The game crashes (and crashes and crashes)

You left out your CPU

Please post that as well

It doesn't really matter. I stopped trying to play the game as well due to CTD's.

B4 u ask, here is my config:
P4 3.8 Prescott
4GB Ram
ATI x1800 256 MB
way more than enough disk space also (300GB free on primary disk)

You didn't provide very much information.  See the stickies.  Given that the game doesn't "crash and crash" for most people, we should be able to determine the issue and provide a recommendation.

But that requires information.  Such as the debug.err, what version of the game you're using, the version/date of your drivers.

See the stickies for more information.

THe game doesnt 'crash and crash' for me. In fact this is the most COMPLETE and STABLE game I have bought in years. The problem is your system not in the game. GalCiv runs flawlessly for me, without any of the errors I see on the forum and I have:

Athalon 64 3200
Geforce 5800 (I know, I need to upgrade)
using onboard sound of my MSI platinum motherboard
1 gig memory
Old drivers that I have not updatesd in about a year.
DircectX 9.0c
Win2000

MG

Just because your system runs it stable, doesn't mean it is the parent poster's system that is the problem. I have the same crashing problem, a brand new system with the latest drivers, plenty of ram, etc. and this game crashes enough to make it pretty much unplayable.

It is not my system as it is 100% stable with pretty much everything else I throw at it. I have provided detailed error logging, and have not received even a suggestion as to what it might be (other than overheating vid card which it is not).

That's great that it is stable for you and 95% of the population, but for those of us with the CTDs, it sucks. I'm still holding my breath that someone is actually investigating the submissions I've made.

Please understand that I'm NOT trying to say that the game is not good, and that this is not some sort of spoiled and ungrateful behavior. Please try to help me, because this game is the best thing that ever ran on my PC in years, and I really really want the problem solved.

I understand the need to defend this great company and great game/series. I'm a long time fan of GalCiv1, myself. Stardock deserves recognition and credit more than any other game company out there. But the crashes really DO occur and really DO trouble me. This is not some simple spoiled complaint about a crash once in a while, this is really a problem.

No other game crashed on me like that, and I really know what I'm doing with PC's, so don't blame my hardware, please.

By the way, my CPU is a P4-3GHz. It's not really top notch, but I'm sure it can run the game just fine, and it mostly does. Nothing (and I really mean NOTHING) runs on the backround while the game runs, and the crashes still occur.

I'm getting the same crashing. Still. After two patches (I'm on 1.0x). Here's my debug.err, just like the last times...

