Checking XML?

[Modoh]

I have this same problem- the game exits after Checking XML, with the identical log entries posted above (ending with multiplayer init).

Additionally, when the game exits in this fashion it adds an error entry to the windows application log:

The description for Event ID ( 0 ) in Source ( ) cannot be found. The local computer may not have the necessary registry information or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer. You may be able to use the /AUXSOURCE= flag to retrieve this description; see Help and Support for details. The following information is part of the event: 6.

I know the source ( ) part is supposed to have a dll in it (from googling that error message), but that's exactly how it appears in the log.

In this thread it's claimed that it's a sound-related issue.. shouldn't setting AudioEnable to 0 in the ini eliminate that as a possibility? (I've done so, to no avail) I've also tried the game with my sound hardware removed and get the same result.

Specs:
Dual Xeon 2ghz, 1gb ram
Geforce2 MX 64mb (tried 78.01 and 81.85 drivers)
Turtle Beach Audio Advantage USB sound (latest drivers)
Windows 2003 Standard (yes, it has full dx support and runs games just fine)
DX 9.0c 0904

I'm not expecting it to run well with such a poor video card, just expecting it to run.

Any ideas?

-Mo

[skraut]

Same thing... I've uninstalled, re-installed, uninstalled the ati drivers, run through all the all the ATI unpack stuff.

This is a joke. Why should I and everyone else here have to jump through all these hoops just to play the game we paid for???

not that it matters much, but

Intel Pentium 4 processor 3.2GHz
1024MB DDR SDRAM (2 x 512MB) at 333MHz
ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600
SoundMax Integrated Audio

[wotan321]

[3126.187] DBG: FILE Cat Init
[3126.343] DBG: NOT Using XML cache, failed to find crc.dat file
[3126.343] DBG: Game Init
[3126.343] DBG: Multiplayer Init

Everyone on the thread.... run the log file and see if the above occurs at startup!!

I have this same problem.

...and with my exeptional reading skills I notice.... crc.dat file is missing.

I noticed that before I deleted the cache folder, that crc.dat file was there.

What is the crc.dat file? How do we replace it and FIX this problem.

[snoopy369]

Hmm? That looks to me like it's just starting the game not using the cache, which doesn't exist if you've deleted it and/or haven't played the game yet. It's not an actual error message.

Let me makes this clearer than we apparently have in the past ...

Crashes on Checking XML are usually caused by the sound card drivers not being updated and/or having conflicts ...

Sound card init is immediately after 'checking XML' and it seems to lock up before it gets around to saying 'initing sound'.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Modoh

In this thread it's claimed that it's a sound-related issue.. shouldn't setting AudioEnable to 0 in the ini eliminate that as a possibility? (I've done so, to no avail) I've also tried the game with my sound hardware removed and get the same result.


-Mo

It's possible you have an actual XML error, and need to patch XML (see the 'start here' thread at top). I'd expect audioenable indeed to prevent it.

[wotan321]

My game ran fine until I created a new user account, now its getting this error.

I went back and found an old crc.dat file and lots of other dat files from that Cache folder, put them in my NEW account, same problem, new init.log error.

It finds the crc.dat file, but again ends at the multiplayer init.

???

[sevenday]

Oookay. My version crashes right at the Checking XML also. I've read through this, tried updating my video card and audio card... Now, the audio card is ticking me off because it's a cheap card (I honestly never thought I'd use it; I'm deaf.) And I can't even find a specific SB driver to replace the one I have. When I click on Hardware etcetc it lists the audio card as "SB Live! Value"

And there is no "Value" listed on the SB website driver menu. I tried just a plain "Live" driver, and... nothing. Tried the Update Driver button from the driver tab (I know, I know) and it actually reverted it to a 2001 driver! (There was a 2002 driver listed previously)

... I know I should probably get a better sound card but REALLY, it doesn't matter. I'm deaf.

[skraut]

There are no newer drivers for my sound card... It's SoundMax Integrated Audio on my laptop motherboard, and the newest drivers are dated early '04

[Modoh]

Originally posted by snoopy369


It's possible you have an actual XML error, and need to patch XML (see the 'start here' thread at top). I'd expect audioenable indeed to prevent it.

I've run the ms xml update linked there (and the euro comma thing isn't relevent to me, US cd's and US windows), as well as the most of the rest of the suggestions in 'start here.' I haven't reinstalled the game yet, I suppose I can try that later. I haven't done the ATI unpacking thing either since it didn't seem relevent (no ati hardware and not getting that error).. but I could try that too if there's a chance it will help.

The game does run on a different system I have so I know my cd's arent bad, but that system's not always available to use.

-Mo

[hunterhavoc]

i have the same error as above ive updated my graphics card but my sound card is same as the guys above me latest driver out is from 2004!!!!!! what do i do now?

[patmac]

My "Checking XML" problem solved with illogical update

Getting right to the point I updated my audio drivers for my Intel motherboard and then Civ IV was able to get past the "Checking XML" bug.
The reason this was an illogical update for me was because I am using Harmon Kardon USB sound stick which I would think were being driven by the XP USB drivers?

So my point would be try all of the tips they have on Apolyton and on civfanatics even if they don't make any sense. You might just get lucky like I did and will get to enjoy this great new game way into the wea hours of the morning.

I am not sure how many people remember the 2K Games financial call that came out on Sept 7th where they had bad numbers and then all of a suddon they gave an earlier release date for Civilization IV than they had promised. If I remember correctly it was going to ship closer to turkey day than pumpkin day. I worked in the SQA world for a long time and a couple weeks of bake and test time at the end helps a lot in finding those last minute bugs. But I guess thats what we are for and that why we get the cool case a other little chochkeys

[Hernadir]

Strange sulution

I just had to register at thsi forum to tell everyone how I solved this problem on my computer.

I have a USB modem connected to my computer that i only use as a caller ID but the modem drivers installed a voice module. I solved my XML problem by uninstalling the voice module to the modem.

Got the game yesterday and i got it to work at last!

[Modoh]

Re: Strange sulution

Originally posted by Hernadir
I just had to register at thsi forum to tell everyone how I solved this problem on my computer.

I have a USB modem connected to my computer that i only use as a caller ID but the modem drivers installed a voice module. I solved my XML problem by uninstalling the voice module to the modem.

Got the game yesterday and i got it to work at last!

Strange, I'd thought of this and uninstalled my modem drivers (it also had a voice component, and the modem hasn't been connected for a long time anyway), and it didn't do me any good. I can see it helping in some cases though since their sound init code seems to be flaky judging by this thread.