Response from Take2 - Corrective Action

[zavarik]

I have not seen this yet so I will post it and maybe it will help someone out. If this has already been posted, sorry

Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for contacting Take 2 Technical Support.

I have a few steps for you to try but if the problem remains please send a
directx diagnostic report so we can look into the problem further.

Close all background applications by clicking on start, run and type
msconfig. Click on the startup tab and select disable all. Apply then close
and restart the pc as prompted.

Empty the temporary files folder by clicking on start, run and type %temp%.
Click on the Edit menu then Select all and then press delete.

Uninstall the game, then reinstall. If you have any problems manually
uninstall the game.
Open My Computer then open the Local Disk (C: )
Open the program files folder.
Click on the tools menu then choose folder options
Click on the view tab and tick the box labelled "show hidden files and
folders". Press OK
Open the installshield installation information folder
Search for a folder named {CFBCE791-2D53-4FCE-B3BF-D6E01F4112E8}
Right click on the folder and choose rename. Press the End key on the
keyboard and type the word OLD. Press the enter key
Insert the Civilization IV install CD and open My Computer. Right click on
the CD drive and choose explore,
Locate the setup.exe file and double click.

This will replace and overwrite any missing components that were preventing
the game from being uninstalled normally
To uninstall the game, go to Control Panel>> Add/Remove programs and
highlight the game in the list. Choose change/remove and follow the
onscreen prompts

If at all possible try reinstalling the game on a second drive.

Update both the video card and the sound card drivers, which can be
obtained from the manufacturers web site for the video/sound card.

Run compatibility mode for the game. Right click on the game's shortcut and
select properties. Click on the compatibility tab and run the game in
windows 2000 mode. If that doesnt help try 98/me mode.

If none of the above help please send more information by clicking on
start, run and type dxdiag. Click on save all information save the file to
the desktop and attach it to a reply email.




Please be sure to delete all previous correspondence when replying. This
will help us to process your response in a more timely and efficient manner.

Kind Regards,
Take 2 Technical Support

I am at work right now and cannot try it. Keep me posted as well if it works.

 

[12ozProphets]

Thanks for the post. The stuff about uninstalling and re-installing dosen't make sense to me, but what do I know?

I'm going to give the compatibility mode stuff a try.

Thanks

 

[Isostran]

yes I got the same thing but it doesnt address the problem with the Geforce 5 series or other problems that we have. I have tried everything that 2k suggested but I still have probs..I exceed the recomended, have updated Graphics/Bios/sound drivers.

 

[Gustomucho81]

HAHAHAHHA, this is one of the funniest thing I read since : A filet o' fish in World of Warcraft boards...

If your game doesn't work :

Uninstall, format, re-install windows, Format again, jump around your computer 3 times, CLOCKWISE, then re-install windows, after update every drivers, flash your bios, make yourself a cofee if you are tired, re-install the game, unpack the files, Reboot, start Civ 2, close Civ 2. Start Civ 3, close Civ 3. Start Civ 1, keep it open, start Civ 4.

This should fix all your problems, if you have any problem after that, maybe by the time you done all this there will be a patch available.

Thank you.

 

[Ape Drape]

That is just the WORST tech advice I have ever heard.
Most of those services are REQUIRED to be running to operate Windows.

Why in God's name would you run it in a compatability mode for an operating system that was discontinued years before this game came out?

Do NOT do what they suggest.

 

[zavarik]

just dont kill the messenger

honestly, I will try most things that do not cost me extra money if I am able to play the game. Just my .02c

 

[Gustomucho81]

just dont kill the messenger

honestly, I will try most things that do not cost me extra money if I am able to play the game. Just my .02c

I am not shooting at you, but at the stupid stuff they told you. They might as well say : Start to pray, and maybe God will fix the game for us.

 

[Isostran]

HAHAHAHHA, this is one of the funniest thing I read since : A filet o' fish in World of Warcraft boards...

If your game doesn't work :

Uninstall, format, re-install windows, Format again, jump around your computer 3 times, CLOCKWISE, then re-install windows, after update every drivers, flash your bios, make yourself a cofee if you are tired, re-install the game, unpack the files, Reboot, start Civ 2, close Civ 2. Start Civ 3, close Civ 3. Start Civ 1, keep it open, start Civ 4.

This should fix all your problems, if you have any problem after that, maybe by the time you done all this there will be a patch available.

Thank you.

LMAO it must be the computer from Willy Wonka." Im now telling the computer exactly what it can do with Civ4 problems"

 

[Ape Drape]

just dont kill the messenger

honestly, I will try most things that do not cost me extra money if I am able to play the game. Just my .02c

Not slamming you at all. That's just horrible advice that Take2 gave out.

I've heard everything from reformatting your HD and reinstalling Windows (You only get 3 reinstalls of windows before it becomes a hassle) to buying a new machine just for civ 4.

This game has the worst tech support I've ever seen. I mean I'd almost rather deal with outsourced tech support in India than Take2.

 

[negyvenketto]

Run compatibility mode for the game. Right click on the game's shortcut and select properties. Click on the compatibility tab and run the game in windows 2000 mode. If that doesnt help try 98/me mode.

I have tried. 'Normally' I get the Failed to Initialize Renderer error. In compatibility mode (2000 or 98) I get Please insert DVD error

 

[g_khan]

Does anyone else find it very amusing that in order to uninstall the game, you first need to re-install it?

 

[Sadan01]

This game has the worst tech support I've ever seen.

Yeah, it just seems like they cant be bothered troubleshooting so we'll just send out a generic email. Then again, if they do get 100's if not 1000's of emails/calls a day regarding all the games they publish, I can understand why they'd have a standard response first up.

On the other hand, email EA for support for their games. Very similar except EA's responses are not as well thought out. But then again, I am sure EA don't pay their employees to think

Does anyone else find it very amusing that in order to uninstall the game, you first need to re-install it?

I find Microsoft amusing actually as they are the ones that invented Windows Installer and also the API's for InstallShield to plug into. Microsoft's twisted, screwed up way. If anyone actually works them out, I'm sure Bill will be only too happy to give him/her a job.

EDIT:

In compatibility mode (2000 or 98) I get Please insert DVD error

Just tried it then too and so do I - Please insert DVD... Stupid. Now I guess they dont even test their "solutions" ...

 

[venn]

Lol why did you even bother? It's automatic response email. Try sending another one with just one or two words. That's most likely what you get. See they didn't even have someone sign it. Usually if it's an actual person you get a name at the bottom.

 

[Civivist]

Lol why did you even bother? It's automatic response email. Try sending another one with just one or two words. That's most likely what you get. See they didn't even have someone sign it. Usually if it's an actual person you get a name at the bottom.

No, I don't think it is automatic. It's manual copy-paste work. In my case they forgot the paste so I received an "empty" mail:

Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for contacting Take 2 Technical Support.


Please be sure to delete all previous correspondence when replying. This
will help us to process your response in a more timely and efficient manner.

Kind Regards,
Take 2 Technical Support

After a complaint about this they send me the same mail as the OP. Maybe they'd better automate it and spend their time working on the patch.