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Crash To Desktop (CTD)

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Crash To Desktop (CTD)

from Stardock Forums
I have posted earlier about my frequent CTD and wondered if it was related to using DirectX 8 or an older nVidia graphics card driver. Well, I updated each (directX 9 and the nVidia driver) and don't think anything has changed.

I bought Gal Civ from amazon.com, installed the disk (don't recall what verson that was 1.0?). I played a few games to learn, found the forum, read the strategy guides, downloaded stardock and upgraded to 1.04. I don't recall many CTD with 1.04 but didn't play many games. When I read about 1.05, I downloaded that and started submitting games to the metaverse (it took me a while to get that right having to hit submit twice LOL).

Now on 1.05, the CTD are really frequent - maybe once per hour. I save every 2 turns so the 5 minutes for a reboot aren't the end of the world but they are annoying. Everything else on my computer works great. When I had operating system problems with Windows in the past the internet/networking connections always go first and everything was generally unstable. Now, especially since I re-installed Windows ME in January everything is stable like a rock including Internet, on-line games, other applications . . . but Gal Civ.

Should I remove Gal Civ and re-install from disk and then repatch up to 1.05? Has anyone done that and had it help? I really don't want to make things worse. LOL.

Should I just wait for Gal Civ 1.1 and hope that makes the CTD better or is that just wishful thinking?

I read there is a program from Stardock to track this but can't recall anything else about it. Should I do this?

Anyone had this issue?

Gal Civ is a great game. Thanks in advance for your advice. :)

Rick

Athlon 1900+
512 Mb RAM
nVidia 4600Ti graphics card
Windows ME
1,001 views 29 replies
Reply #26 from Stardock Forums Top
Um, in response to the first post here. I'm a computer tech - and not one of these guys with a college degree and a bunch of certs who thinks they know what they are doing - a real one with lots of experience :)

1) If you are crashing with a REBOOT then it is NOT galciv that is the problem. There is a problem elsewhere that may be magnified by something galciv is doing (i.e. a specific call to a windows API or dll) but in reality the dll or windows is messed up. It may not do it in other programs, but that might just be because other programs aren't using the call in the same way as galciv. Either way, it's something else.

2) You have windows ME. M$ sold this for about 6 months total. They have admitted that it was their darkest hour. The company I work at sold it on maybe a dozen new systems before pulling it and going back to 98. Now we do 98 or XP. Every system that comes into our shop with ME on it has some sort of OS problem. I recommend that you do to 98SE or XP (if your system can handle it). 90% of your problems will go away.

3) Been playing galciv 4-6 hours a day 3-5 days a week and I have had ONE (1) crash thus far. WinXP Pro, AthlonXP 2600+, 1.5GB DDR400, Gigabyte nForce2 board. I have played galciv at work a few times for extended periods when we are slow and I have not had a crash yet. Athlon 1Ghz, 512MB DDR266, Gigabyte 7VTXE+ board. I have played galciv at my parents with my brother on two seperate computers (Duron 1.3, Athlon 1900+, 512 PC133 each, gigabyte boards, don't know model) and I haven't had a crash there either.

My point is that everyone I know has it working fine on good hardware that is well maintained using windows 98 or XP and have had few crashes. Independent reviews had said that the game is remarkably stable and bug free for it's size and the size of the developer. I would lean towards problems outside of galciv first. Take your system to a good tech, get rid of ME for those that have it. For those with problems using XP if it's often (more than once per 10 hours of gameplay) then I would look into other issues. Things to check for are:

Overheating system (check the temp of the overall system after the crash. Everything is pegged when you're running this game so you may have a heat issue)
OS problems - If you have 98 and you haven't reloaded in the past 6 months do so. When I had 98 it was 3-6 months between full reloads and being in the industry, this is pretty standard. If you have ME get rid of it, if you have XP and it's been more than a year since you reloaded it then do so. XP is really good, but not perfect and still needs to be cleaned out good once in a while.

Hope this helps everyone!
Reply #27 from Stardock Forums Top
However, last night in run into 100% repeatable crash to desktop, most likely triggered by desctruction of one of my own colonies. I tried to destroy the colony some 5 times, each of them resulting in a CTD in the next round.
End of quote


I have seen this too. You can try this (worked for me). I assume you saved the game prior to destroying the colony (did 5X yes?). Save the game again after you destroy the colony, but before you hit end turn. The game will crash, then reload the post-destruction save, and continue on your merry way.
TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #28 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks Brian. I am sure some of my CTD is ME that I haven't reloaded since January but it seems strange it happens with no other software than Gal Civ.

Rick
Reply #29 from Stardock Forums Top
Want a piece of advice? Don't install a single patch at all :HOT: . We have a great game as it is .. i was having "the end of turn DOOM CTD". No more pacience for this .. reinstall from scratch, new Civilization, and NO fuckin' CTD's.

:HOT:
Tha'General signing off .. (go spirit go.., and find your sister beagle in the way) :D