Game crashes when loading from a save

[smackthewise]

My Specifications;
Windows Vista SP2 - latest updates.
Civilization 4 Complete edition (last years) running BTS Patch 3.19

Basic problem: When I load a game from a save, Civ4 BTS crashes and I must end the process from Device Manager - Processes. I can't even use 'End Task' from Device Manager - Applications.

Additional: This only happens ever other game, but recently more often - It just killed a great game. I'm not sure what is the precursor to the problem, but what I normally do is. I'm playing the game and I'll save it, then play a turn or two or such and and go to load from my last save, then it crashes.

Interestingly; After the games crashes once, NO OTHER SAVE for the same game can be used except the initial 4000bc save -_-, that means any other save or auto-save or quick save. So it must be related files that all saves for that game reference off???

Any help, ideas, what I can do to get more information or ANYTHING would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ori]

when it does crash is there an error message in the windows event manager?

 

[smackthewise]

I get this for the Microsoft Error Reporting "Beyond the Sword has stopped working" message;

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Civ4BeyondSword.exe
Application Version: 3.1.9.0
Application Timestamp: 4a0c27e6
Fault Module Name: Civ4BeyondSword.exe
Fault Module Version: 3.1.9.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 4a0c27e6
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 005437f7
OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.256.1
Locale ID: 3081
Additional Information 1: 3164
Additional Information 2: f31c530d3d12785f4cca5eb2cbce0d8e
Additional Information 3: 011d
Additional Information 4: 01351879a445e41ad4df3ba5eb395c4d

 

[ori]

for what its worth: this is a (memory) access violation error - that can occur when there is
- a bad software (the game should be free of these though)
- a bad driver
- some other program in the background trying to interact with the computer
- bad graphics memory
- bad RAM
unfortunately it is a pain to troubleshoot I would try to help - but have to warn you: I will have extremely limited online time through July 20th so interaction might be slow.
That said: are your graphics and sound drivers updated? please post your dxdiag results file as a file attachment here. You can attach files by clicking on go advanced then on manage attachments below the reply box.

 

[smackthewise]

I've attached the Dxdiag report.
*Memory appears to be fine, running in dual channel and haven't had any problems before. I'll run memtest86 soon and check it out though.
*My 9600GT uses a pretty old driver (175.19), this is due to an issue i've had with a more recent version where it would only boot in VGA -_- so there may be something there.

I test out a recent driver if it works and test the memory. Though even if the issue was resolved, any already broken saves would be lost?

 

[Lemon Merchant]

I looked at your DXDiag report and I have a question:

Are you using two 9600 video cards in SLI mode? Or am I reading that wrong? We had a similar problem a while back (not with Civ, but another program), and it turned out the be a problem with the dual monitor Crossfire setup (ATI cards). It was fixed by a new driver release.

Something you could try is to remove one of the video cards temporarily, and see if that changes anything. (Then swap them to see if the error comes back with the other card)

Also, if you get error messages in memtest86, check your motherboard's RAM voltage setting. If it is at auto, your RAM may not be getting enough voltage to perform properly. Not all motherboards read the SPD values from the RAM correctly and then don't set the voltage high enough. For example, my Foxconn MB model is notorious for undervolting RAM, and it took a week of frustration to find that out. Check the manufacturer's specs on your memory. If it says 2 volts, it needs 2 volts, especially if it is "performance" RAM. A "normal" auto setting is about 1.7 to 1.8. It still runs, but you can get some strangeness.

One more thing: A very good test to run on a computer that is getting strange errors is Prime95. It's free and gives both the CPU and memory a good workout, and is very good at spotting random errors due to core and memory failures. But DON'T use it without monitoring your temperatures with something like Speedfan!!!!!! I have a charred (brand new ) Athlon to show for my foolishness. (I decided that I could overclock my machine just a bit more... "Who needs to run Speedfan this time? It'll just slow things down...")

These are just some suggestions. They're the result of some hard won experience and research. Maybe something I said will help you find the problem. I hope so.

 

[smackthewise]

Only one graphics card, running dual monitor though as it has two DVI-ports.

I should have set the rams voltage, however I vaguely remember having to clear CMOS so i'll definitely go back and make sure they've been configured correctly. -_- I've most likely left it on auto.

I've a back-up GPU (8800GS) but its Nvidia and would use the same drivers anyway.

I'll check out Prime95 and check the other things too!

Thanks for all the help and advise so far, its greatly appreciated!

 

[smackthewise]

Just out of curiosity, does the attached save actually load on other peoples computer?

Civ 4 BTS 3.19, with BUG and Blue Marble (doesn't make a difference)

 

[Lemon Merchant]

Just out of curiosity, does the attached save actually load on other peoples computer?

Civ 4 BTS 3.19, with BUG and Blue Marble (doesn't make a difference)

I'll try this later tonight and see if it loads. I'll post in the morning.

 

[Lemon Merchant]

Sorry Smack, it won't load. It's asking for BAT 1.2, which AFAIK, isn't 3.19 compatible yet.

 

[smackthewise]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I installed B.U.G. and BAT together (I forget they're very separate)! As far as compatibility goes, i've had no problems with the game thus far, aside from ^ above problem, which pre-dated 3.19.

I'll keep working on it, thanks though!