CariElf CariElf

Sound Problems/Frequent Crashes Troubleshooting

▼

Sound Problems/Frequent Crashes Troubleshooting

from Stardock Forums

We have not changed the sound or music code for several versions of Gal Civ.  I don't know why, but people sometimes suddenly start having problems with the sound after they upgrade to a new version. 

The latest update to Gal Civ multimedia contains resampled mp3s to the format that our mp3 player likes the best, so this should cut down a lot of problems that people have with the sound.

About 90% of problems with frequent crashes are due to problems with your sound codecs or drivers and our mp3 player not playing nice.

Here are some things that you can try to get your sound working again:

1) Update your sound drivers if there is a newer version.  Re-install if you don't have a newer version.

2) If you don't have the latest version of DirectX installed, update it.  Also run dxdiag and do all the sound tests to make sure that there are no problems.

3) http://www.stardock.com/files/ms_mp3codec.exe - this link will re-install Microsoft's default system codecs.  Sometimes other programs install their own buggy versions of these codecs and overwrite them.

4) Run Windows update.  I'm pretty sure that there's an update that addresses static in games.

5) http://www.radgametools.com/bnkdown.htm - this is a link to the download page for the bink tools.  If another program like QuickTime has taken over your bink associations, that could cause problems with the sound. Installing the bink tools should reclaim the associations.

6) As I mentioned in #3, some programs install buggy mp3 codecs.  These can also cause crashes.  Windows Media Player is always safe.  WinDVD and Winamp3 are known to have buggy codecs.  Updating to newer versions of these programs may help if they've fixed their codecs.  You probably don't need to try un-installing these programs unless you are getting frequent crashes as well as the static. 

We have a program called SmartException under the Free Stuff tab in Stardock Central that will often catch the file that is causing the crash and report it in a file named GalCiv.exe.cra

 

7) Make sure that the mp3s play in another media player without the static.  If you're still getting static, you may need to re-install the multimedia.

8) Try starting Gal Civ with a shortcut that points directly at Gal Civ, not through the GCMenu that is installed by the CD.  The flash autoplay program opens up a sound channel that it doesn't close before Gal Civ opens.

9) Intel Application Accelerator has been known to cause crashes with certain chipsets.  Updating to a newer version may solve the problem, but in some cases it must be un-installed.

[email protected]


[Message Edited]
[Message Edited]
34,349 views 80 replies
Reply #26 from Stardock Forums Top
Starbase modules do not work
End of quote

What do you mean?
If it is the standard starbase modules, have you the starbase module files (extension .sbmodules) in your Galciv/data directory. If it is modules from a mod, then ypu must have the .sbmodules files in mods/galciv/data directory AND continuous numbering between id used for modules.

BTW, there is another thread for bug linked with latest AP and Galciv release.
Reply #27 from Stardock Forums Top
Peace Phoenix,
I have the standard starbase modules in the Galciv/data directory. I do not have any starbase mods. I do have tech, improvements, and event mods. I will limit this topic to one forum (mods). Thanks for the interest.
Siege of Centauri
Reply #28 from Stardock Forums Top
1. Disappearing anomalies and other like stuff - annoying but game still playable.
End of quote

Anormalys tend to disapear afer some time (some tale longer then others) ad the AI hunts for them too

Do your tech mods interfere with the base techs (change them)? If they do that may seriously disturbe some game features. For example SBmodules cause they are "linked" to this files
Reply #29 from Stardock Forums Top
#16 by Citizen moss_icon - 8/26/2004 1:43:46 AM

i can't even get the game to start since getting the upgrade. i start galciv, the screen goes black and my HD churns away, then it dumps me to desktop. should i send these files too? hope you can help!! thanks!
End of quote


The same thing happens to me. I just bought/downloaded AP, and immediately updated to the latest version 1.51.008. I ended up uninstalling AP, reinstalling JUST the release verison 1.50.006, and that works fine. I think I'll stick with the old version for now until I see some concensus on how to fix this problem.

~SDC~
Reply #30 from Stardock Forums Top
Really need some help here. Playing Original Galciv./Patch 1.21 with Mods.

After playing the game, my game crashes taking the computer along with it with a Comp. Restart. This is NOT the usual CTD in which you just go to the Desktop. It is more serious in that it actually turns off the computer and Restarts it. I already made a similar post in the forums about this, but I felt that it would be better to post it here in the appropriate thread.


