Insta-crash from start...help!

Video card of doom!

from GalCiv2 Forums
I recently upgraded my video card from a POS ATI Radeon x350XE, on which GalCiv2 ran fine, to a much more competitive nVidia GeForce 7600GS. Now, the game freezes when I try to launch it!

The first thing I did was install the latest drivers, but that did not help.

I read the sticky mentioning this very problem and changed my color bit depth to 32. I run in 1920x1200 resolution. This didn't fix my problem either.

Maybe one of you techno gurus can find something that I can't. I've posted my error log below:

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: 1/5/2007, 19:57:55
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: DEMESNE
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: GATEWA
System Model: D915GAG_
BIOS: BIOS Date: 07/22/04 17:17:29 Ver: 08.00.10
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 2942MB RAM
Page File: 223MB used, 6659MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 7600 GS
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0392&SUBSYS_033C196E&REV_A1
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Dell 2407WFP (Digital)
Monitor Max Resolution: 1920,1200
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: SB Audigy 2 Audio [B400]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_10021102&REV_04
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1196
Driver Date: 8/11/2006 14:45:38
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Realtek HD Audio rear output
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0880&SUBSYS_08600000&REV_0900
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5319
Driver Date: 11/3/2006 09:32:30
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: 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

Any help would be much appreciated. I simply have to have the game working before the expansion comes out

~Darkling
1,338 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Did you remove your ATI drivers before installing the new card and its drivers? If not, try using Driver Cleaner Pro. Follow the directions very carefully to totally remove your video drivers (both the ATI and nVidia drivers as well, in case something screwed up with their installation), then reinstall cleanly from nVidia's latest available version.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks for responding, kyro.

I had uninstalled all ATI drivers and CATALYST before installing nVidia drivers, but, to be safe, I uninstalled all drivers and cleaned house with Driver Cleaner Pro, then re-installed nVidia's newest drivers. Unfortunately, it didn't work

The debug file says the exact same thing, so I won't bother posting it twice. Is there anything else that could be the problem?

~Darkling
WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Next, try deleting the file prefs.ini located at My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2 (this will reset everything to the default settings). If that doesn't work, try forcing the game into windowed mode by editing the prefs.ini file (the game will have recreated it) and changing the line fullscreen=1 to fullscreen=0.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
That worked! Deleting the prefs file fixed everything.

Thanks so much for your help!

~Darkling