Civ 4 BTS locks computer when I click on Update

[whooch]

Anyone have this concern. When I click on update on the screen inside Civ 4 BTS, it just sits there and locks up my computer. The mouse still moves and the music continues to play, but nothing happens and it wont let me out of that screen. I walked away from the computer thinking something was happening behind the scenes, but when I came back a half hour later nothing, still locked up.
I run MS xp pack2 for my operating system. I have 2 Gig of memory. I have 144 gb harddrive and 45 gb used. I run a 2.8 mhz processor. I have 256 mb on the video card. My internet pipeline is 8 mbs download. I am using roadrunner for my internet access.


I beleive I should be able to use a work around and just download the update from outside the program and it will self install.
But I was wondering if anyone has run up against this and has a fix so that Civ 4 BTS will allow me to use its update feature.

 

[Hugh Jundies]

I had this problem when I first tried to get the update right after I first installed and went into the game. Its exactly as you describe: can move the mouse, music plays, literally can do nothing else. I actually had to unplug my computer since CTRL-ALT-DEL wouldn't get a response.

However, I have subsequently gone back in and it worked...I was able to correctly download and install the new update from the BTS interface.

 

[Jolly]

The reason for lockup is most probably your firewall. I use ZoneAlarm and I get frequently freezes in similar situations if I haven't given permissions to that particular program. Of course it spawns a pop-up and asks for permission, but that doesn't help if you can't get to the pop-up.

Makes me wonder why games are so stupid in this regard. They should at least have a timeout for this kind of actions and not just try getting through infinitely.

 

[Zloth]

Makes me wonder why games are so stupid in this regard. They should at least have a timeout for this kind of actions and not just try getting through infinitely.

I don't think they can do anything about it. They can pass a timeout value to the connection request but ZoneAlarm gets the call and it is it's job to honor that timeout.

IMHO, ZoneAlarm should check to see if a full screen program is going. If one is, it shouldn't hold things up, it should just refuse the connection and leave you a note somewhere saying it did it. Actually, come to think of it, didn't they do that? Or is that only in the paid version?

 

[Pyrion]

ZoneAlarm has a "gaming mode" that you can enable that will stop the prompting and assume a temporary "yes," IIRC.

 

[Jolly]

I don't think they can do anything about it. They can pass a timeout value to the connection request but ZoneAlarm gets the call and it is it's job to honor that timeout.

IMHO, ZoneAlarm should check to see if a full screen program is going. If one is, it shouldn't hold things up, it should just refuse the connection and leave you a note somewhere saying it did it. Actually, come to think of it, didn't they do that? Or is that only in the paid version?

ZoneAlarm isn't perfect, you're right about that. But I'm pretty certain a more intelligent timeout watch could be implemented on the game's side. They should take into account the (quite probable) case that there isn't any answer. There's so many network configuration possibilities that they shouldn't assume anything.

 

[Jolly]

ZoneAlarm has a "gaming mode" that you can enable that will stop the prompting and assume a temporary "yes," IIRC.

I have the free version and I haven't seen a switch for that mode. Maybe it's also only in the full version as the auto refuse Zloth talked about.

Anyway, auto accept sounds quite dangerous for the lengthy Civ sessions