Help getting SMAC(X) to run

[Ragnarok7331]

I'm have recently installed the Planetary Pack onto my laptop (which runs a fully updated version of Windows XP Home), and whenever I run the game I get this error message:

"terranx.icd has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."

I installed the SMAC v4 patch, the XP compatibility patch, and then the SMACX v2 patch but the game will still not run.

I have also tried the following in various combinations:
Setting the ForceOldVoxelAlgorithm=1 in the Alpha Centauri.ini file.
Disabling the sound by renaming the sound and soundx.dll files.
Disabling the opening movie with DisableOpeningMovie=1.
Running the game with each of the 4 backwards compatibility modes active. I also tried the 3 display settings options under the compatibility tab, and the advanced text services for this program have been turned off.
Updating my video card driver as well as turning off the hardware acceleration .

I am using a Gateway MX6030 laptop with a 1.40 GHz Intel Celeron M processor with 512 MB of ram. It has a widescreen monitor, so that could be a potential source of problems.

Attached is a copy of the information in the file the error report it wants to send Microsoft would include. Thanks for any help that anyone could give me. It is a fun game, and I've gotten it to work from the same discs on my desktop, but it would be nice to be able to play it on the go.

 

[Petek]

The [Alpha Centauri] section of Alpha Centauri.ini should contain the following entry:

directdraw=1

Change it to:

directdraw=0

This should fix your problem if it's caused by the laptop's widescreen monitor. Also, this fix only works for SMAX, not SMAC.

Petek

 

[Ragnarok7331]

Thank you for the response. I added it to the correct section in the Alpha Centauri.ini file and unfortunately it didn't fix the problem. At least the widescreen monitor has been ruled out as the source of the problem.

 

[Petek]

I looked at the error file that you posted. Are you starting the game by running axstart.exe? If so, try using terranx.exe. You also might have to use some compatibility options with this exe. If that doesn't help, post again.

Petek

 

[Ragnarok7331]

Actually, when I run the game using axstart.exe, it runs fine until I select which version of Alpha Centauri to play, and then it brings up the error message as it tries to start terranx.exe. I have tried starting from terranx.exe directly and it gives me that error message. I have also tried the compatibility options but they have not worked.

 

[Petek]

Check your PMs for a message.

Petek

 

[Petek]

OK, back to public discussion.

I googled for the error message ("GRABMI_FILTER_PRIVACY") in your log file. Got literally thousands of hits, mostly on other gaming boards. To summarize (after reading a dozen or so of the pages):

* No one knows the specific meaning of the error message. (Best try was "Unfortunately this is one of those errors from the bowels of Windows that speaks more about an inability to read an expected register (floats) than where the actual error is coming from.")

* Generic troubleshooting advice was offerred (reinstall, apply patches, update drivers, etc.).

* As far as I could tell, no one solved their problem.

So, this is not a SMACX problem, per se. Best guess is some fundamental hardware incompatibility. Wish I could offer some useful advice.

Petek

 

[Ragnarok7331]

Hm, that's unfortunate. Thanks for all the help though. I'll see if I can find anything else about it, and if I do I'll post here for reference in case anyone else ends up with a similar problem as myself.

 

[Petek]

I dug around some more and found this post in a Skype forum. GLADIATOR diagnosed the problem and offered a solution that worked. The issue appears to be with certain CPUs (including yours) and Microsoft's implementation of "data execution prevention." See this Wikipedia article for more details.

So, if you wish, try the following. Disclaimer: I don't think that Microsoft would allow you to make a change that would harm your system. However, I've never used this feature, so can't make an guarantees.

* Open Control Panel.
* Open the System icon.
* Select the Advanced tab.
* Under Performance, select the Settings tab.
* Select the Data Execution Performance tab.
* Select Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select.
* Select Add.
* Go to your SMAC folder. Add terranx.icd (You may have to type this in manually). It may be necessary to add the other exe files in this folder -- I don't know for sure.
* Confirm your changes.

Try starting SMAX again and see what happens.

HTH

Petek

 

[Ragnarok7331]

I googled that result and saw several people with similar problems being solved by that solution. Unfortunately, applying that fix to all the files listed in the error file did not fix the problem, and I get the same error message. I'm going to look a bit more into it though - it seems like the problem is either this or something closely related to this.

 

[Petek]

OK, hope you find a solution.

Petek

 

[Horizon]

possible the problem comes from the terranx.exe and terranx.icd relation, check your PM to see if this possible solution works.

 

[metalhead686]

Hi!

I just registered cos I've been having the same problem, and actually just found a way to fix it

Watch this, plain and simple:

simply copy the game folder to the ROOT directory, so that it would be ran from C:\Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri

Thats it

Now simply run terranx.exe from there and see how it goes.

It worked for me! Hope it does the same for you!

 

[Ragnarok7331]

I am stunned, but this solution works. Moving the game folder to the root directory out of the Program Files directory must do something to the DEP to let this run. Thanks a ton!

 

[Rashiminos]

There's also an issue if not being able to complete the CD check (Crossfire) for some inane reason.

 

[shivan]

I had the same problems. But i found something that MIGHT have fixed the problem.

I install SMAC to C:/AC
install 4.0 patch
Install SMACX
Install 2.0 SMACX patch
Intall XP patch

I also made the ForceOldVoxelAlgorithm=1

Normally it wolud not work at this point.

But then i downloaded the official SMACX patch EDIT: Link deleted. The OP linked to the unofficial patch, not to an official one.

Also i installed the SMAniaC mod (im not sure if it any any bearing on it tho.)

Finally i also used a no cd fix since it would not read my CD.
EDIT: Link deleted.

I was tinkering with this for many hours so i tought i wanted to share the progress.
I hope i can maybe help out someone one day.

Moderator Action: The forum rules prohibit linking to no-cd cracks. For similar reasons, you also may not link to the unofficial patch.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[David Bedlam]

Hey everyone.

I've been trying to find this Alpha Centuri.ini file so I can try the ForceOldVoxelAlgorithm=1 trick, but I don't think I can find it, or at least the right one.

When I open it up, all it says is

[Alpha Centauri]


Am I looking at the wrong thing, or do I need a program to see it or something?

 

[Petek]

The Alpha Centauri.ini file doesn't get fully created until after you successfully start a game. Open the file in a text editor and add the lines

[PREFERENCES]
ForceOldVoxelAlgorithm=1

to the beginning. You then should be able to run the game. Please post again if that doesn't work, or if you need more help.

 

[David Bedlam]

Hmm. Everytime I put that line in, the computer says that it can't be saved and that I should check that the path is correct.

Am I lacking a program or something? I'm not sure I have a text editor.

 

[Petek]

Hmm. Everytime I put that line in, the computer says that it can't be saved and that I should check that the path is correct.

Am I lacking a program or something? I'm not sure I have a text editor.

I'm going to assume that you're running Windows 7 and using Notepad to edit the ini file. You need to run Notepad as the administrator (even if you're logged in with an admin account). You then should be able to save the file. Let me know if you need more detailed instructions.