And the Civ Gods continue to hate me...

[The Emperor Fabulous]

So first the game was WAY too slow on my parent's computer at home. Now I'm in my apartment, and I go to install Civ, and it gets to loading Python, and the files are either corrupted or unreadable.

Now...I think its probably a scratch due to an INCREDIBLY MISFORTUNATE DESIGN in the packaging. For those who don't know, the Civ IV Collector's Edition (I didn't pick it) holds the CDs in little cardboard pouches, bound tight enough to hold the CD even if you're pulling it out.

Is there anything I can do, besides take the CD to a place with a disk buffer or ask Firaxis for a new disk 2? I've cleaned the crap out of the disk but it doesn't help. If its really a file corruption, though, what do I do in that case?

[Axxaer]

Complain to Firaxis and they're likely to replace it. The cost of such a replacement weighed against the possibily of losing a fan who might buy future expansions will probably convince them it's in their best interest to replace it.

[xxFlukexx]

Whenever I have gotten a scratch on a newly bought game I have always been able to go back to the place of purchase and get a new copy. Of course I've always been within the 60 or 90 day warranty. Beyond that geez I dunno, if you are beyond the 60 or 90 day warranty I would call Firaxis and ask for a replacement, be nice and say you've haven't been able to even install it.

I don't like those pouches either, the CD/DVD too easily falls out. Stick the CD/DVD in a jewel case asap or even better, never take the Civ4 CD/DVD out of your computer ever.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Axxaer
Complain to Firaxis and they're likely to replace it. The cost of such a replacement weighed against the possibily of losing a fan who might buy future expansions will probably convince them it's in their best interest to replace it.

True, except it would be 2K that would be the right place to ask for a replacement CD. Firaxis looks after code, 2K does the rest.

[Raion]

Oh, I have some of those cardboard pouches type, with Pirates! that came that way. Hold it, so the CD will come out slowly into your other hand by pressing a little on the edge of the pouch. It will not have to be pulled out, and can even end up in your other hand upside down (or label down) so it will not be scrathed either. It just takes some getting use to, but pressing a little to let the game disk come out is probably the best way of handling it. One can gauge that and have it only come out part way also, then grab the edge of the CD and pull it the rest of the way out.

Jewel CD cases are fine also and empty ones can be bought. Afterall Microsoft does the same darn thing with their OS CD's, in those cardboard pouches. But luckily Windows 2000 Professional came in a jewel case.

If someone starts it to keep the cost down, then they all end up doing it, most of the time nowadays!

I guess fumble fingers are not needed!~

[Impaler[WrG]]

Use thouse little "D-Skin" thingies their a thin clear plastic film with a little ring that snaps it around the edge of the disk. The film is laser transparent and so thin you can play the CD with it on so its apply once and forget untill you drop/scratch the thing and just replace the film. You can find them at most Electronics stores.

My company used to make them and we had people stealing the things in bulk, which might be why they are made in china now.

[Zorkk]

ahhh.. what a pain, i feel for you.

Couple suggestions:

Try some gel toothpaste... rub it lightly on the cd, let it try, and then rinse with cold water. I've had this fix a number of my kidlet's CD's (he's finally realizing he has to put them away when he's done with them!! )

Seems odd, but in the past, scratches on cd's haven't prevented me from installing or give me errors, unless they're deep gouges. Another direction might be a bad stick of RAM. try running memtest or something similar to test your ram. I had a bad stick once, and the computer worked fine nromally, but installing prorams would always give errors.

Z