CIV-111 Crash - Windows XP

Silver_xxx

Chieftain
Joined
Jun 15, 2007
Messages
12
Location
Adelaide - Australia
I am an older gamer. I still love playing CIV111. I struggle a bit with CIV-1V. I rebuild my computer. Complete re-install of Windows XP, plus all new downloads. Installed my favourite CIV111. Downloaded the latest patch from the CIV-111 downloads. Installed. Game starts, then freezes after one or two turns. Won't recover. Thought it was my graphics card. So I installed a new NVIDIA GeForce 9400 GT. Still does the same thing. Sometimes, after about a minute, it un-freezes and passes to the next unit for instruction. I've turned off all animations in Preferences. It takes for every to turn over. Running an AMD Quad Core Phenom 9500. 1 Gb of RAM. New motherboard....
If I can't get CIV-111 running again, I will have to sit and talk to the missus. Save me. Any suggestions. Prefer email response.
Update. It wants to send an error message to Microsoft. In the technical data, it is pointing at civilization3.exe.mdmp FILE as the problem?
I will try the CIV.INI suggestions found in the forum. All my drivers and XP upgrades are current.
 
Uninstall/reinstall of Civ3?
 
Update. It wants to send an error message to Microsoft. In the technical data, it is pointing at civilization3.exe.mdmp FILE as the problem?

Can you post the error message (a screenshot maybe)? That might give some of us a better idea.
 
I think the top window points to 2 files that actually contain the error messages, can you post these too?

