Hi Rhonin,

Thank you for your help!

As requested DxDiag report:

https://1drv.ms/t/s!AjReSWszll-sg5cdgfjJ1FVA2Ux3JA 

Hi Sean,

I am running my Steam games from External HD, as part of my troubleshooting I removed ALL my Stam games and Steam itself, so there was no trace of either GCIII or Steam on either the Laptop or my EHD, I then re-installed Steam which installs on my local drive here:   

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Steam
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam

On the EHD created a new folder;  D:\My Games
Then from Steam Settings menu;
Downloads, Steam Library Folders,
Add Library Folder; Select;   

D:\My Games\steamapps\common

So GC3 is currently located in the folder, D:\My Games\steamapps\common\Galactic Civilizations III

To try your advice which of the folders should I change to "GC3Crusade.OLD" as suggested? Thank you.

https://1drv.ms/t/s!AjReSWszll-sg5cdgfjJ1FVA2Ux3JA?e=aHnaGa 

Thank you, I am missing my fix

Kind regards
Ricky

Regardless of where the game is isntalled, post install  and one run, you should have this folder in this exact path.

If you don't, we have other problems.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Don't panic Huston, no problems, just solutions..

I was hunting through D:\My Games\ getting confused with the steamapps\common, but I can see now where I am supposed to be..  I have changed the folder to C:\Users\ricky\Documents\My Games\GC3Crusade.OLD, however, unfortunately, the game still constantly loading at "Loading Players", I gave it a good hour to try and load but still the same spinning galaxy.

I could try uninstalling and re-installing locally or try another EHD? Maybe that is causing the issue, it's odd that the other games I have installed and downloaded on to the same EHD work fine, including; Sid Meier Civ, Sins of a Solar Empire even Demigod all work no problem and I'm only using 113GB on a 2T drive, the machine is low spec but it has clocked up some good hours with no problems till now. 

Any further advice will be greatly appreciated

Ricky

Yay!!!  I was able to get it to run.  I just went to Intel (look up Intel® Driver & Support Assistant) and updated my driver to the generic Intel graphics driver, while ignoring the warning to stick with the custom OEM driver.  

Going to try to play it now.

Hi Sean,

Yes, it sounds very similar and could be the same.
It's a large three with many suggestions, also lots of actions taken without knowing which ones have which results, so a bit tricky to pick out the bones and apply suggested fixes in some coherent order, so rather than jump into action I will take the time to read the thread pull out a list of all the suggestions made and start the process of trial and error... Including intel driver as laronius suggested it has worked.

I will let you know as soon as I have compiled a list of suggestions to work through

Thank you, much appreciated

Hi Sean,

I had taken a break from gaming, however, I'm now back and needing my GC fix.

So I decided to go back to the beginning. I have just completed a completely fresh Windows install removing all programs & files, with the now squeaky clean OS I installed Steam and GC3 both on my local drive (noting on my external drive), loaded GC3, no mods, no setting changes in either Steam or GC3, just straight to Quick Start, and.. Same problem; Game loads fine, music comes on, but when loading the spinning galaxy appears, it will say "Loading" "Building Galaxy" and then it gets stuck on "Setting up Players". I have tried loading Tiny map, same problem.

Please help, GC3 and Sins are literally the only two games I play, it's the best escape from my depression that I have and I'm really missing GC, any help will be greatly appreciated!!!

Sincerely Ricky  

Hi Sean,

Thank you for your quick response, I much appreciated!!

No, I have not tried the suggestions as I went for a fresh start and OS re-install and didn't want to go making changes without checking first.

First, I will try;

1 -  rename it to: \Documents\My Games\GC3Crusade.OLD

Interesting, when I look in \Documents\My Games\ There are 2x Folders GalCiv3 and GC3Crusade, next to the GC3Crusade folder the 'status' is 'sync pending' - Also inside the folder, it is the 'Cache' folder that has status 'sync pending' folder is empty, don't know if that means anything? Either way, I will rename

\Documents\My Games\GC3Crusade

rename it to: \Documents\My Games\GC3Crusade.OLD 

Haha - status has changed to 'Available when online' - sounds promising.. hold your breath..  

No joy, crap, I thought I had it there... Ok..

Next, I will try;

2 -  Intel (look up Intel® Driver & Support Assistant) and updated my driver to the generic Intel graphics driver, while ignoring the warning to stick with the custom OEM driver

OK so... 

2 -  Intel (look up Intel® Driver & Support Assistant) and updated my driver to the generic Intel graphics driver, while ignoring the warning to stick with the custom OEM driver

Looking at the Intel panel, it sends me to https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/detect.html 
I have downloaded - Intel® Driver & Support Assistant (Intel® DSA) - there are software updates available

- DCH driver (Installing this graphics driver from Intel may remove customizations from your computer manufacturer (OEM).

I have proceeded with the update despite the warning.. and..  "X something went wrong the installer failed to properly install"

FFS!!  Looks like I have a driver issue, ill try Intel support and let you know how I get on.

Fantastic!

One should have today's date, that is the one you would keep.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

You are most welcome.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager