Civ 3 not running on my Dell Inspiron Mini

[gspoto]

Any help here would be apperciated.

I want to play civ 3 on my new Dell mini 9 while I am on buisness travel. I purchased a new fully patched version of Civ 3 complete via Steam so I could avoid any pesky no disk cracks.
When I try and launch the app simply nothing happens. no error messages... Nothing.

Presuming Steam has given me a fully patched version... I am trying to run civ 3 on a new Atom processor, windows xp w/sp3.

What can i do to figure out what is going on?
I have searched the forums but either my problem is unique or I cant find it.

 

[Turner]

I would try contacting Steam and seeing what they say. Since you d/l'd it from them, they should be your first point of contact for problems.

You might want to try just running it the one time and then seeing if it shows up in your taskmanager.

 

[gspoto]

Thanks... I will try to check the task manager for a ghost process.

I fear that this is some problem with the Atomc processor or the intel graphics chipset that the mini uses.
I deleted the copy I purchased via steam (throu Steam of course). I then loaded up a purchased copy that I had from a few years ago by mapping a shared cd drive from a different PC on my network. So I got to load it up and run it with a disk (essentialy) and had the same result.

Since I am pretty sure that no one is issuing patches anymore if this turnes out to be true then I think that I am S.O.L. But I was hoping to see if anyone else was having a similar problem or if there were any know issues like this previously.

 

[gspoto]

Running from Steam I kept an eye on the task manager. It looks like a civ 3 conquests executable pops up and then quickly stops. I have reported this to steam and have heard nothing yet. (frustrating)
Anything else I could check?

 

[Turner]

Try loading it from Steam on your other computer, the one that you shared the cd drive from. If that works, then probably it's the laptop that can't run it for some reason.

 

[hepcat]

I am having the same problem with my Mini-9. I did not get it from Steam. I got it from Windows Marketplace which basically hosted from Direct2Drive.

I contacted D2D and they said they got a response back that I activated the game correctly, so the problem has to be with the game.

I tried running this in Win98 mode and the process is visible in Taskman, but the game doesn't actually launch.

It would be good to know what's going on here. I wonder if Civ3 has some kind of minimum screen resolution requirements? The 1024x600 might be causing it problems. The Mini-9 othewise exceeds the system requirements by a fair amount, so it's frustrating that this isn't working.

 

[Turner]

1024x768 is the minimum resolution, that may be the problem. However, as I've never done it, I don't know what Civ3 will try to do if you try and open it at a lower resolution.

It will attempt to make your resolution 1024x768, and if your display driver won't display that, it's possible all you'll see is what's been reported. Try hooking up the laptop to an external monitor that can handle at least that resolution.

 

[gspoto]

I have been in contact with 2K about this...
The tech that wrote back to my email said to try running in Windows compatability mode. I tried that through my steam install and steam seemed to fight me about it. So I unloaded that and tried a standard install (through a network drive).

I tried running it all the way down to Win 95 mode. No luck.

The tech I got from 2k didn't think that the resolution was the issuebecause the games native resolution is 800x600.

His gut feeling was that there was a problem with the intel graphics chipset that we use in the mini.

So maybe there are some different graphics drivers we could use.

I will post the text from my converations with 2k in another post. Maybe we will find it helpfull. I am somewhat relieve to know that there are others that want to run this game and maybe together we can find a way to make it happen.

In other news Civ 2 runs pretty well. Got a great 4 hour session with in on a trip to CA. Made me long for civ 3 to work though.

 

[gspoto]

Here's my conversation with 2k:

Customer
TWIMC,
I have recently purchased Civilization 3 Complete via Steam.
When I try and launch the game it crashes on launch. Viewing the task
manager I can see that an executable for Civ3Conquests starts and then stops
with no explanation.

I am trying to run on a new Dell Mini 9 running Windows XP with service pack
3. The mini 9 runs off of a new Atom processor and has an Intel Grahics
Chipset.

