Trap 5 while changing tech research projects.

from Stardock Forums
While changing tech research projects preperatory to investigating an anomaly Galciv crashed and gave SmartException the followong:
---------
Versions:
Microsoft Windows Me
Internet Explorer 5.50.4134.0100

Video Card : NVIDIA GeForce2 GTS (IBM)
Crash Information:
Application Exception code: C0000005 ACCESS_VIOLATION
Crash Addr: 004EA8BB 01:000E98BB E:\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE

Processor Registers (x86):
EAX:00000000
EBX:83E7ADC0
ECX:00000000
EDX:7EFEFEFF
ESI:83E7ACE0
EDI:02C70CF9
CS:EIP:0187:004EA8BB
SS:ESP:018F:00A6EFB0 EBP:00A6F168
DS:018F ES:018F FS:23B7 GS:40F7
Flags:00010246

Call Stack:
Address Frame
0x004EA8BB 0x00A6F168 0001:E98BB E:\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0x0043A946 0x00A6F1D4 0001:39946 E:\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0x0043ABBB 0x00A6F264 0001:39BBB E:\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0x0043AC47 0x00A6F2CC 0001:39C47 E:\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0x0047DF9C 0x00A6F348 TestFilename+55DC
0x0047DF9C 0x00A6F3C4 TestFilename+55DC
0x00494B8C 0x00A6F42C MemManager::ValidPointer+CCCC
0x00494A97 0x00A6F49C MemManager::ValidPointer+CBD7
0x00494E77 0x00A6F514 MemManager::ValidPointer+CFB7
0x0048E9B0 0x00A6F58C MemManager::ValidPointer+6AF0
0x00482604 0x00A6F60C HotSpotList::ProcessMouseInput+434
0x0048E911 0x00A6F680 MemManager::ValidPointer+6A51
0x00482604 0x00A6F700 HotSpotList::ProcessMouseInput+434
0x0048E911 0x00A6F774 MemManager::ValidPointer+6A51
0x00482604 0x00A6F7F4 HotSpotList::ProcessMouseInput+434
0x0048E911 0x00A6F868 MemManager::ValidPointer+6A51
0x00482604 0x00A6F8E8 HotSpotList::ProcessMouseInput+434
0x0048E911 0x00A6F95C MemManager::ValidPointer+6A51
0x00482604 0x00A6F9DC HotSpotList::ProcessMouseInput+434
0x0048E911 0x00A6FA50 MemManager::ValidPointer+6A51
0x00482604 0x00A6FAD0 HotSpotList::ProcessMouseInput+434
0x0048E911 0x00A6FB44 MemManager::ValidPointer+6A51
0x004B223D 0x00A6FBC4 EventSem::IsPosted+C1D
0xBAABD504 0x00A6FBF0 DDHAL32_VidMemFree+E2C
0xBFF63613 0x00A6FC10 Ordinal121+757
0xBFF848F7 0x00A6FC24 UTUnRegister+9DB
0x00A68C62 0xBFF619B8 0000:0
0x00058F64 0xC9B60F5D
-------------
I had clicked on several prospective techs before reallizing that the display had not changed from the current tech. Then it
bounced out of Galciv.

Cheers,
Jack
251 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
The data in the SmartException report from the debug file got changed in transmition to the message board. I am sending
the saved game to Cari, just in case it is useful. On the second try I saved the game before attempting to change the
research project. This time I only clicked on one tech and waited for the screen to change. It did not. Also, the strange
debug messages talking about "HotSpotList" with the faces in them did not appear. I am sending the SmartException file
to Cari as well.

Cheers,
Jack
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
When trying to restart a different saved game I got the above trap 5 with these three lines included from the
debug file:
-------------
**** Script Error **** : Data\GCTech.TECH (L:699 C:46) - Unable to find string tech stat named Abilities
**** Script Error **** : Data\GCTech.TECH (L:849 C:45) - Unable to find string tech stat named Abilities
**** Script Error **** : Data\GCTech.TECH (L:874 C:41) - Unable to find string tech stat named Abilities
---------
This is very curious. The GCTech.TECH file contains three tech descriptions with the "Abillity" keyword,
and I don't remember any previous use of this keyword. Is this a change that prevents restarting on Alpha 5
games that were saved on Alpha 4?

Cheers,
Jack
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I have just disproved any idea that loading a game saved on the previous build (Alpha 4) was the cause of my getting this
crash. It just happened in a game I started from scratch on Alpha 5.

