Hoping someone can help (I'm not a computer boffin so would be grateful if you could explain things in really simple terms). I recently bought Civ 4 but was unable to run it on my machine - I looked the specs and I didn't have enough RAM so went and bought some more and tried again but the damn thing still won't run. All my other specs are fine. I did try looking for the civilization4.ini file but it doesn't look like its been loaded onto my machine - is there anywhere else I may be able to find it or could someone give it to me?
Prolems Starting up Civ IV
- Thread starter karibuni
- Start date
Default folder for ini file: My Documents\My Games\Civ...\
However ini file is only created after you run the game successfully for the first time.
What does it mean: "unable to run"? Does it do anything? Could you install? Could you patch? Does it crash? When exactly? Any errors shown? Any interesting screenshots that might help us to help you?
What are your computer specs (CPU, RAM, graphics card)?
However ini file is only created after you run the game successfully for the first time.
What does it mean: "unable to run"? Does it do anything? Could you install? Could you patch? Does it crash? When exactly? Any errors shown? Any interesting screenshots that might help us to help you?
What are your computer specs (CPU, RAM, graphics card)?
Once I've installed the game I try and launch but it goes to the loading screen for about 2 mins, it disappear and then a microsoft error message pops up. I have downloaded the latest patch as well but am not sure it did anything - it downloaded ok and then spent ages updating Civ 4 but nothing seems to habe changed.
oops, sorry its an athlon 1900+
512mb ram
64 mb nvidea graphics card
oops, sorry its an athlon 1900+
512mb ram
64 mb nvidea graphics card
Attachments
karibuni said:
Hey, I am having the EXACT same problem. Just downloaded and installed the latest patch but no relief. Here's my specs on a brand new Dell XPS laptop:
Pentium M 2GHz
1 GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce Go 6800 Ultra video card (256mb i think? not sure where to check this but it's not bad i know)
Any assistance is much appreciated, thanks!!
Me too. Brand new laptop. The "Loading" screen appears and than I get that Microsoft error. I tried everything and disabled all my start-up, updated video drivers, installed the 1.61 patch, no help. My system has all the requirements (and plus). Can anyone help?
Same problem here! I've got a Dell Inspiron 9300 that easily meets all minimum and preferred requirements. Downloaded the 1.61 patch last night which did not help. The only other thread I've found stated that our problem might have something to do with our CD/DVD drives. Something about the firmware needs to be updated. Is that possible??? My drive is a a TSSTcorp DVD+-RW TS-L532B and Dell doesn't have a new firmware version. The laptop is less than 6 months old! Can anyone help?!?!?!?!?
You may want to refer to this thread. Basically the safe disc 4 copy protection does not seem compatible with all drives, most particularly the ts-l532b, which it seems is shipping with most new Dells.
Solution: ??? I haven't found one. If you go to the Dell community forums that is linked in that thread you can see that one guys solution was to recieve a $100 refund for the "unusable" drive and go and get another one.
My question to all of you that have posted is: Do you all have this same optical drive or is there another drive that is causing problems.
Solution: ??? I haven't found one. If you go to the Dell community forums that is linked in that thread you can see that one guys solution was to recieve a $100 refund for the "unusable" drive and go and get another one.
My question to all of you that have posted is: Do you all have this same optical drive or is there another drive that is causing problems.
I have the TSSTcorp DVD+-RW TS-L532B... drive and I have this issue. Strangely, I have managed to get the game to run a couple of times, so I know it is not the computer. It is a brand-new Dell E1505. All I get it the "loading...." screen and, a few minutes later, a windows message, click to send report, yadda yadda yadda.
I am not an IT person but I contacted Dell (in their chat support) and explained that the problem was a badly made Samsung drive (which I learbed about on a few boards). I referred them to this link (http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_cdrom&message.id=48902) and after some back and forth they agreed to send me a new drive free of charge. Problem solved.
Rikolus
Chieftain
I had earlier outlined a similiar problem, that might be the same (and finally let me know why the heck I cannot start the game on my laptop). My laptop was made by Hybridge, is 1-year old, and seems to play all high-end games well. In fact, I had played the CIV 4 demo when it appeared in Computer Gaming World mag last December. But when I try to start the full game on my laptop, I get a message that system 'cannot find the CD, please insert it to continue'. Is that the error you are getting too? The game will run on my desktop so I know the disks are not damaged.
