12/8 WinXP "Patch" doesn't work?

[johnc214]

Anyone have any ideas? After installing the 12/8 version of the 1.16f patch for XP I can't launch CivIII at all. Clicking on shortcuts, the executable or trying to run from the CD just gives me an hourglass for a few moments and then it quits. I was able to get the game to work more-or-less BEFORE the patch but only in ME compatibility mode. Now, none of the modes work at all. I've never had this much trouble with ANY program. Any help? Civ3 is the only thing on my machine that won't work, so I hate to change EVERYTHING just for the game. PLEASE HELP!

[Whohangs]

I have a similar problem in XP. It doesn't run, the process just hangs. I just uninstalled and reinstalled. I ran Civ 3 and it ran fine, applied the patch and it didn't work. Something's definitely wrong with it. It hangs with the Civilization3.exe process at just above 5MB and a temp process that it spawns at about 3 MB. Anybody help? Please?

[Droximus]

I've got the same problem, except that I can't uninstall or reinstall.

[Jeremy]

This is my problem exactly.

I've downloaded the patch three separate times - no luck.

Good thing I can play it just fine on my three-year-old PC, but I sure would like to see it on the new one.

[Huntred]

Re: 12/8 WinXP "Patch" doesn't work?

Originally posted by johnc214
Anyone have any ideas? After installing the 12/8 version of the 1.16f patch for XP I can't launch CivIII at all. Clicking on shortcuts, the executable or trying to run from the CD just gives me an hourglass for a few moments and then it quits. I was able to get the game to work more-or-less BEFORE the patch but only in ME compatibility mode. Now, none of the modes work at all. I've never had this much trouble with ANY program. Any help? Civ3 is the only thing on my machine that won't work, so I hate to change EVERYTHING just for the game. PLEASE HELP!

I have exactly this problem. In addition, when I run the game in normal XP mode, it does launch to the splash screen and then to the opening movie. But right when the graphics mode switch happens to the main menu, the screen goes dark and the monitor power light goes amber. However the music plays fine.

I'm running a dual monitor system so I've pulled the task manager over and I can see that the Civ3 process is working fine. Although I can't see it, I suspect it's purely a video issue.

Tried rolling back the video drivers a notch (never had a problem with XP or Detonator drivers before). Running a GeForce 3 Ti.

There doesn't seem to be any "going back" from patching. However uninstalling the whole program and resinstalling works fine. But I would like to use the patch...

Huntred

[johnc214]

Huntred, you've described EXACTLY the problem I've had with the game so far. I guess it isn't just me with the splash screen and movie playing but then the black screen and the music. I'd like to use the patch too, but cannot until they get this fixed. I've tried 3 times, and always have to reinstall the 1.07f box version. I also must run in 98/ME compatibility mode, but this screws up my Internet Explorer and some other programs after I have run CIV3. I have to reboot to use other programs, and the reboot yet again to re-start CIV3!!

Anyone have any ideas?

FRAXIS, please help!!

[Huntred]

Originally posted by johnc214
Huntred, you've described EXACTLY the problem I've had with the game so far. .... I also must run in 98/ME compatibility mode, but this screws up my Internet Explorer and some other programs after I have run CIV3. I have to reboot to use other programs, and the reboot yet again to re-start CIV3!!

Just to give perspective as to how much trouble I've been having with the game (I was one of the first missing font people on Day One), I forgot that yes, there is a "ripple effect" where other programs go flaky after exiting a game. Pretty much exiting means a reboot.

This game is the super-high-maintenance girlfriend I never had...

Huntred

[Satis5d]

Ditto

You can add me to the list of unhappy XP users. The patch gives me nothing - except frustration.

[Downer]

Just to give perspective as to how much trouble I've been having with the game (I was one of the first missing font people on Day One), I forgot that yes, there is a "ripple effect" where other programs go flaky after exiting a game. Pretty much exiting means a reboot.

After exiting Civ3 in windows XP hit CTRL-ALT-DEL, go to the "processes" tab and look for "civilization3.exe" and end the program, for some reason it continues to run in the background in xp and really messes it up, ending the program will solve your problem.

[johnc214]

Downer, any idea on how to get the game to work with the 1.16 patch released on 12/8? (I never tried the 12/7 one since there were warnings it wouldn't work on XP.) I've tried the control-alt-delete process ending thing but it doesn't affect running the patch successfully. The patch installs fine, but then the program won't run. When you try to launch the program, it does nothing. You get an hourglass for a few moments and then nothing. THANKS!

[Huntred]

Originally posted by Downer


After exiting Civ3 in windows XP hit CTRL-ALT-DEL, go to the "processes" tab and look for "civilization3.exe" and end the program, for some reason it continues to run in the background in xp and really messes it up, ending the program will solve your problem.

Thanks!

And a head bonk to myself for not going with the simple solution. It wasn't a big problem - I didn't want to play the game much until that first patch came out - but still...

Huntred

[Droximus]

I've got the same problem as John. It's frustrating. I was playing the game on a daily basis until I downloaded the patch...now I can't play it, or remove the patch to get the game back in working order. I've even tried reinstalling and uninstalling, to no avail...it exits in the middle of the process.

[Whohangs]

Codemaster helped me with this in another thread. If you're running XP, turn off compatability mode and do this:

"Add Refresh=60 to your civiliation3.ini file. If the problem still occurs try lowering the number. This solution is listed in the list of fixes for the patch under the additions section. (list of fixes can be found on on the official civ3 web page)"

[elcapjtk]

Honestly I don't think I want to use the patch... it seems like even people who have Civ III on XP running will still cause crashes

Well I'll try it tho I wanna take over those dern low cultured greek faster than I have been

[Droximus]

Originally posted by Whohangs
Codemaster helped me with this in another thread. If you're running XP, turn off compatability mode and do this:

"Add Refresh=60 to your civiliation3.ini file. If the problem still occurs try lowering the number. This solution is listed in the list of fixes for the patch under the additions section. (list of fixes can be found on on the official civ3 web page)"

Huzzah! I am the founder of the Whohangs/Codemaster fanclub! The key to the situation was turning off compatability mode before grabbing the patch. Now it runs without using the compatability mode.