Complete system lock up when starting a game

[MC4K]

I played the tutorial fine but as soon as I try to start a single or multiplayer game my computer freezes as soon as it's loaded.

You can click the "start game button" and, if you're quick, close the "dawn of man" page before it freezes but every time, about 10 seconds after it's loaded the system totally freezes (keyboard & mouse lock up, sound freezes) and the only way out is a hard reboot.

Any ideas? I've not been able to find any help dealing with this exact problem.

My system:

ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 (v6.14.0010.6375)
Intel Pentium 4 (3.00Ghz)
1024 MB RAM
DirectX 9.0c
Windows XP SP2

I've tried re-installing and loading from autosaves (it has enough time to save the first autosave before it crashes) but it still dies after 10 seconds.

 

[Bast]

I have AMD 1.3 Ghz, 256 RAM and 64 MB GeForce, and I can start games fine. I'm finding this very odd. There's got to be something wrong with your computer.

 

[MC4K]

Well, your setup does appear to be entirly different to mine.

I have also tried closing my virus scanner and firewall when running the game but it did not help.

 

[NinjaCool]

Your system is very similar to mine:
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro 128MB
Intel Pentium 4 (3.00Ghz)
1024 MB RAM
DirectX 9.0c
Windows XP SP2
Audigy 2 soundcard

But despite this I dont have any crashes when starting up a game however I have experinced crashes in large map games when I progressed fare into the game. I suspect some bug in civ4's memory allocation but this isnt what you are experincing it seems.

You could try and run a system scan, virus scan, spyware scan, defrag your harddrive and update sound drivers. There was 1 users who could not get Civ4 to even start but after a defrag, it ran fine.

Edit:
Check the FAQ: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=135019#3

 

[MC4K]

I defragmented my hard disk and ran virus and spyware scans to no avail.

I also updated my sound card drivers and deleted civ 4's cache.

I have found that if I load up the american civil war scenario the game freezes at the end of my first turn, if that gives anyone any ideas.

 

[LukeTheSilent]

I have excatly the same problem. Hope they get fix it soon!

Fujitsu-Siemens Laptop Amilo D1840W
ATI Mobility Radeon 9600
Intel Pentium 4 (2.60Ghz)
512 MB RAM
DirectX 9.0c
Windows XP SP2

 

[Androo]

I have the sme problem. Locks up when loading the first turn of a game, to the point where I have to hard reboot, but then plays fine after that. Does this both before and after installing the 1.09 patch.

Compaq Presario x1000 laptop
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200.
Pentium M 1.5 Ghz, 1 GB RAM
SP2 & DirectX 9.0c

 

[Beardface2]

Hi MC4K.

ditto problem here! Installed 1.09 and no joy. Here is the oddity though. Bought game for my old PC and worked like a charm. I mean not one CTD, freeze up, movies played great etc. Played through my first game in about 2 days and it was fab... spec below
MOBO: ASUS K8V deluxe
Power: Antec True power 480W
Processor: AMD64 3200+
1 GB of generic DDR 400 RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA Geforce 6800 Ultra
Sound: SB Audigy 2 ZS

New System (and yes, ouch at £3500!)
Alienware Aurora 7500
MOBO: ASUS A8N-SLI DELUXE
Power: Enermax 600W
Processor: AMD FX 57
Ram: 2gb of extra low latency Corsair XMS
Graphics: 2 NVIDIA Geforce 7800 GTX KO
Sound: SB X-Fi Xtreme Music.

Since the new rig has come, the game crashes and I mean Locks completely (reset required)....

It always seems to be when music changes or a sound effect plays... I am beginning to thick the main trouble lies with the sound card so will swap it out with my old audigy to see if that makes a difference!

 

[Thormodr]

I have the sme problem. Locks up when loading the first turn of a game, to the point where I have to hard reboot, but then plays fine after that. Does this both before and after installing the 1.09 patch.

Compaq Presario x1000 laptop
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200.
Pentium M 1.5 Ghz, 1 GB RAM
SP2 & DirectX 9.0c

Hmm....I have a Compaq nx7000 Laptop 1.5 Ghz, 1.25 GB RAM and a ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 as well. My game locks up and I have to do a hard reboot when I start a game too. (about 90% of the time). It occasionaly works...
Other than that it works fine after I load the auto save it creates. Wonderful game when you can play it, but a lot of unacceptable crap too that is creating a lot of headaches for everyone..