Steam support referred me to the game developer, which was Firaxis games.
The official game site for Civ 3 is a little stale but its support section
only had patch support. So I went right to Firaxis games support page
instead of the Civ 3 page. Firaxis page offered the same patches, but
directed me to go to 2K games for any problems not covered on their page.
2Ks main page for support. That page was very helpful with all of 2Ks
current games (Bioshock is awe inspiring BTW) but not for Civ 3. So i am
emailing you directly as that page suggested. Basically this is me telling
you that I have no where else to go.

Hopefully you will be open to providing some support for Civ 3. Which would
be perfect game to play on my new Dell Mini
--------------------
Response (John)08/10/2008 07.23 AM
Hello,

The specification of the Video output on your laptop is not really designed
for gameplay, however in some cases we have found that the chipset that you
are running can, on occasions play this game. To do this we would recommend
that you start the game and then go to advanced > graphics options and set
the game graphics as low as possible. If the game then works you can go back
to the graphics options and turn up the individual settings making one
adjustment at a time until you get the same 'crash' problem. Once you have
achieved this go back into the setting and turn the last adjusted setting
back and you will then be running the game at its optimal settings for your
machine.
-----------------------------------------
Customer
Thank you for responding to my question.
I appreciate that running on the mini is unusual and I am willing to operate
at a slower speed and reduced resolution.
Your suggestion to try playing with the game settings is fine, but I don't
even get the chance to do that since the game never really loads up.
The executable is only active for a moment and no menues or application
windows are ever seen on screen.

I haved attached the DxDiag and msinfo files zipped up like your PC support
page suggested. I understand if this situation isn't resolvable but want to
exhaust all options.

Could the screen resolution be a problem... this thing maxes out at 1024x600.

Thanks for your continued support.

----------------------------------------
Response (John)
Hello,

The only optio i feel we have for this game would be trying to run it in
compatibility mode :- To do this you need to right click on the desktop
icon (if you have one, if not then the setup.exe) and go to properties and select
the compatibility tab, check the box labeled 'run this in compatibility mode for'
and then select windows 98 from the drop down menu, click apply and ok and then try
to run the game again.

I do not think that the screen resolution is going to be an issue for you as
the game's native startup resolution is 800x600.

 

[MrStibbons]

I stumbled on this thread while trying to get Civ 3 to work on my Dell Mini 9.

I know this is an old thread but in case anyone else is having the same problems, I'd like to share my solution:

1) edit your Civilization3.ini file, adding the following two lines:

KeepRes=1
Video Mode=1024

(the second may not be necessary?)

1b) Since the Civilization3.ini file is generated the first time the game is run, you may not have one. I have attached a sample that should work for you.

After this, Civ 3 will load, but the bottom 168 pixels, which you need, are cut off.

To solve this:

2) Download ASTray Plus

ASTrayPlus seems designed for EEEPc, but it works to switch between "native" and "1024x768". Ignore the error that pops up when you first open it. The program does not require an install and can be run whenever you want it handy.

Of course, things look kinda funny running 1024x768 on a 1024x600 screen and it won't be as pretty but hey, you're running games on your Mini. You're probably used to the odd hack.

I hope this works for you! Civ 3 rocks and it's awesome that it's feasible to put it on the Mini!

 

[gspoto]

Awesome! Thanks to MrStibbons for posting up to this thread. I have been making it by with Civ 2 on some long trips to California. I am going to try out this hack as soon as I can and report back the results.

 

[Padma]

Thank you, MrStibbons.

FWIW, you don't need to copy the .ini file. Just create a new one, with the two lines listed. When Civ3 runs, it will read that file, and then add its other stuff, as needed.

 

[RickWJ66]

Yeah, Thanks Mr.Stibbons. I just bought a Dell mini, had the same problem, was getting quite frustrated, but your "fix" took care of it!

Thanks also for the ASTRAY link as well, as it is giving me better options for dealing with this tiny screen! (I have not figured out how to get it to use my "native" screen size, but now I can just have the larger screen setting and use my mouse to get the screen to scroll up and down.)

 

[netbookfiles]

I stumbled on this thread while trying to get Civ 3 to work on my Dell Mini 9.

