New Computer; game won't start

[Petek]

tgrem1968,

After the games fails, do you have any files (such as Civilization IV.ini) in the folder

C:\Documents and Settings\(User name)\My Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4

?

 

[tgrem1968]

I just tried what worked for me last night, uninstall using add/remove programs, delete fireaxis folder, delete the civ 4 folder in the games directory in documents and settings directory. I then reinstalled the game and patched to 1.52.

What worked the last two times (this procedure) is not working now. The program (game will not load.) I get the loading screen then a few seconds later i get the Sid Meier's Civ 4 has encountered a problem and needs to close.

The civilization IV.ini file can not be found. The civ4config file in the game directory cant find its target file, the aformentioned Civilazation IV.ini file.

This really really bites. If I werent so flustered I would be really really pissed.

 

[Groman]

Good news Petek! The game works now! Created a new user with full admin rights. Logged on to the new account and the game started right up. First loaded a game with v. 1.09 then did the 1.52 patch and that worked also. Will be able to play and test the game tonight to find out if I get the dreaded "Game crash to desktop" I've been reading about here.

Many thanks to you Petek and Neon Deon. You guys worked with me in rapid fashion and it is much appreciated. I said I would not give up until this problem was solved, and you two did the same.

I hope this resolution can help others out there. We will see if this fix is permanete, but right now I'm as happy as I can be. Should I report later on my game test in this thread.

Question: Why do you think this worked? What on the default Admin. is preventing the game to start?

 

[Petek]

Groman,

Great news!

As to why the game doesn't run under the admin account, I don't know.

In other situations in which creating a new user solved a problem, the culprit was faulty cache files. You might want to try logging in as the admin. Then hold down the Shift key while starting the game. This clears the cache.

 

[Petek]

tgrem1968,

Sorry to hear that your problem has worsened. This does not appear to be the same problem as Groman's.

I suggest that you hold down the Shift key while starting the game. (See my reply to Groman for what this does.)

If that doesn't work, I suggest that you start a new thread and describe your problem. You might then get some help from other people.

 

[Groman]

Petek

Just an update. Played about three hours tonight with no problems at all. Also, tried to start Civ 4 in default Admin. with the shift key down and the game still did not start. My troubleshooting mind wants to know why, but I have had enough on this one.

Thanks again!

 

[stranded]

I have the same problem...

so does my next door neighbour who is also a civ fanatic.

We are using different copies, legally purchased and both encounter the error message due to missing config.ini

the civ4 folder is simply not being created in the "my games" directory.

The game installed correctly on my secondry computer but not my primary.

This really irritates me as I can't for the life of me work out why these files are not being written.

I have already tried creating different user accounts multiple times and have had no success.

I might even go so far as to format

 

[Petek]

stranded,

Let's make sure that you really have the same problem as Groman.

* Was the game working at some point and then stop working?

* When you try to start the game, does it terminate with no error message?

* You mention an error message concerning the file config.ini. Did you perhaps mean the shortcut _Civ4Config? If yes, what is the exact text of the error message?

* Have you tried starting the game while holding down the Shift key?

* Do the user accounts have admin rights?

Sorry if this seems to be going over the same ground, but I just want to make sure you have the same or similar problem.