Possible Fixes for "Failed to Initialize Renderer" Startup Error

[killjoy72]

Radeon 9600 here, i have tried everyhting listed in the forum, nothing is fixing it. Talk about disapointing, I actually traded in my City of Villans reserve to get the last special edition copy of this game, and now I cant play, and I'll miss out on CoV pre-release to boot. Hoep this gets fixed soon =/

I'm actually thinking about wipin my OS and installing my old copy of Windows 2000.

[Philciv4]

I am getting the same error message running my Radeon 9550: Error: failed to initiate renderer - Check DirectX Version and graphics settings.

I have taken the steps described by Trips but no change.

Is it my understanding that no one has fixed the problem with Trips method?

[Capt Dizle]

Last minute tweaks and changes can cause things like this to happen. Solver, for example, said he didn't have the retail version. Solver, why don't you wipe and install the retail version and see how it works for you?

[alva]

He doesn't has the retail version yet.

Is it my understanding that no one has fixed the problem with Trips method?

Some have, so it's certainly worth trying. Keep checking this forum for a solution and like we all do, hope they come up with one soon.

[srhawk64]

Okay, throwing my name in the "can't get it to work" lot.

As most others, I have an ATI card and am getting the "Failed to initiate renderer" error... no matter what I seem to do. Updated from Catalyst 5.8 to 5.10. Ran the DirectX setup from the Civ 4 Install CD (multiple times). Tried different screen resolutions in both default Windows XP settings and in Civilization4.ini. Uninstalled and reinstalled Civ4. No luck getting past that error message.

I have an ATI X700 Pro 256MB card in an Athlon 64 3200+, 1GB DDR RAM machine. Recently installed Quake 4 with no problems. Recently updated my monitor to a 21" LCD from Gateway that runs 1680x1050 natively. Brought it down to 1024x768 to get Civ4 running... still no luck.

One thought I had: Is it possible that with all the other release production erratta (e.g., French trees, "Play Disc 2" not actually being the play disc), perhaps the production discs did not contain quite the right or complete set of latest DirectX 9.0c update files?

And, BTW, I am posting my DxDiag log file if someone at Firaxis wants to peruse it and see if it might help isolate the problem.

Thanks.

[Philciv4]

Same error on GeForce2

Note 1:
Not that this is encouraging but I get the same error message, using a Geforce 2 on a completely different system.

Note 2:
I got the game to work using my computers onboard video, only I got a black screen with visible units and game options. Upon installation of the superior AGP Radeon 9550, game gets the error message.

System with ATI Radeon:
AMD Semptron 2600
512 MB RAM
ATI Radeon 9550
Windows Service Pack 1 (got an error message with SP2 during onboard video testing)
I have downloaded all windows updates but not d/l new Service Pack

[badave]

Does disabling virus scans during this entire process change a thing?

[ERLoft]

I get the same problem, system specs if it matters:

--------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc. ]------------------------------------------------------------

Version EVEREST v2.01.347
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Report Wizard
Computer E-PUTER (Eric's Computer)
Generator Eric Loft
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2005-10-27
Time 01:44


--------[ Summary ]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name E-PUTER (Eric's Computer)
User Name Eric Loft

Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4, 2800 MHz (21 x 133)
Motherboard Name Abit AI7 (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 4 DDR DIMM, Audio, LAN, IEEE-1394)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Springdale i865PE
System Memory 2048 MB (DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type Award (11/03/04)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port Printer Port (LPT1)

Display:
Video Adapter RADEON X700 Series Secondary (256 MB)
Video Adapter RADEON X700 Series (256 MB)
3D Accelerator ATI Radeon X700 Pro (RV410)
Monitor NEC LCD1935NXM (Analog) [19" LCD] (47203093TA)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Intel 82801EB ICH5 - AC'97 Audio Controller

Storage:
IDE Controller Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers
IDE Controller Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive Maxtor 6Y200P0 (200 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133)
Disk Drive Maxtor 6B250R0 (250 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133)
Disk Drive Disk drive (232 GB, IDE)
Optical Drive SONY DVD RW DRU-710A (DVD+R9:2.4x, DVD+RW:16x/4x, DVD-RW:8x/4x, DVD-ROM:16x, CD:48x/24x/48x DVD+RW/DVD-RW)
Optical Drive SONY DVD-ROM DDU1622 (16x/40x DVD-ROM)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 138999 MB (123475 MB free)
D: (NTFS) 102398 MB (101709 MB free)
E: (NTFS) 100366 MB (63245 MB free)
F: (NTFS) 92067 MB (58361 MB free)
I: (NTFS) 103324 MB (80698 MB free)
J: (NTFS) 71680 MB (33352 MB free)
K: (NTFS) 63459 MB (33713 MB free)
Total Size 656.5 GB (483.0 GB free)

Input:
Keyboard HID Keyboard Device
Keyboard Logitech PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Mouse HID-compliant MX518 Optical Mouse
Game Controller Microsoft PC-joystick driver
Game Controller Microsoft PC-joystick driver

Network:
Network Adapter Microsoft TV/Video Connection (0.1.0.4)
Network Adapter Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC (192.168.1.101)

Peripherals:
Printer hp officejet 5500 series fax
Printer hp officejet 5500 series
USB1 Controller Intel 82801EB ICH5 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801EB ICH5 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801EB ICH5 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801EB ICH5 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller NEC PCI-USB Open Host Controller
USB1 Controller NEC PCI-USB Open Host Controller
USB2 Controller Adaptec AUA-3121 USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
USB2 Controller Intel 82801EB(M) ICH5(-M) - Enhanced USB2 Controller
USB Device General Purpose USB Hub
USB Device Generic USB Hub
USB Device Logitech Extreme 3D Pro USB
USB Device Logitech USB MX518 Optical Mouse
USB Device Nostromo n52 HID SpeedPad 2.0 Mouse Wheel
USB Device Nostromo n52 HID SpeedPad 2.0
USB Device USB Composite Device

