Game crashes and goes to black screen

After upgrading .


After I upgraded to v1.4x, the game randomly crashes, and than becomes a black screen. It happens early in a game. Usually after only about 5 minutes. Here is my latest debug.err file. Thank you.

Debug Message: Version v1.4x last updated on: Mon Oct 23 17:43:56 2006
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 12/26/2006, 16:45:01
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: S1100551699
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp2.050301-1526)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gateway
System Model: 510 2900624
BIOS: BIOS Date: 04/22/04 10:42:50 Ver: 08.00.10
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs), ~3.0GHz
Physical Memory: 1006MB RAM
Page File: 287MB used, 1370MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINNT


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip Type: Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller
DAC Type: Internal
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2572&SUBSYS_7147107B&REV_02
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.3722
Driver Date: 11/20/2003 09:26:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24D5&SUBSYS_7147107B&REV_02
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: smwdm.sys
Provider: Analog Devices
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3571
Driver Date: 3/18/2003 13:00:00
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): Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 60
Debug Message: Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message: *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message: Hardware does not support a color cursor.
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 b26232e0
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
Debug Message: No string tables in C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default/Data/*.str
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Gfx\*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Gfx\Race\*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\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: * Collectors Edition *
Debug Message: Set mouse.
Debug Message: Set update timer.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\*.xml
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Techs\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\ShipComponents\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\ShipDefs\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\PlanetImprovements\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\TerrainColorSchemes\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\PlanetDescriptions\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Anomalies\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Events\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\UPIssues\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Invasions\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\PoliticalParties\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\StarTypes\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\StarbaseModules\*.xml
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
Debug Message: Creating Galaxy
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: Clearing Turn Event Log
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: Galaxy Size Set: 12 x 12
Debug Message: Creating Random Map
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message: Number of Unplaced Stars: 53.
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Planets
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Anomalies
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 134
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Resources
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Done
Debug Message: Setting Game Options
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Terran Alliance: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Arcean Empire: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message: Dominion of Korx: 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 = 0
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Game Started
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Enabled
Debug Message: Destroying ship Arcean Empire Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship Dominion of Korx Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Arcean Empire (3): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Dominion of Korx (6): Researching: Xeno Research
Debug Message: Pirates! (26): Researching: Galactic Warfare
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: StarportWnd: Cannot find OBJID StarPort_Planet_Logo_Image
Debug Message: Cannot find texture Gfx\Thumbnails\planets\Planet0.png
Debug Message: Cannot find texture Gfx\Thumbnails\planets\Planet0.png
Debug Message: Cannot find texture Gfx\Thumbnails\planets\Planet0.png
Debug Message: Cannot find texture Gfx\Thumbnails\planets\Planet0.png
Debug Message: Cannot find texture Gfx\Thumbnails\planets\Planet0.png
Debug Message: Cannot find texture Gfx\Thumbnails\planets\Planet0.png
Debug Message: Destroying ship Drengin Empire Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Cannot find texture Gfx\Thumbnails\planets\Planet0.png
Debug Message: Cannot find texture Gfx\Thumbnails\planets\Planet0.png
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Drengin Empire (1): Researching: New Propulsion Techniques
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Dominion of Korx (6): Researching: Space Militarization
Debug Message: Random Event: End
2,026 views 4 replies
Reply #1 Top
First, try deleting your Prefs.ini file. It is located in My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2.

If that doesn't work post the contents of your debug.err file into the reply.
It is located in the main program folder, usually C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2.
You can open the file with Notepad, then select everything, copy, and paste into the reply box.
Reply #2 Top
Well, that helps, seeing the debug info.

Your video (and audio) drivers are very much out of date.
You need to update them.

And that video controller is (I think) only DirectX 6 compliant, so you may not get away from crashes even with newer drivers.
Reply #3 Top
Chipsets

Vid should be good. Update the drivers.
Reply #4 Top

Thanks for the help. I noticed a similar problem posted by someone else,that was caused by the automatic save feature. After spending time on this site, I went back to the game and disabled the auto-save, and I was able to play for over an hour with no problems. I still don't know if that was the problem but it was the first time I got that much time into the game since I updated to V1.4x. I will try to get better graphics and audio cards. Thanks again