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Sins of a Solar Empire Technical FAQ

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Sins of a Solar Empire Technical FAQ

You have problems? Read here first

from Sins Forums

You've got Sins of a Solar Empire home. You've installed it and you go to play and POW. Something goes wrong! What the heck? Look in here to see if your issue is addressed. If not, make a post and we'll do our best to help you out!

 

 

  • My multiplayer games keep crashing!
    •

Almost all of the crash reports we've received in this regard were caused by some of the players using Mods that the other players weren't. If you're going to use Mods in a multiplayer game, either all players must use the same Mod (and version) or no Mods can be used. Otherwise this will create stability issues and de-sync problems the longer you play.

  • My game is crashing for another reason...

If you had the game installed on your PC previously (i.e., during the beta), you must uninstall it before installing the final game.

  • I have an NVIDIA card and my game or video driver keeps crashing!

NVIDIA has resolved this issue as of driver version 174. Check NVIDIA's website for the latest version (if you have a laptop and the OEM does not have the latest version, try laptopvideo2go.com instead).

  • Where are the files kept for Sins of a Solar Empire (such as screenshots and such?)

Vista:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\

XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\

Please note these directories may be Hidden by default. To unhide them, go to your Control Panel -> Folder Options -> View and set yourself to view hidden files and folders.

Note: If you're running the game through Stardock Central under Windows Vista, it will save your game settings under an Admin folder:  C:\Users\ADMIN_NAME\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\

We are working to correct this behavior. 

  • Why does the direct digital download version cost $5 more than game costs at the store?

The direct version is the Collector's Edition which includes additional non-game content such as a music CD (which you can download), PDF files of maps and tech trees, and a Windows theme.

  • Where is my Sins settings file found?

This file is located at:

Vista:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Setting\user.setting

XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Setting\user.setting

Please note these directories may be Hidden by default. To unhide them, go to your Control Panel -> Folder Options -> View and set yourself to view hidden files and folders.

  • The game blue screens or I get video corruption when I play.

Make sure you have the latest drivers for your video and sound card. This is particularly important if you have an older video card. The game will have problems on outdated drivers.

  • The game crashes in Vista.

This could be due to a known Vista bug which can be addressed here: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=940105

  • How can I open my settings file if I need to change something?

You can open this and most Sins files with a simple text editor such as Notepad. We strongly recommend against using programs like Microsoft Word, however, as they introduce their own hidden formatting elements that may cause crashes.

  • My game has crashed and told me it saved a "minidump" file. What do I do?

Please open Windows Explorer to the location below and see if your dump file is there.

XP: C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp\Sins Dump

Vista: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp\Sins Dump

If there is a minidump file present, please zip it up along with a copy of a dxdiag from your PC and a description of what you were doing when it occurred to support(at)ironcladgames(dot)com. Please note that you must provide your Sins of a Solar Empire serial number in your email to receive support (anti-piracy measure).

  • My game has a bug, what do I do?

You can send the save and/or recorded game that recreates the bug along with a description of how it occurred to us. Using the info above, locate the save/recorded game and compress it into either .zip or .rar format, then email it to us at support(at)ironcladgames(dot)com. Please note that you must provide your Sins of a Solar Empire serial number in your email to receive support (anti-piracy measure).

  • I try to start Sins but I get an "Audio Engine Failed To Initialize" error.

This is an indication that your sound card drivers are out-of-date, that you don't have a sound card, or that you don't have any speakers connected (Vista). Please try installing a valid, up-to-date sound driver for your system. A sound card is required to play the game.

  • I try to start Sins but the screen is a mess of color or is black and never loads the game.