I already put AUTOSAVE Off.
I downloaded SMARTEXCEPTION off StarDock, doesn't work since entire computer restarts.
Computer is well beyond minimal/recommended specs.

This is getting REALLY annoying, very close to ripping GalCiv. CD in half due to frustration.... >:(
Reply #31 from Stardock Forums Top
Playing Original Galciv./Patch 1.21 with Mods.
End of quote

Have you the problem with no mods?
What mods are you using?
Reply #32 from Stardock Forums Top
Mods Installed:

1: Advanced Transports and Freighters
2: Amazonia
3: Aquafins
4: Atlantis
5: CDG Party Pack
6: Darkworld
7: Encounter with Precursors
8: Equatorial Virus
9: Goddess Event
10: Hero Terrorist
11: Leather Goddesses Revised
12: Museum Incident
13: Pleasure Unit Revised
14: Precursor Station
15: Puppet Masters
16: Rescue the Space Princess
17: Sunken Alien Ship
18: The Aqua Fortress
19: The Matrix
20: Goods
21: The Monstrous Mod v2.0

Also, is there a way to change the text on these mods events? One of them, the "Leather Goddesses Revised" event is pretty disconcerting. It basically refers to the women as "Poor Boys" in the 2nd choice when you make the choices concerning morals.
Reply #33 from Stardock Forums Top
Does you have the problem if playing without mods? The crash could be linked with one of the mods that doesn't behave correctly.
Reply #35 from Stardock Forums Top
Tried it without Mods. (Turned off Mods in-game) Only thing helpful was that the Crash happens much later instead of earlier.

Should I send someone the Debug.err file or show the problems when my computer crashes? I.E.

Technical Info.
0x000000D1 (oxF7E333E4, 0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0xF7116B60)
Reply #36 from Stardock Forums Top
Need help. What is this?

Debug Message: MemMan: Unable to find pointer in GetBlockInfo. Memory system: DataMan
ASSERT ERROR in file C:\Projects\pear\SOURCE\MEMMAN.CPP at line 581.
ASSERT ERROR in file C:\Projects\pear\source\Model2d.cpp at line 2400.
*DEBUG ERROR: *** No string table files in directory: Mods\Data\English.str ***

Wondering if these are the cause to my crashes. I already disabled Mods...
Reply #37 from Stardock Forums Top
After installing quite a few mods, I decided to begin playing GalCiv Alterian Prophecy. After I completed my first turn the game cut to an action screen of my civilization being completely destroyed and the game
ended. Can someone tell me what the problem is or how I can fix this? Thanks.

Scott
Reply #38 from Stardock Forums Top
Should I send someone the Debug.err file
End of quote

You should send the debug.err and the smartexception log to [email protected]

[Message Edited]
Reply #39 from Stardock Forums Top

ProudCanadian, if you do a search on dart*.dll, does it find any files? Can you please use SDC to archive your existing installation, then upgrade, run AP, and send me the debug.err file if it crashes again?

Fragger Type XP, did you install the mods to the data directory or the mods data directory? If you did not put them in a mods folder, Gal Civ would still be reading the mods files in.  Did any of the mods have graphic files that came with them? Did you try any of the suggestions from my first post in this thread?  You may want to un-install and re-install Gal Civ if you didn't use the mods folder.  That will make sure that you have the clean copy.

[email protected]

 

Reply #40 from Stardock Forums Top
CariElf, it seems that I found the solution, besides doing a Defragmentation of the computer, you also need to do an Error-Checking to fix corrupted files and whatnot. After I did these, I encountered very little crashes ever since.
Reply #41 from Stardock Forums Top
I have a consistent crash, it happens on a turn where a UP meeting is supposed to happen. Crash info is:

Stardock SmartException Logging Information
-------------------------------------------

OS Version : Windows XP
Video Card : NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400
Application Exception code: C0000005 ACCESS_VIOLATION
Crash Addr: 004FD7ED 01:000FC7ED G:\Stardock\galciv\galciv.exe

Processor Registers (x86):
EAX:0CEF6510
EBX:7FFD8000
ECX:0CEF6510
EDX:00000000
ESI:00000000
EDI:00340037
CS:EIP:001B:004FD7ED
SS:ESP:0023:0012F344 EBP:0012F5C0
DS:0023 ES:0023 FS:003B GS:0000
Flags:00010246


Current Application Call Stack:

