Crashes before new game begins

Go ahead and try a reinstall--best to rule out a corrupted download on the patch.

Reinstalling now... should taking approximately 20 minutes for everything.

No dice. Here's the smart exception info... any help would be appreciated:

AppName : GALCIV2.EXE
Crash Details : 0x4fe74e72 - [1.0.0.1 , Windows XP Service Pack 2 - (2600.xpsp.050301-1521) , RADEON 9800 XT (6.14.10.6631) + SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [E700]]

Is that all SE gave in the .cra? There's usually more.

You may also try turning on the show pre-release option in SDC and giving the 1.3 beta patch a spin.

Updated to the 1.3 beta patch. No improvement.

Reinstall DX9, maybe?

Here's my complete .cra file:

[SmartException]
LastEx=GALCIV2.EXE
File=F:\Program Files\Stardock\SmartException\GALCIV2.EXE_1156557507.CRA
LastEx2=F:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\galciv2.exe
CrashAddr=4fe74e72

Stardock SmartException Logging Information
https://www.stardock.com/products/smartexception
-----------------------------------------------

OS version : Windows XP Service Pack 2 - (2600.xpsp.050301-1521)
Video card : RADEON 9800 XT
Sound card : SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [E700]
Date : 08/26/06
Application Exception code: C0000005 ACCESS_VIOLATION
Crash Addr: 4FE74E72 01:000A3E72 C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d9.dll

Processor Registers (x86):
EAX:001AA7C4
EBX:00000020
ECX:00000020
EDX:00000020
ESI:00000001
EDI:00000001
CS:EIP:001B:4FE74E72
SS:ESP:0023:0012E9D4 EBP:0012E9E0
DS:0023 ES:0023 FS:003B GS:0000
Flags:00210202


Current Application Call Stack:

Addr Frame Logical addr Module Name
---------------------------------------------
4FE74E72 0012E9E0 0001:000A3E72 C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d9.dll
4FE698F0 0012EA2C 0001:000988F0 C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d9.dll
4FE69B88 0012EA58 0001:00098B88 C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d9.dll
4FE54E0D 0012EA8C 0001:00083E0D C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d9.dll
4FE6E530 0012EB24 0001:0009D530 C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d9.dll
4FE672F9 0012EB58 0001:000962F9 C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d9.dll
008CDAB9 0012EB70 0001:000FCAB9 F:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\d3dx9_27.dll
008D9FB4 0012EB94 0001:00108FB4 F:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\d3dx9_27.dll
008D9CEE 0012EBB4 0001:00108CEE F:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\d3dx9_27.dll
0055261F 019DD428 0001:0015161F F:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\galciv2.exe


Debug information for each stardock app follows ....

Debug.err info follows
Debug Message: Version v1.3 beta 2a last updated on: Tue Aug 8 16:18:51 2006
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 8/26/2006, 02:58:19
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: PANDORAS-BOX
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp.050301-1521)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: VIAK8T
System Model: AWRDACPI
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.9GHz
Physical Memory: 1022MB RAM
Page File: 174MB used, 2777MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: RADEON 9800 XT
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: RADEON 9800 XT AGP (0x4E4A)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E4A&SUBSYS_00021002&REV_00
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6631
Driver Date: 8/2/2006 23:08:06
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [E700]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_20021102&REV_04
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1164
Driver Date: 12/8/2005 16:55:46
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_NONE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): RADEON 9800 XT
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 C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask F:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map
Debug Message: No files found matching mask F:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario

Hey, Kryo, question - is the latest 1.2 the only available one to download, regardless of if they use SD central or not? I know that I helped someone out a few weeks back that had the original 1.2 that was full of memory leaks. This doesn't sound like that is his problem, as it is crashing before the game begins, but I'm curious so I know not to recommend to most people to get the full 1.2 in the future.

As for Jax, you said you just reinstalled your system. Same OS as before, or did you get a newer one? Plus, have you tried other games to rule out something wonky with the OS install itself?

Same OS... Windows XP SP2...

I reinstalled because now I'm running SATA hard drives at RAID 0.

That was 2 months ago...

EDIT: No problems with other games or software.
Reinstalled DirectX 9c -- no improvement.

I'll try different ATI drivers...

I get the same probelm accept I'm using Vista Beta..So that might be it..If it worked two months ago, you must of done something else to your pc. Anything..?

Good news: It works now.

Bad news: I tried several things at once, so not entirely sure which one fixed it.

1) Uninstalled Zonealarm firewall software
2) Uninstalled display drivers
3) Uninstalled ATI Tray Tools
4) Uninstalled the optional AMD 64 CPU drivers.
5) Installed ATI Catalyst 6.5 drivers (was using 6.8).

I'll try and narrow it down to help others.

Zonealarm doesn't affect the game. It's probably an issue with your old (new? nold?) drivers.

The crash was apparently in the direct3d drivers, so it was likely downgrading to 6,.5 that did it.


Draknost: only 1.2 is available on the website here (beta patches are not posted on the site), but if you have 'show pre-release versions' enabled in SDC the 1.3 betas will appear there (if not, you'll only see 1.2). Unless people are willing to tough the potential new bugs in the betas or are having severe problems with 1.2 though, they should stick with 1.2 until 1.3 goes final.

I reinstalled:

1) 6.8 Cat drivers
2) ATI Tray Tools
3) Zonealarm

And it still works. The optional AMD 64 cpu drivers are no longer downloadable from AMD's site, so I can't test that.

I suspect that it was driver related. You know how these things go... everything works fine until it doesn't. So I think:

Uninstalling ATI drivers > Reboot > Reboot again > Reinstall drivers > Reboot

woulda solved it. Probably.

Draknost: only 1.2 is available on the website here (beta patches are not posted on the site), but if you have 'show pre-release versions' enabled in SDC the 1.3 betas will appear there (if not, you'll only see 1.2). Unless people are willing to tough the potential new bugs in the betas or are having severe problems with 1.2 though, they should stick with 1.2 until 1.3 goes final.

Well, not entirely what I was asking, maybe I didn't phrase it right. Basically, the first release of 1.2 had bad memory leaks, is the 1.2 that is now on the web site the second release that plugged the holes?

Good news: It works now. Bad news: I tried several things at once, so not entirely sure which one fixed it.

*bonk* The first rule of tech troubleshooting is : Try changes one at a time, so when you fix it, you know what the heck fixed it.

But grats on the game working now.

Oh, and I officially hate you, SATA drives in a Raid 0 is what I want to do to my box next.