Thank you Tank for your response. The files after creation are deleted either after you send to Microsoft or if you hit the Don't Send button. I was able to trap them half way through the error sending procedure. The TXT file is readable and I have pasted the text below. The Civilization3.exe.mdmp file contains computer code that when opened in notebook is unintelligible. (To me at least) And the file doesn't actually appear in the directory listed, even during the error message sending procedure.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>
<DATABASE>
<EXE NAME="Civilization3.exe" FILTER="GRABMI_FILTER_PRIVACY">
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="binkw32.dll" SIZE="291328" CHECKSUM="0x2C07AE17" BIN_FILE_VERSION="1.0.22.0" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="1.0.22.0" PRODUCT_VERSION="1.0w" FILE_DESCRIPTION="RAD Video Tools" COMPANY_NAME="RAD Game Tools, Inc." PRODUCT_NAME="Bink and Smacker" FILE_VERSION="1.0w" LEGAL_COPYRIGHT="Copyright (C) 1994-2000, RAD Game Tools, Inc." VERFILEDATEHI="0x0" VERFILEDATELO="0x0" VERFILEOS="0x0" VERFILETYPE="0x1" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION="1.0.22.0" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="1.0.22.0" LINK_DATE="12/03/2000 02:38:18" UPTO_LINK_DATE="12/03/2000 02:38:18" />
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="Civ3Edit.exe" SIZE="1253376" CHECKSUM="0x3AC5A8AB" BIN_FILE_VERSION="1.50.0.1" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="1.25.0.1" PRODUCT_VERSION="1.25f" FILE_DESCRIPTION="Civ3Edit MFC Application" COMPANY_NAME="FIRAXIS Games, Inc." PRODUCT_NAME="Civ3Edit Application" FILE_VERSION="1.50" ORIGINAL_FILENAME="Civ3Edit.EXE" INTERNAL_NAME="Civ3Edit" LEGAL_COPYRIGHT="Copyright (C) 2001 FIRAXIS Games, Inc." VERFILEDATEHI="0x0" VERFILEDATELO="0x0" VERFILEOS="0x4" VERFILETYPE="0x1" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION="1.50.0.1" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="1.25.0.1" LINK_DATE="06/28/2002 17:56:23" UPTO_LINK_DATE="06/28/2002 17:56:23" VER_LANGUAGE="English (United States) [0x409]" />
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="Civilization3.exe" SIZE="3242773" CHECKSUM="0x8BA495A3" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" LINK_DATE="07/08/2002 18:04:03" UPTO_LINK_DATE="07/08/2002 18:04:03" />
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="drvmgt.dll" SIZE="35840" CHECKSUM="0xC0479D01" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" LINK_DATE="01/11/2002 15:01:41" UPTO_LINK_DATE="01/11/2002 15:01:41" />
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="jgl.dll" SIZE="393216" CHECKSUM="0x6CF46868" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" LINK_DATE="07/01/2002 16:47:31" UPTO_LINK_DATE="07/01/2002 16:47:31" />
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="Mss32.dll" SIZE="346624" CHECKSUM="0xBC80188F" BIN_FILE_VERSION="3.0.0.0" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="3.0.0.0" PRODUCT_VERSION="6.1a" FILE_DESCRIPTION="Miles Sound System" COMPANY_NAME="RAD Game Tools, Inc." PRODUCT_NAME="Miles Sound System" FILE_VERSION="6.1a" LEGAL_COPYRIGHT="Copyright (C) 1991-2001, RAD Game Tools, Inc." VERFILEDATEHI="0x0" VERFILEDATELO="0x0" VERFILEOS="0x0" VERFILETYPE="0x1" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x57DAE" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION="3.0.0.0" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="3.0.0.0" LINK_DATE="03/31/2001 19:41:24" UPTO_LINK_DATE="03/31/2001 19:41:24" />
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="sound.dll" SIZE="454656" CHECKSUM="0x1FB39656" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" LINK_DATE="09/28/2001 19:12:58" UPTO_LINK_DATE="09/28/2001 19:12:58" />
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="redist\win32\Mss32.dll" SIZE="346624" CHECKSUM="0xBC80188F" BIN_FILE_VERSION="3.0.0.0" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="3.0.0.0" PRODUCT_VERSION="6.1a" FILE_DESCRIPTION="Miles Sound System" COMPANY_NAME="RAD Game Tools, Inc." PRODUCT_NAME="Miles Sound System" FILE_VERSION="6.1a" LEGAL_COPYRIGHT="Copyright (C) 1991-2001, RAD Game Tools, Inc." VERFILEDATEHI="0x0" VERFILEDATELO="0x0" VERFILEOS="0x0" VERFILETYPE="0x1" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x57DAE" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION="3.0.0.0" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="3.0.0.0" LINK_DATE="03/31/2001 19:41:24" UPTO_LINK_DATE="03/31/2001 19:41:24" />
</EXE>
<EXE NAME="kernel32.dll" FILTER="GRABMI_FILTER_THISFILEONLY">
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="kernel32.dll" SIZE="989696" CHECKSUM="0x2D998938" BIN_FILE_VERSION="5.1.2600.5781" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="5.1.2600.5781" PRODUCT_VERSION="5.1.2600.5781" FILE_DESCRIPTION="Windows NT BASE API Client DLL" COMPANY_NAME="Microsoft Corporation" PRODUCT_NAME="Microsoft® Windows® Operating System" FILE_VERSION="5.1.2600.5781 (xpsp_sp3_gdr.090321-1317)" ORIGINAL_FILENAME="kernel32" INTERNAL_NAME="kernel32" LEGAL_COPYRIGHT="© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved." VERFILEDATEHI="0x0" VERFILEDATELO="0x0" VERFILEOS="0x40004" VERFILETYPE="0x2" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0xFE572" LINKER_VERSION="0x50001" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION="5.1.2600.5781" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="5.1.2600.5781" LINK_DATE="03/21/2009 14:06:58" UPTO_LINK_DATE="03/21/2009 14:06:58" VER_LANGUAGE="English (United States) [0x409]" />
</EXE>
</DATABASE>
 
Let's add some white space around the tags; that might help see things.
And Bold Red the < >s.
And Bold Blue any relevant /s.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>

<DATABASE>

<EXE NAME="Civilization3.exe" FILTER="GRABMI_FILTER_PRIVACY">

<MATCHING_FILE NAME="binkw32.dll" SIZE="291328" CHECKSUM="0x2C07AE17" BIN_FILE_VERSION="1.0.22.0" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="1.0.22.0" PRODUCT_VERSION="1.0w" FILE_DESCRIPTION="RAD Video Tools" COMPANY_NAME="RAD Game Tools, Inc." PRODUCT_NAME="Bink and Smacker" FILE_VERSION="1.0w" LEGAL_COPYRIGHT="Copyright (C) 1994-2000, RAD Game Tools, Inc." VERFILEDATEHI="0x0" VERFILEDATELO="0x0" VERFILEOS="0x0" VERFILETYPE="0x1" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION="1.0.22.0" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="1.0.22.0" LINK_DATE="12/03/2000 02:38:18" UPTO_LINK_DATE="12/03/2000 02:38:18" />

