Fixing Civ4 Problems: START HERE!

[psh_psh]

i have been having the same problem as conanav and cojo i found out binkw32.dll is a component in BINK video codec i downloaded it but it still didnt work. I also found a site that said some program can fix binkw32.dll errors but it didnt say how and i dont trust it. :http://www.liutilities.com/products/...brary/binkw32/

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by dw153
If anyone has any idea on how to fix this I would be eternally grateful.

First guess: bad disc. Get a new Disc 2.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by CoJo
At first I got an error that said something like insert DVD, but it was already inserted... so I downloaded a no DVD patch for the .exe and I get that error. Is there a way to fix either of these?

Sounds like Windows is borked. Do a clean reinstall.

[psh_psh]

i found a site that said install the update then use the nocd patch for that version of the game. It worked for me

[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

[Dandadandan]

Up until now I've been very happy with Civ4... I havent suffered the plague of crashes many others seem to have endured but perhaps thats because I jumped on the bandwagon just after 1.09 and not long before the 1.5 patch came out. But now, a long long way into what is probably my 20th epic battle for world domination I seem to be encountering what must be some kind of savegame corruption. Each time I try to load any of my savegames the game hangs on loading and when I Ctrl+Esc to the desktop I see an error saying the following:

CvLSystemLoadError: LSystem XML subsystem failed to load. This is probably due to a schema error. [.\FXml.cpp:133]Error parsing XML file -

File: XML/Buildings/CIV4CityLSystem.xml
Reason: Required attribute 'Name' is missing.

Line: 39,25
Source:



Now I'm no programmer but I'd say this is probably due to a schema error

Tried updating my XML parser having seen that as a solution to a different problem.... PLEASE HELP ME!!!!

[KoBushi]

Any ideas how to fix this?

I just replaced my ATI PCIe card with a GeForce 6600 GT 256Mb, and I started getting this glitch: http://www.american-refrigeration.net/civ4glitch.jpg

[oski003]

I have the same problem with my laptop . . .

it crashes on the "loading screen" and then displays a windows error. it seems to "time-out" while trying to read the CD ... but not exactly sure . . .

per the advice of another thread, i tried to find the civilization4.ini file . . . but it is not there. the game has not successfully started on my computer at once . . . i figure that is the reason no "my games/civilization4 directory has been created, etc...

game files currently only exist in the fireaxis/civilization4 directory. moreover, half the files are links to files outside the directory that don't exist (like to the my games . . .) directory that doesn't exist yet...

if it is the cd/dvd drive, how can you tell what brand it is? could it be a faulty cd? what do u think?

I have a dell inspiron e1505 that is brand new, and i hve not modified it at all. this is the second game i've played/installed on it. Dungeon & Dragons Online works fine with no problems.

Any help would be appreciated . . . Dave

[Deadly_Silence]

Ok I have a interesting problem haven’t seen it on any boards I had civ4 installed and I decided to update to V1.61 now when I get into a game none of the terrain features show up example Forests, mines, farms, gems etc also villages will not show up either however roads and railroads will show up I have no idea what caused this the game worked like a champ before I updated now its just not worth playing

[braingler]

I have Civ4 installed on my machine with patch 1.61 applied to it. I have not applied patches 1.09 or 1.52 previously. When I start playing a custom game on this one, it starts at 4000 BC and I'm able to play to around 300 AD and then it exits. It dos not go into the renaissence or modern eras. I tried starting a custom game in the renaissance/modern eras but civ4 simply exits. Has anyone faced such a problem before and if so is there a solution to this one?

[soggy9]

Originally posted by Deadly_Silence
Ok I have a interesting problem haven’t seen it on any boards I had civ4 installed and I decided to update to V1.61 now when I get into a game none of the terrain features show up example Forests, mines, farms, gems etc also villages will not show up either however roads and railroads will show up I have no idea what caused this the game worked like a champ before I updated now its just not worth playing

^^^^^ i have this same problem and cant find ne thing to fix it
ill pm u so we can talk about it i just registered and used google to bring myself to this page in the first place nice to meet u
i have a toshiba laptop and my problems similar only the rivers and units etc show up, its only the rest of the terrain that doesn't :s i cant see hills or ne thing im gonna try and contact u through these forums now k

[Prebral]

Originally posted by soggy9

^^^^^ i have this same problem and cant find ne thing to fix it
ill pm u so we can talk about it i just registered and used google to bring myself to this page in the first place nice to meet u
i have a toshiba laptop and my problems similar only the rivers and units etc show up, its only the rest of the terrain that doesn't :s i cant see hills or ne thing im gonna try and contact u through these forums now k

I have this problem too on my new HP Compaq nx7300 with almost a clean install. The game performs well otherwise. If you find a solution, please mention it here, I searched and found nothing.

