I installed everything through impulse. A couple of days ago.

Originally when I bought the game and the expansions as the were released I did not have any issues (I beleive I installed all of them through the sdcentral client back then).

I can play galciv2 dread lords with no problems so far, all I did was load up the campaign and play a few turns and a custom game for a few turns. When I do launch the autorun screen and click play the game I get a dialog stating Error Running GalCiv II as the dialog title and the contents state "Please Run setup.exe on your CD or re-install using Impulse. After the the game loads up fine with no errors and plays fine as above stated.

When I try to launch Dark Avatar I get the same error dialog, but when the screen goes black to load the game game I get the standard dialog windows program has encountered a problem and needs to close message.

Here is the debug.err:

Debug Message:  Version v2.01 Dark Avatar last updated on: Mon Nov 24 16:26:43 2008
Debug Message:  Checking DX Version.
Debug Message:  *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 9/28/2009, 20:27:19
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: THAJASON
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: Dimension 8300              
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A05
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
Physical Memory: 3070MB RAM
Page File: 510MB used, 6280MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS

Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GS
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 7900 GS
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00F5&SUBSYS_A5063842&REV_A2
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: SyncMaster 226BW,SyncMaster Magic CX226BW(Digital)
Monitor Max Resolution: 1680,1050
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0011.8618
Driver Date: 6/10/2009 06:03:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
 

Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB X-Fi Audio [DF20]
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_002C1102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1368
Driver Date: 10/8/2008 02:21:50
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 

Debug Message:  *********END dxdiag info.*********
Debug Message:  Entering WinMain
Debug Message:  ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message:  Going Fullscreen
Debug Message:  Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message:  Using hardware vertex processing
Debug Message:  Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message:  Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1024 x 768, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 4
Debug Message:  Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message:  Running fullscreen.
Debug Message:  HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GS
Debug Message:  D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message:  Refresh rate: 60
Debug Message:  Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message:  *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message:  A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
Debug Message:  RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message:  Now Fullscreen
Debug Message:  Shell initialization complete
Debug Message:  GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message:  ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message:  Timer Frequency is 0 369e99
Debug Message:  Initializing sound card.
Debug Message:  initailizing bink
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2\Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2\Gfx\Tutorials\*.bik
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2\Gfx\*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2\Gfx\Race\*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Jason\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2\Screens\*.dxpack
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2\Event Music\*.mp3
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Jason\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Jason\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Jason\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Event Music\*.mp3
Debug Message:  Create setup screens.
Debug Message:  Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message:  Clear influence.
Debug Message:  Clear up laws.
Debug Message:  Clear first time events.
Debug Message:  Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message:  Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message:  Set mouse.
Debug Message:  Set update timer.
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2./Data/\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2./Data/English/\*.xml
Debug Message:  Clear data definitions.
Debug Message:  Killing ship styles:
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Jason\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Jason\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Jason\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask ./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2\Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/1SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/1SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/1SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/1SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/2SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/2SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/2SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/2SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/3SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/3SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/3SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/3SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/4SideN*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/4SideE*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/4SideS*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2/gfx/Terrain/4SideW*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Jason\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message:  Reading Star Names
Debug Message:  Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask H:GalCiv2./Data/English/Tutorials/*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Tutorials/*.xml
Debug Message:  Could not parse file screens\PurchaseWnd.dxpack for EFDX objects.
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Title
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Value_BuyingItem
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Value_BuyingItem_Description
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_PictureFrame
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Title_Buisiness_Slot1
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Title_Cost_Slot1
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Buisiness_CheckBox_Slot1
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Title_Buisiness_Slot2
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Title_Cost_Slot2
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Buisiness_CheckBox_Slot2
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Title_Buisiness_Slot3
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Title_Cost_Slot3
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Buisiness_CheckBox_Slot3
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Title_Buisiness_Slot4
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Title_Cost_Slot4
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Buisiness_CheckBox_Slot4
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Title_TreasuryAfter
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Value_TreasuryAfter
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Title_WeeklyAfter
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Value_WeeklyAfter
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Button_OK
Debug Message:  PurchaseWnd: Cannot find OBJID PurchaseWnd_Button_Cancel

I have not tried the expansion Twilight yet since I cleaned the hard drive of the my documents\my games\galciv2 (and expansion directoryies).

Sorry for posting here in the forum, but I do have a support ticket open since Saturday and the reponse I got today from the support staff came from either 1. The support person was unable to understand english or 2. It was a basic blow off because the support person did not want to deal with that e-mail today. I am leaning on the 2nd.

Here is the e-mail that I sent support@stardock.com:

Hi 

I purchased galciv2 and the expansions along time ago. I believe I did it back when sdcentral was used for the download client/patcher. 

