Constant Hardlocking with Artifacts < 5 mins in game.

from GalCiv2 Forums
After starting up GC2 (Dark Avatar, haven't tried the original) I've always crashed within 5 mins. Even if I'm editing a race it's happened. It's even happened in the demo of GC2, so I'm really not sure what the problem is. I've already installed the dual core optimizer, I'm running at a high resolution, 32 bit color, and I have 165.01 nVidia drivers (also tried 163.71 and 86.63 drivers) and my video card reaches a max of 62C while running GC2.

Just recently dusted out my comp and right now I have the side off and a large box fan blowing on everything so I doubt overheating is the problem. Though I do live in Arizona and it gets pretty hot here.

And here's my debug.err:
Debug Message: Version v1.7 Dark Avatar beta 4 last updated on: Wed Oct 10 16:02:13 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 10/13/2007, 17:01:11
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: KYLE
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: NVIDIA
System Model: AWRDACPI
BIOS: )Phoenix - Award WorkstationBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4400+, MMX, 3DNow (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
Physical Memory: 2048MB RAM
Page File: 512MB used, 2405MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 7900 GS
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0292&SUBSYS_22181682&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: BenQ FP241W (Digital)
Monitor Max Resolution: 1920,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0011.6501
Driver Date: 4/16/2007 10:36:22
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB X-Fi Audio [AC00]
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_00211102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1201
Driver Date: 6/18/2007 03:01:28
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: NVIDIA(R) nForce(TM) Audio
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: NFORCE_VAD
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: nvapu.sys
Provider: NVIDIA Corporation
Driver Version: 6.14.0465.0000
Driver Date: 7/26/2005 07:01:56
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 hardware vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 60
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: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 369e99
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Eidi\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Eidi\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Eidi\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Eidi\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Event Music\*.mp3
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: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Eidi\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Eidi\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Eidi\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Eidi\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Tutorials/*.xml
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: D3DERR_DEVICELOST
Debug Message: Device lost
Debug Message: Attempting to reset device.
Debug Message: GalaxyWnd: Cannot find OBJID Scenaro_MoreDetails_FText
Debug Message: GalaxyWnd: Cannot find OBJID Scenaro_Details_FormattedText
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 ./Data/English/Scenarios/*.GC2Scenario
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Title
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Disctiption_Spinner_Back
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Disctiption_Title
Debug Error: CustomShipStyleWnd: Unknown edit field ShipList_List_Entry type: CustomListEntry
Debug Error: CustomShipStyleWnd: Unknown edit field ShipList_Avalible_List_Entry type: CustomListEntry
Debug Message: WARNING: GetShipStylePrefix called for civ and civ has no ship style
Debug Message: LoadHardpointsFromPrefsFile failed to load ship config file: ./Data/ShipCfg/\(null)_ColonyShip.shipcfg
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 asteroid fields.
Debug Message: Killing asteroid field mining bases.
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: Star Frequency: 4 Max Num Stars: 300
Debug Message: Planet Frequency: 3 Max Num Planets: 960
Debug Message: Galaxy Size Set: 18 x 18
Debug Message: Creating Random Map
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message: Star Density: Tight Clusters.
Debug Message: Number of Unplaced Stars: 113.
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Planets
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: Total planets placed: 65
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Anomalies
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 300
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Resources
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Done
Debug Message: Distributing bonuses on planets...
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Asteroid Fields
Debug Message: Setting Game Options
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Terran Alliance: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Altarian Resistance: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Arcean Empire: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Torian Confederation: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Eidios: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Creating Civs... Done
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Creating ships...
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Galaxy Create... Done
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 5
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Game Started
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: StarportWnd: Cannot find OBJID StarPort_Planet_Logo_Image
2,331 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Bleh, just realized that the debug.err I posted was from the original and not Dark Avatar. But it seems to only be made when I play the original, if I exit normally from it it gets made, but it doesn't get made, not even in the DarkAvatar folder if I start up DA and exit right away. No clue why.

Edit: Disregard this message, I didn't know that edit was under tools up on the original post above when I was making this.
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Try it a few times and check the debug.err after each attempt--does it end with the same line each time?
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
None of'em crashed with the same line and I tried 6 different times. In fact, none even have that line anywhere in the file at all, which I found weird.

I did do some experimenting though and found out that size of the map is probably the biggest, if not the only factor in what's causing it to crash, and the largest size I pick when I go to the race screen is what causes games to crash faster. Say if I pick Gigantic, go to the pick race screen, then go in game it crashed within 1-2 minutes.

Then I picked Gigantic, went to the race screen, went back to pick the map size and chose medium, crashed within 1-2 minutes, and the next time I tried the same thing it crashed in less than 5, and if I picked medium right away, it lasted 15+ minutes before crashing.

The last 4 crashes I did were all on either rare or uncommon for most map options, to help rule out too many planets/stars causing crashes.

And the last lines from the debug.err files:

Map size medium (all options random):
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.

Gigantic (all options random):
Debug Message: EconomicWnd: Cannot find OBJID Template_Button_Back

Gigantic (all options either rare or uncommon):
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled

Medium/Gigantic (all options rare/uncommon):
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled

Medium (options rare/uncommon):
Debug Message: Eval

Medium/Gigantic (options rare/uncommon):
Debug Message: Eval


And with that, I'm going to go backup my current build and update to the latest version of GC2/DA.

Edit: Still crashes.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

How much hard drive space do you have left on the drive where GalCiv2/DA is installed? It would be swapping memory in and out of RAM and VRAM, so if your remaining hard drive space is smaller than the allowed virtual memory size, that could explain why it crashes faster with larger galaxies.

Also, is the base version of GalCiv2 updated to the most current version? If GalCiv2: Dread Lords is not at least version 1.5, you could be missing files.

 

Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Here's a thought....

Perhaps you just have bad memory in your computer? I would run a memory tester (like the one built into the Gentoo Linux install CD or the Windows Vista install CD or any number of other Linux install CDs that include a memory tester). If that comes up clean, try removing one of the sticks of memory (if your motherboard supports it) and try the game again. Then try the other stick of memory, etc. Go through each of the sticks you have and test them each individually to see if it stops crashing. If all that checks out OK, try to find a program that will test each sector of your hard drive for errors. PC Check is a good program for doing that. As is Microscope. Incidentally, both also include memory checking capabilities. They also can test out most of the other hardware in your box to see if there are problems. If the hard drive tests clean, maybe try defragmenting it. Also try running Ad-Aware and/or Spy-bot and maybe one of those online free virus scans. If those all come up clean, try reinstalling your graphics drivers or entirely reinstalling the game (uninstall, delete any left over folders [including the My Games folder], the reinstall). Also, you might try removing hardware acceleration on your sound card and try reinstalling your sound card drivers.

Obviously, try the game again after each action to identify / correct a problem to see if it fixed the issue. If you still have problems after all of that, let us know.