New to Civ IV probs with the game

[deanamzil]

Hello. I am new to Civ IV and new to the forums but have been playing Civ for years.

My problem is that when ever I load up a game i get this message: nv4_disp display drver not working.

Then the screen goes black and it crashes to desk top.

my spec is: intel pentium 4, over 1000 GB of Ram DVD rom drive, Nvidia graphics, and 50 GB of free disk space.

I have Downloaded the CIv patch but still no joy. Any one able to point me in the right direction as to what I need to do to get the game working I am dying to play it...

 

[crunch]

Well, what is your graphics card? It seems it is the culprit. Get new graphics drivers. Reinstall DirectX. The latest civ4 patch is 1.61. Make sure to have it installed.

If drivers/directx won't help you, please refer to http://2kgames.com/civ4/support_logging.htm to enable logging. Then post the init.log file.

 

[deanamzil]

thanks will give that all a try, fingers crossed how do I find out what my graphics card is?

 

[crunch]

You can e.g. follow this procedure, which will provide with even more important information about your system.

Please do the following:
a) Run DXDIAG.EXE from your Start menu (click Start, Run... then type "dxdiag" and hit Enter)
b) Click the "Save all Information" button, located at the bottom of the program window
c) Save the file as "dxdiag.txt"

Attach the resulting file to your post.

 

[deanamzil]

Thanks dude.

Got the latest civ4 patch is 1.61 and installed it. Am now able to play the game for about 30 - 60mins on no bigger than standard world size only untill the game crashes to desk top with the same msg: nv4_disp display driver has stopped working.

Getting closer....but not quite there yet...


System info:
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Packard Bell NEC
System Model: 00000000000000000000000
BIOS: Insyde Software MobilePRO BIOS Version 4.00.01
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
Memory: 512MB RAM
Page File: 248MB used, 998MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode
ard name: NVIDIA GeForce4 440 Go 64M
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce4 440 Go 64M
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC

Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Res:
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.13.0010.3220 (English)
DDI Version: 8
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 11/8/2002 14:25:00, 3545674 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 11/8/2002 14:25:00, 1004410 bytes
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch


-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Realtek AC97 Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1039&DEV_7012&SUBSYS_86401071&REV_A0
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.4080 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 11/27/2002 15:46:28, 730700 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 48000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 17, 16
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 17, 16
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: Yes
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
Description: Realtek AC97 Audio
Default Sound Capture: Yes
Default Voice Capture: Yes
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.4080 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Date and Size: 11/27/2002 15:46:28, 730700 bytes
Cap Flags: 0x41
Format Flags: 0xFFF

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
DLS Path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\GM.DLS
DLS Version: 1.00.0016.0002
Acceleration: n/a
Ports: Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
Realtek AC97 Audio, Software (Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal
Microsoft MIDI Mapper [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
Registry: OK
Test Result: Not run

Video Compressors:
WMVideo Encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,,
MSScreen encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,,
WMVideo9 Encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,,
WMVideo Advanced Encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,,
MSScreen 9 encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,,
DV Video Encoder,0x00200000,0,0,qdv.dll,6.05.2600.2180
Indeo® video 5.10 Compression Filter,0x00100000,1,1,ir50_32.dll,5.2562.0015.0055
MJPEG Compressor,0x00200000,0,0,quartz.dll,6.05.2600.2749
Cinepak Codec by Radius,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.2180
Intel 4:2:0 Video V2.50,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.2180
Intel Indeo(R) Video R3.2,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.2180
Intel Indeo® Video 4.5,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.2180
Indeo® video 5.10,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.2180
Intel IYUV codec,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.2180
Microsoft H.261 Video Codec,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.2180
Microsoft H.263 Video Codec,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.2180
Microsoft RLE,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.2180
Microsoft Video 1,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.2180
Microsoft Windows Media Video 9,0x00200000,1,1,qcap.dll,6.05.2600.2180

 

[crunch]

OK.. what graphics settings are you using? Your system is pretty on the verge of min. requirements, don't expect wonders. I think you should try some general optimizations tips, such as:
- lower game resolution
- lower graphics details
- turn off various nice graphic things (animations, ...)
- turn off movies
- turn off sounds in ini file (EnableAudio=0)
- before launching civ, shut down all unnecessary apps (incl. antivirus software, instant messengers)
- in the ini file, set SetMaxFrameRate=40 (or less, 30)
- try windowed mode if that works better for you (Fullscreen=0)

In case you don't know, the ini file is located under My Documents\My Games\Civ\. It's called CivilizationIV.ini and it can be edited e.g. via notepad.

 

[deanamzil]

Thanks dude I will try all that now.

Another thing that worked for me was each time my lap top would over heat so I put a fan on it while I play to keep it cool.

 

[deanamzil]

what does the max frame rate do?

 

[RameNoodle]

If you slow down the max frame rate, then the game doesn't try to refresh the screen as often, therefore lowering the amount of RAM that is used, IIRC.
Also, make sure all your drivers are up-to-date. As a matter of fact, if you attach the part of dxdiag under the tab "display" it will be easier to decide what your video settings are.

 

[deanamzil]

wooohooo works like a charm now

got warlords too...that works even better

 

[Artosoft]

If you slow down the max frame rate, then the game doesn't try to refresh the screen as often, therefore lowering the amount of RAM that is used, IIRC.
Also, make sure all your drivers are up-to-date. As a matter of fact, if you attach the part of dxdiag under the tab "display" it will be easier to decide what your video settings are.

Errr..., allow me to do correction.

When you slow down the max frame rate, then the game doesn't try to refresh the screen as often, therefore lowering the CPU work load that is used. Thus lowering CPU's temperature.
...

Regards,
Arto.