Possible Fixes for "Failed to Initialize Renderer" Startup Error

[Philotas]

Originally posted by vorlon61
I have a 9600xt 128 mb dx 9.0c with the latest ati drivers. and it works fine for me so there is hope.

Did it work right out of the box or did you have to "fiddle" with drivers and directx?

[vorlon61]

I removed and reinstalled the Ati drivers before I ever installed the game. and it worked without a problem

[jeff_vandenberg]

Originally posted by vorlon61
I have a 9600xt 128 mb dx 9.0c with the latest ati drivers. and it works fine for me so there is hope.

tease! *grumbles* *resolves to try a couple more combos when he gets home*

[Atmosphear]

Originally posted by kimmygibler


Yes it is possible to get your money back. I was thinking of what to do because I have already paid for the game, can't get my money back from the store, and I have a dell notebook that many have had problems with. I'll give it a shot, wait for a fix, and if none is forthcoming I'll just send the game back to Firaxis or whoever and demand my money back. I am a lawyer so pursuing this wouldn't cost me anything and it might be fun! If someone sells you something that doesn't work, you have the right to your money back. But you also have to give a reasonable time to fix the problem. So don't panic yet.

Okay, thanks for the info. I will most certainly complain to them and demand my money back. And I will also most certainly be patient and wait for their official fix before I take action.

[57%]

vorlon61 and jeff_vandenberg,

Did you guys have DirectX 9.0c installed before installing Civ4, or did you have a previous version?

[vorlon61]

I had 9.0c installed before installing Civ4.

[EdwinAhe]

Originally posted by vorlon61
I had 9.0c installed before installing Civ4.

same thing

[kverdon]

I also had Dx 9.0c installed before Civ IV.

ATI 800 XL and Render problem

[jeff_vandenberg]

Originally posted by 57%
vorlon61 and jeff_vandenberg,

Did you guys have DirectX 9.0c installed before installing Civ4, or did you have a previous version?

I had 9.0b, if memory serves me correct.

[PBN]

found this post interesting...

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?postid=4090547

In case it doesn't show right - basically, he used 9.0b's isntaller with 9.0c to insure a good install.

apparently there was an issue with the 9.0c installer on SP /shrug

[Novish]

Success!

Tried the updated driver package from ATI first (the one with Control Panel); didn't work. What it did give me was an upgrade from the game not loading past the splash screen to the famed "Failed to Initialize Renderer" message. Heck--thanks!

Went back, downloaded the Uninstaller from ATI, ran it, didn't reboot when I was prompted to because I knew I'd be reinstalling the drivers again anyway. MISTAKE. When I tried to go directly to installing the drivers, I got the VGA error message someone mentioned above.

So, I rebooted, then reinstalled the driver package, rebooted again, changed my screen resolution to 1024 x 768 (someone suggested this above or on another forum; can't remember which), and THEN tried to load Civ IV again...and it worked!

This is for my kid, not me--I don't even play Civilization (love Pirates, though). He's ten, and contributed $10 to help buy C4 yesterday because he was so excited to play it. Imagine how disappointed he's been for the past 24 hours, until we finally got the game running.

Here's hoping it keeps working!

[didz]

Here is what happends right before the Error message.

......Double-click on the shortcut
......Init things status windows appears
......Fullscreen engages
......Yellow round circle picture (like 1cmX1cm) appears centered on screen for 1 to 2 seconds, background is black
......Then it disapears, like the screen is cleaning top to bottom, background is black
......Then wait 5-6 seconds
......Yellow round circle picture re-appears for 1-2 seconds
......Then it disappears, background is black
......Fullscreen mode is leaving
......Error message Failed Rendered thing...

I have followed the instructions to the letter.
......Full cleanup of drivers using the utily
......Installed 5.10 drivers
......Installed DX9 from cd


RADEON X800 XL AGP
Windows XP PRO SP2
OnBoard RealTek AC'97 Audio

Windows Display Advanced Properties tab
Adapter tab
...Bios Info: 113-A49001-101
Options tab
Catalyst: 0.5.10
2D Vers: 6.14.10.6575
Packaging/Display Vers: 8.18-05091a...

------------------
System Information
------------------
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.06GHz (2 CPUs) HYPERTHREADING
Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 168MB used, 2293MB 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



---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: RADEON X800 Series
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI RADEON X800 XL AGP (0x554D)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_554D&SUBSYS_03021002&REV_00
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Dell 2005FPW (Digital)
Monitor Max Res: 1680,1050
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6575 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 9/14/2005 22:58:47, 241664 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
Mini VDD Date: 9/14/2005 22:58:28, 1339392 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-160D-11CF-1D6A-0823A1C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x554D
SubSys ID: 0x03021002
Revision ID: 0x0000
Revision ID: 0x0000
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV8_B ModeWMV8_A ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run


WDM Streaming Rendering Devices:
Realtek AC97 Audio,0x00000000,0,0,,


GAME LOGS

app.log
[169.828] CvApp::OnActivate

init.log
[167.640] DBG: Engine Init
[168.250] ERR: Initialize Renderer failed - parameters:
- width = 1200
- height = 1200
- flags = 0x8
- hwnd = 0x40206
- adaptrid = 0
- deviceid = 1
[168.250] DBG: Failed to Initialize Renderer - Check DirectX Version


Python.log
load_module CvAdvisorUtils
PY:OnInit
load_module CvAppInterface
load_module CvTranslator

PythonErr2.log
load_module CvCameraControls
load_module CvAdvisorUtils
PY:OnInit
load_module CvAppInterface


Xml.log
[167.625] Loading XML file XML\Interface/CIV4WorldPickerInfos.xml
[167.640] Load XML file XML\Interface/CIV4WorldPickerInfos.xml SUCCEEDED
[167.640] SetGlobalClassInfo (Civ4WorldPickerInfos/WorldPickerInfos/WorldPickerInfo)

[PBN]

did some more reading...

For the Firaxis team... consider this SP2 auto-installs 9.0c which may (or may not) be interfering with some necessary .dlls from your 9.0c install

-- trying to be helpful

[PBN]

and yet, some more....

confirmed that for at least one other game (Sims 2) running on a system with XP Pro - SP2, the "working solution" around a DX problem was (as posted in the above link) to use 9.0b's installer with 9.0c's CABS - problem solved (in that case)

As the exception proves the rule, has anyone still having this problem tried this and failed?

[Kloever]

I tried everyting written above...no use...still same error...And again, my Card. A Radeon 9600XT-VIO 256mb with latest drivers installed