Civ IV Complete problem: Basic and Warlords games don't launch, BtS does

[Ultimate Genera]

I installed Civ IV complete. No problems occurred during the installation. But, the basic game and Warlords game don't launch. BtS does. Basic and Warlords don't even begin to load game, I got immediately error message "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000005). Click on OK to terminate the application."

I have Compaq nx7400 laptop with 1GB RAM, Intel T2400 1,83GHz double core processor, Mobile Intel 945GM Express Chipset Family and Windows XP pro.

I uninstalled and reinstalled the game. No effect. I updated graphic driver. No effect. BtS seems to run well, so I think my laptop should be good enough for the game.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[ori]

does the error contain anything else?
0xc0000005 is a memory access violation
you should make sure windows is updated and search THOROUGHLY for adware / malware on you computer since that is the most common reason...
Does something similar occur with other programs?

Welcome to Civfanatics

 

[Ultimate Genera]

Thanks for help, the error msg doesn't contain any additional information. Windows should be up to date, automatic updates take care of that as well as I know, but I'll search for malware. I haven't any problems with other programs/games.

 

[ori]

you could check whether the windows data execution prevention is set to windows only or to all programs that is one of the likely culprits:
1. Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
2. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.
3. On the Data Execution Prevention tab note what setting is checked and post it here...
DO NOT change any settings unless you are sure there is no malware on your computer.

 

[Ultimate Genera]

I ran Full malware/spyware search with my F-Secure PC Protection Plus, but it found nothing.

I checked manually the Windows Update for new updates. There weren't any high-priority updates but I found a few optional software and hardware updates which I installed. No effect on the problem.

Data Execution Prevention is set to "Essential Windows programs and services only". Should it be changed, and what is the risk if there is a spyware on my computer which my antivirus program F-Secure didn't found (this of course should be highly improbable)?

 

[ori]

you *could* try the following:
set it to all programs and then add civilization 4 as an exception. The risk is: if there is malware that somehow infected your civ 4 install then it will be active, at the same time any programs that don't conform with microsoft's DEP will not work on that setting unless you except them. I would probably just go ahead and try it - and change it back immediately afterwards.
However I don't think that this is it - since it runs fine on my machine with this setting (sometimes it sets to all programs - which is what I would have changed to windows only).

does the error message give you a file name or application name (just checking) that is not civilization ...

 

[Ultimate Genera]

I tried what you proposed, but, as you already suspected, it didn't help. Now I changed DEP-setting as it was before.

Error msg doesn't give any other programs, the msg box title is Civilization4.exe - Application Error (or Civ4Warlords.exe - Application Error). Actually, the box comes twice (i.e. the same box appears again when I close the first msg box) - I don't know if this matters, probably not. Thanks for your help.

 

[ori]

0xc0000005 seems to be an error caused by multitude of things, among them malware (most common), software incompatible with XP service pack 2 (surely not the case here - since you are the first one I see reporting on this), full or faulty hard drive, faulty physical memory and other weird incompatibilities between programs and microsoft software. This makes pinpointing it difficult.
I would probably try to reinstall the whole thing. Please don't do that yet (I'd give you a step by step instruction) - but since I don't have Civ4 complete I'd need some info on your install first:
what are the install paths of Civ4, Warlords and Beyond the Sword?
set windows explorer to show hidden files, then open
...\Program Files\InstallShield Installation Information\
are there the following directories:
{CFBCE791-2D53-4FCE-B3FB-D6E01F4112E8}
{3E4B349F-10B5-4586-9D99-489A90A8B228}
{32E4F0D2-C135-475E-A841-1D59A0D22989}
?

 

[Ultimate Genera]

As I said, I already uninstalled and reinstalled the game with Control Panel's Add and remove programs -tool, but apparently you have a more profound reinstallation method.

