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  • #1

    W2K SP4 system refusing to play

    OK, I'm irritated (this is British for /extremely/ pissed off!)

    Nice new Civ4 DVD installed very nicely onto my system. Try to run it, nothing. Reboot. Nothing. Deinstall, reboot & same result. I get an hourgass for a fraction of a second after each reboot (presumably whilst caching data), but after that if it's there it's so quick as not to be noticeable.

    Looked at official 'support' pages at Firaxis/2K; a joke. I laughed. A little. However they provided me with a couple of ideas re ATI cards (see below) - no go

    Spend 1/2 day trolling through threads & backthreads here (this was a couple of weeks ago) & the other forums on the Civ4 website. Tried the unpak patch, no go

    I can't even get as far as starting the game to create a civ.ini - at least that would enable me to get a logfile to look at (unless anyone knows differently - are there any switches I can use WRT the main executable?)

    Last time I had this I had a problem with SC4 - worked fine until I installed the Rush Hour expansion, when it all fell in a heap with exactly the same symptoms. After no help from Maxis/EA tech support I left it 6 months & found after an upgrade (from Nvidea 4[something]MX to Radeon 9600 made everything work - the T&L bits were essential to RH for some odd reason - maybe the new buildings were prettier this way, but I never noticed a difference..

    ANYWAY the point is I now have an Athlon 3200+ PC with 1Gb RAM, a Radeon 9600 256Mb card & oodles of drive space & I still can't even watch the opening movie! Any thoughts?

    (Is there a switch I can add to the shortcut to disable the movie(s), just in case it's only that I'm having problems with?)


    I'd love to see the black background & cheshire cats, or even the famed 'renderer error' dialog, but I can't even get that far..

    [edit]

    This may or may not be relevant: I update M$ security holes religiously, so upom installing DVD I was a little surprised to be asked to reinstall DirectX 9.0c. I'd done this not two weeks ago after a pointer from elsewhere said that M$ had sneakily updated their version.. without updating version numbers. Possibly my version was /more/ up-to-date than the developers believed, & so the old version (with the /same/ version numbers) was installed, leading to a conflict? I haven't tried this on any other games as yet (I don't do FPS's, the first thing that springs to mind when testing game graphics) but I'll see how things pan out with MTW & SC4:RH

    Cheers

    Dom
    Last edited by snafuc4; November 10, 2005, 21:04.
    Dom 8-)
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Hmm.. on further investigation this appears to be a Safedisk problem:

    Event Type: Error
    Event Source: Service Control Manager
    Event Category: None
    Event ID: 7000
    Date: 14/11/2005
    Time: 12:50:43
    User: N/A
    Computer: MAGNUM
    Description:
    The SecDrv service failed to start due to the following error:
    The system cannot find the path specified.

    I'm /sure/ I've seen patches to this problem on other games, but I'm damnned if I can find examples now

    I've uninstalled Alcohol 120% & rebooted, in case it was a virtual drive problem; no difference

    A visit to the Macrovision site hasn't helped either; their 'support' section appears to be purely for customers (ie 2K, in this case) & is not searchable

    I can't see a way to mount secdrv.sys as a service - which would seem to get me a bit further WRT resolution - anyone have any ideas?

    TVM
    Dom 8-)

    Comment

    • #3
      Some others who had a conflict between the drive and the copy protection solved the problem by updating their drive firmware. Worth a try if you haven't already done so.
      "The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote."
      -- Kosh

      Comment

      • #4
        Hmm.. OK had a quick check on Liteon's site & found my DVDRW firmware to be as up-to-date as possible. Here's an Everest report (attached) for h/w

        The HijackThis report (for running processes etc) goes like this ATM:

        Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
        Scan saved at 00:07:33, on 15/11/2005
        Platform: Windows 2000 SP4 (WinNT 5.00.2195)
        MSIE: Internet Explorer v5.51 SP2 (5.51.4807.2300)

