Won't start up

from GalCiv2 Forums
This is a weird one. I'm able to start up Gal Civ II, play it fine, good times and whatnot. But, if I close the game and try to play it later it won't start at all. I get the start splash screen, click "play game", then I get the Windows "Galactic Civilizations has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."

I get this as many times as I click it. But, if I restart, I get my one time fun playing again.

I have it installed on an external hard drive. My drivers are as up to date as they'll get. No problems once I start playing the game, and only problems if I try to play the game twice or more without restarting.

Because the game doesn't even start my debug file is sparse, but here it is, in it's entirety:
Debug Message: Version v1.30A last updated on: Sat Sep 9 01:25:47 2006
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
8,420 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Okay, I restarted and this time it won't work at all even the first time, though it does at least try to start loading, leaving me with a debug file, posted here for your delight:

Debug Message: Version v1.30A last updated on: Sat Sep 9 01:25:47 2006
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 9/10/2006, 12:26:02
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: DUALRAVENS
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.060220-1746)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: IBM
System Model: 831029U
BIOS: PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0 for IBM NetVista.
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.00GHz
Physical Memory: 1022MB RAM
Page File: 368MB used, 1582MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce FX 5200
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0322&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9131
Driver Date: 6/1/2006 17:22:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes

Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Santa Cruz(tm)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: TURTLE_BEACH\SANTA_CRUZ_WDM_INTERFACE
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: tbcwdm.sys
Provider: Voyetra Turtle Beach
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.4161
Driver Date: 4/17/2002 10:51:08
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: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
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: No string tables in f:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default/Data/*.str
Debug Message: No files found matching mask f:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask f:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask f:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Gfx\*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask f:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Gfx\Race\*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask f:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask f:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask f:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Event Music\*.mp3
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.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Okay, I restarted and this time it won't work at all even the first time, though it does at least try to start loading, leaving me with a debug file, posted here for your delight:


Do you have mods enabled or have you altered any of the game's data files? The crash is when it is about to look at the data files, so that could be a cause.

As to the problem you have in the original post, it appears to be a problem with DirectX itself, since it crashes while trying to get the dxdiag report.
Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
No mods and I haven't altered a thing. The computer runs fine with other games.

The only thing I can think of is that I have an overzealous tune-up program that runs antivirus/spyware/old files cleaning/defrag every so often that may have zapped some data files, though I didn't notice anything of the sort in the logs I've looked at.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
In that case, please install 'SmartException' from the Stardock Central program. Make sure that the program is running and then start your game as normal. When the game crashes it will (hopefully) generate an exception report that can be emailed to gc2bugs@stardock.com along with your debug.err. This will enable the devs to see what is causing the error and hopefully provide you with a solution to your issue.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The next day it started up fine. And again even on the same day. Yesterday the same thing. Today? Doesn't start up at all. Same problem as before.

Then there's the problem with following the advice here. My emails get bumped back to me. I've sent two, both with the pertinent information as provided, one from my primary email address, the other from my yahoo address. A day after sending each reported back I got them bumped back with a message saying the original message couldn't get through.

Alas.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
Send them to stardock.com as I said in my post above--SE is incorrectly set to send them to stardock.net by default.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I figured it was something like that. Thanks for your quick response.