I know this is an old thread but in case anyone else is having the same problems, I'd like to share my solution:

1) edit your Civilization3.ini file, adding the following two lines:

KeepRes=1
Video Mode=1024

(the second may not be necessary?)

1b) Since the Civilization3.ini file is generated the first time the game is run, you may not have one. I have attached a sample that should work for you.

After this, Civ 3 will load, but the bottom 168 pixels, which you need, are cut off.

To solve this:

2) Download ASTray Plus

ASTrayPlus seems designed for EEEPc, but it works to switch between "native" and "1024x768". Ignore the error that pops up when you first open it. The program does not require an install and can be run whenever you want it handy.

Of course, things look kinda funny running 1024x768 on a 1024x600 screen and it won't be as pretty but hey, you're running games on your Mini. You're probably used to the odd hack.

I hope this works for you! Civ 3 rocks and it's awesome that it's feasible to put it on the Mini!

We changed our URL for ASTrayPlus : http://www.netbookfiles.com/1/netbook-resolution-customizer-version-10-beta2/

Please use this link from now on!!

 

[baslim21]

Hi guys! I'm a newcomer fanatic .Playing Civ3 Con I have a question regarding this situation:
I have Acer AO531 netbook with the same screen resolution problems, using the software I've solved this problem, but still can't get how you manage to see player actions menus at the bottom of the screen - all menus was cut out with the new resolution. When I try to scroll down with my mouse wheel I'm just scrolling the map but not a screen itself. Yes I obviously can play without seeing those menu buttons and mini map, but however I'm asking for a help, in some situations (when diplomacy window is open and negotiating with other civ's) I can't see the negotiation result at the bottom of the screen.
I'm running Win 7 - maybe that is the issue? Does anybody have used tool for downscaling on Win 7?

P.S. Yes that was really because I'm using Win7. But I have found a solution use MoveMe utility located here: http://downloads.k0k0.de/index.php?dir=Netbooks/ASUS/EeePC/901/Misc/, its temporary solution, less convenient but it works on win7.

 

[soderkvist]

We changed our URL for ASTrayPlus : http://www.netbookfiles.com/1/netbook-resolution-customizer-version-10-beta2/

Please use this link from now on!!

I cant seem to get civ 3 started, where does that .ini-file go?

I also cant change my resolution above 1024x600 using this software, are there any other software that changes resolution that will work on my Acer aspire one?

EDIT: Im redoing this post

 

[Quintillus]

I cant seem to get civ 3 started, where does that .ini-file go?

It goes wherever your Civilization 3 main folder is; the default for the original Civilization 3 with no expansions is C:\Program Files\Infogrames Interactive\Civilization III\, where it will be Civilization3.ini. If you have Conquests, look for Civilization III\Conquests\, where it will be conquests.ini. The exact path may vary depending on what the first version of Civ3 you bought was (ex. if you bought Complete, it will install to somewhere different). If you bought it through Steam, it will be somewhere within C:\Program Files\Steam, but I'm not sure exactly where (I have the original version, and then the expansions).

Not sure about the 1024x600 resolution problems, as I've never tried to play Civ on that small of a screen.

 

[soderkvist]

It goes wherever your Civilization 3 main folder is; the default for the original Civilization 3 with no expansions is C:\Program Files\Infogrames Interactive\Civilization III\, where it will be Civilization3.ini. If you have Conquests, look for Civilization III\Conquests\, where it will be conquests.ini. The exact path may vary depending on what the first version of Civ3 you bought was (ex. if you bought Complete, it will install to somewhere different). If you bought it through Steam, it will be somewhere within C:\Program Files\Steam, but I'm not sure exactly where (I have the original version, and then the expansions).

Not sure about the 1024x600 resolution problems, as I've never tried to play Civ on that small of a screen.

I have the steam version. I have tried putting the .ini-file in almost every folder allthough I dont have conquests.ini. Anyway if I cant change resolution there is no point. Good it was only 1.25 €, no big loss. I bought Civ 4 aswell. Im going to try it out now on my desktop computer. I played alot of Civ 2 some years back, thats why I bought Civ 3 and 4 on the Steam-sale.