D3DX9_32.dll prob solved, now civ 4 won't load

[random_guy]

Hi,

I was hoping to get help with one of many problems i was having:

I recently reinstalled Civilization 4, yet I could not load it, so I patched it to version 1.74.
I then got the "could not find d3dx9_32.dll" error.
So following answers here I got the dll file off the internet and placed it into the civ 4 folder.

The game began to load, but then gave me a windows error: "civ4 has encountered an error and needs to close" and quit.


If its any help I have attached a dxdiag file. I have most recent directx install, from november 2007, and most recent '7-11' release of catalyst mobility drivers...

The main difference between now and when I did have civ 4 working most of the time (even had BTS working) is that I replaced my 'modded' catalyst desktop drivers with the mobility drivers. I'm thinking I should go back to the modded ones for some sort pf hope of getting this working.....


Any suggestions?

 

[ori]

could you click on show report and post the upper part of the error that microsoft wants to send?

Welcome to Civfanatics

 

[auldian]

DirectX Version: DirectX 8.1 (4.08.01.0810)

Install DirectX's newer version. Cutting and pasting a *.dll was used on a newer operating system and may have adverse effects on yours.
1. Download the redistributable released 10/25/2007
Microsoft DirectX downloads
2. Run that file you just downloaded to your computer and put the files in a temporary folder (like make a C:\~Temp)
3. Now go to that C:\~Temp and run the DXSETUP.EXE you find there
4. Let us know how it goes.

 

[ori]

oh I missed that one
you can also just use this web installer from microsoft that ensures you have a version of DirectX that works with Civ

 

[random_guy]

UPDATE:
sorry to complicate things but I did some tinkering and managed to get the game running...to a point.

I won't bore anyone with the full journey, but suffice to say I can now actually get a game running (finally!) BUT it now gives the infamous 'failed to alocate video memory error'.

SO, I changed the VRAM option in the civ4.ini file, and now the game will run...for about 5 minutes, before the graphics start to 'fall apart' (e.g. more and more stuff is just replaced by white and black where a picture should be)and the game just crashes to the desktop with no explanation.

So I have run the DirectX runtime installer off the net, and will report back.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[random_guy]

UPDATE 2:
The directx web installer managed to find some stuff to update, but even with the most recent DirectX the game still crashes.
I'm out of ideas, DirectX is fully updated, I have most recent graphics driver and the game is fully patched.

FOR THE CURIOUS:
Just for a laugh I installed Civ4 on a 6 year old Desktop which I hadn't used for about 6 months.
It's painfully slow at the best of times, has a GeForce 2 MX video card and should not have run the game.....but it did.

No patches, just plain old version 1.0 freshly installed, AND on medium graphics....the game was a little slow but it still ran!

SO a 6 year old POS manages to run the game without any errors or crashes, thus beating a modern dual core machine, and the key difference I can see is that my current machine has an ATI graphics card....what a world

 

[ori]

does it give any error when crashing?