Debug Message: Version v1.0X last updated on: Fri Mar 3 17:16:22 2006
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 3/3/2006, 22:59:14
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: COMPUCORE
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
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 3800+, MMX, 3DNow (2 CPUs), ~2.0GHz
Physical Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 158MB used, 2302MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 6600 GT
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0140&SUBSYS_21181682&REV_A2
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 720 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.8198
Driver Date: 12/10/2005 03:06:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: NVIDIA(R) nForce(TM) Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: NFORCE_VAD
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: nvapu.sys
Provider: NVIDIA Corporation
Driver Version: 6.14.0462.0000
Driver Date: 4/13/2005 12:34:02
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 multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 720
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT
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 369e99
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: Set mouse.
Debug Message: Set update timer.
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask H:\MyDocs\My Games\GalCiv2\*.StarSystems
Debug Message: No files found matching mask H:\MyDocs\My Games\GalCiv2\*.raceconfig
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for PirateShip. ***
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for Starbase. ***
Debug Message: No files found matching mask H:\MyDocs\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipclass
Debug Message: No files found matching mask H:\MyDocs\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: CustomRaceWnd: Cannot find OBJID CustomRace_Description_Text
Debug Message: CustomRaceWnd: Cannot find OBJID CustomRace_Tab_Homeworld
Debug Message: Creating Galaxy
Debug Message: Set galaxy size.
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: 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: Creating Random Map
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message: Number of Unplaced Stars: 6.
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Planets
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Anomalies
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 42
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Resources
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Done
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Terran Alliance: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Yor Collective: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Iconian Refuge: 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 = 3
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: DomesticWnd: Cannot find OBJID Domestic_Government_Tab
Debug Message: DomesticWnd: Cannot find OBJID Domestic_Governor_Tab
Debug Message: DomesticWnd: Cannot find OBJID Domestic_Stats_Tab
Debug Message: DomesticWnd: Cannot find OBJID Domestic_Graphs_Tab
Debug Message: EconomicWnd: Cannot find OBJID Template_Button_Back
Debug Message: Saving game H:\MyDocs\My Games\GalCiv2\QuickSave.sav
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 4
Debug Message: Max num techs: 248
Debug Message: Total tech data size: 147504 Max tech size: 1891
Debug Message: Total improvement db size: 62512
Debug Message: Component defs data size: 109163
Debug Message: Total ship class data size: 17846 Max ship class data size: 667
Debug Message: No files found matching mask H:\MyDocs\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\s*_UD_*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Total Ship config data size: 0 Max ship config data size: 0
Debug Message: Total anomaly types data: 17300, Max anomaly type size: 692
Debug Message: Total random event data size: 31903 Max random event size: 1276
Debug Message: Total UP issue data size: 236940 Max UP issue size: 7180
Debug Message: Total resource type data size: 1600 Max resource type data size: 332
Debug Message: Total invasion tatic data size: 2790 Max invasion tactic data size: 476
Debug Message: Total starbase module data size: 318240 Max starbase module size: 3536
Debug Message: Total political party data size: 13576 Max political party size: 1697
Debug Message: Total planet types data size: 0 Max planet type size: 0
Debug Message: Total star type data size: 6896 Max star type size: 862
Debug Message: Game Object data: 16
Debug Message: Galaxy data: 14089
Debug Message: FOW data: 1908
Debug Message: ZOC data: 116
Debug Message: Total Planet data size: 299413 Max Planet data size: 3984
Debug Message: Total Star data size: 11448 Max Star data size: 424
Debug Message: Total Anomaly data size: 14616 Max Anomaly data size: 348
Debug Message: Total Space resource data size: 2416 Max space resource data size: 302
Debug Message: Total Civilization data size: 626926 Max Civ data size: 89586
Debug Message: Total Colony data size: 1380 Max colony data size: 230
Debug Message: Total Rally point data size: 0 Max Rallypoint data size: 0
Debug Message: Total Ship data size: 9800 Max Ship Data size: 980
Debug Message: Total Fleet data size: 0 Max Fleet Data size: 0
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: Destroying ship Terran Alliance Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Yor Collective Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Iconian Refuge Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: First contact: Mars at position 950.000000,5050.000000 rotation 0.000000
Debug Message: First contact: Mars at position 950.000000,5050.000000 rotation 0.000000
Debug Message: First contact: Mars at position 950.000000,5050.000000 rotation 0.000000
Debug Message: First contact: Mars at position 950.000000,5050.000000 rotation 0.000000
Debug Message: First contact: Mars at position 950.000000,5050.000000 rotation 0.000000
Debug Message: First contact: Mars at position 950.000000,5050.000000 rotation 0.000000
Debug Message: Cannot find texture , in AlienMsgWnd
Debug Message: Terran Alliance (0): Researching: Universal Translator
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: Yor Collective (5): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Iconian Refuge (9): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Carinoids (12): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: Pirates! (26): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: Destroying ship Drengin Empire Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Terran Alliance (0): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Yor Collective (5): Researching: New Propulsion Techniques
Debug Message: Iconian Refuge (9): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: Carinoids (12): Researching: Xeno Communications
Debug Message: Terran Alliance (0): Researching: New Propulsion Techniques
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Starship Defenses
Debug Message: Yor Collective (5): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: Terran Alliance (0): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: Carinoids (12): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: Iconian Refuge (9): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: Terran Alliance (0): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Yor Collective (5): Researching: Starship Defenses
Debug Message: Destroying ship Arcean Empire Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Yearly Status Dialog
Debug Message: Yearly Status Dialog 0a
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: New Propulsion Techniques
Debug Message: Deleting previous save game.
Debug Message: Saving game H:\MyDocs\My Games\GalCiv2\AutoSave.sav
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 4
Debug Message: Max num techs: 248
Debug Message: Total tech data size: 147504 Max tech size: 1891
Debug Message: Carinoids (12): Researching: Starship Defenses
Debug Message: Total improvement db size: 62512
Debug Message: Component defs data size: 109910
Debug Message: Total ship class data size: 18594 Max ship class data size: 667
Debug Message: Total Ship config data size: 620 Max ship config data size: 620
Debug Message: Total anomaly types data: 17300, Max anomaly type size: 692
Debug Message: Total random event data size: 31903 Max random event size: 1276
Debug Message: Total UP issue data size: 236940 Max UP issue size: 7180
Debug Message: Total resource type data size: 1600 Max resource type data size: 332
Debug Message: Total invasion tatic data size: 2790 Max invasion tactic data size: 476
Debug Message: Total starbase module data size: 318240 Max starbase module size: 3536
Debug Message: Total political party data size: 13576 Max political party size: 1697
Debug Message: Total planet types data size: 0 Max planet type size: 0
Debug Message: Total star type data size: 6896 Max star type size: 862
Debug Message: Game Object data: 16
Debug Message: Galaxy data: 14089
Debug Message: FOW data: 8952
Debug Message: ZOC data: 176
Debug Message: Total Planet data size: 301083 Max Planet data size: 4136
Debug Message: Total Star data size: 11448 Max Star data size: 424
Debug Message: Total Anomaly data size: 6960 Max Anomaly data size: 348
Debug Message: Total Space resource data size: 2416 Max space resource data size: 302
Debug Message: Total Civilization data size: 627814 Max Civ data size: 90410
Debug Message: Total Colony data size: 2530 Max colony data size: 230
Debug Message: Total Rally point data size: 0 Max Rallypoint data size: 0
Debug Message: Total Ship data size: 4900 Max Ship Data size: 980
Debug Message: Total Fleet data size: 0 Max Fleet Data size: 0
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: Terran Alliance (0): Researching: Diplomatic Relations
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Planetary Improvements
Debug Message: Yor Collective (5): Researching: Planetary Improvements

