
Debug Message: Setting Game Options
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Terran Alliance: Intellence -> 20
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 20
Debug Message: Altarian Republic: Intellence -> 20
Debug Message: Arcean Empire: Intellence -> 20
Debug Message: Torian Confederation: Intellence -> 20
Debug Message: Yor Collective: Intellence -> 20
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 Game Started
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled

Your graphics driver is 2 years old for one thing.

Your video drivers need updating, so do your audio drivers.

Also, your swap file is too small. You should increase it to at least 2GB.

alright thnx alot

Sorry, but your video card is just way too old. Drivers are not likely to help--the only solution is a new video card.

The ATI Rage series was designed for DirectX6 and does not even have Hardware T&L. The game requires at a bare minimum a DX7-class card to function at all (it won't be pretty but it will generally run), as that is the generation where Hardware T&L became standard. A DirectX 8 card is strongly recommended, and a DirectX9 card is what the game was designed for (a DX9 video card is stated on the minimum requirements on the bottom of the box).

Please see this page on the official wiki for more details about which video cards fall into which group, so you can determine what kind to purchase if you decide to upgrade.

Was that a Rage 128 I just saw?

Chip Type: RAGE128 PRO II, (AGP 4X/PCI)

Was that a Rage 128 I just saw?

Affirmative Ghost Raider... The Pattern is full.
Release on my mark and return to vector two-one-zero and await further instructions.

Shadow565, if it is any consolation, for at least a share of us reading these forums regularly, your question has helped identify the lower boundary of sub-spec graphics cards that can manage an adequate GCII game. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one around here who is grateful that "less old" video cards will do OK, but it never hurts to have details like this on record.

The card I use just now (some "old" NVIDIA thing, I forget the exact version even though it was "hot" when I bought it) is not much better than yours, but I can still get full functionality if I turn off all the graphical bells and whistles. If cash flow is a real concern for you (it often is for me), you might be able to do well with scrounging from a more prosperous friend (or EBay) for something close to minimum GCII specs.

Affirmative Ghost Raider... The Pattern is full. Release on my mark and return to vector two-one-zero and await further instructions

I vaguely sense a dance floor, anime, or both...