[krazy1488]

Originally posted by braingler
I have Civ4 installed on my machine with patch 1.61 applied to it. I have not applied patches 1.09 or 1.52 previously. When I start playing a custom game on this one, it starts at 4000 BC and I'm able to play to around 300 AD and then it exits. It dos not go into the renaissence or modern eras. I tried starting a custom game in the renaissance/modern eras but civ4 simply exits. Has anyone faced such a problem before and if so is there a solution to this one?

i have this same damned problem, and i was just getting into this game, i wanted to create gunpowder, so i stop attacking people for this round, and then waited and built resources and tech.... and then... as soon as i enter the period of around 300 AD, it crashes, without any error message, i tried startin games in the modern and futuristic eras... but niether work, i love this game, i really want to play

[cesareDH]

I have done everything I can think of, and everything in all these instructions, to get this game to run correctly, and I still get a lockup/reboot after I've been in the game for awhile. The one thing I haven't done is to adjust the Virtual Memory, because I've forgotten where it's located.
Someone advise me where to go to adjust it, please.
Thanx

[snoopy369]

Virtual memory should be handled by the system, and if you haven't changed it from that it should stay that way. Make sure your Windows main drive has at least a gig or so of free space on the drive and you'll be fine.

Lockups/reboot after a while (an hour plus) may be RAM related or video card overheats, both are quite common with Civ4 as it abuses video cards horribly. Feel your video card (not the electric parts please!) after you have one - if it's quite hot to the touch then this is the problem. [The chip would be around 70°C or so if it is overheating, probably, though the plastic part would be much cooler]

[cesareDH]

I just installed a new Radeon 9550 card after talking to a tech. about CIV4 specifically, and he said that ATI card would be more than enough.

I was reading in MS Help & Support that the "standard" 1566MB of Virtual Memory might not be enough for some of the more demanding games; that it might have to be increased. I have tons of HDD space so I increased it to 4095MB, and so far (knock-knock) it hasn't locked up/restarted on me. Now it'll probably do it as soon as I post this.

I ran 2 seperate memory tests on my Kingston 512MB PC4000 chips and the memory passed 100%.
Thanx

[cesareDH]

Originally posted by snoopy369
Edit by Solver. Please note that the official Civ4 1.61 patch is available for download and should be applied to your game.

Fixes for general crash problems
[list=1][*]Make sure your OS is fully updated. This means if you run Windows XP, you should be at SP2. [*][b]Make sure your Video Card drivers are updated

After very carefully doing all the above I still had a crash and reboot. Here's what MS had to say:

Problem caused by ATI Graphics Driver

This problem was caused by ATI Graphics Driver. This program was created by ATI Technologies, Inc.. ATI Technologies, Inc. does not currently have a solution for the problem that you reported.

Recommendation

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The following troubleshooting steps might prevent the problem from recurring.

Download and install an updated version of ATI Graphics Driver from one of the following locations:
Microsoft Update
ATI Technologies, Inc.
If an updated driver is not available for ATI Graphics Driver, check with your computer manufacturer.
If you are running the latest version of ATI Graphics Driver, contact ATI Technologies, Inc. for your support options.
Additional information

If this problem continues to occur with the latest product updates for ATI Graphics Driver, we recommend you get assistance and troubleshooting information directly from ATI Technologies, Inc.

I've made a complete report to ATI and am waiting for them to come up with a solution. I would hope that everyone else having problems using ATI video cards will file a report with them.

[snoopy369]

Virtual memory is not the problem. Memory is not the problem either, more than likely. (However, passing a memory test doesn't mean it isn't overheating. It just means it's not permanently damaged.)

Have you taken my above advice as to whether your card might be overheating? That's the most common cause of late game crashes and/or crashes after having played for a while.

Download this:
http://www.guru3d.com/article/atitraytools/189/
or something like it (there are a few). Don't use it for overclocking (please!) but use it for temperature monitoring. As you play, watch how the temperature rises... if the temperature goes very high (say, 70°C) then that's your problem right there.

[cesareDH]

Originally posted by snoopy369
Download this:
http://www.guru3d.com/article/atitraytools/189/
if the temperature goes very high (say, 70°C) then that's your problem right there.

Thank you very much. The program I had didn't cover my mainboard.

Temp. on my slave drive is 37C and the primary drive is 41C with game running. I have about 5 fans in that machine; including a 90mm sucking in from the front and an equal 90mm blowing it out the back. A 60mm fan sucking in directly from the outside blowing on the heat sink. Heat is not the problem.

Microsoft says it's ATI's problem and they don't have a fix. Yet. After all the things I've tried, I know in my own mind that it's an ATI display driver conflict with CIV4. I don't have any problem with other games. I don't know how to fix it, but I know what the problem is.

Either the creators of CIV4 or the ATI people need to modify something. Maybe the two parties should get together and find the fix.

Thanx again.

[Rcoutme2]

Aaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhh!!!!

