BtS Crashes immediately upon startup

[OWDUAnm]

Here are the facts.

Civilization 4 digital download via Gamestop (a long time ago) fully patched to 1.74 (thanks to a faithful forum member her!)

Beyond the Sword digital download via Direct2Drive (including the 3.13 patch)

Initially, I could not even install BtS because the installer did not recognize that Civ 4 was fully patched. After hours of searching for the solution I found a post on these forums explaining that the registry keys may not match up properly. So I add the following key

hkey_local_machine\software\firaxis games\sid meier's civilization 4\1.74

To go along with the key that was already there

hkey_local_machine\software\firaxis games\sid meier's civilization 4\1.74.0000

I presumed that the installer was looking for a patch by a different name. So after this change I attempted to install BtS again and it installed without a hitch.

So, then, when I go to run the game this is what happens.

The initialize graphic pops and runs through all the steps (init audio file, init xml, init engine)

When it gets to init engine the screen goes black like it's going to load the BtS interface, then it goes back to the desktop with a black box where the init graphic was, the resolution adjusted, then the screen goes black again like it is going to load up the BtS interface.

Finally it just kicks back to the desktop and nothing. There are no Civ 4 processes running.....and the frustration begins again!

So, is there anyone out here who can help me figure out what is going on? I've tried all the solutions I've been able to find through my hours of searching, though I may have been looking in the wrong spot. Seriously....anyone that can help will be my hero.


Thanks,

Brandon

 

[OWDUAnm]

anyone?

sad = me

 

[Lostsoldier217]

I am having the same exact problem. I have uninstalled and reinstalled everything more times than I care to count and it still crashes. Civ4 runs fine. Warlords runs fine. If I cant figure out how to make BTS load I'm going to gouge both of my eyes out on national television. Someone has to know how to fix this.

 

[erm4gh]

I suspect uninstalling didn't completely delete all traces of the game. I suggest you use regedit to find all BTS registry keys and delete them, delete the BTS files in the program directory, reboot and then install BTS again. However, if you'e not used to using regedit this is probably too risky a solution, as you can easily mess up your system if you delete the wrong key. In that case you might try using the registry cleaner in CCleaner. Its freeware.

http://www.ccleaner.com/features

 

[Lostsoldier217]

The CCleaner got rid of over 2 gigs of rubbish and BTS actually launched to the menu. A small step in the right direction is better than no step at all. However, now the game crashes when it tries to load the map.

 

[erm4gh]

You might try enabling logging and browsing the log files afterwards to see if they give a clue why you crashed. Other than that all I can think of is to update your operating system, internet explorer, and drivers to be as mainstream as possible, and if you have a spare (different model) graphics card experiment with using it instead to see if that makes a difference.

http://www.2kgames.com/civ4/support_logging.htm