<MATCHING_FILE NAME="Civ3Edit.exe" SIZE="1253376" CHECKSUM="0x3AC5A8AB" BIN_FILE_VERSION="1.50.0.1" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="1.25.0.1" PRODUCT_VERSION="1.25f" FILE_DESCRIPTION="Civ3Edit MFC Application" COMPANY_NAME="FIRAXIS Games, Inc." PRODUCT_NAME="Civ3Edit Application" FILE_VERSION="1.50" ORIGINAL_FILENAME="Civ3Edit.EXE" INTERNAL_NAME="Civ3Edit" LEGAL_COPYRIGHT="Copyright (C) 2001 FIRAXIS Games, Inc." VERFILEDATEHI="0x0" VERFILEDATELO="0x0" VERFILEOS="0x4" VERFILETYPE="0x1" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION="1.50.0.1" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="1.25.0.1" LINK_DATE="06/28/2002 17:56:23" UPTO_LINK_DATE="06/28/2002 17:56:23" VER_LANGUAGE="English (United States) [0x409]" />

<MATCHING_FILE NAME="Civilization3.exe" SIZE="3242773" CHECKSUM="0x8BA495A3" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" LINK_DATE="07/08/2002 18:04:03" UPTO_LINK_DATE="07/08/2002 18:04:03" />

<MATCHING_FILE NAME="drvmgt.dll" SIZE="35840" CHECKSUM="0xC0479D01" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" LINK_DATE="01/11/2002 15:01:41" UPTO_LINK_DATE="01/11/2002 15:01:41" />

<MATCHING_FILE NAME="jgl.dll" SIZE="393216" CHECKSUM="0x6CF46868" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" LINK_DATE="07/01/2002 16:47:31" UPTO_LINK_DATE="07/01/2002 16:47:31" />

<MATCHING_FILE NAME="Mss32.dll" SIZE="346624" CHECKSUM="0xBC80188F" BIN_FILE_VERSION="3.0.0.0" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="3.0.0.0" PRODUCT_VERSION="6.1a" FILE_DESCRIPTION="Miles Sound System" COMPANY_NAME="RAD Game Tools, Inc." PRODUCT_NAME="Miles Sound System" FILE_VERSION="6.1a" LEGAL_COPYRIGHT="Copyright (C) 1991-2001, RAD Game Tools, Inc." VERFILEDATEHI="0x0" VERFILEDATELO="0x0" VERFILEOS="0x0" VERFILETYPE="0x1" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x57DAE" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION="3.0.0.0" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="3.0.0.0" LINK_DATE="03/31/2001 19:41:24" UPTO_LINK_DATE="03/31/2001 19:41:24" />

<MATCHING_FILE NAME="sound.dll" SIZE="454656" CHECKSUM="0x1FB39656" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" LINK_DATE="09/28/2001 19:12:58" UPTO_LINK_DATE="09/28/2001 19:12:58" />

<MATCHING_FILE NAME="redist\win32\Mss32.dll" SIZE="346624" CHECKSUM="0xBC80188F" BIN_FILE_VERSION="3.0.0.0" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="3.0.0.0" PRODUCT_VERSION="6.1a" FILE_DESCRIPTION="Miles Sound System" COMPANY_NAME="RAD Game Tools, Inc." PRODUCT_NAME="Miles Sound System" FILE_VERSION="6.1a" LEGAL_COPYRIGHT="Copyright (C) 1991-2001, RAD Game Tools, Inc." VERFILEDATEHI="0x0" VERFILEDATELO="0x0" VERFILEOS="0x0" VERFILETYPE="0x1" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x57DAE" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION="3.0.0.0" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="3.0.0.0" LINK_DATE="03/31/2001 19:41:24" UPTO_LINK_DATE="03/31/2001 19:41:24" />

