Civ 4 Complete - Locks up on launch

[Red Night]

So I buy this game (Civilization 4 Complete), as I remember fondly playing the original Civ4 on this same computer a few years ago. I install it, then I launch it. When the game goes to black, it stays there without ever going to the game's menu. I can't exit out, I don't get an error message, it just stays in this pitch black hell without any feedback to the problem until I force the computer to reboot manually.

Game version: 1.7.4.0 (Out of box)

Windows XP
Pentium 4 2.80 GHz
2.5 GB of RAM
RADEON 9550 video card

Is it too much to ask that I buy a game, install it on a computer I KNOW can play it, and have it WORK!? Is that really so much to ask?

And just an observation, as a new comer to this forum. A FAQ page that covers frequently asked problems in a list would be a lot more efficient and streamlined than that 62 page labarynth nightmare you have stickied at the top of the page.

 

[Lemon Merchant]

So I buy this game (Civilization 4 Complete), as I remember fondly playing the original Civ4 on this same computer a few years ago.

<snip>

Is it too much to ask that I buy a game, install it on a computer I KNOW can play it, and have it WORK!? Is that really so much to ask?

And just an observation, as a new comer to this forum. A FAQ page that covers frequently asked problems in a list would be a lot more efficient and streamlined than that 62 page labarynth nightmare you have stickied at the top of the page.

Well then. I understand your frustration, I really do, but being that this is your first post, it might have been better to be a little less critical.

The "labyrinth nightmare" you speak of is the best there is available ATM, for a reason. Most of the people who actually come here to this little sub-forum are asking questions, rather than giving answers. That means there is a rather small number of us actually answering the questions and/or giving advice. Most of us don't have the time or the inclination to collect everything into an FAQ list, but we do try to help out when and where we can. The only moderator that usually spends time here is Ori, and he's so busy answering questions, I really don't know how he finds time to be a moderator, so I don't see him putting an FAQ together without help from all of us, either.

A good FAQ would be really nice. It would certainly lower the frustration level somewhat. I am currently writing a guide on using Civ with Vista to post here, and it's taking a lot of my time. If any of that can be added to an FAQ, then great, or I can help with one when I'm finished. Others are contributing as they can, but right now, the "nightmare" is all we have, and users are generally just posting questions, much like you did. So, we'll ask you to be patient, and maybe a little understanding? We give our time because we like to help, but r/l does intrude.

Now. Welcome to CFC. Your problem is most likely due to a DirectX issue, or a graphics initialization error. Go to the Microsoft Downloads website and get the latest DirectX 9 update, install it if you haven't already, and run the game as administrator. If it still doesn't work, please post again in this thread and tell us what you did, what happened, and if there were any error messages, and we'll do our best to help.