Is there any way to tell if a particular crash will be fixed

I am disappointed that my crash wasn't resolved in Beta 4A

from GalCiv2 Forums
I really don't know what to do. None of my last three save games will load. I've sent the smart exception data and the savegames to support@stardock. I've upgraded all of my system drivers and I've turned off as many video options as possible just to mitigate against it being a device driver problem. Nothing helps, or changes the contents of debug.err. GC2 keeps dying on the "Loading Planets" step. There's no obvious reference to a driver-related problem in debug.err and if you pop it up in the debugger the last three stack frames are in GalCiv2.exe

I know Brad said that crashes are unacceptable, so I am assuming the problem will be fixed if it turns out to be a non-video driver issue. But is there any way to get confirmation on a particular bug that is submitted? I've spent a long time on this game and I'm very reluctant to start another knowing that this might happen to me again.
6,551 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Can you post your debug.err log here? Maybe someone can help out while you are waiting.

I usually get a reply back within 48-72 hours whenever I've sent something in to them.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
They respond to you? Hmm...interesting. I haven't heard back from them, and I sent the report on Friday or Saturday, I think. Anyway, here's the debug.err.... Thanks in advance if you can shed any light on the problem. Graphic drivers are freshly downloaded, though audio drivers are old. I'll try updating them for lack of anything better to try....


Debug Message: Version v1.1 BETA 4A last updated on: Tue Apr 18 13:16:01 2006
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 4/19/2006, 19:55:08
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: GAMING
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: Phoenix - Award BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3700+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.2GHz
Physical Memory: 2048MB RAM
Page File: 168MB used, 3260MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 7800 GTX
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0091&SUBSYS_02C210DE&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (75Hz)
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: Realtek AC97 Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0059&SUBSYS_812A1043&REV_A2
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5750
Driver Date: 11/17/2004 07:05:38
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: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running in windowed mode.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_IMMEDIATE
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 0
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: Border size reported as 6 by 25
Debug Message: RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message: Now windowed.
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 C:\Documents and Settings\mbruni\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.xml
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for PirateShip. ***
Debug Message: Found existing ship type with class name: Ranger
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for Starbase. ***
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\mbruni\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipclass
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\mbruni\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Dread Lords Campaign\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\mbruni\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Logos\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\mbruni\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\mbruni\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\mbruni\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Portraits\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\mbruni\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\mbruni\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\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 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: Loading Custom Map
Debug Message: Loading Data Defs
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Loading TechDefs
Debug Message: Max num techs: 248
Debug Message: Loading ImprovementDB
Debug Message: Loading Component Defs
Debug Message: Loading ShipTypes
Debug Message: Loading ShipConfigs
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 Game
Debug Message: Loading Galaxy
Debug Message: Loading FOW Map
Debug Message: Loading ZOC Map
Debug Message: Loading Planets
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
CariElf has posted a very good troubleshooting post in this thread towards the bottom. You may want to check it out and see if anything appies to you.

https://forums.galciv2.com/?ForumID=274&AID=111740#872422

Also, you are running Beta4A - save games from earlier builds may not load properly in Beta4 series. See the Journals section for the release notes on Beta4 - (not 4A).

Other than that, and your sound drivers, (your vid drivers have a newer version from arch 06 available, but yours are not that old so should not be an issue) I can see nothing from the debug log.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The game in question was played entirely with Beta4, so there were never any saves from earlier betas. All of the save games that cause crashes were generated exclusively with Beta4.

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.