Game Crashes when Loading Saved Game

from GalCiv2 Forums
Brand new to the game, but was able to load saved games prior to upgrading to v. 1.6.

The error I get is when loading a game it seems like right as it finishes loading and goes to the galaxy map the screen freezes with a half galaxy map/half tech tree (?) display.

I looked into the DeBug.err file and found the following message repeated about 100 times:
Debug Message: Driver internal error
Debug Message: Encountered internal driver error.
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: D3DERR_DRIVERINTERNALERROR
Debug Message: Driver internal error
Debug Message: Encountered internal driver error.

followed by:

Debug Message: WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize start
Debug Message: Killing 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 asteroid fields.
Debug Message: Killing asteroid field mining bases.
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: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: Killing Galaxy: Completed
Debug Message: Shutting down sound system.
Debug Message: Clearing sound and music handles.
Debug Message: PlanetTex_C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Data\HeightMaps\p10_h1_w512_h256_1782493370.raw_Earthlike not cleared 1 counts left.
Debug Message: WorkAreaBack.png not cleared 1 counts left.

The "stuff" prior to the error message repeating reads:
Debug Message: Version v1.6 Dark Avatar last updated on: Wed Jun 6 08:51:50 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 6/11/2007, 19:06:35
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: JOELAPTOP
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: Pavilion zd7000 (PM016UA#ABA)
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 510MB RAM
Page File: 235MB used, 1013MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce FX Go5200
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0324&SUBSYS_006A103C&REV_A1
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.5405
Driver Date: 3/12/2004 14:57:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Conexant AMC Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24D5&SUBSYS_006A103C&REV_02
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: camcaud.sys
Provider: Conexant
Driver Version: 6.13.0010.8310
Driver Date: 4/29/2004 07:09:20
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: Failed to find a device that can start with hardware vp mode. Trying sw vp.
Debug Message: Using software vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200
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: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 b261e4c0
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Victoria\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Victoria\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Victoria\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Victoria\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\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.
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding FullscreenBink
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Victoria\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideW*.png
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Tutorials/*.xml
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=1
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Victoria\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Dark Avatar\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Victoria\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Victoria\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Victoria\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\SandboxGames\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Victoria\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Victoria\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Victoria\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Victoria\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Story Logs\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Victoria\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\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 asteroid fields.
Debug Message: Killing asteroid field mining bases.
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: Loading Custom Map
Debug Message: Loading Data Defs
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: Loading TechDefs
Debug Message: Max num techs: 273
Debug Message: Loading ImprovementDB
Debug Message: Loading Component Defs
Debug Message: Loading ShipTypes
Debug Message: Loading ShipTemplates
Debug Message: Loading ParsedHardpoints
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 AFMBModules
Debug Message: Loading ShipStyles
Debug Message: Loading Game
Debug Message: Loading: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Loading Galaxy
Debug Message: Sectors across: 8 x 8
Debug Message: Loading FOW Map
Debug Message: Loading ZOC Map
Debug Message: Loading Planets
Debug Message: Loading Stars
Debug Message: Loading Anomalies
Debug Message: Loading Resources
Debug Message: Loading AsteroidFields
Debug Message: Loading AFMiningBases
Debug Message: Loading Civs
Debug Message: Loading Colonies
Debug Message: Loading RallyPoints
Debug Message: Loading Ships
Debug Message: Loading Fleets
Debug Message: Loading Turn Event Log
Debug Message: Loading Treaties
Debug Message: Loading ENDGALAXYDATA
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 3
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Game Started
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=20
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding QuarterlyWnd

What I have tried:

Reading another post it was suggested to try and disable the VIDEO options:
(1) 'use enhanced ship rendering'
(2) 'allow mixed vertex processing'

that did not help

I do not have the background densities set to "0" for stars/etc.

Thanks for the help in advance.


7,312 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hmmm...

Deleting Pref.ini file seemed to work for now. I must have screwed with something and not realized it   

Mod: please delete the post if ya like
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
If you hit that again send us the save game and what you posted here to support@stardock.com. We always want to hear about them.


CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Grrr...

It did it again. Exactly the same error as previously seen.

I'm sending saved game and Debug.err to the address you posted.

Because I walked away when trying to load it ends up repeating the:
"Debug Message: D3DERR_DRIVERINTERNALERROR
Debug Message: Driver internal error
Debug Message: Encountered internal driver error."

So many times the Debug file grew to 6.3Mb.

Frankly this really sucks. I just purchased the game, finally started to figure out that it is fairly enjoyable and now thinking if I can't save...it is unplayable.

I'll try deleting pref.ini again and see what happens. Either way I'm forwarding you the bug via e-mail.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Current Display Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.5405
Driver Date: 3/12/2004 14:57:00

Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768


It might help if you updated the old video drivers, installed the correct monitor driver, and ran the game at your desktop resolution.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks for suggestion.

FYI: I'm on a laptop and the drivers are updated to the latest (supported) NVida drivers.

Thanks for noticing the screen res. issue. When I deleted the pref.ini the last time I neglected to switch it back to the monitors preferred widescreen resolution from the games default.

Seems to have fixed the issue for now.

Thanks again for noticing the monitor res. issue
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
FYI: I'm on a laptop and the drivers are updated to the latest (supported) NVida drivers.


The guys over at at laptopvideo2go.com mod the desktop reference drivers to run on laptop chipsets, so that's worth a try if you have any other issues. Here's the newest one they have listed for 32 bit WinXP. If that won't install, you can ask for help on their forums with modding it so it will.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Error back again today. I thought switching the resolution was the prob. but apparently it wasn't.

Actions taken:
(1) Followed the help forum instructions at: https://forums.galciv2.com/?aid=155044#1233753 as requested by help desk.
---didn't fix problem

(2) Went to the driver update page you suggested kryo and my drivers are NOT on their list (NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 absent, but the NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 without the "Go" is there). Decided to d'load it and try anyway. Ran the "Setup.exe" and it tells me that there are no compatible drivers on my system. I'm not certain if I should just manually transfer all of the files (especially the nv4_disp.dll file)?

Any more suggestions?
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
my drivers are NOT on their list (NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 absent, but the NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 without the "Go" is there)


Yes, the list there are those that are supported in the default driver. The folks over at that site mod them to install on all known laptop chipsets as well in addition to that list--if they missed yours, just ask for help with it on their forum and I'm sure one of them will be able to get it straightened out so you can install them.