Game crashed when starting new save (GC2-TotA)

Hello, I have emailed stardock support but as they're on the Xmas break I thought I'd post here too and hope to get a reply sooner.

I decided to have a game of GalCiv2 recently and unforetunately found I could not start a new game without a crash to desktop. I actually also tried to start a game around a year ago and met with the same crash, I just never followed the issue up then.

The strange thing is I can open a previous save with no problems. It is just starting a new game that is the problem.

My debug.err:

Debug Message:  Version v2.04 Twilight of the Arnor last updated on: Tue Nov  1 11:59:59 2011
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2UL
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GC2EU
Debug Message:  Could not query reg key HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net value named Serial No
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GC2
Debug Message:  Could not query reg key HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2 value named Serial No
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2\Twilight
Debug Message:  Can't find serial number.
Debug Message:  Could not query reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2UL value named Version
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Stardock\Drengin.net\GC2EU
Debug Message:  Could not query reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2UL value named Version
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: 12/28/2012, 10:22:15
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
Machine Name: CHRIS-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.120830-0333)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: MSI
System Model: MS-7522
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU         960  @ 3.20GHz (8 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
Physical Memory: 6144MB RAM
Page File: 2508MB used, 9760MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce GTX 285
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_05E3&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A1
Display Memory: 3813 MB
Current Display Mode: 1600 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver Version: 9.18.0013.0697
Driver Date: 10/10/2012 21:23:48
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_0889&SUBSYS_14627522&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5943
Driver Date: 9/22/2009 20:04:44
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_0889&SUBSYS_14627522&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5943
Driver Date: 9/22/2009 20:04:44
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:  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 1600 x 900, Windowed: 1, Multisample: 4
Debug Message:  Game Resolution: 1600 x 900
Debug Message:  Running in windowed mode.
Debug Message:  HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285
Debug Message:  D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_IMMEDIATE
Debug Message:  Refresh rate: 0
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:  Border size reported as 6 by 28
Debug Message:  RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message:  Now windowed.
Debug Message:  Shell initialization complete
Debug Message:  GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message:  ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message:  Timer Frequency is 0 2fcda0
Debug Message:  Could not query reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2UL value named Path
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 (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\./Data/ShipTemplates/\*.shipcfg
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Chris\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 (x86)\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\Chris\Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Chris\Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Chris\Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Chris\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:  No files found matching mask ./Data/*.xml
Debug Message:  Clear data definitions.
Debug Message:  Killing ship styles:
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Chris\Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\shiptemplates\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2./Data/English/\ShipStyles\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Chris\Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\ShipStyles\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask ./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar\Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/1SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/1SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/1SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/1SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/2SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/2SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/2SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/2SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/3SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/3SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/3SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/3SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/4SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/4SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/4SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/4SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\./Data/ShipTemplates/\*.shipcfg
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Chris\Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\shiptemplates\*.shipcfg
Debug Message:  Reading Star Names
Debug Message:  Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Tutorials/*.xml
Debug Message:  GalaxyWnd: Cannot find OBJID Scenaro_MoreDetails_FText
Debug Message:  GalaxyWnd: Cannot find OBJID Scenaro_Details_FormattedText
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Scenarios/*.GC2Scenario
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
Debug Message:  CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Title
Debug Message:  CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Disctiption_Spinner_Back
Debug Message:  CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Disctiption_Title
Debug Message:  Creating Galaxy
Debug Message:  Killing threads.
Debug Message:  Kiling civs.
Debug Message:  Killing ships.
Debug Message:  Killing rallypoints.
Debug Message:  Killing misc objects.
Debug Message:  Killing stars.
Debug Message:  Killing anomalies.
Debug Message:  Killing asteroid fields.
Debug Message:  Killing asteroid field mining bases.
Debug Message:  Killing space resources.
Debug Message:  Killing ascension crystals.
Debug Message:  Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message:  killing scenario.
Debug Message:  Clearing Turn Event Log
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:  Could not open reg key HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2UL
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GC2EU
Debug Message:  Could not query reg key HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net value named Serial No
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GC2
Debug Message:  Could not query reg key HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2 value named Serial No
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar
Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2\Twilight
Debug Message:  Can't find serial number.
Debug Message:  Star Frequency: 4  Max Num Stars: 320
Debug Message:  Planet Frequency: 4  Max Num Planets: 1280
Debug Message:  Galaxy Size Set: 22 x 22
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message:  Star Density: Tight Clusters.
Debug Message:  Number of Unplaced Stars: 94.
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Planets
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  Total planets placed: 65
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Anomalies
Debug Message:  Num Anomalies: 300
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Resources
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Ascension Crystals
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Done
Debug Message:  Distributing bonuses on planets...
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Asteroid Fields
Debug Message:  Setting Game Options
Debug Message:  Creating Civs

I have been looking through the bug reports on this forum and there were a few about new saves crashing the game that caught my eye. There were a few responses from Kryo suggesting people download and run a file, to change language settings in the registry I think, but that met with no success for me.

I've been tempted to re-buy the game from Steam in the hope that it might solve the problem for me. I honestly think the problems only started when Impulse changed to Gamestop. I may be wrong but I believe the save games I can open were created prior to the Gamestop change.

I've uninstalled/reinstalled the TotA expansion and tried running in windowed mode, both to no avail.

There are an awful lot of 'could not open' lines in that debug.err. It also say I last updated the game in 2011 but I know I ran an update through gamestop just a couple of days ago.

I wondered if the number of 'could not find' errors might mean there are problems with the installation of the parent game (it is TotA I am trying to play). I do plan to uninstall everything and reinstall it all to see if that has any luck

If anyone can help it would be much appreciated. I have a week off work and would love to get in to a game of GalCiv2. I've been playing Distant Worlds a bit recently and whilst it's a fun title it loses out to GalCiv in many ways (it's far too easy for one thing). I just can't play GC and haven't been able to in a while.

If anyone thinks re-buying from Steam will help me then I'm more than happy to spend less than a tenner and buy it again. It supports a company I respect. I just don't know if it would give me the same errors.