</EXE>

<EXE NAME="kernel32.dll" FILTER="GRABMI_FILTER_THISFILEONLY">

<MATCHING_FILE NAME="kernel32.dll" SIZE="989696" CHECKSUM="0x2D998938" BIN_FILE_VERSION="5.1.2600.5781" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="5.1.2600.5781" PRODUCT_VERSION="5.1.2600.5781" FILE_DESCRIPTION="Windows NT BASE API Client DLL" COMPANY_NAME="Microsoft Corporation" PRODUCT_NAME="Microsoft® Windows® Operating System" FILE_VERSION="5.1.2600.5781 (xpsp_sp3_gdr.090321-1317)" ORIGINAL_FILENAME="kernel32" INTERNAL_NAME="kernel32" LEGAL_COPYRIGHT="© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved." VERFILEDATEHI="0x0" VERFILEDATELO="0x0" VERFILEOS="0x40004" VERFILETYPE="0x2" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0xFE572" LINKER_VERSION="0x50001" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION="5.1.2600.5781" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="5.1.2600.5781" LINK_DATE="03/21/2009 14:06:58" UPTO_LINK_DATE="03/21/2009 14:06:58" VER_LANGUAGE="English (United States) [0x409]" />
</EXE>

</DATABASE>
Hmm. Now it is easier to read, but still as confusing as before.

The only non-Civ, non-Microsoft stuff I see is binkw32.dll, up towards the top. That is used to play movies in the game, mainly the intro and space ship.

I searched my PC and I have that same file three times for CivIII. I have Civ III Complete, which is one install with all three versions/expansions of the game, each fullly patched. The vanilla uses version 1.0.22.0, the same as what you show here. PTW and Conquests use version 1.5.7.0.

If you play Civ III vanilla, it may need to be patched up to 1.27f. I don't know that it would fix your problem, but it might.

Then again, bink32.dll might work just fine.

I have no idea what GRABMI_FILTER_THISFILEONLY means or does; sorry.
 
I appreciate you looking at this stuff....
Binkw32.dll appears to a stock standard file used in many gaming applications to run movies.
I have downloaded and installed Civilization 111 v1.29f. That appears to be the latest version. You mention earlier versions. Is there a library where I could try an earlier upgrade version??
Can I ask stupid question. What is Vanilla? And is this a possible download fix?
 
There were/are three versions of Civ 3. The first one, which you are playing, is referred to as 'vanilla', since it was the first version. Play The World and Conquests are expansions of the basic game.

Generally, any first version is called 'vanilla', whether it be Civ 3 or Civ 4 or Need for Speed.

Your version, 1.29, is the latest patched verssion of vanilla. If you find earlier versions of vanilla, be careful. Changes made to the format of the save file mean that games saved in earlier versions of vanilla cannot be opened by later versions. I've seen the version number where that change occurred, but I don't remember it.

Which One?
At Amazon I found three different versions of Civ 3. Vanilla for $9.99; Civ 3 Gold (includes vanilla and Play the World) for $10.12 and Civ 3 Complete (includes vanilla, Play the World and Conquests) for $19.99.

I would strongly suggest trying to acquire Civ 3 Complete. It will give you all 31 playable civs and is fully patched. Vanilla and PTW will also be installed (one 3 disk installation) and are also fully patched. It is just easier to buy this package, since it is fully patched, than trying to locate seperate copies of each game and patch them up.

Other Issues
I would suggest downloading CachemanXP. It it freeware. It will put an icon into your system tray that can show you how much free RAM you have. It won't help the game run any better, but it can tell you how much RAM you have, which in turn could help diagnose why the game keeps crashing.

I had a problem for a while due to PC Tools Firewall Plus. I had updated it and one of its advanced features would not let Civ3 run. Only affected Civ3, nothing else. So, if you have a firewall, you might want to turn it off (and unplug from the internet) and see what happens.
 
I might have it Commando. I hadn't re-installed CIV4 yet. So I did that. Noticed that it runs DIRECTX9. So I tried CIV111 again, and had an hour of crash free thrashing of the Greeks on 2nd to top level. (Can't remember.) I don't know if it was the DIRECTX9, or some other factor. If it remains stable, I will report back in a couple of days. Order is restored to the world.
 
Thanks Tank and Bob. It appears installing CIV4 has solved a problem with CIV3. I don't know why. I'm guessing it was the installation of DIRECTX9. Maybe this could be included in the CIV3 latest downloads and patches??
Many thanks team.
 
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