What makes it more aggravating is that after working with this Forum and being unable to resolve the problem, I finally sent an email to TAKE 2 Software's Support. That was well OVER A WEEK AGO. Two days ago, I sent a 2nd message asking for some kind of reply that they received my message. Nothing! I am really disgusted with this situation, and wish I knew an email address for SID MEIER... I cannot believe he would be satisfied that so many people are experiencing this frustration from his project.
What makes it more aggravating is that after working with this Forum and being unable to resolve the problem, I finally sent an email to TAKE 2 Software's Support. That was well OVER A WEEK AGO. Two days ago, I sent a 2nd message asking for some kind of reply that they received my message. Nothing! I am really disgusted with this situation, and wish I knew an email address for SID MEIER... I cannot believe he would be satisfied that so many people are experiencing this frustration from his project.
Thanks to all on this forum for helping me solve this issue. Here is my transcript with Dell Support:
12:00:33 PM System Welcome William XXXXX ...
12:00:33 PM System Connecting to server. Please wait...
12:00:33 PM System Thank you for using Dell Chat, a representative will be with you soon.
12:00:33 PM System Initial Question/Comment: I appear to have a bad optical drive
12:06:33 PM System You are now being connected to an agent. Thank you for using Dell Chat
12:06:33 PM System Connected with Preethi_01117557
12:06:44 PM Preethi_01117557 Thank you for contacting Dell Hardware Warranty Support. My name is Preethi
May I have your telephone number, along with the area code?
12:06:50 PM Preethi_01117557 Meanwhile, I would like to inform you that you might get an invitation to participate in a survey at the end of this session. You will be asked to rate our interaction on a scale of 1 to 9 with 9 being very satisfied, and 1 being not satisfied. In order to participate in the survey, you must close the chat by selecting the "Exit" button. Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
12:07:06 PM You (000-000-0000)
12:07:55 PM Preethi_01117557 Thank you for the information William.
12:08:01 PM Preethi_01117557 Please give me a minute to pull up your account information.
12:09:01 PM Preethi_01117557 I understand we are talking about the Inspiron 6400/E1505 with Windows media center edition , is that right?
12:09:09 PM You Correct
12:09:22 PM Preethi_01117557 Ok.
12:09:24 PM You I was chatting with another rep. Ref number 000000000
12:09:44 PM Preethi_01117557 Let me check for that case log.
12:10:05 PM You The problem I am seeing is consistent with the one discussed on Dell forums in recent past: http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_cdrom&message.id=48902
12:12:09 PM Preethi_01117557 Ok.
12:13:09 PM Preethi_01117557 As I understand the system DVD drive can not play some games is that correct?
12:13:56 PM You Yes, that is correct. Playing these games was a big factor in my buying this laptopt and it turns out to be useless so far. Another forum that details this problem can be found at http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=168684
12:15:07 PM You It appears to be common with some EA games and titles from Take 2 Interactive
12:16:39 PM Preethi_01117557 William I am going through the issue .
12:16:46 PM Preethi_01117557 please give me two minutes.
12:17:59 PM You The standard remedy for this particular problem appears to be a new (non samsung) dvd drive from Dell.
12:19:45 PM Preethi_01117557 William I assure you that we will resolve this issue.
12:21:26 PM You Thanks
12:24:52 PM Preethi_01117557 William may I know the address to which system was initially being shipped?
12:25:21 PM You address, town, NJ 00000
12:25:42 PM Preethi_01117557 Ok.
12:28:47 PM Preethi_01117557 Ok thank you.
12:29:56 PM Preethi_01117557 William we will go ahead and replace the optical drive for this issue.
12:30:18 PM You great - thanks
12:30:20 PM Preethi_01117557 May I have the address where you would want us to ship the optical drive?
12:31:50 PM You (Address given).
12:32:09 PM Preethi_01117557 The link to replace the drive is..
12:32:12 PM System Preethi_01117557 pushes page, http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins6400/en/sm/opdrive.htm#wp999869
12:32:17 PM Preethi_01117557 Your welcome.
12:32:35 PM Preethi_01117557 Please give me four minutes while I create the dispatch.
12:00:33 PM System Welcome William XXXXX ...
12:00:33 PM System Connecting to server. Please wait...
12:00:33 PM System Thank you for using Dell Chat, a representative will be with you soon.