Radeon Info:

Driver Packaging Version 8.18-050914a1-027256C-ATI
CATALYSTâ„¢ Version 05.10
Provider ATI Technologies Inc.
2D Driver Version 6.14.10.6575
2D Driver File Path System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{BB09512B-4036-4880-B762-A292D2205098}\0000
Direct3D Version 6.14.10.0347
OpenGL Version 6.14.10.5396
CATALYSTâ„¢ Control Center Version 1.2.2084.76
AIW/VIVO WDM Driver Version 6.14.10.6238
AIW/VIVO WDM SP Driver Version 6.14.10.6246


Guess I was prepared for this, as I was at work all day with my copy of the game reading about this problem, but iit sure is dissapointing. I hope it gets corrected soon!

[decloak_once]

Something I went through with civ3 and ATI 9200SE (AGP, 128M) might help.

When I first installed the card, civ3 stopped working. It would just show the splash screen and reboot my machine (pentium 2GHz 1GB, winXP).

Tried different versions of the ATI driver. No joy.

Then found a tip for another game that finally got civ3 to work with the card:

Find cat 4.1 on the ATI site. Extracted just the atioglxx.dll file, put it in the same directory as the exe for civ3, and viola. (Older version of the file also works.)

I don't know if civ4 is still using openGL. If so, this might worth a try. Best of all, it does not involve (un-)installing any driver, and it does not affect your other games.

Good luck.

(No, I don't have civ4 yet. Not gonna plunk down 50+ just to play a hunch. Besides, civ3 is still doing it for me :-)

[KunoNoOni]

Of all the computers I have around me only 2 can actually run this game.

My main system spec are:

Athlon 64 3700+
2 Gigs of Ram
120 GB HD
Sound Blaster Audigy ZS
ATI 800XL 256mb

My other system specs are:

Athlon Thunderbird 1.4
512 Megs of Ram
40 GB/80 GB/80 GB HD
Sound Blaster Audigy ZS Gamer
ATI 9700 Pro 128mb

Both systems are running WinXP Pro w/SP2.

Main Systems video driver is 6.14.10.6575 (v5.10)
Other Systems video driver is 6.14.10.6517 (v5.3)

Main System gets the "Failed to Initialize Renderer" error
Other System DOES NOT.

So I uninstalled the v5.10 video drivers from main system and installed v5.3. Rebooted and BAM!

"Failed to Initialize Renderer" ... sigh...

So I uninstalled v5.3 and reinstalled v5.10. Game still doesn't work on my main system but atleast I can still play my other games on it...

I'm totally confused as to what the problem could be. Oh both of my video cards are true ATI cards.

[atb]

it's definitely some kind of directx problem. i was receiving the renderer error as well. i let it try and update my dx during the install and then afterwards i tried running it manually off the disc as well. i updated my catalyst drivers and i was still having problems. i discovered a post where someone said they reverted their dx to 8.1 and then tried again and it worked.

i followed their instructions and ran it after my system booted with dx 8.1 and it runs fine. i launched a tutorial mission and it looked fine, but who knows how it'd run in the long term with dx 8.1.

so far, that's the only thing that's gotten it to work on my system.

edit: just to be clear, i tried updating my dx from 8.1 using the version on the civ disc. it updated and i rebooted. i checked dxdiag and it reported that i was now running dx 9.0c.. and civ4 wouldn't run. if it matters, in dxdiag under files the most recent files in that list are all from 2004. none from 2005 if there should be..

so, simply, civ4 only works for me when i'm running directx 8.1

[TomBombadil]

Just to get on the list ...

eMachines T3265
AMD Athlon XP 3200+
2.20 GHz, 1.5GB of RAM
ATI Radeon 9600 XT 256MB 8xAGP
Catalyst 5.2
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
Latest Driver

Get the "Failed to initialize renderer ..." error too. Tried all the fixes (uninstall and reinstall drivers, played around with card settings and resolutions, etc).

No luck

[Rheassi]

Radeon 9600. Followed all the above instructions and I still get the Rendering Error.

[Solver]

Originally posted by Capt Dizle
Last minute tweaks and changes can cause things like this to happen. Solver, for example, said he didn't have the retail version. Solver, why don't you wipe and install the retail version and see how it works for you?

I don't have the retail version yet (surprise), and I wouldn't have any trouble anyway, because I am running a real video card from nVidia .

[HoTCiGar]

Wow, I can finally play with ATI !!!

I have two ATI Radeon 9600 cards:
1- Desktop (Radeon 9600 Pro 256MB AGP): I upgraded to the latest catalyst drivers, but without uninstalling the previous version prior to installation. The game throws the Failed to Init Renderer issue. I haven't tried the steps mentioned by the OP yet.

2- Laptop (Mobility Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo 128MB AGP) - I didn't change any drivers. I installed the game's directx (from the cd) when it asked me to. It works. BTW, this is a dell inspiron 8600. Many have had issues with this. They should be using the following driver from http://www.omegadrivers.net

Omega Drivers for ATI Radeon cards version 2.6.71
This is actually an ATI driver version 8.172.0.0 dated 8/30/2005.

I believe if the game is completely uninstalled, the right drivers put in place, the directx used off the cd for installation, the game should work.