Need help

Double click GC II Icon and get a blank (black Screen)

from GalCiv2 Forums
Hi, I haven't played for a while (the new addon has sparked some interst), anyway I tried to start Dread Lords and got a blank screen. I then updated my Video Driver (no help) and reinstalled Patch 140X_102606 (no help).

I used to play this game with no problem. Only other thing since last time (6 month ago) was I bought a new Viewsonic flat screen and quit the CRT (can't believe this would make a diff).

I guess I could spend the rest of the day searching the web site for an answer, but posting the question seems to be more effective (if the right person sees it).

Thanks,

DF1

12,887 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Bump to main screen for maximum viewing (I want to play soon)

DF1
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
More info: Video Driver was 93.71_Forceware

DF1
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
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.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
OK, here it is... but I'm not sure it is even booting...


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: 2/4/2007, 12:02:12
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: DFROSTY1
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: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Model: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
BIOS: BIOS Date: 10/01/04 17:30:19 Ver: 08.00.09
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 201MB used, 1492MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce FX 5700
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0342&SUBSYS_814F1043&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
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: Emu10Kx Audio [DF80]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0002&SUBSYS_80661102&REV_0A
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0296
Driver Date: 9/18/2003 20:47:22
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Modem #0 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: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
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


Thanks,

DF1
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Try opening the file prefs.ini located in My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2, and changing the line

Fullscreen=1

to

Fullscreen=0

Then save and start the game.

If that does not work, post the resulting debug.err.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
OK, That worked (must have been the widescreen I bought) BUT...

I get to the title screen and none of the Gray buttons on the right side work (it is like the mouse is disabled).

1 Debug coming up (from the launch I just made)...

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: 2/4/2007, 12:29:52
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: DFROSTY1
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: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Model: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
BIOS: BIOS Date: 10/01/04 17:30:19 Ver: 08.00.09
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 203MB used, 1490MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce FX 5700
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0342&SUBSYS_814F1043&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
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: Emu10Kx Audio [DF80]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0002&SUBSYS_80661102&REV_0A
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0296
Driver Date: 9/18/2003 20:47:22
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Modem #0 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: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 768
Debug Message: Running in windowed mode.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_IMMEDIATE
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: Border size reported as 6 by 25
Debug Message: RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message: Now windowed.
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 bf2bd1c0
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: * Collectors Edition *
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\Dave\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dave\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize start
Debug Message: Killing 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: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing Galaxy: Completed
Debug Message: Shutting down sound system.
Debug Message: Clearing sound and music handles.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize end
Debug Message: Device not cleared. 1 counts left.
Debug Message: D3D not cleared. 1 counts left.
Debug Message: Destroying Window.
Debug Message: Main Shell terminating normally
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The mouse works because the curser moves around the screen, but when trying to click a gray button, nothing happens.

DF1
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The game is trying to run in 1280x768, while your desktop is set to 1024x768. Set both of them to your LCD's natural resolution, and it should work properly (You can manually set the game's resolution in prefs.ini, on the lines DisplayWidth and DisplayHeight).
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
hmmm, this poses an interesting situation... Since I don't mess with the settings, I assume my LCD is running in it's "natural resolution", but the bottom line is:

(Need your opinion), Should I change the LCD to match GCII or Change GC II to match my LCD's Res. I want all my programs to work. Perhaps I am not using Monitor/video card to optimum settings? (don't want to icon too small, I'm not a spring chicken anymore).

Which would you choose?

DF1
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
BTW, of course you were correct... I switched the res to 1280 X 960 and the buttons worked. Unfortuately I had to have my son find the GC Icon for me to click, jk, but things were pretty small.

DF1
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I use 1920x1200 for both desktop and GCII and it works fine.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
LOL... 1920x1200 is not even an option for me (besides I'll never see em).

DF1
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Kryo, thanks for the help. You solved my problem(s). I changed the game res to match my LCD and even started a game (played till I went broke).

You have just sold another copy of DA, not because it is a great game (won't know that till I play). but because of the quick (and accurate) help I got from you.


Thanks again,

DF1