Help! you guys are my last hope..

[scotty22]

Im trying to get this to run on my new netbook..toshiba nb200 with XP home. I have the original big box planetary pack but i just cant get it to run

Installed it fine, but when i run it I get this message..

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

when I try running from terranx I get this..

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

I tried installing the xp compatability patch as well as patch 4.0 but it made no difference. There is no .ini file so I cant try the ForceOldVoxel thing. Where is it?

Last resort, if I brought the newly released Sold Out version would that work?

thanks for any help, i just wanna play this game.

 

[Merchantbard]

I've only used the Sold Out version, although I had to use the Search function off the Start menu to find the ForcedOldVoxel file. Try that first.

I do still get the TERRANX.ICD error message occasionally, but usually during gameplay. Darn thing shuts down the game I'm on at the time, which is royally frakking annoying!

 

[Petek]

@scotty22 -- Try running the game in Windows 2000 compatibility mode. That's been known to correct that particular error message. Please post again if you need help with running in compatibility mode, or if that doesn't work.

Petek

 

[scotty22]

@petek.. It doesnt work..I changed both .exe files for windows 2000 compatibility but just get the same error message.

 

[TheOverseer714]

Not to hijack this thread, but I can't get the sold out version to install. I am american (or should i say my computer is AMERICAN?) and the software is english, so i'm wondering if that is the issue. I am running XP service pack 3 on a dual core computer with a widescreen monitor.

 

[Petek]

@petek.. It doesnt work..I changed both .exe files for windows 2000 compatibility but just get the same error message.

Next, try other options in the compatibility tab.

Petek

 

[scotty22]

Not to hijack this thread, but I can't get the sold out version to install. I am american (or should i say my computer is AMERICAN?) and the software is english, so i'm wondering if that is the issue. I am running XP service pack 3 on a dual core computer with a widescreen monitor.

wouldn't make any difference. you should be able to play any game no matter where u bought it on any computer any where in the world as far as i know. pc games aren't like console games or dvds. I have bought a few pc games from the US before.

 

[scotty22]

Next, try other options in the compatibility tab.

Petek

tried them all, same problem.

 

[scotty22]

so anything else i can try? would the sold out version fix this?

 

[Petek]

so anything else i can try? would the sold out version fix this?

My next suggestion is to uninstall/reinstall. Even though you didn't receive any error messages while installing, something still might have gone south.

Petek

 

[scotty22]

tried that already..3 times in fact. no luck

 

[Petek]

Try disabling your firewall and/or anti-virus protection (you might want to disconnect from the Internet first, depending on your paranoia level). This has fixed problems for others.

If that doesn't help, go Start --> Run, type msconfig and hit OK. From the resulting screen, select Diagnostic Startup - load basic devices and services only and hit OK. (Make a note of any custom startup options in effect, to restore later.) Now try SMAX again. If it works, then you have a conflict with one of your startup options. You should be able to determine which by trial-and-error.

If none of this helps, please post again.

Petek

 

[TheOverseer714]

I dug up my old copy of SMAC and installed it, seems to run fine. I still can't get my old copy of SMAX to do the same, but I will use your suggestions next time I try.

 

[TheOverseer714]

Okay, I got SMAX installed and it won't run. I get a grey box that says 'CPU not supported' when i try to play anyway, i get a CTD. Is it because I have a dual core? Is there a fix?

 

[scotty22]

Try disabling your firewall and/or anti-virus protection (you might want to disconnect from the Internet first, depending on your paranoia level). This has fixed problems for others.

If that doesn't help, go Start --> Run, type msconfig and hit OK. From the resulting screen, select Diagnostic Startup - load basic devices and services only and hit OK. (Make a note of any custom startup options in effect, to restore later.) Now try SMAX again. If it works, then you have a conflict with one of your startup options. You should be able to determine which by trial-and-error.

If none of this helps, please post again.

Petek

tried all but none of it worked...thanks for the help though let me know what else i can try. you think it's worth buying the sold out version to see?

 

[Petek]

tried all but none of it worked...thanks for the help though let me know what else i can try. you think it's worth buying the sold out version to see?

The Sold Out version might work. However, first look at your PMs for another possible solution.

Petek

 

[Petek]

OK, so the possibility in my PM didn't pan out. I noticed that you're running the game on a netbook. What's the screen resolution? That might be the problem. Can you change the resolution? Also, can you run SMAC via terran.exe?

Petek

 

[scotty22]

OK, so the possibility in my PM didn't pan out. I noticed that you're running the game on a netbook. What's the screen resolution? That might be the problem. Can you change the resolution? Also, can you run SMAC via terran.exe?

Petek

you are a genius! My screen res was 1024x600 resolution and I tried it on 800x600 and it works perfectly!! no errors on either terranx or terran (so far anyway, only played both for 10 mins or so). I do get the same error on axstart but that doesnt matter does it, I dont need whatever that is.

thanks alot!

just 3 last quick Qs..

is the scrolling of the map when playing meant to be that jerky? definitely not smooth. any way to fix that?

also how do I move units diagonally? on netbooks you dont get the extra keys so I can only move them up/down and left/right?

anyway to change the res to play in 1024x600? not a major thing this but would be nice.

 

[Petek]

you are a genius! My screen res was 1024x600 resolution and I tried it on 800x600 and it works perfectly!! no errors on either terranx or terran (so far anyway, only played both for 10 mins or so). I do get the same error on axstart but that doesnt matter does it, I dont need whatever that is.

thanks alot!

That's great! You deserve credit for persisting, when lots of others would have given up.

just 3 last quick Qs..

is the scrolling of the map when playing meant to be that jerky? definitely not smooth. any way to fix that?

Don't know of any way right off hand. It sounds as if your video card has problems with redrawing the screen. You might want to change some options in the game menu, under Preferences to see if that helps.

also how do I move units diagonally? on netbooks you dont get the extra keys so I can only move them up/down and left/right?

Do you have a mouse or other pointing device? If so, place the cursor on the square to which you want to move the unit, press the left button, wait for an arrow to appear, then release the button.

anyway to change the res to play in 1024x600? not a major thing this but would be nice.

See this prior thread. Try editing your Alpha Centauri.ini by placing the command video mode=1024 in the [ALPHA CENTAURI] section. You also might want to revert your netbook to 1024x600 and place the command directdraw=0 in that same section (deleting, if necessary, the video mode command).

Petek

 

[scotty22]

That's great! You deserve credit for persisting, when lots of others would have given up.



Don't know of any way right off hand. It sounds as if your video card has problems with redrawing the screen. You might want to change some options in the game menu, under Preferences to see if that helps.



Do you have a mouse or other pointing device? If so, place the cursor on the square to which you want to move the unit, press the left button, wait for an arrow to appear, then release the button.



See this prior thread. Try editing your Alpha Centauri.ini by placing the command video mode=1024 in the [ALPHA CENTAURI] section. You also might want to revert your netbook to 1024x600 and place the command directdraw=0 in that same section (deleting, if necessary, the video mode command).

Petek

thanks again, all worked although the scrolling is still jerky. not really alot of options i can see that will change that. I can live with it as long as when the maps get really big and revealed it stays the same. It's not like slowdown or anything, just quite jerky when scrolling. not sure why, must be just the junk gma950 graphics..saying that I can play older stuff, the likes of Baldurs gate 2, Torment and even system shock 2 perfectly on it so you would think it would be ok here. not a major issue though, I can definitely live with it, at least it plays fine