Possible Fixes for "Failed to Initialize Renderer" Startup Error

[Jon Shafer]

Firaxis is currently looking into the startup issues people are experiencing.

There appear to be two seperate issues which lead to the "Failed to Initialize Renderer" bug.

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1) When installing Civ 4 you MUST install the version of DirectX 9 that shows up. If you get a window asking you to upgrade you NEED to update to the new version. Aside from Civ 4 this version is only available through the DirectX Development kit and does not come with other games or with the user DirectX you find through Microsoft.

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If you still get the error...

2) People who are receiving a failure to initialize error on startup that own ATI cards should do the following. This has worked on every test case where this problem was experienced.

1. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall the listing titled ‘ATI Graphics Driver’
2. Once uninstalled they need to download the latest version of the Windows Catalyst Driver – 5.10

Windows XP & Windows 2000:
https://support.ati.com/ics/support/...ge&folderID=27

3. REBOOT
4. Retry launching the game

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If you still get the error...

See this thread:

http://www.apolyton.net/forums/showt...hreadid=140859

[RickJay]

I've done everything I can to deinstall the old drivers; the problem doesn't go away. Does anyone have a quickie explanation as to how to ensure my drivers are fully deinstalled?

[Jon Shafer]

See first post.

[Amniotic]

No dice. Uninstalled ATI Driver and Control Panel. Ran Driver Cleaner with ATI filter to get the old junk out. Reinstalled Cat 5.10. Failed to initialize renderer.

[RickJay]

Same here. I followed these exact steps on three different computers with three different ATI cards, and no effect.

[Jon Shafer]

Additionally, the DirectX version included with Civ 4 should be installed as there are additional updates besides DirectX 9c included.

[Akaoz]

Try the ATI UN-installer.

http://support.ati.com/ics/support/D...737&deptID=894

[Traelin]

Originally posted by Amniotic
No dice. Uninstalled ATI Driver and Control Panel. Ran Driver Cleaner with ATI filter to get the old junk out. Reinstalled Cat 5.10. Failed to initialize renderer.

Hrm, I'll wait before I uninstall my drivers then hehe...with my luck I'll jack up my other SW.

[Solver]

Again, make sure you install the DirectX included on the Civ4 CD.

[Traelin]

Originally posted by Solver
Again, make sure you install the DirectX included on the Civ4 CD.

Solver, when you install Civ4 and it runs its auto-check for DX, it automatically installs the DX updates on the CD, right?

[Jon Shafer]

When installing Civ 4 if you don't have the most recent version of DirectX 9 then a window will come up asking you to install it. If you do not you will not be able to run the game. This version of DirectX is available basically no where else.

[Amniotic]

Every direction followed to the letter. "Failed to initialize renderer"

[Kinjiru]

If you already have DirectX 9.0c installed, then AFAICT, the DX installer on the Civ CD does nothing. At least it certainly did not appear to actually select and install anything on any of the four installs I have done today (over 2 machines).

I also cannot tell how to uninstall DirectX from my system (thinking that wiping it out and then manually installing from the Civ CD would work). Any enlightenment on that score?

[Solver]

I wouldn't know, I don't have a copy of the retail version. It's my understanding that the setup program asks you about installing DX, and you need to do that.

[Jon Shafer]

Can a mod please rename this thread to:

Possible Fixes for "Failed to Initialize Renderer" Startup Error

Edit: Thanks

[Traelin]

Originally posted by Solver
I wouldn't know, I don't have a copy of the retail version. It's my understanding that the setup program asks you about installing DX, and you need to do that.

Thanks Solver for the input. I actually checked my DX files in dxdiag, and like 12 of them have today's timestamp on them, so they did indeed update.

[Traelin]

Originally posted by Kinjiru
If you already have DirectX 9.0c installed, then AFAICT, the DX installer on the Civ CD does nothing. At least it certainly did not appear to actually select and install anything on any of the four installs I have done today (over 2 machines).

I also cannot tell how to uninstall DirectX from my system (thinking that wiping it out and then manually installing from the Civ CD would work). Any enlightenment on that score?

Go into dxdiag, click the "DirectX Files" tab. Scroll thru the filenames and peruse the timestamps. There should be about 9 files with today's date on them. I didn't think it installed anything either, but it does.

[alva]

Did it help you Traelin?

[Kinjiru]

Right you are Traelin.

I just did another attempt at following Trips instructions will no better luck.

As much as this sucks for us players, this kind of situation is incredibly frustrating for the Firaxis team as well. They are proud of their work and want people to enjoy the game, and when a technical issue arises that is hard to pin down, is just.... so.... damn.... frustrating (speaking from experience here).

So let's all remember that our boys are trying to figure this out and will give us whatever help they can.

[acratin]

I have also done everything suggested here - completely uninstalled my old drivers. Rebooted, went through a scare. Installed Catalyst 5.10, rebooted. Installed DirectX included with Civ4 (though it did that during the initial install). Tried to play. Same error.

I'm using a Radeon 9550.

[Traelin]

Originally posted by alva
Did it help you Traelin?

I haven't attempted to uninstall and reinstall my drivers yet, but DX is indeed updated. Quite frankly I'm too paranoid to change the drivers, because (admittedly) I know enough about graphics cards to get me by, but not enough to feel comfortable to make the changes (yet). I'm worried I'll jack up Doom, Pirates, WoW, and hrm yes even the ability to watch my Redskins games.

I'm just gonna try and give ya'll input when I can, and wait and see if a tried-and-true fix comes about. Thanks for your assistance though, it is greatly appreciated.

[ragapa]

I've deleted all the ATI drivers and attempted to install the Windows Catalyst Driver – 5.10. It gives me some nonsense about not having a VGA driver installed and exits. I ran the cat-uninstaller utility previous to attempting this which seemed to remove all traces of the old drivers/software.

I ran the DirectX installer as part of the install and again independently (from the install CD.)

I flashed the VBIOS and updated the drivers with the most recent versions from the Dell site.

Radeon 9800, 256MB on a Dell XPS 1GB RAM.

I'm totally frustrated. Any help?

[RickJay]

Here is an interesting problem.

I've run the DX9 installer on the Civ4 disk three times now but I still do not have any files with today's timestamp. Yes, my clock is correct.

I ran the installer on my laptop, and it DID pick up the new DX9 files. (It won't run Civ4 for other reasons, but the DX installer worked.)

How do I fix this??

[57%]

Has the steps provided in the first post worked for anyone? I've tried and tried, and it does not work. I have the Radeon 9550.

[Jon Shafer]

Is anyone besides RickJay missing files?

Those who are still having problems please look in C:\windows\SYSTEM32 and see if "D3DX9_26.DLL" is there.

[hanZ]

maybe try omegadrivers?

http://www.omegadrivers.net/

those 3rd party drivers may help in some cases.

[acratin]

As mentioned in another thread, it is there. If you'd like, I'd be happy to post a dxdiag here.

[RickJay]

Trip, that file - D3DX9_26.DLL - is indeed there. What does that mean?

Any ideas how I can resolve this issue?

[Solver]

Have you rebooted? If you have that file and reboot, the game should work.

[Philotas]

Radeon 9600 here. I've run the ATI's driver uninstall, installed the new Cat drivers, and still getting the same "Rendering" error. And, yes, I have the d3dx9_26.dll in my c:/windows/system32 folder.