Vista SP1 Gal Civ 2 won't start

Please open your debug.err file in notepad, and copy/paste the contents into a post here. This will give us some technical information that can help troubleshoot your problem. The location you'll find the debug.err in varies depending on your game version:

Dread Lords, all versions:
C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2

Dark Avatar 1.5-1.6 (non-Vista):
C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar

Dark Avatar 1.6+(Windows Vista), 1.7+(non-Vista):
My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar

Twilight of the Arnor:
My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor

Be sure to copy the debug immediately after the error occurs; if you start the game again, the debug will be erased and recreated for the new session.

I have the same problem (i have sp1) i start the game and it sits on a black screen. i have to manually close the game out using task manager to get rid of it. heres my debug info

************************************
Debug Message: Version v1.80g Twilight of the Arnor beta 6c last updated on: Tue Apr 15 15:29:53 2008
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 4/28/2008, 00:02:12
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
Machine Name: ARS5151-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Business (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1, v.668 (6001.longhorn_rc1.071129-2315)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: Phoenix - Award BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 248 (2 CPUs), ~2.3GHz
Physical Memory: 3070MB RAM
Page File: 1311MB used, 5044MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 8800 GTX
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0191&SUBSYS_039C10DE&REV_A2
Display Memory: 2012 MB
Current Display Mode: 640 x 480 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
Driver Version: 7.15.0011.6925
Driver Date: 12/11/2007 17:06:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SPDIF Out (Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS (WDM))
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: 6.00.0001.1242
Driver Date: 2/13/2007 17:46:06
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Speakers (Realtek AC'97 Audio)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0059&SUBSYS_81741043&REV_A2
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVAC.SYS
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6243
Driver Date: 6/28/2007 15:21:32
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
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 hardware vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_8_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1920 x 1080, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 8
Debug Message: Could not create the render device using default format. Switching to 16bit
Debug Message: Using hardware vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1920 x 1080, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 0
Debug Message: Could not create the render device.
Debug Message: InitializeDirect3D Failed.
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize start

Question sort of related has any one with xp installed sp3 and have any trouble ???

Go to My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor, open the file prefs.ini, and make the following changes:

Change
DisplayWidth=1024
DisplayHeight=768
ColorDepth=32
Fullscreen=1

To
DisplayWidth=(Your desktop width)
DisplayHeight=(Your desktop height)
ColorDepth=32
Fullscreen=0

Then save the file and start the game.

WOOT! that fixed it, thanks for the fast response you guys ROCK!

I was having this same problem with Vista SP1, but your fix took care of the problem. Funny thing, my PC went to blue screen while playing the Dark Avatar. After that, I could not get my PC to boot until after I replaced the memory. But before I learned that the ram died, I reseated the original ram, then traded out the nvidia 7800 video card with a 7900, then tried an emergency PCI (not e) card, then reseated the CPU & heatsink, then finally traded out the memory, but with only one stick of ram . I then ordered my existing motherbaord off newegg, reinstalled everything, and it still wouldn't boot. Then I had the bright idea to install both sticks of memory, and my PC was reborn. So after all is said and done, my PC has a Gigabyte P965 DS3 version 3.3 motherboard rather than a version 1.0, plus new ram.

Huh?

No one runs at 640x480 these days. Not to mention, the game requires at least 1024 x 768.



Page File: 1311MB used, 5044MB available
And that is suggesting that there is a lot running when loading GalCiv.

Not necessarily. Vista alone can eat up almost 1GB...

I have this same problem and here is my info. I tried the fix but it still didn't work.

