Frequent crashing.

from GalCiv2 Forums
I'm almost in love with GCII but the crashes I'm experiencing are starting to sour my opinion. The crashes happen randomly as often as every 20 turns. They usualy happen between turns, but thats as related as they get, as they happen when I'm at war, when at peace, when I'm expecting research, construction or niehter. Sometimes they happen when nothing new occurs at all. When I reload the autosave the turn passes without a crash.

I'm running a new comp with the following:
Pentium 4 3.2gz
2 512 sticks of ram
256 video card (geforce 6800)

I read in one of the diaries that heat may be a cause, though I've no idea as to how to check my processors temp.
Thanks
8,451 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
what video card drivers are you using? the version number?

and is your PC overclocked?

are you running any other software in the background?
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
I have the SAME Exact problem. It did not start, however, until about 6+ hours of playing a single game. It is happening WAY too often now and that is why I came here to update the dev team. I first figured my saved game was corrupt or something but if you load the game back up and play it passes that turn (it seems) and goes on.

I was curious if there is any information I can post? It does have the usual MS dump info that may or may not be helpful (probably not).


Dell PowerEdge 1800
2 x Xeon 3.0ghz 2MB - HT enabled
XP Pro SP2
SATA Raid (RAID0 and RAID1) and U320 15k (installed OS and game..)
2GB Ram
ATI x800-256 (PCIe running @ 4x instead of 16x) newest Catalyst driver.. downloaded today.

No software in the background and NO OC'in ... it's a server



PS. It would be nice if the stardock gave us a choice on where to install the darn game.... I would have loved to put it on another HD than my OS. There may be a way... but it wasn't instantly evident.

I'm going to try running the game with only one processor so we'll see if that helps (disable 3 of the 4 processors - 2 virtual - 1 real)
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
There is a "Debug" file in your GalCiv folder. Post it along with any details about what you were doing, ie, I tried to save a new ship design, it crashed while processing a turn, whatever.

Tony
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
You can change where Stardock installs both the temporary and permanent files

Turn on Stardock, then Tools--Settings--Advanced... I was originally having problems because it was putting all the temp. stuff on my smallest drive and overfilling it, but with a simple change of the button, everything is better
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Try turning off full screen mode if you have it on. Worked for me!
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
It seems like using only 1 processor did the trick... it may end up being a problem with HT (since I was no longer using a HT processor) I've seen inconsistent problems with HT and programs - but usually only in Win2k. I will keep you updated.. debug file is 134kb... I deleted it so if it happens again it's smaller. Thanks for the intel on the settings for stardock!
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
crashed again.. I guess this game can't be alt-tab'ed? It is really hard to play these type of games w/o having to switch back and forth once in awhile



Debug Message: Killing threads.
Debug Message: Kiling civs.
Debug Message: Killing ships.
Debug Message: Killing rallypoints.
Debug Message: Killing misc objects.
Debug Message: Killing stars.
Debug Message: Killing anomalies.
Debug Message: Killing space resources.
Debug Message: Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message: killing scenario.
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: Loading Custom Map
Debug Message: Loading Data Defs
Debug Message: Data Defs block size: 1883193
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Loading TechDefs
Debug Message: Max num techs: 248
Debug Message: Loading ImprovementDB
Debug Message: Loading Component Defs
Debug Message: Loading ShipTypes
Debug Message: Loading ShipConfigs
Debug Message: Loading AnomalyTypes
Debug Message: Loading RandomEvents
Debug Message: Loading UPIssues
Debug Message: Loading ResourceTypes
Debug Message: Loading InvasionTactics
Debug Message: Loading SBmodules
Debug Message: Loading PoliticalParties
Debug Message: Loading Planet Types
Debug Message: Loading Star Types
Debug Message: Loading Game
Debug Message: Loading Galaxy
Debug Message: Loading FOW Map
Debug Message: Loading ZOC Map
Debug Message: Loading Planets
Debug Message: Loading Stars
Debug Message: Loading Anomalies
Debug Message: Loading Resources
Debug Message: Loading Civs
Debug Message: Loading Colonies
Debug Message: Loading RallyPoints
Debug Message: Loading Ships
Debug Message: Loading Fleets
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Fleet in definitions
Debug Message: Loading Influence
Debug Message: Loading ENDGALAXYDATA
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 8
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Device lost
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
still seems like it is occuring even with 1 processor used.. I was passing a tick (turn) .. no building/planes or tech completed that turn.


Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 18
Debug Message: Max num techs: 248
Debug Message: Total tech data size: 147504 Max tech size: 1891
Debug Message: Total improvement db size: 62512
Debug Message: Component defs data size: 485809
Debug Message: Total ship class data size: 680803 Max ship class data size: 663
Debug Message: Total Ship config data size: 2661 Max ship config data size: 543
Debug Message: Total anomaly types data: 17300, Max anomaly type size: 692
Debug Message: Total random event data size: 31903 Max random event size: 1276
Debug Message: Total UP issue data size: 236940 Max UP issue size: 7180
Debug Message: Total resource type data size: 1600 Max resource type data size: 332
Debug Message: Total invasion tatic data size: 2790 Max invasion tactic data size: 476
Debug Message: Total starbase module data size: 318240 Max starbase module size: 3536
Debug Message: Total political party data size: 13576 Max political party size: 1697
Debug Message: Total planet types data size: 0 Max planet type size: 0
Debug Message: Total star type data size: 6896 Max star type size: 862
Debug Message: Game Object data: 16
Debug Message: Galaxy data: 14298
Debug Message: FOW data: 87152
Debug Message: ZOC data: 2336
Debug Message: Total Planet data size: 4246131 Max Planet data size: 6500
Debug Message: Total Star data size: 120840 Max Star data size: 424
Debug Message: Total Anomaly data size: 0 Max Anomaly data size: 0
Debug Message: Total Space resource data size: 8758 Max space resource data size: 302
Debug Message: Total Civilization data size: 2088986 Max Civ data size: 99200
Debug Message: Total Colony data size: 48170 Max colony data size: 270
Debug Message: Total Rally point data size: 1192 Max Rallypoint data size: 298
Debug Message: Total Ship data size: 403120 Max Ship Data size: 1492
Debug Message: Total Fleet data size: 32376 Max Fleet Data size: 6864
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: Destroying ship Troop Transport M18-1 9017. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Random Event: Begin
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Device lost