Oh, and this isn't an overheating problem. I checked my system's temperature right after the crash. My GPU was at 50C, just like it always is under normal Windows operations, and far from the 80+C temperatures that are considered dangerous. My CPU was at ~40C, which is also normal. I even completely uninstalled the game and reinstalled it.

As you can see, I have a modern system with modern hardware, up-to-date drivers, and normal operating temperatures. I fail to see what it is that's causing this crash outside of your game.

Are you running any other software? You know, virus scanners, software firewalls, distributed computing, etc.

Are you running any other software? You know, virus scanners, software firewalls, distributed computing, etc

Oh, please. I'm tolerate and everything, but yeah, multiple users who obviously know what they're talking about and know their way with PC's just happen to forget turning off their background utilities. I know you're trying to help, and I appreciate it, but talking to us like a 6 year-olds, blaming our hardware, avoiding responsibility and treating us like automatic-by-email technical support for dummies is not really helping. And it's not what I expected from Stardock. With all due respect.

And no, nothing runs on the background. I even turned-off the innocent mouse-ware Logitech driver, or perhaps you're willing to blame it for the problem as well?

Alfonse, it's "great" to see I'm not the only with the same annoying problem.

P.S: I apologize if I seem bitter, it's because I am. I want to enjoy the game like everybody else....

A lot of these error reports seem to have Nvidia 6600GT's in them. I have not been keeping track of the actual numbers, but it sure seems that way.

For what it's worth, I run a 6600GT as well, and have had exactly two crashes over about 30 hours of game play.

Tony

Try this:

Run the game with the DEBUG parameter:

galciv2 debug

This will generate a more detailed debug.err that we can use to try to get an idea of what the deal is.

"Oh, please. I'm tolerate and everything, but yeah, multiple users who obviously know what they're talking about and know their way with PC's just happen to forget turning off their background utilities. I know you're trying to help, and I appreciate it, but talking to us like a 6 year-olds, blaming our hardware, avoiding responsibility and treating us like automatic-by-email technical support for dummies is not really helping."

I disagree with this idea, at least to the specifics of the disabling of background utilities. As someone who works in software development, I find, more often than not, that treating the person with a problem like a 6 year old is the most efficient way to solve the problem. Always check everything, especially the simple, obvious stuff. It's perfectly reasonable for them to ask about this kind of thing.

In any case, I don't have any background tasks running.

"Run the game with the DEBUG parameter"

I'll give that a go in a few minutes and see what happens.

OK, so I did that DEBUG thing. And it crashed again (as expected). However, after having suffered through several of these crashes, I'm beginning to see a pattern emerging (I also have a very large, 3+MB debug.err file, as well as crash dumps. Just tell me where to send them).

If a world finishes a building a tile (and is finished building stuff in its queue, I think), and I close the notification screen, then I try to view the world, it crashes. That seems to be the pattern on 1.0x.

