Immediate Crash To Desktop With Error Code 0xc0000005

[RSQ]

Hey all, trying to play Civ 2 MGE on a Windows 11 laptop. I have applied the patch to 5.4.0f but the game will not launch, immediately crashing before even opening a window with error code 0xc0000005. This seems to be a memory access error, but I can't tell what's causing it. I am using the ripped game (from my legally obtained copy of course), rather than a CD/iso.

I have tried:
- Every compatibility mode setting
- Running as Admin, disabling fullscreen optimizations, etc.
- Disabling antivirus
- Running system file checker
- Installing Indeo 4&5 codecs with CodecTweakTool
- Launching directly and through FoxAheads UIALauncher

Anyone who has seen this before or has ideas for potential fixes, I'd really appreciate it! Would love to be able to run the game without the overhead and hassle of a VM.

 

[FoxAhead]

1) Does smeds.log file has something in it?
2) You didn't mention you activated legacy component DirectPlay. Although Windows 11 itself should offer this.
3) Also make sure that you have ripped the minimum required set of files:

Spoiler Files :

21.04.1997  14:01         1 900 690 LOSER.AVI
21.04.1997  14:14           256 512 CIV2ART.DLL
21.04.1997  14:14         4 980 224 CV.DLL
21.04.1997  14:14         1 151 488 INTRO.DLL
21.04.1997  14:12         3 165 696 MK.DLL
21.04.1997  14:13         1 999 360 PV.DLL
21.04.1997  14:13         1 455 616 SS.DLL
21.04.1997  14:13         1 416 704 TILES.DLL
17.03.1997  16:39           131 072 TIMERDLL.DLL
21.04.1997  14:13           185 856 WONDER.DLL
10.11.1998  11:34            95 744 XDAEMON.DLL
08.04.1999  14:33         2 489 344 CIV2.EXE
28.01.1999  17:05         2 487 296 CIV2MAP.EXE
21.04.1997  14:01            46 452 CITIES.GIF
21.04.1997  14:01            66 152 CITY.GIF
13.10.1997  22:04            36 558 EDITORAS.GIF
17.10.1997  18:01            40 635 EDITORPT.GIF
13.10.1997  22:04            29 841 EDITORSA.GIF
13.10.1997  22:04            34 060 EDITORSQ.GIF
03.10.1997  13:15            54 217 ICONS.GIF
21.04.1997  14:01            21 227 PEOPLE.GIF
09.10.1996  16:37           139 115 SCREDITS.GIF
21.04.1997  14:01            46 491 TERRAIN1.GIF
21.04.1997  14:01            55 966 TERRAIN2.GIF
28.07.1997  13:26            54 012 UNITS.GIF
21.04.1997  14:01             5 799 ADVICE.TXT
21.04.1997  14:01             6 785 CITY.TXT
09.10.1997  09:34             8 799 CIV2FANW.TXT
21.04.1997  14:01            10 002 CIV2FAQ.TXT
25.08.1998  11:48            11 079 COUNCIL0.TXT
25.08.1998  11:48            11 315 COUNCIL1.TXT
25.08.1998  11:48            11 068 COUNCIL2.TXT
21.04.1997  14:01             2 801 CREDITS.TXT
21.01.1998  09:28             8 936 DEBUG.TXT
13.11.1998  11:29           213 099 DESCRIBE.TXT
02.06.1998  09:50             2 112 FCREDITS.TXT
28.01.1999  11:08           108 656 GAME.TXT
19.10.1997  19:56            24 221 HELP.TXT
21.04.1997  14:01               456 HERALD.TXT
28.01.1999  15:48            13 279 LABELS.TXT
21.04.1997  14:01             2 426 LEADERS.TXT
21.04.1997  14:01               728 MAPMENU.TXT
13.12.1998  13:31             2 496 MENU.TXT
21.04.1997  14:01            21 210 MISC.TXT
24.03.1999  10:27             1 287 MPCREDITS.TXT
21.04.1997  14:01             9 091 PATCH.TXT
12.11.1998  10:51            16 673 PEDIA.TXT
16.11.1998  15:29            11 902 README.TXT
07.04.1999  17:01             6 738 READMEV13.TXT
21.01.1998  09:34            26 906 RULES.TXT
21.04.1997  14:01             2 600 SC.TXT
14.10.1996  12:34             1 400 SCREDITS.TXT