Cheers,
Jack
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
I am going to try changing the GCTech.TECH file some to see if the cause/trigger is there. If anyone else finds it before I do
please post here. All my testing is stopped until I can get past this one.

Cheers,
Jack
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I found something. The description for the tech Battleship2 in the GCTech.TECH file is corrupted. The first thing I noticed about it is that
the keyword "overview" was missing. But when I tried to add it I got a message from NotePad that there was not enough memory to complete the
operation. It took some finagling but I did manage to change the description. I now get past this failure.

Cari or someone at stardock,
Please correct this file and put it up so we can reload it.

Thanks,
Jack
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
The definition for 2D phasing also has a corruption problem.

I suspect there is at least one other tech definition with this problem as one of the games from build Alpha 4 that I tried
restarting under Alpha 5 was well beyond these techs and was the initial discovery that started this thread.

Cheers,
Jack
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I thought I had managed to edit the problem out of the GCTech.TECH file for 2D phasing but I am unable to
get past this tech. There are a lot of problems I reported on previous builds that I would like to check out
but I can't get far enough into the game to do so with this problem. I need a corrected version of GCTech.TECH
to do so. Please, correct this file and make it available to us.

Thanks,
Jack
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
I also got the blue patern with white specks screen of death after clicking on the 2D phasing tech. Is it possible that the GCTech.TECH
file has something in it that looks to Galciv.exe as a horrendously long character string it has to move into memory causing it to
wipe out OS and periferal control memory?

Cheers,
Jack
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Here is my smart exception report. I clicked on Battleship 2 tech, and it booted me to the desktop. I got a smartexception popup, and I chose submit to Stardock, but I don't think it got sent. If it *did* get sent, if you let me know I'll not re-post to the forum. BTW my internal clock is wrong -- so the exception occured about 10 minutes before this posting.

Thanks!

Stardock SmartException Logging Information 04/06/02 07:04:56
-------------------------------------------------------
Versions:
Microsoft Windows 98
Internet Explorer 6.0.2600.0000

Video Card : Matrox Millennium G200 AGP
Crash Information:
Application Exception code: C0000005 ACCESS_VIOLATION
Crash Addr: 004EA8BB 01:000E98BB C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE

Processor Registers (x86):
EAX:00000000
EBX:83703408
ECX:00000000
EDX:7EFEFEFF
ESI:83703344
EDI:02970CF9
CS:EIP:0177:004EA8BB
SS:ESP:017F:00A6EFB0 EBP:00A6F168
DS:017F ES:017F FS:0CDF GS:48A7
Flags:00210246


Current Application Call Stack:

Addr Frame Logical addr Module Name
---------------------------------------------
004EA8BB 00A6F168 0001:000E98BB C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0043A946 00A6F1D4 0001:00039946 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0043ABBB 00A6F264 0001:00039BBB C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0043AC47 00A6F2CC 0001:00039C47 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0047DF9C 00A6F348 0001:0007CF9C C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0047DF9C 00A6F3C4 0001:0007CF9C C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
00494B8C 00A6F42C 0001:00093B8C C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
00494A97 00A6F49C 0001:00093A97 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
00494E77 00A6F514 0001:00093E77 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0048E9B0 00A6F58C 0001:0008D9B0 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
00482604 00A6F60C 0001:00081604 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0048E911 00A6F680 0001:0008D911 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
00482604 00A6F700 0001:00081604 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0048E911 00A6F774 0001:0008D911 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
00482604 00A6F7F4 0001:00081604 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0048E911 00A6F868 0001:0008D911 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
00482604 00A6F8E8 0001:00081604 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0048E911 00A6F95C 0001:0008D911 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
00482604 00A6F9DC 0001:00081604 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0048E911 00A6FA50 0001:0008D911 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
00482604 00A6FAD0 0001:00081604 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
0048E911 00A6FB44 0001:0008D911 C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
004B223D 00A6FBC4 0001:000B123D C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRENGIN.NET\GALCIV\GALCIV.EXE
BAABD70D 00A6FBF0 0001:0001C70D C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDRAW.DLL
BFF7363B 00A6FC10 0001:0000263B C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL
BFF942E7 00A6FC24 0002:0001B2E7 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL

Debug information for each Stardock app follows ....

