Graphic Problem

[Wolfepac85]

Hello All,
I just got this game for christmas and i'm having two types of graphic problems. First off during the game the images of the leaders do not show up. Actuelly the only thing that shows up is there eye brows, hats or lips. Everything else in like completly invisible. You can tell that the images is moving only buecause the eyebrows start going in diffrent directions.
The second problem deals with the map mode. Everything is almost completly black when i get close up of the map. The only thing that shows you during the close up view is the tree's. The it there no green grass, no moutains, and now signs of resources. Everything is black and there may be an image of a stream but besides that everything is completly dark including the oceans. I don't know if its somting with my graphic card even though my computer is only 2 years old if not a little younger.
I this anything that i can do to my comp so my graphics can work on the computer. I don't belieave it to be anything else but a graphic problem but it could be somthing more. Please help

 

[AgentJones]

I'll need more information. Run dxdiag (Star Menu > Run > type "dxdiag" hit enter > wait for everything to laod > click "save all info" button > post results here.

 

[Wolfepac85]

Here the information that you requested

 

[Zydor]

System memory is low at 448Mb (needs to be 512Mb with XP for Civ)

The main issue however is that the game does not support the VIA/S3G UniChrome IGP chipset. It will not run Civ. You will also find that games such as AoE will also not run on it. As always someone on Planet Earth probably is, but it will be more by luck than design.

The HP Pavilion 061 usually used an Asus motherboard of a type no longer listed at Asus, so its difficult to check if its an AGP enabled board, my guess is that it is not. If thats true, then you would need a motherboard change and a new graphics card to run it.

Given that last statement, I would get a second opinion, but I am 99% certain.

Its probably going to be more practical to buy a new Box,than upgrade the one you have.

Regards
Zy

 

[martinh]

Hi,

I've got the same problem as mentioned above. I don't do a lot of gaming, so I imagine my video card is under-powered. Can someone take a look at my DxDiag and let me know what might be the problem? I haven't installed the patch yet, but I'll be doing that shortly.

Thanks.

 

[AgentJones]

The Dell Dimension 2400 doesn't even have a modern (AGP or PCIe) graphics slot. You can't add a video card to it, I'm afraid. Intel 8xxx series don't have Tnl, which civ requires. I doubt you can even start the game.

 

[barsidius]

I'm not having any problems with the leader images (at least I don't think I am), just with the black map. Oddly, if I go into world-builder mode, I can see the entire map just fine. As soon as I go back into play mode, though, the world goes black again. All I can see are units, trees, resources, and rivers.

I'll attach my dxdiag output, even though this seems more like a software bug than a hardware problem. (Can I turn fog-of-war off? That wouldn't be an ideal solution, but if it would allow me to play, I'd do it.) I know my video card only has 64 MB of RAM, but it should still run according to the specs listed on the box.

Thanks for your help!

 

[AgentJones]

1) Patch the game to v1.52

2) This utility seems to have fixed a plethora of problems, so it couldn't hurt.
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=146309

3) If 2 doesn't work or you've done it already, download and install the december build of DX9c from the link below
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=1272

4) If 3 doesn't work check Compaq/HP's website for more recent drivers for your notebook's Radeon IGP 345M gfx card.

5) If 4 won't do it, follow the link below, but skip the steps you've already done.
http://www.2kgames.com/civ4/support_ati.htm

 

[barsidius]

AgentJones,

Thanks so much for your help. Still not there yet, but I'm working on it as I have time.

I did (what are currently) steps 1, 3, and 4. No 5 yet---haven't had time for such an undertaking. And I just saw (the new) 2, so I'll try to get to it later today (It seems as though I'll have to "downgrade" for that utility. Is that right?)

But here's some new info, which makes me think this isn't really a driver or memory problem: If I'm playing a game, and go into World Builder Mode, then go to Reveal Tile mode and click "Reveal All Tiles," then go back to the game, I can see all of the tiles (even the ones on which I have units) grayed out as though they're under fog of war. The game simply isn't registering what my units can see.

So I'll try the patch you list as step 2 next, as soon as you advise on whether I need to "downgrade" from 1.52 back to 1.0 to do it.

Thanks again!

 

[Toro]

Same problem myself...

View attachment DxDiag.txt

 

[AgentJones]

But here's some new info, which makes me think this isn't really a driver or memory problem: If I'm playing a game, and go into World Builder Mode, then go to Reveal Tile mode and click "Reveal All Tiles," then go back to the game, I can see all of the tiles (even the ones on which I have units) grayed out as though they're under fog of war. The game simply isn't registering what my units can see.

So I'll try the patch you list as step 2 next, as soon as you advise on whether I need to "downgrade" from 1.52 back to 1.0 to do it.

Thanks again!

You're right, this isn't a problem with the drivers, it is civ 4 and civ alone. The only reason I recommend updating drivers is that often the gfx makers fix the various problems that the games themselves cause.

And after doing some research, I think the cure is to skip all the way to my last link and scrolling down the page it links to (about 90% down) all the way to the section titled "Unpacking the Art Pack File" Download the required program and run as instructed.

 

[barsidius]

Thanks again (still).

Trying to follow instructions, I come to this:

"3. Go to your Civ4 directory (default is C:\Program Files\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\) and open up the Assets Directory. Click on the Art0.FPK file and select Open. C:\Program Files\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\Assets\Art0.FPK"

I don't have an Art0.FPK file. I have Assets0.FPK (and Assets[1-3].FPK). How much of a problem is this?

Sorry to continue to be a bother.

Thanks!

 

[barsidius]

Just did a search. I don't have an Art0.FPK file anywhere. I have an art0.fpk folder in My Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\CustomAssets\assets\, but it's empty.

Thanks again!

 

[Zydor]

The original error pre V1.52 revolved around C:\Program Files\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\Assets\Art0.FPK - the fix was to unpack it.

However V1.52 fixed that, and you should see files in C:\Program Files\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\Assets\

Assets0.fpk
Assets1.fpk
Assets2.fpk
Assets3.fpk

Those 4 files are the original Art0.FPK split into smaller files. You should not have any Art0.FPK showing after V1.52 patch.

So if you have the 4 files above in the C: directory shown - you are ok

Regards
Zy

 

[barsidius]

Zydor,

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I see what you describe in my C:\Program Files\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\Assets\, and I'm not ok.

Any other ideas?

Thanks again, everyone!

 

[Zydor]

Just checked your Dxdiag. You have on board graphics - an integrated graphics chipset. Yours is based on the 200M. The game needs Hardware T&L support and usually will have problems or not run at all on IGP boards

The 200M however is a new chipset, there maybe solutions if you contact ATI (thats a reeeal long shot dont hold your breath), but I strongly suspect thats your problem

Suspect the only thing you can do is turn off textures in Options, reduce resolution etc to minimise the amount of graphics work being done, you appear to be on the edge of it working, and small changes like that can help. But in the long run you will have issues with on board graphics and not separate video card

Regards
Zy

 

[barsidius]

All options etc are already set to minimum settings. Will try downgrading to 1.0, then running the PakBuild solution and the Harkonnen patch. If that doesn't work . . . well, I don't know.

I still don't understand, though, why I can see everything just fine in World Builder Mode, but not in the game. Very frustrating.

Thanks again for the help, and happy new year to all.