Crash at start

from GalCiv2 Forums
Hi, I have installed GalCiv 2 today and it crashes just seconds after the mouse pointer appears, this is the debug.err:

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Debug Message: Version v1.0 last updated on: Sat Feb 4 16:26:34 2006
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 1/7/2007, 22:46:26
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: PC1
Operating System: Windows 98 (4.10, Build 1998)
Languages: Spanish - International Sort (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: n/a
System Model: n/a
BIOS: n/a
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2000+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.7GHz
Physical Memory: 512MB RAM
Page File: 41MB used, 1494MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\Display1\U0
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type:
DAC Type:
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0110&SUBSYS_85231462&REV_B2\000800
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit)(85Hz)
Monitor Name: Monitor Plug and Play
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nvdisp.drv
Driver Version: 4.14.0010.8198
Driver Date: 12/10/2005 03:06:00
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_A0021458&REV_40\BUS_00&DEV_11&FUNC_05
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5940
Driver Date: 10/4/2005 17:39:58
Type: WDM
Other Drivers: ALCXWDM.SYS
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. Forcing a supported type.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONMASKABLE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 0
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 1234dc
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: Failed to startup Miles Sound System.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
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I have downloaded the Miles Sound System demos and sound tools and the free Bink Tools but it keeps crashing in the same way.

I'm using Windows 98, maybe that's the problem :S

Thanks for the help!!!
916 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Try updating to the latest patch, 1.4x. It is available on the downloads page of this site.

In your My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2 folder, there is a prefs.ini file. You can change the video settings manually there if you are unable to get into the game still. In particular:

- Set Multisample=0 to disable anti-aliasing.

- Set HardwareMouseCursor=1.

- If your crashing is occurring after the intro, try setting SkipIntro=1.

- Add these lines under the video heading:
NoPointSprites=1
GfxForceNoPointSprites=1

Unfortunately nVidia has discontinued driver support for Windows 9x, and it looks like you have the last driver they made for it already. Normally I'd say to update your drivers, so that idea is out. Note that you do have a card that is about as far below the minimum requirements as you can get and still run the game (ugly, but playable, if it's not a slideshow), but that may not be guaranteed with the older drivers that are available for 98.

As far as Miles goes, it shouldn't be causing the game to fail--even if the Miles files are missing entirely from the game's folder, the worst that will happen is that you won't get music, AFAIK.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I have updated the game to 1.4x but it keeps crashing in the same way, the debug.err says the same as before.

The other problem I have is that the games has not created any prefs.ini, it seems that it crashes before that so I can't edit it.
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ooops, forget my last post, I didn't see that prefs.ini was at My Documents folder, I was looking in the wrong folder.

Let's see if editing it works, thanks for the help.