Error while installing

[mustang124]

Hope this helps...I picked up two boxes from BB, one good one bad. Couldn't see any difference on the outside of the box.

Good Box

data1.cab 12/7/2005 12:13 PM (2,598,335 bytes) (First CD)
data2.cab 12/7/2005 12:16 PM (612,810,752 bytes) (First CD)
data3.cab 12/7/2005 12:18 PM (677,497,361 bytes) (Second CD)

Bad Box

data1.cab 10/18/2005 2:49 PM (598,975 bytes)
data2.cab 10/18/2005 2:51 PM (615,000,064 bytes)
data3.cab 12/7/2005 12:18 PM (677,497,361 bytes)

It would be nice if someone else could verify this, but it looks to me like the distributor mixed the wrong CD2 with CD1. OOOOPS!!!!

 

[chowpappy]

Eureka! A bad disk! (usually it's my fault)...I've been updating drivers, swapping out video cards, CD drives, etc for the last several hours.

You're right about the dates of the data files--My data1 and data2 files are dated 10/18/2005 while the second CD data files are dated 12/7/05. Now I've just gotta convince 'Pimples' down at Best Buy to exchange the game and let me check the disk on one of their computers before I leave the store. After an evening of of 'Catastrophic Failure' this might get ugly if he doesn't let me do it.

You would think the distributors would just fess up and let us download the compatible files, or at least put out a press release and tell us what the problem is. I just sent an E-mail to tech. support and I'm sure they're going to tell me to update drivers and jiggle the handle on my toilet.

Thanks guys!

 

[matteonuevo]

Hey all, just joined up because of the error. It only took four returns to BB in order to get one that worked. The cab files on the good one all were dated 10-18-05. Maybe it's that they all line up who knows. The only upside was the look on the ladies face when she saw how long my receipt was with all the exchanges added to it.

 

[The Art of War]

so since this is happening, i'm reduced to driving 30 miles back to the nearest best buy to exchange it I take it?

 

[Mikesla]

You think you have it bad ....

I bought a copy of civ 4 (which I had to drive 80 miles there and back to get) and it didnt work. So I took it back and got another copy (another 80 miles) that one didnt work either. Next time I brought my friends laptop with me to test it in store (best buy) it took me 4 broken copies instore before I found one that worked. So overall thats 240 miles for a game and 6 different broken copies to find a good one . Damn if I didnt love civ games so much I would have said **** it and pirated it.

I think this company just made a strong argument on the side of the pirates out there to keep pirating, if anything you know you'll get a real working copy if it's pirated.


HAAAA...man now that is somewhat funny isn't it, you have to go to the pirates to get a game to work.

Later!

 

[FLYINGVDOG]

hi. i just bought civ iv at bestbuy and disk 2 won't load. i have the box with the 2 different dated disks(10-18/12-7). i guess its back to the store to exchange bad disks for a new set. great forum thanks for help.

 

[brendan]

I got the same Disc 2 error:

Feature: DefaultFeature
Component:
File:
Error: Catastrophic Failure

I went to Bestbuy (Reston, VA) to return - they said no refund, and they were out of stock so I went to Bestbuy #2 (Sterling, VA); they were also out of stock and I got a refund instead (without even asking!). That's right, I got a refund on open software, no questions asked, no problem. I have no idea why, especially since 20 minutes earlier a different Bestbuy had told me no refund was possible. So check around if you want a refund!

 

[degriswold]

I have the same problem but all my Data.cabs say 10/18/2005. The funny thing as I was able to get it to load with no problems once before. Now it will not load anymore.

Copied all cd's to hard drive, performed prior posts and disabled everything.

I don't think it has anything to do with the CD's as it did work but a compatability with some Windows Hotfix is probably the problem as I am always updating from Microsoft.

This really sucks as my 30 days is up so how can I return it. Hopefully Support will send me a download link or something for the bad CAB files.

You would think the money they make they could produce a Game that would at least install! Maybe they are working out of their garage, Oh Yea Drinking Margaritas and laughing!

