Try this if you have crashes...

[Solver]

If your Civ4 crashes, try setting your Windows pagefile to a permanent pagefile with a pretty large size. By default, Windows manages the pagefile - it's possible that setting a permanent pagefile might resolve some of the crash issues.

[snoopy369]

This at least should decrease the fragmentation of the pagefile. A fixed pagefile size is usually a good idea anyway on systems that have adequate harddrive space.

[andyp1964]

Hi Solver,

I always run with a fixed page file. Still get crashes, even once a BSOD. This is with NV5700. I did turn down the graphics, turned off all the animation stuff, turned off most sound, even Mr Nimoy!, killed movies, etc. Games plays longer for sure, but inevitably will crash. I have not done much more testing, blue screens scare me.


ap

[Solver]

Gee :S.

[snoopy369]

Andy, I don't think fixed page files will fix it for *everyone*

5700 should support this game fine. Have you done things like run a memory test, checked your HD for errors, and made sure your board/video card aren't overheating? All of those things can cause BSODs with a memory intensive game like this one.

[M Bison]

I am running this on an AMD64 3200+ with 1GB of Ram and a Radeon X800 256MB vid card and the game crashes for me as well.

[mrs_c]

Where do you turn off the animation? I've turned off the movies, set the opening map to be visable (otherwise it's all black). THe game starts ok but after an hour or so, the labels for everything a just lines and soon after that the game crashes. I've got a fairly new Dell that is well above the min specs.

[2manyusernames]

what fixed size would you recomend? I believe it is x times your memory?

[WhiteHowler]

Didn't work for the hardlocks on the diplomacy screen.

[Solver]

I generally recommend 1.5 - 2 times your RAM for pagefile size. For 512 MB RAM, that would be 768-1024 MB, and for 1 GB RAM machines a 1.5 GB paging file really should suffice.

[Guynemer]

Er... what is a pagefile?

[2manyusernames]

It is Virtual Memory. The default is to let Windows decide how much virtual memory to use. You can select the size yourself.

There is some controversy, but it is suggested that for Civ at least, you might want to try and set a high number for the min and max size of the page (virtual memory). Selecting the same size for min and max assures that the page won't defragment.

You can right-click on your "My Computer" icon, select "Advanced" then click on "performace" settings. Click on the Advanced tab within the performace settings. Bottom of the page will be marked "virtual memory". click on change and select a number as suggested by Solver. I have also read that even 2.5xYour Ram is good. All this is dependant on you having a big enough hard drive of course.

[snoopy369]

1.5x your ram is more than fine, 2.0 is the most i'd go with; over 2x your ram is actually too high, and may cause it to actually perform *worse*. From what I recall, 1.5 may be all it ever uses anyway (there is a upper limit to what it would use, either 1.5 or 2.0 i think...)

[alva]

* Turn off!! your page file
* restart
* defragment your drives
* turn on page file (fixed!! eg: min = 500MB*, max = 500MB*)

Normally if you have plenty of RAM - more than a Gig - you should turn it off completely. Windows likes filling your virutal memory, so in the end, you hardly make use of your RAM.

* or whatever you want it to set, just make sure the numbers are equal.

[Cambo67]

Set a fixed-sized pagefile, so you have about 2Gb total of pagefile+physical RAM

Use PageDefrag from www.sysinternals.com

Set it to defrag your pagefile on your next reboot.

Reboot.

Your system should then run a bit smother ;-)



Cambo

[marvinkosh]

If you don't see any sort of improvement in stability with a massive swap file though, I would suggest altering another of the variables in the mix. I downgraded my ATI graphics drivers after experiencing frequent crashes to desktop, and since then I've yet to encounter even one.

Of course, what works on one machine may very well make things worse on another, so the key here is to experiment and always take precautions to avoid a complete re-install of the Universe

[Surak_Civ]

What a freaking joke.

Yes, you all know so much more than Microsoft, yes when Firaxis puts out a game full of bugs, instead of slamming the once good name of Sid Meier, you all blame Microsoft's supposed inability to manage the swap file.

Windows manages the swap file fine. if you think changing the settings will fix anything, then I've got a god who wants to smite you unless you send me money.

[Cambo67]

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!

Sorry, Surak_Civ. Need that.

Just look at Micro$ofts' previous attempts at memory management - HIMEM, EMM386, LIMSPEC, etc. And lack of memory protection - as shown by the way a crashing programme can trash the whole OS.

Of course, half the problem for M$ is that they cannot do much about this without breaking a whole load of existing software....



Cambo

[redajo]

Hi guys, Im having issues. I m trying to run CIV IV on a laptop more than capable of running it.

This what happens, I double click icon, and the Loading box comes up, and reads my drive for CD 1, and nothing happens, its just stuck there. No errors come up, my cd keeps on spinning.

I tried a few things. I downloaded the new patch, halted all my processes, updated EVERYTHING on my computer. Got rid of everything in TEMP file. I even erased installation, booted up in safe mode, re-installed in safe mode, then booted up in normal mode and the same thing happens. I called techsupport at 2k games, but they dont know what to do.

Please someone help.
==========================================
here are my specs
==========================================
of this report: 3/7/2006, 20:58:28
Machine name: JREDALAPTOP
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Inspiron 9300
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A04
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 2.00GHz
Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 170MB used, 2289MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6800
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce Go 6800
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00C8&SUBSYS_019C1028&REV_A2
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: SigmaTel C-Major Audio
=========================================
I used the direct x from the cd

Guys please I need help, I want to play CIV IV

[Willem]

Originally posted by mrs_c
Where do you turn off the animation? I've turned off the movies, set the opening map to be visable (otherwise it's all black). THe game starts ok but after an hour or so, the labels for everything a just lines and soon after that the game crashes. I've got a fairly new Dell that is well above the min specs.

I suspect your video card doesn't quite live up to expectations. Dell systems generally use cards built into the motherboard, and they're not really good enough to run the gaame. I'm guessing if you got yourself a new one, you'd no longer have the black terrain problem. It would probably solve your crashing problem as well.

[Willem]

Originally posted by alva

Normally if you have plenty of RAM - more than a Gig - you should turn it off completely. Windows likes filling your virutal memory, so in the end, you hardly make use of your RAM.

Very poor advice. Many programs are designed around virtual memory and won't even run if it's turned off. I learned that lesson from experience.