Galciv DA on Vista

I bought this game in Nov 2007. It kept freezing up and I came onto this site seeking help. I have spent about 30 hours trying to navigate through the forum to find out how to fix the problem. in this time I have-
-Downloaded the latest version which is now V1.8.
-Checked my Nvidia drivers which must be version 158.24 or higher. My version says 7.15.10.9759. Is this higher? I've no idea. Am I even looking in the right place?
-Logged onto Nvidia. They referred me to Toshiba.
-Toshiba said my drivers are up to date. The game kept freezing.
-Logged on to laptop2go. They said my Nvidia drivers are up to date.
-Downloaded every single update available.
-By now my computer stopped producing the debug.err file in the DA folder. It appears in the GC2 folder but I don't think it's the one relevant to DA. I think the DA folder is writable. I can certainly put documents in there.

I am attaching the debug file from the GC2 folder as it probably gives you some information.

It may be that my less than a year old laptop isn't up to it. I'd like to know as I will then stop bashing my head on this problem.

On last question. According to the posts on this forum, this problem with Vista has been known for over a year. Is there any possibility that a release will come out that is compatible with vista and that allows a schmuck like me to do something simple, like buy a game off the shelf because it looks good, take it home, install it and play it?



Debug Message: Version v1.5 last updated on: Thu Jan 11 13:39:19 2007
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 1/27/2008, 20:44:48
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
Machine Name: DAVIDHAND-PC
Operating System: Windows Vistaâ„¢ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6000) (6000.vista_gdr.071009-1548)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: TOSHIBA
System Model: Satellite A200
BIOS: BIOS Version 1.20
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5300 @ 1.73GHz (2 CPUs), ~1.7GHz
Physical Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 1216MB used, 3812MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce Go 7300
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01D7&SUBSYS_FF101179&REV_A1
Display Memory: 128 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll
Driver Version: 7.15.0010.9759
Driver Date: 1/13/2007 12:40:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0268&SUBSYS_1179FF10&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5371
Driver Date: 2/6/2007 21:44:14
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
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: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300
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: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 da7a64
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:\Users\David Hand\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\David Hand\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
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 C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
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 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: Galaxy Size Set: 18 x 18
Debug Message: Creating Random Map
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message: Number of Unplaced Stars: 112.
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Planets
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
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: Setting Game Options
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Terran Alliance: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Altarian Republic: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Arcean Empire: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Torian Confederation: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Yor Collective: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Creating Civs... Done
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Galaxy Create... Done
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 0
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
Debug Message: Destroying ship Drengin Empire Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Altarian Republic Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Arcean Empire Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Torian Confederation Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Altarian Republic (2): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Arcean Empire (3): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Torian Confederation (4): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Yor Collective (5): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: Akilians (11): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: Carinoids (12): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: Scottlingas (13): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: Jessuins (14): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: Paulos (15): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: Andians (16): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: Dark Yor (17): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: Pirates! (26): Researching: Galactic Warfare
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 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: Galaxy Size Set: 18 x 18
Debug Message: Creating Random Map
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message: Number of Unplaced Stars: 95.
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: Creating Random Map... Anomalies
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 300
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Resources
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Done
Debug Message: Setting Game Options
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Terran Alliance: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Altarian Republic: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Arcean Empire: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Torian Confederation: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Yor Collective: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Creating Civs... Done
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Galaxy Create... Done
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 0
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Game Started
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled
Debug Message: Destroying ship Drengin Empire Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Altarian Republic Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Torian Confederation Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Yor Collective Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: Altarian Republic (2): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Arcean Empire (3): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: Torian Confederation (4): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: Yor Collective (5): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Jessuins (14): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: Pirates! (26): Researching: Xeno Engineering
Debug Message: Destroying ship Arcean Empire Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Destroying ship Terran Alliance Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Yor Collective (5): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Altarian Republic (2): Researching: Planetary Improvements
Debug Message: Jessuins (14): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Starship Defenses
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Yearly Status Dialog
Debug Message: Yearly Status Dialog 0a
Debug Message: Deleting previous save game.
Debug Message: About to auto save.
Debug Message: Save Game: About to save
Debug Message: Saving game C:\Users\David Hand\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\AutoSave.sav
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 18
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\David Hand\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Saving: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: Finished auto save.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Arcean Empire (3): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Destroying ship Colony Ship 14. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Arcean Empire (3): Researching: Starship Defenses
Debug Message: Torian Confederation (4): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Jessuins (14): Researching: Starship Defenses
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Yor Collective (5): Researching: Starship Defenses
Debug Message: A* Path too long to calculate (29.546574). Aborting
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: AStarPathToTile: A* Path too long to calculate (26.832815). Aborting
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Planetary Improvements
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Torian Confederation (4): Researching: Starship Defenses
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Yearly Status Dialog
Debug Message: Yearly Status Dialog 8d
Debug Message: Deleting previous save game.
Debug Message: About to auto save.
Debug Message: Save Game: About to save
Debug Message: Saving game C:\Users\David Hand\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\AutoSave.sav
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 18
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\David Hand\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Saving: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: Finished auto save.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\David Hand\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Dread Lords Campaign\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\David Hand\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Logos\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\David Hand\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\David Hand\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Portraits\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\David Hand\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\David Hand\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\temp\*.sav
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Tried to enter unprintable character: 8
Debug Message: Save Game: About to save
Debug Message: Saving game C:\Users\David Hand\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Dave01.sav
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 18
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\David Hand\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Saving: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: OptionsWnd: Quit Btn
Debug Message: Posting WM_CLOSE message.
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: WorkAreaBack.png not cleared 1 counts left.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize end
Debug Message: Device not cleared. 4 counts left.
Debug Message: D3D not cleared. 1 counts left.
Debug Message: Destroying Window.
Debug Message: Main Shell terminating normally
1,388 views 2 replies
Reply #1 Top
Checked my Nvidia drivers which must be version 158.24 or higher. My version says 7.15.10.9759. Is this higher?
End of quote


They are not. The last five digits are the 'public' version number, so what you have now is 97.59 (dated Jan 13 of last year).

Your problem is most likely the buffering error present in nVidia Vista drivers prior to version 101.41, so you should just need to grab the latest (though anything newer than March of last year will do) Vista drivers from laptopvideo2go.com and install them.
Reply #2 Top
Thankyou. I followed the instructions on laptopvideo2go and succeeded in getting the game to rum. Don't know how I did it but what the hey.

Cheers