Crash in V1.1 second Beta.

My quess it is a memory problem.

Video drivers are old too. Later versions are out there.

Both. Video drivers are ancient and virtual memory should probably be a minimum of 1.5 GB.

Driver Date: 4/21/2004 23:11:38

Ding Ding Ding! The beta's are even less old-driver friendly than the original version. Off to ATI.com you go!

EDIT: Didn't read the memory, but as was stated that should really be bigger. And for your drivers:
https://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&folderID=293

Catalyst control center drivers, just download the first two, and you'll be fine. But you're going to need some more memory soon

OLD DRIVERS BUSTED!

Actually, I don't think it was my old drivers. I had another crash, then I saw the comments here, so I updated my video drivers, changed virtual memory settings to "let Windows handle it automatically" (rather than a fixed min and max, I assume this will go up to however much it needs), ran galciv again and had another crash within about 15 minutes --- this time when I clicked on a planet. Funny thing is that I never had a crash with the 1.0X or the first beta of 1.1, had numerous crashes with the second Beta, got discouraged, went back to 1.0X, everything worked fine, no crashes in 15 hours of play, then updated again to second Beta, and once again, I am averaging a crash an hour. Here is my debug.err, relevant parts:

Beginning:

Debug Message: Version v1.1 BETA-2A last updated on: Thu Mar 30 21:37:53 2006
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 4/4/2006, 21:47:18
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: CINDIJIM
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Compaq Presario 06
System Model: DA243A-ABA 6415cl NA910
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2000+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.7GHz
Physical Memory: 512MB RAM
Page File: 332MB used, 1022MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: RADEON 9000 SERIES
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: RADEON 9000 PRO AGP (0x4966)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4966&SUBSYS_00021002&REV_01
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6601
Driver Date: 2/21/2006 23:46:46
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Realtek AC97 Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_90121509&REV_50
Manufacturer ID: 65535
Product ID: 65535
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5730
Driver Date: 10/1/2004 11:24:02
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0




Ending:

Debug Message: Altarian Republic (2): Researching: Advanced Miniaturization
Debug Message: Dominion of Korx (6): Researching: Enhanced Deflectors
Debug Message: Thalan Empire (8): Researching: Stinger
Debug Message: Cannot find texture
Debug Message: Cannot find texture
Debug Message: Cannot find texture
Debug Message: Cannot find texture
Debug Message: Cannot find texture
Debug Message: Cannot find texture
Debug Message: Cannot find texture
Debug Message: Cannot find texture
Debug Message: Destroying ship Escort M0-10 969. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Troop Transport M2-1 888. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Thalan Fleet 116. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Escort M0-10 1150. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Troop Transport M2-1 848. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Thalan Fleet 147. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Escort M0-10 836. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Troop Transport M2-1 890. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Thalan Fleet 117. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Troop Transport M2-1 843. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Troop Transport M2-1 965. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Altarian Fleet 96. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Constructor M2-7 1741. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Random Event: Begin
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Destroying ship Freighter M0-10 187. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Freighter M0-10 181. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Freighter M0-10 188. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Freighter M0-10 360. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Terran Alliance (0): Researching: Shields II
Debug Message: Dominion of Korx (6): Researching: Advanced Trade
Debug Message: Deleting previous save game.
Debug Message: About to auto save.
Debug Message: Save Game: About to save
Debug Message: Saving game C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\AutoSave.sav
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 5
Debug Message: Max num techs: 248
Debug Message: Total tech data size: 147783 Max tech size: 1891
Debug Message: Total improvement db size: 62512
Debug Message: Component defs data size: 186682
Debug Message: Total ship class data size: 113815 Max ship class data size: 667
Debug Message: Total Ship config data size: 72545 Max ship config data size: 1296
Debug Message: Total anomaly types data: 17300, Max anomaly type size: 692
Debug Message: Total random event data size: 31840 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: 311168 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: 14388
Debug Message: FOW data: 63348
Debug Message: ZOC data: 1328
Debug Message: Total Planet data size: 603524 Max Planet data size: 5407
Debug Message: Total Star data size: 16112 Max Star data size: 424
Debug Message: Total Anomaly data size: 0 Max Anomaly data size: 0
Debug Message: Total Space resource data size: 2718 Max space resource data size: 302
Debug Message: Total Civilization data size: 646563 Max Civ data size: 98982
Debug Message: Total Colony data size: 12690 Max colony data size: 270
Debug Message: Total Rally point data size: 7748 Max Rallypoint data size: 298
Debug Message: Total Ship data size: 287712 Max Ship Data size: 1488
Debug Message: Total Fleet data size: 300380 Max Fleet Data size: 7876
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: Finished auto save.
Debug Message: Destroying ship Heavy Fighter M1-1 651. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Heavy Fighter M1-1 678. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Heavy Fighter M1-1 719. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Altarian Fleet 58. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Heavy Fighter M2-1 845. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Heavy Fighter M1-1 677. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Fighter M1-1 772. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Fighter M2-1 887. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Altarian Fleet 60. Orbiting: 0

Wired, it double-posted me, so I am deleting second entry.

Well, if you got consistant CTD, you should try to get Smart Exception. It will surely be more helpful for the devs since it will allow to know exactly where the problem was located.

There are later drivers available - Catalyst version 6.3. Reccomend trying these.

I did download SmartException. It doesn't come up when the crash occurs. I only get the message to send Microsoft the problem...

I downloaded the latest drivers from the ATI web site yesterday evening. Where do you get the Catalyst version 6.3 drivers?

I did download SmartException. It doesn't come up when the crash occurs. I only get the message to send Microsoft the problem...

Stupid question: Have you launched SmartException before starting GC2?

In anycase, look if there isn't any .cra files on the root directories.

Does it happen in both windowed and full screen modes?

BTW, 512 MB memory is adequate for XP, but just. I'd recommend a RAM increase to 1GB - you'll be surprised how it helps overall.

Lastly, have you checked for overheating issues? Cleaned the dust out of your case recently, and applied new silicon paste to your processor heat sink? Speedfan is a freeware program that can help you check the temps - I use it all the time - I am a IT consultant. http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php You can also use a full scale diagnostics program like SiSandra - but this one is not free. http://www.jaggedonline.co.uk/?a=g2005