BSOD

Dark Avatar expansion

from GalCiv2 Forums
Whenever I start a (new) game, GalCiv II immediately crashes with a BSOD (which has no text on it). I updated my graphics driver to the latest version and have the latest build of DA.

Debug Message: Version v1.80e Dark Avatar last updated on: Thu Nov 8 10:48:23 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 11/11/2007, 18:22:59
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: xxx
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_qfe.070227-2300)
Languages: German (Regional Setting: German)
System Manufacturer: IBM
System Model: 2668WU9
BIOS: Phoenix FirstBIOS(tm) Notebook Pro Version 2.0 for IBM ThinkPad
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 2.13GHz
Physical Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 472MB used, 3465MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: ATI MOBILITY FireGL V3200
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: ATI MOBILITY FireGL V3200 (0x3154)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_3154&SUBSYS_05701014&REV_80
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1600 x 1200 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Wide viewing angle & High density FlexView Display 1600x1200
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6698
Driver Date: 6/21/2007 16:26:36
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_266E&SUBSYS_05671014&REV_03
Manufacturer ID: 65535
Product ID: 65535
Driver Name: smwdm.sys
Provider: Analog Devices
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.5300
Driver Date: 2/10/2005 15:31:34
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Bluetooth-Audio
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: {95C7A0A0-3094-11D7-A202-00508B9D7D5A}\BTAUDIO
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: btaudio.sys
Provider: WIDCOMM Inc.
Driver Version: 3.00.0001.0917
Driver Date: 5/24/2005 21:59:46
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_2_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1280 x 1024, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 2
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): ATI MOBILITY FireGL V3200
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 C:\Programme\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Gfx\Tutorials\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\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:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\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:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Katharina Zierl\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Programme\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2./Data/English/Tutorials/*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Tutorials/*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\CustomMaps\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Dark Avatar\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\SandboxGames\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\temp\*.sav
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: Loading Custom Map
Debug Message: Loading Data Defs
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: Loading TechDefs
Debug Message: Max num techs: 273
Debug Message: Loading ImprovementDB
Debug Message: Loading Component Defs
Debug Message: Loading ShipTypes
Debug Message: Loading ShipTemplates
Debug Message: Loading ParsedHardpoints
Debug Message: Loading AnomalyTypes
Debug Message: Loading RandomEvents
Debug Message: Loading UPIssues
Debug Message: Loading ResourceTypes
Debug Message: Loading InvasionTactics
Debug Message: Loading SBmodules
Debug Message: Loading PoliticalParties
Debug Message: Loading Planet Types
Debug Message: Loading Star Types
Debug Message: Loading AFMBModules
Debug Message: Loading ShipStyles
Debug Message: Loading Game
Debug Message: Loading: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Loading Galaxy
Debug Message: Sectors across: 18 x 18
Debug Message: Loading FOW Map
Debug Message: Loading ZOC Map
Debug Message: Loading Planets
Debug Message: Loading Stars
Debug Message: Loading Anomalies
Debug Message: Loading Resources
Debug Message: Loading AsteroidFields
Debug Message: Loading AFMiningBases
Debug Message: Loading Civs
Debug Message: Loading Colonies
Debug Message: Loading RallyPoints
Debug Message: Loading Ships
Debug Message: Loading Fleets
Debug Message: Loading Turn Event Log
Debug Message: Loading Treaties
Debug Message: Loading ENDGALAXYDATA
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 9
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Game Started
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled
Debug Message: EconomicWnd: Cannot find OBJID Template_Button_Back


------
Note: Recently, I completely reformatted my laptop. Before that purge, I had GalCiv 2 installed and it worken without any errors/crashes whatsoever.

I hope someone can help me, because I'd really like to play DA
5,803 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, a BSOD would indicate a driver or hardware issue--if it worked fine before the reformat, then that removes most potential for a hardware problem. If you installed all the very latest drivers, it could be one has an issue, and you may need to try slightly older ones. Or vice-versa if you didn't use the very latest. You may also be able to check the event log in Control Panel->Administrative Tools and see if there are any logged errors from the time of the crash.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks for your reply! I've tried several drivers (older ones and the latest). I get this issue on every single one of them... Quite frankly, I do not know what might cause this at every pc game I play.
Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Quite frankly, I do not know what might cause this at every pc game I play.
End of quote


In that case, it's sounds definitely like a driver issue. Since it is a laptop, are you sure you installed all the special drivers it might need? Especially video and sound are often different to the ones for normal desktop computers - or you could check for some advanced power management options that are different now.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Especially video and sound are often different to the ones for normal desktop computers - or you could check for some advanced power management options that are different now.
End of quote


I've always installed the drivers from the manufacturer's site. There are all the drivers for my machine model. And so far I've never had any problems whatsoever with them.

Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Emm, you didn't install IBM's drivers for your video card right, i mean you went to ATi's website and used their latest version? If you didn't, you need to chuck those IBM drivers and grab the ones from ATi, and make sure you've updated DirectX as well.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Emm, you didn't install IBM's drivers for your video card right, i mean you went to ATi's website and used their latest version? If you didn't, you need to chuck those IBM drivers and grab the ones from ATi, and make sure you've updated DirectX as well.
End of quote

It's the same driver.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
"Quite frankly, I do not know what might cause this at every pc game I play."



If it with every PC game you play (as vs. only GalCiv), then it might be an overheating issue.

Try playing on battery power only, as the CPU is usually throttled down - and so, less heat is generated.

I have run across this before, that the laptop operates well under battery power but crashes under AC power - simply because the CPU is generating more heat because of the higher speed it operates at while under AC.

This game stresses the CPU and video chips to a great extent. As such, running at full power may cause an overheating condition in a laptop (which are very low on cooling capacity by their very nature). That condition will ultimately lead to a BSOD.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

"Quite frankly, I do not know what might cause this at every pc game I play."



If it with every PC game you play (as vs. only GalCiv), then it might be an overheating issue.

Try playing on battery power only, as the CPU is usually throttled down - and so, less heat is generated.

I have run across this before, that the laptop operates well under battery power but crashes under AC power - simply because the CPU is generating more heat because of the higher speed it operates at while under AC.

This game stresses the CPU and video chips to a great extent. As such, running at full power may cause an overheating condition in a laptop (which are very low on cooling capacity by their very nature). That condition will ultimately lead to a BSOD.
End of quote

As I wrote in my initial post, there was a time when I could play every game without incidents. The power supply itself is okay, I checked it. I can't imagine that it's a hardware issue, since all games worked perfectly only months before now.


EDIT: Btw, I archived Dreadlords and DA yesterday and deinstalled both. Then I reinstalled Dreadlords. Once I open Stardock Central, the folders (turorial, multimedia etc) do not seem to be installed, but if I try to open the archived turoial etc folders, then nothing happens. Are these folders installed, or what??
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Are they not installed in their entirety, or are there updates that are not installed?

If you installed from the cd's, there should only be updates that might need installing.

Re-installing from the original cd's is the way to go (if you have it on cd), then update from there.
Because, if the archived copy was bad the re-install from that archive will also be bad.


Your case is perplexing. It could be a case of hardware going south at the same time as the reformat.

Why did you reformat the laptop in the first place?
Were things beginning to not work correctly in a general sense?
If so, the hardware could have been going bad before the reformat - but the reformat would not have corrected the issue in that case. In which case, the problems now could just be an extension of that earlier hardware failure.

Such a condition may be indicated by your mention of everything working correctly before (by as much as several months), but that now all of your games are not working correctly.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The thing with the installation is, when I click on the install button in SD Central, it wants to download the folders from the internet. But I already have them archived and I cannot direct SD Central to use the archived folders for installation.

-----

I reformatted my HD a month ago or so. It all started with Caesar IV and Shivering Isles, the Oblviion expansion. After I had bought Shivering Isles and installed it, the blues screens started to appear every two minutes or so. I tried to resolve that, but nothing worked. At that point every game I played, even the ones which had no issues whatsoever before (like GalCiv) started to go wrong. Then I remembered that when I bought the laptop, the two major games which I played back then (it was AoE III and Ob without the expansion) worked fine, I never had to update any drivers.
So, the only other solution was to reformat the disc.

After the reformat I never tested AoE II again, so I don't know about that game. However, I installed Ob plus expansion and the blue screens continued to appear. I then updated every piece of hardware I had and after updating BIOS the screens only appeared every 15 minutes or so while playing Ob.
Recently I decided to buy Dark Avatar (I have both Dread Lords and DA as electronic versions). I installed Dread Lords and DA and didn't expect them to make any problems. But, the blue screens appears after a few minutes of gameplay ever since.
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Have you tried playing the games under (strictly) battery power, as I mentioned?

Since it seems to be a general problem with many games - not just GalCiv2 - you should be looking more for a hardware issue than a software issue.

Personally, I would be checking for a faulty fan or chipset. Because, it seems more a time based issue, than an incident based issue.

Time=heat.
Incidence=bug.

To me it seems - you have a hardware problem, and not a problem with this particular game.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hm, I'll try running it on battery power, when I get back from University.

How can I check whether the chipset is faulty?
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The thing with the installation is, when I click on the install button in SD Central, it wants to download the folders from the internet. But I already have them archived and I cannot direct SD Central to use the archived folders for installation.
End of quote


Clicking the Install button will download it. If you have an archive, try right clicking it and choosing Restore Archive instead.
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Clicking the Install button will download it. If you have an archive, try right clicking it and choosing Restore Archive instead.
End of quote

Gee, I could have thought of that. Many thanks

Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
UPDATE: When I play on battery power, both Dread Lords and Dark Avatar work fine. Yay! Thanks for the idea, I'd never have thought of that. Now I just have to figure out how to make it run with the adapter..