Black Screen

from GalCiv2 Forums
After upgrading the video driver I now have a black screen. Prior to the video driver upgrade I was able to enter the tutorial but now get nothing!

Thanks in advance.

From the debug.err file:
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: 12/26/2006, 13:15:32
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: VDWDELL
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 8200
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1.70GHz
Physical Memory: 768MB RAM
Page File: 323MB used, 1149MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce2 MX/MX 400
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0110&SUBSYS_010F10DE&REV_B2
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Gateway VX700
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9371
Driver Date: 10/22/2006 12:22:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Santa Cruz(tm)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: TURTLE_BEACH\SANTA_CRUZ_WDM_INTERFACE
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: tbcwdm.sys
Provider: Voyetra Turtle Beach
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.4112
Driver Date: 8/29/2001 16:19:44
Type: WDM
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: Multisample Type chosen in prefs not supported. Disabling multisampling.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
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
1,138 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Try deleting the file prefs.ini located in My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2. This will reset the game to stock settings. If it still does not run, check back here again.

Note that while the game should function with your video card, it is well below the minimum requirements and the game will be both slow and ugly.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Deleting the prefs.ini file had no effect. I still get the black screen.
SoundPackager - Customize the Windows sound scheme
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Did you uninstall the old drivers before installing the new ones?

If not, run the uninstall for the video drivers from Add/Remove Programs, reboot, cancel the Hardware Found dialog, and then run Setup.exe for the new drivers.

Installing new drivers over the top of old ones can cause unexpected problems.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I did install the new driver over the old ones. I have unistalled and reinstalled and am still having the same issue. Still getting the following error:

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: Multisample Type chosen in prefs not supported. Disabling multisampling.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
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
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It seems to be a video problem, but your audio drivers are very old as well. So I wonder if that has anything to do with the problem.

You can go here for more recent drivers:
WWW Link

The file you want is sc_4193.exe, which are drivers dated 6-27-2003.
They are still old, but they are the latest available and a couple years newer than your current drivers.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Try editing the prefs.ini file this time rather than deleting it--find the line that says fullscreen=1 and change it to fullscreen=0, then save and try to run the game.