Memory / Video problem?

Graphic glitching upon startup...

Hello everyone, I've got a weird problem thats been bothering me since I first purchased this game.

Usualy if I play a game like Diablo II or surf the net with internet explorer, and when I quit either of those programs to run the game (WHICH I ALWAYS DO. I NEVER RUN OTHER PROGRAMS WHEN PLAYING CIV), the game starts up with a graphics glitch on the screen. Im using the words "graphics glitch" because thats what it looks like. When the logo screen and titles screens show up after loading, the games graphics are jerking. This has happened when I first installed the game with Patch 1.09 and 512 of memory. So I figured it was a memory problem since whenever I restart the computer I dont get the graphic glitching anymore. So I decided to upgrade my ram to 1gig as well as download the new patch. So with the 1gig of ram and the new patch I still have the same glitching when the game starts up. The only way to get the game to run fine is if I restart the computer, but thats annoying to do everytime just to play this dumb game.

Is this happening to anyone else? Have you found a solution?

Thanks guys

Sal

PS. Comp specs

250MB Graphics Card
2Ghz Processor AMD 3000+
1gig Ram

If you Patched over V1.09 that can cause issues. Try a full purge of Civ IV

Reboot - try add/remove - success or failed do the following

Delete the Civ IV Directories in:

- Programs/Firaxis
- My Documents / My Games
- C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\My Games\Civilization IV\ Its a hidden directory if not seen just check you have "show hidden files" switched on

Load from discs
Load Patch V1.52

If stillissues - post again with your Dxdiag file

Regards
Zy

Hi, thanks for the response

Ok Ive uninstalled and reinstalled and patched the game with the newest patch, but I still get the same problem.

How do I post what you wanted me to post?

Sal

Dxdiag - Start Button - click - choose run - type dxdiag - hit enter - wait a min - select save all information - post using 'advanced' button below

Here it is

sal8050 said:

Graphic glitching upon startup...
Usualy if I play a game like Diablo II or surf the net with internet explorer, and when I quit either of those programs to run the game (WHICH I ALWAYS DO. I NEVER RUN OTHER PROGRAMS WHEN PLAYING CIV), the game starts up with a graphics glitch on the screen. Im using the words "graphics glitch" because thats what it looks like. When the logo screen and titles screens show up after loading, the games graphics are jerking. .......... I still have the same glitching when the game starts up. The only way to get the game to run fine is if I restart the computer ......

Click to expand...

Setup looks fine - graphics card is low(ish) but should be fine. Re the above, does it only happen after you have been in (Diablo), or does it still do it after reboot. If it still does it after reboot, does it happen straight away, or after you been playing for a while ?

EDIT: Also your GeForce driver is a little dated (2004). Worthwhile loading the uptodate driver set 81.98 released 21 Dec 2005 http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_81.98.html

Regards
Zy

It only happens after I finished using another app on my computer like IE or playing a game. If I try and continue playing the game with the glitching its hard to see whats going on. The only way for me to get rid of it is to reboot. During gameplay (after a reboot to clear the glitching), it never comes up.

But restarting the computer every time is kind of annoying just to play a game dont you agree?

sal

Totally agree - but it is unlikely to be Civ - not impossible of course....

Try the new drivers, it maybe that the current driver is not releasing memory space properly and under certain circumstances is just grabbing more memory - a guess - but not impossible. If so the new driver should (hopefully) fix that .

Something is being left in memory after your previous activities that is causing the clash. When you reboot it resets the memory, gets rid of 'leftovers', starts afresh. The fact that Civ runs ok then, indicates that Civ at the moment is not 'leaving anything behind' - therefore it seems to be something else you have running prior to starting Civ. Hence the Driver suggestion.

It also could be a badly behaved background program or application thats running.

Try the Driver first, if still issues - come back again here, and someone can take you through background apps and how to stop them temp so you can check which is the naughty one - labourious, but sometimes the only way

Regards
Zy

The game also can need .NET loading for various reasons - thats worth loading up if you have not already done so

You also dont have a separate Sound card, and use on board sound chip. Although it will seem strange, there are circumstances when the lack of a separate sound card can cause issues with graphics with the way both are handled in memory, particularly in 3D applications. (Which is why separate sound card is specified as minimum spec for the game) Not very common, dont rush and buy one yet, but bare it in mind as time goes on

Regards
Zy

Interesting...I always thought purchasing a soundcard was redundant especialy since I'm not trying to enchance the sound of any of my games. The sounds that the game already creates is satisfactory in my book. I always thought people who purchased sound cards where the guys who created music or uses their comps for a home theater or stuff like that..

Right now Im trying out the updating drivers thing. I never upgraded my video driver due to the simple fact that it confuses me what to download on the drivers page

Sal

On the driver page you will see the phrase "Primary Download Site" click that - choose where to keep the downloaded file on the disc - most use a download directory (My Downloads, Download, etc ). Choose "run" when downloaded or navigate on the disc to the file and double click it, and follow your nose, its pretty well automatic process once you got it going.

The phrase "mirror site" on the page are alternate sites where you can download the file. As in exits from car parks, it can be busy at times all trying to use the same site(car park), so several alternate Sites (exits) helps speed things up getting it downloaded.

If you still get the issues, try and track down any common factor re applications in use prior to starting up Civ - maybe always with one application and not another - it might be all the time. Post anything you have noticed.

From that someone can take you through eliminating suspects.

Regards
Zy