Debug Message: Version v1.91 Twilight of the Arnor last updated on: Thu May 1 12:15:51 2008
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 6/19/2008, 23:28:37
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
Machine Name: SAINT_GEORGE
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6000) (6000.vista_gdr.071023-1545)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: TOSHIBA
System Model: Satellite A200
BIOS: BIOS Version 5.20
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @ 2.00GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.0GHz
Physical Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 994MB used, 3317MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: Standard VGA Graphics Adapter
Manufacturer: (Standard display types)
Chip Type: NVIDIA
DAC Type: 8 bit
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01D7&SUBSYS_FF101179&REV_A1
Display Memory: n/a
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (1Hz)
Monitor Name:
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: vga
Driver Version: 6.00.6000.16386
Driver Date: 11/2/2006 03:53:58
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0268&SUBSYS_1179FF10&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5406
Driver Date: 4/25/2007 19:03:58
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
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: Failed to find a device that can start with hw vp mode. Trying mixed vp.
Debug Message: Failed to find a device that can start with mixed vp mode. Trying sw vp.
Debug Message: No compatible devices found.
Debug Message: InitializeDirect3D Failed.
Debug Message: Now windowed.
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize start

You don't have a proper graphics driver installed, judging by this.



Find out which video chip your computer is using, and install the proper driver.

Figured I'd post in a thread that already existed. Just got the game. Can't run it at all. But the apps that seems to crash at the launchers. If I run the .exe directly I don't have an issues. Anyway here is the .err report for Dread Lords:

Debug Message:  Version v1.80e Dark Avatar last updated on: Thu Nov  8 10:48:23 2007

Debug Message:  Checking DX Version.

Debug Message:  *********DXDiag info follows.*********

System Info

Time: 9/15/2008, 10:21:17

DirectX Version: DirectX 10

Machine Name: SILVERMOON

Operating System: Windows Vista™ Ultimate (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1 (6001.vistasp1_gdr.080425-1930)

Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)

System Manufacturer: alienware

System Model: alienware

BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme CPU X9650  @ 3.00GHz (4 CPUs), ~3.0GHz

Physical Memory: 3070MB RAM

Page File: 1359MB used, 4978MB available

Windows Dir: C:\Windows

 

 

Display Info

Display device 1:

Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1

Card Name: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series

Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.

Chip Type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x9440)

DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)

Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9440&SUBSYS_05021002&REV_00

Display Memory: 1786 MB

Current Display Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor

Monitor Max Resolution: 

Driver Name: atidxx32.dll,atidxx64,atiumdag.dll,atiumdva.dat,atiumd64,atiumd6a,atitmm64

Driver Version: 7.15.0010.0119

Driver Date: 6/3/2008 03:25:16

DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes

 

 

 

Sound info

Sound device 1:

Description: Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)

Default Sound Playback

Default Voice Playback

Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_10DE0175&REV_1001

Manufacturer ID: 1

Product ID: 100

Driver Name: HdAudio.sys

Provider: Microsoft

Driver Version: 6.00.5840.16387

Driver Date: 11/2/2006 03:36:49

Type: WDM

Other Drivers: 

Acceleration Level: 1

Cap Flags: 0

Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

 

Sound device 1:

Description: Digital Output Device (HDMI) (High Definition Audio Device)

Default Sound Playback

Default Voice Playback

Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_10DE0175&REV_1001

Manufacturer ID: 1

Product ID: 100

Driver Name: HdAudio.sys

Provider: Microsoft

Driver Version: 6.00.5840.16387

Driver Date: 11/2/2006 03:36:49

Type: WDM

Other Drivers: 

Acceleration Level: 1

Cap Flags: 0

Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

 

Sound device 1:

Description: Digital Output Device (SPDIF) (High Definition Audio Device)

Default Sound Playback

Default Voice Playback

Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_10DE0175&REV_1001

Manufacturer ID: 1

Product ID: 100

Driver Name: HdAudio.sys

Provider: Microsoft

Driver Version: 6.00.5840.16387

Driver Date: 11/2/2006 03:36:49

Type: WDM

Other Drivers: 

Acceleration Level: 1

Cap Flags: 0

Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

 

Sound device 1:

Description: Digital Output Device (HDMI) (2- High Definition Audio Device)

Default Sound Playback

Default Voice Playback

Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_1002&DEV_AA01&SUBSYS_00AA0100&REV_1001

Manufacturer ID: 1

Product ID: 100

Driver Name: HdAudio.sys

Provider: Microsoft

Driver Version: 6.00.5840.16387

Driver Date: 11/2/2006 03:36:49

Type: WDM

Other Drivers: 

Acceleration Level: 1

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 hardware vertex processing

Debug Message:  Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES

Debug Message:  Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1024 x 768, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 4

Debug Message:  Game Resolution: 1024 x 768

Debug Message:  Running fullscreen.