        Running processes:
        C:\WINNT\System32\smss.exe
        C:\WINNT\system32\winlogon.exe
        C:\WINNT\system32\services.exe
        C:\WINNT\system32\lsass.exe
        C:\WINNT\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
        C:\WINNT\system32\svchost.exe
        C:\WINNT\system32\spoolsv.exe
        C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
        C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
        C:\WINNT\system32\svchost.exe
        C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\NORTON~1\GHOSTS~2.EXE
        C:\WINNT\system32\regsvc.exe
        C:\WINNT\system32\MSTask.exe
        C:\WINNT\system32\ZONELABS\vsmon.exe
        C:\WINNT\System32\WBEM\WinMgmt.exe
        C:\WINNT\system32\svchost.exe
        C:\WINNT\system32\faxsvc.exe
        C:\WINNT\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
        C:\WINNT\Explorer.EXE
        C:\Program Files\dunman\dunman.exe
        C:\Program Files\Motherboard Monitor 5\MBM5.EXE
        C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgcc.exe
        C:\WINNT\system32\qttask.exe
        C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
        C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_05\bin\jusched.exe
        C:\WINNT\system32\internat.exe
        C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
        C:\Program Files\Silicon Image\SiISATARaid\SATARaid.exe
        C:\Program Files\WinZip\WZQKPICK.EXE
        C:\WINNT\System32\TASKMGR.EXE
        C:\Program Files\BBC Ticker\BBCTicker.exe
        C:\Program Files\Convenient Clock\ConvenientClock.exe
        C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
        D:\Program Files\Ameol2\Ameol232.exe
        C:\Documents and Settings\D A Hughes\Desktop\HijackThis.exe

        R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = [blah]
        O1 - Hosts: 193.86.103.19 guru.grisoft.com #recommended address for AVG updates
        O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
        O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
        O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
        O2 - BHO: (no name) - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - (no file)
        O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
        O3 - Toolbar: @msdxmLC.dll,-1@1033,&Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINNT\system32\msdxm.ocx
        O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Synchronization Manager] mobsync.exe /logon
        O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nForce Tray Options] sstray.exe /r
        O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Tweak UI] RUNDLL32.EXE TWEAKUI.CPL,TweakMeUp
        O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\WINNT\system32\NeroCheck.exe
        O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DUN Manager] "c:\Program Files\dunman\dunman.exe" -boot
        O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MBM 5] "C:\Program Files\Motherboard Monitor 5\MBM5.EXE"
        O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATICCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe" runtime
        O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
        O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\WINNT\system32\qttask.exe" -atboottime
        O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SpybotSnD] "C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SpybotSD.exe" /autocheck /autofix /autoclose
        O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
        O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_05\bin\jusched.exe
        O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe"
        O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [internat.exe] internat.exe
        O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
        O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [NBJ] "C:\Program Files\Ahead\Nero BackItUp\NBJ.exe"
        O4 - Startup: taskman.lnk = C:\WINNT\system32\taskmgr.exe
        O4 - Startup: BBCTicker.lnk = C:\Program Files\BBC Ticker\BBCTicker.exe
        O4 - Startup: Convenient Clock.lnk = C:\Program Files\Convenient Clock\ConvenientClock.exe
        O4 - Global Startup: SATARaid.lnk = C:\Program Files\Silicon Image\SiISATARaid\SATARaid.exe
        O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
        O4 - Global Startup: WinZip Quick Pick.lnk = C:\Program Files\WinZip\WZQKPICK.EXE
        O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions present
        O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present
        O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
        O8 - Extra context menu item: &Translate English Word - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmwordtrans.html
        O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
        O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
        O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
        O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate Page into English - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
        O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_05\bin\npjpi150_05.dll
        O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_05\bin\npjpi150_05.dll
        O9 - Extra button: Related - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINNT\web\related.htm
        O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Show &Related Links - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINNT\web\related.htm
        O16 - DPF: {EF791A6B-FC12-4C68-99EF-FB9E207A39E6} (McFreeScan Class) - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/is...29/mcfscan.cab
        O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINNT\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
        O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINNT\system32\ati2sgag.exe
        O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
        O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
        O23 - Service: Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service (dmadmin) - VERITAS Software Corp. - C:\WINNT\System32\dmadmin.exe
        O23 - Service: DUN Manager Service - Magenta Systems Ltd - c:\program files\dunman\dmservc.exe
        O23 - Service: GhostStartService - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\NORTON~1\GHOSTS~2.EXE
        O23 - Service: SymWMI Service (SymWSC) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe
        O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINNT\system32\ZONELABS\vsmon.exe

        TVM for your help BTW
        Attached Files
        Dom 8-)

        Comment

        • #5
          In this thread:

          Apolyton Civilization Site
          http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=142939&highlight=Liteon


          someone else had a similar problem with a Liteon drive. The fix was to copy the disc to the hard drive and run setup from there. You may want to try that.
          "The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote."
          -- Kosh

          Comment

          • #6
            OK, nice thought. Just tried it, no change
            Dom 8-)