Something else just occurred to me. I'm using the hardware mouse. And I bet a lot of GeForce 6xxx owners are too. Could that be it?

GreatMirror, keep the faith man. I realise your frustraited. But I'd like to see anyone name me 3 other companies where the owner is sitting at a comp answering posts for what seems to me to be 24 hours a day . I can't even think of one. Froggy is trying to help everyone at once it seems. Just keep comunicating with the info they ask you to send and I'm sure you'll get hooked up.

Quote:
No other game crashed on me like that, and I really know what I'm doing with PC's, so don't blame my hardware, please.

Also keep in mind that this is game is one of the first to use the multy-thread capabilities (or whatever its called).
I buillt an AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800 based tower last December just for the sole purpose of GC2. I'd of prob just gone with a AMD 64 4400 if I hadnt known GC2 was going to be the way it is.

Anyhow, keep trying man, they'll fix ya up I'm sure.

Alfonse, you can email me directly at brad@stardock.com.  Just m ake sure you tell me the specifics since I get a lot of email.  please ZIP your debug.err first.

Wait a second:

Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+, MMX, 3DNow (2 CPUs), ~2.0GHz

Did you update your Dual Core chipset drivers? There's a bug in their drivers that causes it to crash on GalCiv.  There's a sticky here on that. 

Did you update your Dual Core chipset drivers?

Yes.

Thanks for the info (via email)

Though I don't have good news.

According to the crash log:

00831396  0012F668  0001:000C0396 F:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\d3dx9_27.dll

Crash likely cause:

You're running the game below the minimum resolution:

720 pixels tall.

The game requires 1024x768 or higher in BOTH resolutions.

See https://forums.galciv2.com/?ForumID=274&AID=105107

Thanks alot, Citizen OldDocc! I appreciate it!

But thanks to the frog-master here, the game runs like a charm now. Not a single crash whatsoever. The game is amazing, and was more than worth the initial frustration!

Sorry for the trouble I caused

Alfonse, this game is super driver-sensitive. Update EVERYTHING. As I'm sure you've already done that...hmmm, perhaps this is Nvidia's driver's fault? I hope Draginol/Frogboy can help you fix it, eventually

Edit: Oh, I see he already answered you...I hope that this is really the problem and that messing with the resolution might solve it.

You're running the game below the minimum resolution: 720 pixels tall.

That's... that's not so good. Because 720p is what I've got.

See Link.

Visual glitches, I kinda expected. And I saw a few UI screens that clipped some unimportant information off the top of the screen. But outright crashes? You're working through Direct3D, so you can't be touching the video memory directly. So what exactly is it about lower resolutions that causes the game to crash?

I did verify that this was the problem, as I "can" run at other resolutions. And the game is stable then. But each turn is composed of pain, as I attempt to decipher the glyphs on my screen rather than reading text. Unfortunately, my projector's deinterlacer and scaler are pretty poor (something I knew when I bought it, but it wasn't a problem until now, since I use 720p), so I can't actually use those resolutions effectively.

Great Mirror: Glad we were able to help.  What turned out to be the specific issue?

I read all the stickies too, nothing is working, I need help

I'm sending Brad an email now too. Everything worked great until today.

Much public appreciation to Brad for replying in like 5 seconds and working with me to find the problem. And sending me -screenshots- of the code. (Some of which I actually understand, having been an old-school C++'er). And then pointing out that it is a code bug and not my fault.

Much love in the air. Now I await the next patch which will hopefully sort me out.

Yay! My own code bug! Name it after me! The Knightsaber Bug.

Great Mirror: Glad we were able to help. What turned out to be the specific issue?

I'm not sure. From all the things that I think might make a difference was maybe that I thought about updating my GPU driver from 81.95 to 81.98. Or was it increasing my pagefile to 4 GB? Nah, I guess it was the driver thingie
Anyway, I'm not exactly sure, but it doesn't really matter, at least the game is working flawlessly now!

Alfonse, sorry, man...but at least Stardock found out what the problem was in the first place...I hope there was something to do about that...

Knightsaber, that is just cool. I simply never heard of a company or a game-producers that bothered to show you its a problem with their game and that they'll fix it in the next patch! Most of these guys usually ignore you, leave you in the air, and maybe, just maybe, bother to address the problem in the next patch or two. Way to go, Stardock!