Debug Message:  HAL (hw vp): ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series

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 17d7840

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:\Users\stephen\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\stephen\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\sfx\*.wav

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\stephen\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Music\*.mp3

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\stephen\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:  Clear data definitions.

Debug Message:  Killing ship styles:

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\stephen\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.xml

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\stephen\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.xml

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\stephen\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:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\stephen\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.shipcfg

Debug Message:  Reading Star Names

Debug Message:  Reading Star Names... Done

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Tutorials/*.xml

Debug Message:  TitleWnd: Quit Button.

Debug Message:  Posting WM_CLOSE message.

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:  GameUninitialize end

Debug Message:  Device not cleared. 1 counts left.

Debug Message:  D3D not cleared. 1 counts left.

Debug Message:  Destroying Window.

Debug Message:  Main Shell terminating normally

Sorry. Ignore the above message. Silly me, it was still dowmloading the games when I tried to play.  All is good. Thanks.

I can not even start GalCiv 2 windows simply says GC2Launch.exe has stopped working that is as far as I get I managed to install the game by using the setup.exe instead of the launcher but now I can't play the game. The windows event error is as follows.

Faulting application GC2Launch.exe, version 0.0.0.0, time stamp 0x44a4455f, faulting module DXAxHost.dll, version 2.0.0.0, time stamp 0x44a44547, exception code 0xc0000005, fault offset 0x000208e8, process id 0xfb4, application start time 0x01c91b

 

 

Computer specs. Graphics card Nvidia 8600GT 256mb dedicated ram 767 mb shared with system

AMD X2 4600+ which runs at 2.4 GHz

2.0 GB of physical Ram

2.5 GB of virtual ram

running graphics at 1440 x 900 so should be fine any idea what is causing this?

Same here  (running Vista 32bit with SP1)-

Log Name:      Application
Source:        Application Error
Date:          21/09/2008 5:32:37 PM
Event ID:      1000
Task Category: (100)
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:     XXXXX
Description:
Faulting application GC2Launch.exe, version 0.0.0.0, time stamp 0x45804a84, faulting module DXAxHost.dll, version 2.0.0.0, time stamp 0x44a44547, exception code 0xc0000005, fault offset 0x000208e8, process id 0xa74, application start time 0x01c91c07a88073ce.

 

However if I run GalCiv2.exe directly from the GalCiv2 directory it works.

Strange thing - installed Dark Avatar and Twilight of the Arnor......and started via GalCiv2.exe and played the game.

Then tried to start the game via shortcut and Impulse and it works ?

Not sure if it was the expansions....or was starting the game via GalCiv2.exe (which I guess saved some config files)

 

Unfortanly I don't have the expansion and unless I can get Galactic Civilizations running I'm not going to get the expansion since there is no garintee that will work either. Any one else have any Ideas on how to fix the problem?

There are a variety of reasons that the launcher might fail (overprotective antivirus, bad MSXML installation, etc.). Aside from the antivirus one it's probably more work to diagnose than it's worth; the launcher is just a fancy frontend with shortcuts to the game, manual, etc. You should be able to browse to the location you installed at, find the GalCiv2.exe, and create a shortcut directly to it to use as the poster above did.

ok Thank  very much I saw that above but I thought that the GalCiv2.exe was part of the expansion pack. ok I got it working this should be fun.:)