Addr Frame Logical addr Module Name
---------------------------------------------
004FD7ED 0012F5C0 0001:000FC7ED G:\Stardock\galciv\galciv.exe
00554AF5 0012FA20 0001:00153AF5 G:\Stardock\galciv\galciv.exe
0040C060 0012FA68 0001:0000B060 G:\Stardock\galciv\galciv.exe
0054CEEB 0012FAD4 0001:0014BEEB G:\Stardock\galciv\galciv.exe
0054D1AB 0012FC50 0001:0014C1AB G:\Stardock\galciv\galciv.exe
0054E7E7 0012FDB4 0001:0014D7E7 G:\Stardock\galciv\galciv.exe
0054EBBA 0012FECC 0001:0014DBBA G:\Stardock\galciv\galciv.exe
005139C9 0012FEF8 0001:001129C9 G:\Stardock\galciv\galciv.exe
0053C320 0012FF0C 0001:0013B320 G:\Stardock\galciv\galciv.exe
005B5F07 0012FF34 0001:001B4F07 G:\Stardock\galciv\galciv.exe
005F1EFA 0012FFC0 0001:001F0EFA G:\Stardock\galciv\galciv.exe
7C816D4F 0012FFF0 0001:00015D4F D:\WINNT\system32\kernel32.dll


Debug information for each stardock app follows ....


Using latest version of GC and stardock, no mods installed, expansion pack not installed (will not buy it until the base app is a bit more stable).
Reply #42 from Stardock Forums Top
Using latest version of GC and stardock, no mods installed, expansion pack not installed (will not buy it until the base app is a bit more stable).
End of quote

I suppose you are refering to AP as the expansion pack
If I understand correctly, you have galciv 1.22. until the lastest patch, it was stable. The latest patch seems to have introduce some access violation CTD

[Message Edited]
Reply #44 from Stardock Forums Top
A little more troubleshooting info:

- The galaxy is huge (in case it matters)
- The error occurs at the same time in two different save games (the save games are 12 months apart, one is 13 months before the error, one is 1 month)
- The error occurs on two different systems, one of which has a fresh install of Galciv from stardock
- The error occurs regardless of autosave settings
- The error occurs regardless of music and sound settings

Personally, I think the game is fatally flawed. COme to think of it, this is why I quit playing Galciv a year ago and played SEIV instead. I had the same problem then, on a different system. I thought it was just the system, aparently not.
>:(
Reply #45 from Stardock Forums Top
Final amount of TS info. The crash must be related to something the AI is doing. I did the following and still got the crashes:

- Changed planet production for all planets completing in the next turn
- Changed research
- Left the UP
- Stopped my anamoly explorers from exploring

I am lost as to what it is unless it's AI related. I am going to start another game with different starting settings and see if the same problem happens again. This is incredibly frustrating, however.
Reply #46 from Stardock Forums Top
Personally, I think the game is fatally flawed.
End of quote

You are a bit strong here. Galciv 1.21 was pretty stable. It isn't because the lastest patch has some problems that you should consider that the game is fatally flawed.

Have you e-mailed the savegame to CariElf?
Reply #47 from Stardock Forums Top
The crash must be related to something the AI is doing.
End of quote

Or to the UP since you have told us that the crash appears just before the UP meeting. BTW, how many major AIs do you know when the UP was supposed to take place?

[Message Edited]
Reply #48 from Stardock Forums Top
Have you e-mailed the savegame to CariElf?
End of quote


Nope, he hasn't asked for it yet.

Maybe I am being harsh in my estimation of the game, and maybe not. Like I said, I am pretty sure this was why I quit playing the game before, same crash on the end of a turn that happened no matter what I did. We shall see I guess.
Reply #49 from Stardock Forums Top
Or to the UP since you have told us that the crash appears just before the UP meeting. BTW, how many major AIs do you know when the UP was supposed to take place?
End of quote


Actually, I think I eliminated the UP possibility by leaving the UP (never left the UP before, though, so I don't know if the meetings still occur). As for the AI's, all but two are eliminated, and I know of both of those.
Reply #50 from Stardock Forums Top
Have you e-mailed the savegame to CariElf?
End of quote

Nope, he hasn't asked for it yet.
End of quote

CariElf is always interested in getting savegames that lead to reproducable CTDs. You can contact her here [email protected]
Don't forget to give in the message some information about the version you are using ... A copy from your posts in this thread (stating your tests and the smartexception report) will surely help her too.

[Message Edited]