 

[DragnStorm]

I too shop @ AAFES and know how they can be about returning anything dealing with computers. Bought the game today only to encounter the "catastrophic failure" during installation. After doing some research, finding this site and noticing the problems encountered I took it back to AAFES. Went directly to Power Zone and told them what happened, that my pc did meet the specs (typical 1st question from them) and that there were numerous complaints about this same problem. After telling them all I wanted was to exchange it for a new copy they were pleased to accomodate me. 2nd copy installed fine, now to play it. :-}

 

[DuncanScott]

I installed fine on my main PC.

Took the disks to spare bedroom to install on secondary PC - ran into the install problem you all are having. Finding it hard to indict the disks...

 

[Byron]

You have a defective disk.

A lot of us have had this exact same problem.

I got lucky and only had to return my copy once to get a working version.
I've heard of some people going thru multiple returns before getting a set of CD's that worked.

Good Luck!

Hey Whoda!

Can you post your good copy of the cab file on disk 2 somewhere others can access it? It sure would help all us Best Buy customers out here and maybe we can return the favor later somehow. You could even attach it to a reply to this message...

 

[Byron]

I tried to return my bad copy of Civ4 to Best Buy and they wouldn't refund even when I demonstrated the fact that the software wouldn't install. Of course, all the copies they had on hand suffered from the same problem so an exchange was out of the question. Then I called support.

It turns out that Take2 shipped a number of games where they mixed disks from two different releases. Disk 1 is from the 10/18/05 release and disk 2 is from the 12/7/05 release. So, you get the "catastrophic error."

Support told me to send the whole package back with a letter explaining the problem and a copy of the receipt. I was told I would receive a new copy of the game in 28 days. I just sent it. They also told me that if Best Buy had a DVD copy (they didn't) that it would work.

The address to send the corrupt copy to is:

Take 2 Games
Media Replacement
c/o JOAG Ohio
9271 Meridian Way
Westchester, OH 45069

Hope this helps someone else out there!

 

[meatwad4289]

I keep recieving the redudancy Error when trying to reinstall due to a mishap of forgettign to backup my files anyway, I tried to reinstall but second disk kept getting redundancy error. I thought, alright maybe if i copy it directly to the computer.. then.. I got an error saying it can't be copied because of redundancy. So I put the disk in my other computer copy it over takes 10 minutes but no error. I'm going to put it on the share file, and try again..

What they oughtta do is have Serial Codes, and such and havea set up similar to Steam stuff. Log in, and itll auto update, and allow you to redownload the game. of course, they'll have to do a fix to keep people from just handing it over to their friends. Forinstance... if there 2 people logged on, only one may play on the internet. Lan is unregulated... But yeah it could work.

....oh yes about coping it into sharefolder n such. The last 3 times the error popped up immediatly when trying to load.. however.. This time I'm error free. I believe I'm going to back up my disc's, just incase i have problem again that can't be fixed. If I place both disc's on a single DVD would it work still? like put it in, open it, and hit set up? or would it let me play? lol idk. I'll prolly just do 2 discs.

 

[firehawk1120]

anyone out there have a receipt I can borrow to return my game? The Jackass pimple faced "manager" at Best Buy said they can't exchange my game without a receipt. I told him it was ridiculous since everything is in the box and I wanted the same game. For some reason they won't do anything without a receipt anymore. I didn't buy the game at a store I bought it from someone who didn't think their computer had the minimum system requirements to run the game, little did they know what the real issue is. I get the catastrophic error message as well on the 2nd CD. I did a check and I have the bad cd's exactly like mustang 124 described.

So if anyone is willing to send me their receipt or the phone number they used to purchase their game so I can go to best buy and exchange my game I'd be greatly indebted to you....

Thanks

 

[sycodude2]

Hey all , having similar problems upon inserting disc 2 of the installation. It doesn't actually say "catastrophic error" it just locks the comp up and tells me it's not responding. So what you are all saying is, I should just exchange my disc, possibly many times if neccassary?

Also, since disc 1 is already installed, would it be a good idea to manually delete the Firaxis Games folder?