Debug.err info follows
Timestamp: 4-6-2002 12:4:57
Debug Message: ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message: Going Fullscreen
Debug Message: RGB in format 5:6:5, Masks reported as f800:7e0:1f
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 1234dc
Debug Message: Added fonts: font2 font1 Comic10 Comic12 Comic12B
Debug Message: Added fonts: Comic14 Comic14B Comic16 Comic16B Comic18
Debug Message: Added fonts: Comic18B Celtic14 Celtic12 Celtic10 Basker14
Debug Message: Added fonts: Basker16 ArialGreenB10 ArialYellowB12 ArialLtBlueB12 ArialDkBlueB12
Debug Message: Added fonts: ArialGreenB12 ArialRedB12 Arial13B Arial16B2 Arial10
Debug Message: Added fonts: Arial12 Arial12B Arial14 Arial14B Arial16
Debug Message: Added fonts: Arial16B Arial18 Arial18B GaraWGold11B GaraBW14B
Debug Message: Added fonts: GaraW11B
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: Game Initialization completed.
**** Script Error **** : Data\GCTech.TECH (L:699 C:46) - Unable to find string tech stat named Abilities
**** Script Error **** : Data\GCTech.TECH (L:849 C:45) - Unable to find string tech stat named Abilities
**** Script Error **** : Data\GCTech.TECH (L:874 C:41) - Unable to find string tech stat named Abilities
Debug Message: No data definition files at path Data\*.EVENT
Debug Message: Possible error: number of fields for GNNLB is not exact. Remainder: 25 pixels
Debug Message: Possible error: number of fields for TradeOfferList is not exact. Remainder: 8 pixels
Debug Message: Possible error: number of fields for TradeOfferList is not exact. Remainder: 8 pixels
Debug Message: Possible error: number of fields for PList is not exact. Remainder: 10 pixels
Debug Message: Possible error: number of fields for ShipList is not exact. Remainder: 8 pixels
Debug Message: Possible error: number of fields for EventLB is not exact. Remainder: 43 pixels
Debug Message: Destroying ship Yor ColonyShip 39. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Destroying ship Torian ColonyShip 37. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Make Ship Leave Orbit: Brad Version
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Make Ship Leave Orbit: Brad Version
Debug Message: Destroying ship USS Colony Ship 2967. Orbiting: 1
Debug Message: Make Ship Leave Orbit: Brad Version
Debug Message: Altarian (2): Researching: Nano Electronics
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Make Ship Leave Orbit: Brad Version
Debug Message: Make Ship Leave Orbit: Brad Version
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Make Ship Leave Orbit: Brad Version
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Destroying ship USS Colony Ship 294. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship USS Colony Ship 843. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Make Ship Leave Orbit: Brad Version
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Destroying ship USS Colony Ship 428. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship USS Colony Ship 7725. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: No AutoSave files in current directory.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Altarian (2): Researching: Instant Communication
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Make Ship Leave Orbit: Brad Version
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Destroying ship USS Colony Ship 3968. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Make Ship Leave Orbit: Brad Version
Debug Message: Destroying ship USS Colony Ship 1106. Orbiting: 1
Debug Message: Make Ship Leave Orbit: Brad Version
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Destroying ship USS Colony Ship 2090. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Destroying ship USS Colony Ship 6625. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Arcean (3): Researching: Phasers
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
Debug Message: Displaying News Event.
ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Frank,
I am sending you a copy of the tech file that cari sent to me. It contains corrections that allow you to get past the trap 5 when selecting
one of the 5 research projects that had definition errors. It may be wise to keep a copy of the old tech file ("GCTech.TECH") before replacing
it with the one I am sending you.

Next, after installing this file and restarting your game, to you start getting the "screen of death" symptoms I have been getting?

Cheers,
Jack
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
Please send it to me too :)

I have a great game going, but am stuck due to that.
I cant put anything in sience, since when the current project finish, one of the "troublesome" techs are top on the list and automaticly selected. Meaning that the game crashes. Id love to get past that one.
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
Its on its way to Frank and Fredrik. Anyone else?

Cheers,
Jack
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks! This one worked much better.

Found a new bug tho...

After researching 4D Philosophy, I get another one named the same thing. When selecting that one, the game crashes.

I have a savegame at that level if anyone (Cari?) is intrested.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
Hmm strange. I did a "research-mania" but save the "4D Philosophy" to the end since otherwise I just would get a new one with the same name an a crash, as I just wrote. Anyway - by saving it to the end I could win by research. When I only had that one left I won the game instead of it apprearing a second time.