12:00:33 PM System Initial Question/Comment: I appear to have a bad optical drive
12:06:33 PM System You are now being connected to an agent. Thank you for using Dell Chat
12:06:33 PM System Connected with Preethi_01117557
12:06:44 PM Preethi_01117557 Thank you for contacting Dell Hardware Warranty Support. My name is Preethi
May I have your telephone number, along with the area code?
12:06:50 PM Preethi_01117557 Meanwhile, I would like to inform you that you might get an invitation to participate in a survey at the end of this session. You will be asked to rate our interaction on a scale of 1 to 9 with 9 being very satisfied, and 1 being not satisfied. In order to participate in the survey, you must close the chat by selecting the "Exit" button. Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
12:07:06 PM You (000-000-0000)
12:07:55 PM Preethi_01117557 Thank you for the information William.
12:08:01 PM Preethi_01117557 Please give me a minute to pull up your account information.
12:09:01 PM Preethi_01117557 I understand we are talking about the Inspiron 6400/E1505 with Windows media center edition , is that right?
12:09:09 PM You Correct
12:09:22 PM Preethi_01117557 Ok.
12:09:24 PM You I was chatting with another rep. Ref number 000000000
12:09:44 PM Preethi_01117557 Let me check for that case log.
12:10:05 PM You The problem I am seeing is consistent with the one discussed on Dell forums in recent past: http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_cdrom&message.id=48902
12:12:09 PM Preethi_01117557 Ok.
12:13:09 PM Preethi_01117557 As I understand the system DVD drive can not play some games is that correct?
12:13:56 PM You Yes, that is correct. Playing these games was a big factor in my buying this laptopt and it turns out to be useless so far. Another forum that details this problem can be found at http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=168684
12:15:07 PM You It appears to be common with some EA games and titles from Take 2 Interactive
12:16:39 PM Preethi_01117557 William I am going through the issue .
12:16:46 PM Preethi_01117557 please give me two minutes.
12:17:59 PM You The standard remedy for this particular problem appears to be a new (non samsung) dvd drive from Dell.
12:19:45 PM Preethi_01117557 William I assure you that we will resolve this issue.
12:21:26 PM You Thanks
12:24:52 PM Preethi_01117557 William may I know the address to which system was initially being shipped?
12:25:21 PM You address, town, NJ 00000
12:25:42 PM Preethi_01117557 Ok.
12:28:47 PM Preethi_01117557 Ok thank you.
12:29:56 PM Preethi_01117557 William we will go ahead and replace the optical drive for this issue.
12:30:18 PM You great - thanks
12:30:20 PM Preethi_01117557 May I have the address where you would want us to ship the optical drive?
12:31:50 PM You (Address given).
12:32:09 PM Preethi_01117557 The link to replace the drive is..
12:32:12 PM System Preethi_01117557 pushes page, http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins6400/en/sm/opdrive.htm#wp999869
12:32:17 PM Preethi_01117557 Your welcome.
12:32:35 PM Preethi_01117557 Please give me four minutes while I create the dispatch.
I have been using Civ IV for a while but all of a sudden when I try to start the game it just minimizes to my desktop. I can't maximize the program and it won't load so it can be played. I have tried to deleet the program and relaod but the instalation program keeps going to a file on my C: drive and ask for the CD to be inserted. When I insert the CD an tell it to look on the E: drive where the CD is loacted, it just reverts abck to looking for an installation file on my c: drive udner the installation files. I am running a dektop computre that ahs capability well beyond what is required to run the game.
Any ideas?
Stewji
Any ideas?
Stewji
Rikolus
Chieftain
Yep Stewji, I have had the same prob. It is sitting there minimized in the lower left corner of the Task Bar, but nothing can get it to open. Horribly frustrating. I found the mole's post interesting. I am glad to see Dell responding. My laptop was a generic build. The CD is a PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-K14RA Does anyone know if this drive would suffer the same symptoms as the Samsung? I guess I just wish I knew if it's something that is hopeless, or if there is something I could be doing to get it to work!
Me=Civ God
Chieftain
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2005
- Messages
- 21
Rikolus said:
yep same problem
Me=Civ God
Chieftain
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2005
- Messages
- 21
wmole said:
looks like we both got owwwnneed...
Whoops - I wrote that last post too soon. The new drive is now working flawlessly. I took it out, re-installed it and re-booted and the NEC drive recognizes the drive every time. Swapping out the drive definitely solved the issue. Just make sure you re-boot your PC and that everything is lined up correctly.