Since then I have uninstalled the product. I re-installed it today via impulse. I had some problems with the product trying to launch sdcentral to 

validate my license keys. But when I hit update serial button on the autorun window it showed me the correct serial. Eventually it poped up a different

dialog asking for my e-mail address and serial. I entered the information and everything licensed correctly. So I hit Play the game button. 

A dialog appears stating "Please run setup.exe on your CD or reinstall using Stardock Central. Eventhough the dialog appears the game continues to 

load and I get a black screen and then the second error dialog appears stating the standard windows  program has encountered a problem and 

needs to close message. I attached both errors as bmp files along with a dxdiag report. I could not find anything in the galciv2 directory for a error log

so I was unable to attach any more details of the error. I really would like to get this game working again. I was able to completed the first campaign 

a very long time ago. When I purchased the 2 expansions and finally got some time to play the game, I started the first campaign over again and got 

stuck on the mission where the dread lords has only one planet and you have to bomb them off it. I tried that mission over 30 times and was never 

able to take over the planet. Now I see that you added the other campaigns to the twighlight expansion with the twighlight techtree and would really 

like to try the game again, I really loved the game and I really want to complete all the campaigns.

Thanx in advance

Here is supports response:

Hello,

I would highly suggest using Impulse to download and install any of our applications. Impulse is our new product distribution platform that will be replacing Stardock Central. Impulse will give you the ability to resume downloads, as well as notify you when updates are available, and prompt to update. Impulse will also automatically activate any of our products you install.

You may download Impulse here: http://www.impulsedriven.com/impulse_setup_full.exe . Once Impulse is installed it will give you the option to create a Stardock.net account if you haven't already. If you already have an account, but forgot the password, Impulse also will give you the option to retrieve your account information. Once you've logged in, and Impulse finishes any additional updates needed, you can now go under the appropriate tab in Impulse and select your product and click 'Install' to install it. 

If you bought your software directly through the Stardock or Impulse store, the registrations will be added automatically into Impulse. If you have a retail bought title and need to register, click on the help icon in the upper right of the Impulse interface (the one that looks like a blue circle with a question mark) and select "Register a product with Impulse". Once on the registrations page, in the bottom right, click the 'Add Registration' button. In the Window that appears, enter your serial number (Remember all serials use letters A-F and numbers 0-9. Dashes in the serial number are important and must be included), followed by your e-mail you used to create your Stardock.net account, the product category and the product name (If you serial is recognized, these last 2 will be auto filled). Click 'Add Registration' button and you've registered your product. This will register the software to your account, and get you the latest updates to your product, as well as keep track of the serial number if you ever need to install again.

Please let me know whether this resolves your problem or if you have any additional questions.

Michael Emmerd
Technical Advisor and Consumer QA
Stardock Systems, Inc.
http://www.impulsedriven.com

Here is my response back:

Hi Michael,

I would highly suggest you read my e-mail more closely:

"I purchased galciv2 and the expansions along time ago. I believe I did it back when sdcentral was used for the download client/patcher. 
Since then I have uninstalled the product. I re-installed it today via impulse. I had some problems with the product trying to launch sdcentral to validate my 
license keys. But when I hit update serial button on the autorun window it showed me the correct serial. Eventually it poped up a different dialog asking for my
e-mail address and serial. I entered the information and everything licensed correctly. So I hit Play the game button. A dialog appears stating "Please run 
setup.exe on your CD or reinstall using Stardock Central. Eventhough the dialog appears the game continues to load and I get a black screen and then the second
error dialog appears stating the standard windows  program has encountered a problem and needs to close message. I attached both errors as bmp files along 
with a dxdiag report. I could not find anything in the galciv2 directory for a error log so I was unable to attach any more details of the error. 
I really would like to get this game working again. I was able to completed the first campaign a very long time ago. When I purchased the 2 expansions
and finally got some time to play the game, I started the first campaign over again and got stuck on the mission where the dread lords has only one planet
and you have to bomb them off it. I tried that mission over 30 times and was never able to take over the planet. Now I see that you added the other campaigns 
to the twighlight expansion with the twighlight techtree and would really like to try the game again, I really loved the game and I really want to complete
all the campaigns."

The license issues are with the galciv 2 application not with my license in impulse and the application does see my license key. It just had problems for some reason its in your code nothing on my end. The e-mail account is the same as far as i know, I do not believe I have changed internet providers and I only use one e-mail address. If you need me to resend the attachments please let me know.

Thanx in advance

After I sent the response to them I decided to see If it could be due to something being left behind after I have de-installed the product along time ago. 

So I de-installed everything and cleaned the hard drive of left over my games folders, the main install folder, and a couple of registry keys the product left behind.

I re-installed and now galciv2 dreadlords works but I am unable to get the expansions to work. as stated at the beginning of this post.

Any help would be appreciated. 

If support sends me anything that fixes my issues or revelant I will post in this thread so that no one is trying to work on a resolved issue .