Please, Help !!!

Please open your debug.err file in notepad, and copy/paste the contents into a post here. This will give us some technical information that can help troubleshoot your problem. The location you'll find the debug.err in varies depending on your game version:

Dread Lords, all versions:
C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2

Dark Avatar 1.5-1.6 (non-Vista):
C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar

Dark Avatar 1.6+(Windows Vista), 1.7+(non-Vista):
My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar

Twilight of the Arnor:
My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor

Be sure to copy the debug immediately after the error occurs; if you start the game again, the debug will be erased and recreated for the new session.

Debug Message: Version v1.5 last updated on: Thu Jan 11 13:39:19 2007
Debug Message: Can't find TGN or GalCiv2 serial number.
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 10/2/2007, 23:11:52
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
Machine Name: PETER-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6000) (6000.vista_rtm.061101-2205)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: TOSHIBA
System Model: Satellite P100
BIOS: PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.1
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @ 2.00GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.0GHz
Physical Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 711MB used, 3600MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce Go 7600
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0398&SUBSYS_FF311179&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256 MB
Current Display Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (59Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll
Driver Version: 7.15.0010.9748
Driver Date: 12/10/2006 16:47:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Internal Speaker/Headphone (Conexant High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_14F1&DEV_5045&SUBSYS_1179FF31&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: CHDART.sys
Provider: Conexant
Driver Version: 4.08.0000.0000
Driver Date: 11/17/2006 15:08:36
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: SPDIF Interface (Conexant High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_14F1&DEV_5045&SUBSYS_1179FF31&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: CHDART.sys
Provider: Conexant
Driver Version: 4.08.0000.0000
Driver Date: 11/17/2006 15:08:36
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 7600
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 59
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\Peter\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Peter\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:\Users\Peter\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Dread Lords Campaign\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Peter\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Logos\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Peter\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Peter\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Portraits\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Peter\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Users\Peter\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\temp\*.sav
Debug Message: TitleWnd: Quit Button.
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: 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

Update your video drivers. The ones that come with Vista are horribly buggy. You'll want one version 101.41 or higher as that's when this issue was fixed. Since you have a laptop, you'll need to check the manufacturer's website or go to laptopvideo2go.com. Don't trust Windows Update to give reliable/recent drivers.

Thanx,I just updated the drivers, lets hope it works. I'm going to need a couple of hours to see if it works. I hope this isn't an April fools joke(he he he). If it works, my friend I owe you a beer.

I downloaded the wrong drivers, the game still freezes. I went to the site you told me but I cant find the proper driver. Please tell me what to look for, they dont have version 101.41, and I tried the lates one they have it doesn't seem to work.

Try these ones.

Perfect !!! You are super. Thank you soooooooo much, it works, next time i have a beer it will be to you man. Thank you very much, i know you guys are under appreciated but believe me you rock. Thanx again.

One little question: how do you get rid of the crackling sound ?

Same deal--check the laptop maker's or sound provider's websites for new drivers.

Sorry, no deal, I've done everything you told me and i played the game for about an hour and it froze again. I don't know what else to do, please help, i love this game so much but if i have to Ctrl Alt Del all the time I don't see the point.

Please tell me why THE DREAD LORDS was working fine on an inferior machine and the Gold Edition dosen't work on anything I have. I got this laotop brand new less then 10 months ago, are you telling me I have to update the video drivers? Well I've done that and its a no go, now what? Please help, I just want to play the game.

Current Display Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (59Hz)
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768

Try setting the game to run at your desktop resolution of 1440x900.
Sometimes trying to run 4:3 on a widescreen monitor doesn't work so well because of the scaling.

Page File: 711MB used, 3600MB available

And it seems like you are using a lot of ram when you start the game.
It might help if you could close some programs before starting the game, as certain things can cause conflicts. If you have a real-time virus scanner running, exclude the GalCiv2 folders (both in Program Files\Stardock and in My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2) from real-time scanning.


When you do have a crash, post the debug.err info right after the crash. It might help in tracking down the problem.
The one you posted above was from a normally terminated game.

Not trying to be a jerk here, but just to ask an obvious question...Did you uninstall the game before installing the gold edition?

I mean...did you have GC:II Dreadlords, the full game, before purchasing gold edition?

If anything, uninstall all versions of the game. Reinstall only the gold edition, as it is Dreadlords AND Dark Avatar.



Because you stated that the game was on two of your machines, and it's not working on either, I have to wonder if its not your system or hardware...


Please answer, I'm going to bed soon. Will check back tommorrow if anything. But give this a shot, okay?

IF you have downloaded any mods, save your mods folder, but don't replace until you have tried to start up the game.

I don't see how this would have any affect. I have Dl and the Gold Edition and i simply installed the Gold Edition over the top of DL and it worked fine...

Not saying its not the problem but i know doing that does work.

I'm going to try that now, is there any way to save your saved games?

I did install the Gold Edition over the DreadLords, But it didn't say anywhere that this could cause a problem. I also know what the Debug Message shows that the monitor display is 1440x900, and my game display is 1024x768, but thats not possible because I set the game display specifically to 1440x900 exactly same as my monitor setting. I have no idea why the Debug Message shows something different because when I set it in settings and I've cheked several times it shows that it's set to 1440x900.

That debug.err is from a Dread Lords game.
Are you playing DL or DA, as they each have their own debug.err files.

You need to change the resolution *in the game* to 1440x900. I don't think that this is your problem, but you should really run the game at the same resolution as your monitor.

I think that Kryo is correct. Check the drivers available at http://www.tweakforce.com/
If you have GF 7600 GO (laptop) and Windows Vista look there for
"Xtreme-G Mobile 163.67 Vista 32bit"

Good luck.

"New" is most likely the exact problem. nVidia's Vista drivers have been very poor and bug-ridden form the get-go. Things were working ok after they initially fixed this bug, but it's reappeared in more recent versions... though only with the newer 8000 cards that I've seen. So a 7000 should be fine (as far as that particular issue goes) if you've got the drivers properly updated.

Go ahead and post a new debug.err. It'll show if your drivers got updated properly, and if the issue is the same or something else.

6 hours and counting. Now I don't wanna spoil it but I think Xtreme-G Mobile 163.67 Vista 32bit did the trick. So far so good, let me play against the AI for a few weeks and then I'll meet you guys on the Galactic Battle Grounds. Thank You So Very Much, this game means a lot to me and You made it possible to "Play It Again Sam". Thanks Guys I really appreciate this. Game On !!!

Yes, 12 hours and counting. That's it. I'm having a beer for all you guys. You know, I'm gonna get drunk 'cause of that. Cheers, and Rock on !!!

Cheers, mate. Glad you got things sorted out.