'Done' button not appearing

[MotherH]

Hi folks,

its a shame this has to be my first post on this board, but I'll hang around a bit more after getting this sorted (hopefully). I have had a look through lots of the threads, but have not seen my problem anywhere...

Whenever I try to start any new game the loading bar completes, but the 'Done' button to start the actual game does not appear. Long after Leonard Nimmoy has shut up nothing happens. I can't get out, can't Ctrl,Alt,Del, and have to reboot my machine.

Specs:
WinXP SP2 with all latest updates.
BIOS: Award Medallion BIOS v6.0
Processor: AMD Athlon(TM) MP 1800+, MMX, 3DNow (2 CPUs), ~1.5GHz Memory: 512MB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro FX 500/FX 600 (128MB)
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.8185 (English) 10/10/2005
SB Audigy Audio [C800]
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1162 (English) 8/29/2005

Not the beefiest of machines, but should be plenty to run it.

All freshly thrown together, latest everything. Civ4 is the first thing I put on after a fresh install. It works ok on my machine at work.

Any ideas?

 

[MotherH]

Sorry, I meant the 'Start' button.

I managed to get it when I tried a small map, but it crashed with a screech and rebooted my computer after 1 move.

sigh...I'm going to reinstall Civ3 in the mean time and kill some time with that.

 

[MotherH]

Soooo.. no hints? Anyone?

Signed,

Civ less in Amsterdam

 

[venn]

Tried different game settings? How long did you wait for it to appear?

 

[MotherH]

I waited for long after Leonard had stopped telling me about the birth of mankind. I have gotten past that by using a smaller map, but then it crashes quite violently. I've been afraid of running it since.

 

[MerakSpielman]

I think sometimes you do have to wait an extraordinarily long time. I'm running on a 3Ghz machine, and I downloaded the Gigantic Map mod... It took the map 10 minutes to finish. It's not unreasonalbe for me to think that with such a slow computer, some of the standard maps that shipped with the game might take a while.

My suggestion is to start a new game, then go do something else for half an hour, and see if the map is done by the time you get back. Just to test it.

 

[MotherH]

Allright, but what about the big crash if I do get the 'start' button?

One move by my Warrior or Settler and 'Screeeeech!' 'Crash!' Arrrrgghhhhh etc etc.

 

[MotherH]

So no suggestions? I might just have to go and get myself a gig of RAM this weekend and hope for the best. If that doesn't solve it I'll get myself a big fancy video card for Xmas, but I can't afford to spend too much on one bleeding game. Something tells me the patch wont fix the major underlying problems this title has and other than upgrading to hell and back nothing is going to solve my issues.
Balls.

 

[MotherH]

Anyone?!?! PLease! I even managed to constrain myself and switch caps back off.
At least tell me if more RAM will help! Or is it purely a 'wait for the patch'.

Please folks.

 

[VimesUK]

I can't see how more memory, unless your memory is faulty, is going to resolve your issue. I could understand a need for more memory IF the game played fine but it was constantly accessing your hard drive due to being short of RAM but that isn't your problem.

My first thoughts are your graphics card might well be contributing to your issues. Could you run a DXDiag and post (attach not just copy and paste) it so that I could have a look...?
Also check how much free RAM you have by looking under the Task Manager and report back how many processes are running and how much free RAM.

 

[MotherH]

Sorry for not replying, I'll do so when I get home. Thanks for the reply.