My game gets to a random point and then the computer goes into shut-down mode!! This never happened before; so what is going on?

Help?

[LROrlandini]

I use the 1.61 patch with Windows Media Center, and everytime I try to load a saved game it says that it's either corrupt or that the game failed to uncompress game data. I can only load the first autosave at 4000BC, that doesn't solve s***. I'm pretty sure it's this f****** Media Center (bugged) edition, If anyone knows how to solve this mail me to l.r.o@hotmail.com or post a reply here(if you could send a email it's easier for me... thanks

[snoopy369]

LR ... I don't know exactly what that problem is caused by, but there may be some indication it happens more commonly on larger maps. Try a small or even tiny game, will that load properly? I'd also make sure your game and the save game directory are both NTFS (or both FAT)... not sure if that could affect things but who knows.

Also make sure you have the newest MSXML parser... that could affect things. Then try installing MS .NET perhaps?

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Rcoutme2
Aaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhh!!!!

My game gets to a random point and then the computer goes into shut-down mode!! This never happened before; so what is going on?

Help?

Sorry to hear that Rcoutme2... I suggest checking heat and temperatures, usually when your computer just suddenly restarts it is a failsafe because the temperature is too high. Consider getting motherboard monitor (mbm) and seeing what the temps are when Civ4 is running. You may be running to high and want to get a better cooling solution and/or drop graphical elements.

If it is all of a sudden, it's possible either something isn't working as well as it used to in the cooling or just the chip department, or you have something running now that is increasing the heat.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by cesareDH


Thank you very much. The program I had didn't cover my mainboard.

Temp. on my slave drive is 37C and the primary drive is 41C with game running. I have about 5 fans in that machine; including a 90mm sucking in from the front and an equal 90mm blowing it out the back. A 60mm fan sucking in directly from the outside blowing on the heat sink. Heat is not the problem.

Microsoft says it's ATI's problem and they don't have a fix. Yet. After all the things I've tried, I know in my own mind that it's an ATI display driver conflict with CIV4. I don't have any problem with other games. I don't know how to fix it, but I know what the problem is.

Either the creators of CIV4 or the ATI people need to modify something. Maybe the two parties should get together and find the fix.

Thanx again.

You say "drive" indicating hard drive... what are the temps on your video card(s) and on your cpu? Those are going to cause the crashes, not the hard drive (typically). I have five fans also on my old Tbird and still overheated with certain programs (Civ4, in fact) with both the Tbird and the GPU (nvidia 5500 something). The new one (x2) doesn't overheat of course. I still blame heat for any full reboot after a time of playing... although memory could of course be related.

If it's an ATI driver problem, then just roll back the driver. I don't think it's a major driver conflict, though, because... frankly, it works on my ATI card fine, with various different driver versions, and works on thousands of others. Don't assume it's a general problem, when most of the time it's something specific to your computer (although it could be something beyond your control). They *do* make it work on the vast majority of systems, but the price we pay for having lots of options when it comes to PC configuration is compatibility issues... get an Xbox if you want full guaranteed compatibility

[Rcoutme2]

Thanks Snoopy

[Aro]

Originally posted by psh_psh
i found a site that said install the update then use the nocd patch for that version of the game. It worked for me

Where? Where can I find this "no cd patch"? Or, at least, how can I fix this?

I'm receiving the error "insert the correct cd on the drive..." after I installed the last patch. Before the patch, the cd was recognized. It's a new brand computer, and the Civ IV vanilla works fine after patched.

[Mattes]

I got a Notebook Olivetti of 2gb RAM with Windows Vista: the game starts but I see it very bad, with something like constant 'refreshings' over and over again...
What can I do? I'm downloading the newer DirectX hoping it will works...

[snoopy369]

You'd want to provide more information than that. What model of laptop (Olivetti what...?) It might not have an adequate graphics card, for example, to handle the game.

[Mattes]

My model of laptop Olivetti is "Olibook 520-2370 VHB". 2Gb Ram / 160Gb Rom / Widescreen 14.1" XGA TFT LCD / Vista Home Basic with lasts updates...
I never added it nothing, probably it has not a graphic card... But I heard that a guy made it to install and play the CIV4 in his Olivetti model that is before the mine, of 1GB Ram...
I already installed the last DirectX...
...It's kind of annoying, I played in a maniac way the Civ2 of Playstation and of the computer, I really wanted to test this last one...

[snoopy369]

RAM isn't necessarily relevant ... the graphics card is what is important.

It's possible the refreshing is due to a problem with the screen resolution - what resolution is your native display resolution? You may need to simply change the resolution of Civ to your native resolution, or run it in Windowed mode. I'd try windowed mode first (uncheck 'Full Screen' in the graphics options); if that is not the problem, try changing the resolution of the game to your default (it MUST be at least 1024 wide, is the only limitation).

What resolution do you natively run at?