Windows 7 - can run GalCiv2 but not Twilight or Dark Avatar

from Stardock Forums

Just upgraded from Vista to Windows 7 (32 bit) and after reinstalling the three games via Impulse I am finding that ToA and DA both crash violently at start up. Here is a debug.err log for the Twilight crash.

Debug Message:  Version v2.03 Twilight of the Arnor last updated on: Thu Jul 23 11:47:38 2009
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE\Stardock\ComponentManager\Drengin.net\GalCiv2UL
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE\Stardock\ComponentManager\Drengin.net\GC2EU
Debug Message:  Could not query reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE\Stardock\ComponentManager\Drengin.net value named Serial No
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2UL
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Stardock\Drengin.net\GC2EU
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2UL
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Stardock\Drengin.net\GC2EU
Debug Message:  Checking DX Version.
Debug Message:  *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 2/11/2010, 18:33:36
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
Machine Name: CTHLUHU
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.091207-1941)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: HP-Pavilion
System Model: GN561AA-ABA a6230n
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5600+ (2 CPUs), ~2.8GHz
Physical Memory: 3072MB RAM
Page File: 1595MB used, 4543MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 6200 
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 6200
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0221&SUBSYS_B4003842&REV_A1
Display Memory: 488 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll
Driver Version: 8.16.0011.9107
Driver Date: 9/27/2009 23:12:22
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
 
Display device 2:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY3
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 8600 GT
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0402&SUBSYS_40161682&REV_A1
Display Memory: 1520 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (59Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
Driver Version: 8.16.0011.9107
Driver Date: 9/27/2009 23:12:22
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
 
Display device 3:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY4
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 8600 GT
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0402&SUBSYS_40161682&REV_A1
Display Memory: 1520 MB
Current Display Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (59Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
Driver Version: 8.16.0011.9107
Driver Date: 9/27/2009 23:12:22
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_0888&SUBSYS_103C2A58&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5910
Driver Date: 8/4/2009 09:48:20
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 
Sound device 1:
Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_103C2A58&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5910
Driver Date: 8/4/2009 09:48:20
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:  Could not query reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2 value named Language
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): NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT
Debug Message:  D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message:  Refresh rate: 59
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:  Could not open reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2UL
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Stardock\Drengin.net\GC2EU
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\./Data/ShipTemplates/\*.shipcfg
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Kakupacal\Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Kakupacal\Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\shiptemplates\*.shipcfg
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE\Stardock\ObjectDesktop\DesktopX
Debug Message:  Initializing sound card.
Debug Message:  initailizing bink
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar\Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask Gfx\Tutorials\*.bik
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Kakupacal\Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Kakupacal\Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Kakupacal\Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Kakupacal\Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\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:  Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message:  D3DERR_DEVICELOST
Debug Message:  Device lost
Debug Message:  Attempting to reset device.
Debug Message:  Device Validated. Attempting to restore resources.

=========

 

thanks!

 

14,923 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Having multiple monitors can sometimes cause problems.  Head to this folder:

C:\Users\YOUR_USER_NAME\Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor

Open the 'Prefs.ini' file, and find lines that look like this (they should be near the top):

[Video]
DisplayWidth=1024
DisplayHeight=768
ColorDepth=32
Fullscreen=1

Change them to look like this:

[Video]
DisplayWidth=1280
DisplayHeight=1024
ColorDepth=32
Fullscreen=0

Save the file, run the game again and see if the issues persist.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Howdy! That did the trick - I donked around with the graphic settings after the first edit and got things set properly for the default display monitor but thanks very much for pointing me to the file!

CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Glad to hear it's working!  I wasn't sure which monitor was your main, so I pretty much guessed.  ^_^   For anyone else that has this issue, change the DisplayWidth and DisplayHeight to match your native screen resolution, and you should be fine.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

I was going to say I have windows 7 64 bit and can run twilight perfectly so I didn't think it was Windows 7.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting econundrum1, reply 4
I was going to say I have windows 7 64 bit and can run twilight perfectly so I didn't think it was Windows 7.
End of econundrum1's quote

It doesn't happen to everyone, but it's something we've seen almost exclusively on Windows 7.  It doesn't happen often, but this almost always clears things up.