            Comment

            • #7
              One more idea: Is the correct version of secdrv.sys actually present in your system32\drivers folder? On my system, secdrv.sys is date-stamped with the date I installed the game. The original file is on the root of disc 1, dated 10-18-2005, size 160KB.
              "The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote."
              -- Kosh

              Comment

              • #8
                Seems to be; the file here is 160Kb, file modified 15 Nov 2005; created 03 Nov 2004, version number 4.0.60.0 etc etc
                Dom 8-)

                Comment

                • #9
                  I took a look at your HJT report. It appears that your system runs NeroCheck.exe at startup. I found some references on the web that Nero may conflict with Safedisc. Either prevent NeroCheck from running or kill it and see what happens.
                  "The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote."
                  -- Kosh

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    OK, tried this: removed /both/ Nero references & still no change
                    Dom 8-)

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Almost out of ideas!

                      I opened a command prompt on my system and issued the command

                      sc stop secdrv

                      The command appeared to succeed (that is the secdrv service stopped). However, I was still able to run Civ 4.

                      What happens if you issue the command

                      sc start secdrv

                      Does the service start, or do you get the same error as in the event log, or something else?

                      If that's no help, did you try creating a new user with admin rights and then running Civ 4 under the new account?
                      "The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote."
                      -- Kosh

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        sc just gives a ' command not recognised' error here; is there another way to stop or start a specific new service other than manage|services on this W2K system?

                        TVM for your persistance, BTW
                        Dom 8-)

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Originally posted by snafuc4
                          sc just gives a ' command not recognised' error here; is there another way to stop or start a specific new service other than manage|services on this W2K system?
                          Failure to recognize the SC command may be due to a path issue. Is the file SC.EXE in your \System32 folder? If yes, then try this command:

                          %windir%\system32\sc start secdrv

                          from a command prompt. If you don't have SC.EXE, then (other than using the GUI program) the only other way I know to handle this is via direct editing of the registry.

                          If you're comfortable with regedit, you might want to look at

                          HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services

                          and locate the key for secdrv. Does the ImagePath entry show the correct path to secdrv.sys?

                          TVM for your persistance, BTW
                          No trouble. Used to do this for a living. Now it's just for the enjoyment of trying to solve challenging problems.
                          "The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote."
                          -- Kosh

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            No SC.EXE on this system at all, I'm afraid - perhaps it's only available with XP?

                            However, I tried your 2nd suggestion, checking the registry for paths etc & found /loads/ of stuff pointing to the wrong drive (my old installation was on the F: (primary 2nd channel IDE) drive as a backup. I'd deleted f:\winnt (& just about everything else), but it didn't occur to me at the time how registry entries are so persistent (and keep resetting themselves)! Maybe this will solve another few niggles too, after I've been through the entire registry & converted everything from f:\ to c:\

                            Anyway, it's now loading & running from the C: drive, TVM! All I have to do now is deinstall it from there & put it on the other, dedicated games, drive No graphics problems either, so far..

                            (oh, & I think the bit you mentioned about the 'create new user account' may well have turned out to be a red herring, BTW - other threads have mentioned this as pretty much equivalent to clearing the cache..)

                            Anyway, many thanks again - I'm off now to finish cleaning up the registry..
                            Dom 8-)

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Originally posted by snafuc4
                              No SC.EXE on this system at all, I'm afraid - perhaps it's only available with XP?
                              Guess so. It used to be included with the Microsoft Resource Kit, which I always had around.

                              However, I tried your 2nd suggestion, checking the registry for paths etc & found /loads/ of stuff pointing to the wrong drive (my old installation was on the F: (primary 2nd channel IDE) drive as a backup. I'd deleted f:\winnt (& just about everything else), but it didn't occur to me at the time how registry entries are so persistent (and keep resetting themselves)! Maybe this will solve another few niggles too, after I've been through the entire registry & converted everything from f:\ to c:\

                              Anyway, it's now loading & running from the C: drive, TVM! All I have to do now is deinstall it from there & put it on the other, dedicated games, drive No graphics problems either, so far..
                              Great! Quite an unusual problem.

                              (oh, & I think the bit you mentioned about the 'create new user account' may well have turned out to be a red herring, BTW - other threads have mentioned this as pretty much equivalent to clearing the cache..)
                              Thx. I'll try to remember that.

                              Anyway, many thanks again - I'm off now to finish cleaning up the registry..
                              Pretty soon your time will be filled with more enjoyable pursuits.
                              "The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote."
                              -- Kosh

                              Comment

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