There weren't those directories, but I searched through all directories in that folder and opened setup.txt files which had a line "AppName=something". In directory {30D1F3D2-54CF-481D-A005-F94B0E98FEEC} line was "AppName=Sid Meier's Civilization 4 Complete", there weren't separate directories for Civ4, Warlords and BtS. In this directory are files

_setup.dll
data1 (WinRAR-archive)
data1.hdr
ISSetup.dll
layout (BIN file)
setup (Application)
setup (ILG file)
setup (TXT file)
setup (INX file)
setup.isn

Is there any other info you need?

 

[ori]

ok here is what you need to do - the below is for the separate version though, so the paths may be different - though similar:



install the most recent version of DirectX 9c from Microsoft

then do the following for a clean reinstall:

Uninstall and Reinstall Civ4 Complete:

Try to follow this order when doing stuff:
Use Control panel to uninstall Complete
Delete "...\documents and settings\<username>\my documents\my games\sid meier's civilization 4" manually
Delete "...\documents and settings\<username>\my documents\my games\warlords" manually
Delete "...\documents and settings\<username>\my documents\my games\beyond the sword" manually
Delete "...\documents and settings\<username>\application data\my games\sid meier's civilization 4" manually
Delete "...\documents and settings\<username>\application data\my games\warlords" manually
Delete "...\documents and settings\<username>\application data\my games\beyond the sword" manually
(note: application data is a hidden directory so you need to configure windows explorer to show hidden files, also these directories in application data are sometimes removed by the uninstall routine)
Delete "...\Program Files\InstallShield Installation Information\{30D1F3D2-54CF-481D-A005-F94B0E98FEEC} "
Install Complete.

 

[Ultimate Genera]

I did the reinstallation following your instructions, but it didn't help. However, I noticed some interesting peculiarities which might be essential in this case.

I am right now on holiday and so I installed the game in my parents' computer in order to see if it works there. When I was deleting manually those directories you mentioned, there were directories only for BtS (which is the only one which works). In the other computer, in which the game runs smoothly, there are folders for each three game. So for some reason the installer doesn't install the game properly, it doesn't create all folders needed, so the game doesn't launch. Any idea why the installation fails, no error message appears during installation?

 

[ori]

those folders that need to be manually removed are not put there by the installer but rather the game when it starts up and those are not there - so its not too surprising that they where missing, I just don't know at what point during startup they are created so I included them regardless.
Is it still the same problem? Also one more thought: did you try disabling all other software that might be running (disconnect from the internet, disable antivirus software and the like) - maybe this is some weird incompatibility...

 

[Ultimate Genera]

Ok, so my idea was not useful. It is still the same error message despite multiple reinstallations. Antivirus software and internet connection have been disabled already during installation, now I ran msconfig and disabled all startup items and reinstalled, but still the same problem.

 

[ori]

I am sorry I am out of ideas on this one

 

[Ultimate Genera]

Well, for help and your time anyway. Fortunately the game runs well on my parents' computer so I can play it on holidays. During semesters I might not have so much time to play anyhow, and BtS at least seems to work on my laptop. So I won't be unable to play this great game despite this problem

 

[pawsmc81584]

I totally figured out how to fix this problem!!!
Ok... here it goes...

When you go to install the new disc, the default file path it goes to is different than the original CD... Therefore when it tells you that you are unistalling the old one... you really arent.
You need to go into the control panel and delete it off of the programs listing.
Then...you need to go to program files in the C drive.
There are two folders with the game in it.
One is called 2K games and the other one is called firaxis. THIS IS THE PROBLEM!
You need to COMPLETELY rid your computer of the ENTIRE game, in EVERY folder.
So... after you have uninstalled in the control panel...look for these folders and delete the ENTIRE folder.
After you have done that, go to the search box on the start menu and type in civilization and see if anything else is left on your computer (there was one file left on mine when I did this.)
After you have COMPLETELY REMOVED every part of this game from the computer...
RESTART.... REINSTALL.
Does that make sense? hahaha. I did this and it worked on my computer. Let me know if you have any questions.

WHOO HOOOOOO!!!!!!

PS... After you are done reinstalling... it will STILL not give you desktop icons... you will have to go into the games window of your computer and physically put one there yourself... also... my computer automatically opened up colonization again... I just exited that game and clicked on the other one.