v1.52: Fails to create initial map and crashes

[estonian]

I have installed v1.52 and since then I am unable to start a new game.
Following happens:

XML starts uncached.
I select single player/play game, pass through all configuration screens and wait for initialization of the game. As you know that initialization clip plays and describes evolution of the man. I wait for autosave action to complete and date appear on top-right corner then I hit play game button (I even waited for evolution clip till its end). Initial map never appears and a "display unit" circle, indicating active unit is out of camera range, shows up. I can move ouse pointer, try to click on that image to display active units nothing happens and ithe computer freezes. I have to restart the computer every time it freezes.


These problems happened only after I installed v1.52patch. Everything was fine with 1.09 patch.

I even unistalled/reinstalled the game and directly applied v1.52 patch without 1.09. Nothing changed.
Cleared cache files. Again no help.

Having MemorySaver option was no help either.

A weird thing is thet initial evolution movie sound continues even though I hit "Play Game"button and black screen appears instead of the map.

All my drivers are up-to-date for versions provided by HP.

I enabled logging and had following error messages logged (just copied the problem part):

[322.503] DBG: FILE Cat Init
[322.944] DBG: NOT Using XML cache, failed to find crc.dat file
[322.944] DBG: Game Init

RESMGR: Texture PlayerColor01.tga failed to load
RESMGR: Texture PlayerColor02.tga failed to load

Everything else seems fine.

I also attached DxDiag.txt file for those who wants to check details.



I appreciate any help other than generic advice like update your driver or change your hardware. Remeber it worked fine at v1.09 with same settings.

 

[Neon Deon]

152 changed the way it handled memory.

One savings for low memory like 512 was to stick out of site units and animations in the page file. This offset the need for more ram.

However what it did was commit more page file usage.

Set your page file to 2000/2000 and run the game by itself. right now you have things running in background.

Start/run

Type in:

msconfig

Disable all on startup tab.

Under services tab check the box for hide all MS services,disable the rest, apply, and reboot.

Since this game eats Ram Like a starved moviegoer eats popcorn you need a bigger fixed pagefile.

Change it to 2000/2000 initial and maximum.

Control panel/system/advanced/performance/settings/advanced/virtual memory change button/

Select custom size and set it to 2000/2000.

Now reboot the thang and try again but this time adjust the in game graphics to medium or low before trying to play. 152 also resets all graphics settings you made before to the default.

 

[estonian]

Thanks.

But it didn't solve my problem. I tried to minimize memory usage before by turning off all other software/services running at background. Yet never increased pagefile size since I had no warnings for memory overload.

I set my pagefile min. 2048 MB and max 3096 still no help.

Same problems I had.

XML started uncached and game hanged up at initial map phase. It shouldn't be memeory problem I guess. Because I played well at advanced periods of the game (2000s).

I installed v1.52 patch in midst of a game and the game worked fine. Only my graphical settings were resetted after installing the patch. After finishing that game I couldn't start a new one.

The weird thing is that I kept playing a game until finishing it in 2030 with 40 cities and spaceship building. I opened a saved file from v1.09 and played it through many sessions (saves/loads). No crashes happened. When I wanted to start a new one this problem happened.

Uninstalling and reinstalling the game and patches changed nothing.

If it is a memory issue then how come I played the saved game without a single hang-up/crash. I noticed the load on the system increases as you advance through time and access to all cities/units in the map in late periods. It worked so nice for me while continuing previously saved game but I cannot start a new one.

So any help on these weird issues?

 

[Neon Deon]

C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Application Data\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\cache

verify that those folders are there.

look and see if crc.dat is in the folder too

 

[estonian]

yes it is there.
It is created from scratch even if I clear all files in cache folder

 

[Neon Deon]

The game works but only from saved games.

The game worked with 109 all the way.

2+2 = 5

The patch could be fubar.

unistall the game, manually delete the the folder that is lefto over in current user app my games folder.

If the game is the cd/dvd version and not the one you download over the internet, download the patch from firaxis. Do not use the patch file you used the last time or the game update.

Try again.

PS

dont use any old games for now back them up somewhere else.

Good luck

 

[estonian]

thanks pal.

I believe I downloaded the patch from 2kgames web site; however, I will download it from firaxis again and use it this time.

After experiencing the smoothness of v1.52 in late periods I don't want to get stuck with v1.09 but if this try doesn't work either that's the only choice I have. Such a weird error destroyed all the joy

 

[estonian]

I removed Civ IV, cleaned registry leftovers and reinstalled the original CD and v1.52 patch. No luck.

Same problem continues to appear hen I tred to start a new game.

I attached logs and ini file fro last trial.Memory saving options didn't help either...

 

[Neon Deon]

I removed Civ IV, cleaned registry leftovers and reinstalled the original CD and v1.52 patch. No luck.

Same problem continues to appear hen I tred to start a new game.

I attached logs and ini file fro last trial.Memory saving options didn't help either...

post a new diag file please.

You have selected low graphics setting right?

 

[estonian]

I tried it at low graph setting as well. I played the game I talked about with high graphic setting with no problem.

Now the settings are same as the time I finished that game at 2030 by having discovered all techs, explored all map and built the spaceship.

I feel it is not about the usual memory saving methods.

I play the game at late periods but cannot generate a simple initial map

The dxdiag file is attached.

 

[Neon Deon]

I tried it at low graph setting as well. I played the game I talked about with high graphic setting with no problem.

Now the settings are same as the time I finished that game at 2030 by having discovered all techs, explored all map and built the spaceship.

I feel it is not about the usual memory saving methods.

I play the game at late periods but cannot generate a simple initial map

The dxdiag file is attached.

This is whacked

Only other thing I can think of would be to nuke the game again.

Create a new user with adming privlages.

reboot into the new user and install the game then the patch.