Possible solutions:

  1. Try turning off movies in the user.setting by changing ShowIntroMovies TRUE to ShowIntroMovies FALSE.
  2. Try manually changing the resolution of the game in user.setting by changing the values associated with WINDOWEDWIDTH and WINDOWEDHEIGHT.
  3. Try manually changing the MULTISAMPLETYPE setting to a value between 0 and 4 in the user.setting file.
  4. Try updating your sound card drivers to their latest version (this is especially important on brand new machines).
  5. Make sure you video drivers are up to date.
  6. Make sure you have the latest DirectX 9c.
  7. Try manually reducing all your texture levels in user.setting (set them to 0 for the lowest setting).
  8. Try updating to the latest version of Sins using Stardock Central.
  9. Try running in windowed mode (ISWINDOWED FALSE to TRUE) also set in user.setting.
  10. Try reinstalling Sins (make sure you uninstall and manually delete anything that might have been left over)
  11. Try changing the game resolution to the same resolution as your desktop.
  • I can't connect to Ironclad Online (ICO) or any LAN games.

Make sure your software firewall (including the Windows Firewall) has not blocked Sins of a Solar Empire. With some firewalls it may appear that Sins has frozen, as the firewall is waiting to receive confirmation to proceed. You may need to exit Sins and restart the game in Windowed mode (IsWindowed in user.setting) in order to get around the firewall's pop-up. Alternatively, you could configure your firewall prior to starting Sins. You also have to be able to connect to both port 6000 and port 7000 on ICO.

  • Sins won't continue when I try to host a multiplayer game.

Your TCP/IP or Winsock settings could be corrupted. To confirm this, turn on logging (using the instructions above) and attempt to host a game again. If your log file is filled with "Socket'ServerAcceptedSocket0' failed recv: An operation was attempted on something that is not a socket." then this is most likely the problem.

The solution to fixing your corrupted settings can be found here.

  • Other players aren't able to connect to the game I'm hosting.

As of version 1.11, Sins uses Alloy by default so no one should have problems hosting. However, if you choose to disable Alloy in the online hosting options, the following is how to make sure you are capable of hosting. (Note that in some situations you won't have the rights to the make the following changes and Alloy is your best bet - this is typical of tight corporate networks or a university campus situation).

Your user.setting file has an entry for GameHostPort (default is 6112). Make sure your router has this Port Forwarded to your computer's IP address or has UPnP enabled. If you use Port Forwarding, it's important that you set your PC to have a static IP address to maintain your settings.

XP
C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Setting

Vista
C:\Users\yourname\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Setting

All computers behind a router should have their own unique GameHostPort setup in case the original host leaves and a new host for the game is needed. Be sure to restart your game after changing these settings. Keep in mind these are NOT the ICO ports of 6000 and 7000 (see above).

Example (computers behind router):

Computer IP                user.settings -> GameHostPort                  Router Port Forwarding Setting

192.168.1.47                             6112 6001 ->                                       192.168.1.47
192.168.1.201                           6113 6002 ->                                       192.168.1.201
192.168.1.35                             6114 6003 ->                                       192.168.1.35

  • Q: Where can I get more help with setting up my computer for multiplayer?

 

One site we recommend is: http://portforward.com/default.htm

 


630,947 views 218 replies
Reply #102 from Sins Forums Top
Where are you trying and what trouble, specifically, are you having?
TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #103 from Sins Forums Top
is it possible that something can be changed to make the game work better with nVidia drivers older than the 174 series? my laptop runs the older drivers much better.

is there another fix to Sins video driver crashing on nVidia GPUs other than that update?
Reply #104 from Stardock Forums Top
One quick question(perhaps)i bought SoSE at Stardock and D\L and it ran fine...
Upgraded to version 1.04 and still great,added 7seven dealy sins mods and STILL ran great.
Added beta version(current) and it crashed andlocked up XP Pro sp2.
Deleated game,reinstalled impulse, D\L currrent version w\o beta.
Ran fine.
Added beta version...still works.
Tried to add Seven Deadly Sin.Mods version 3b,c,d, and version 2.0 from danman....to mods files.
Game says they're available and "loaded" both 7DS ver1.d and 2.0(one at a time)games goes thru pause then says mod installed BUT none of the mods features (planets,new enemies,etc)shows up???
Using XP Pro SP2
AMD X2 processor
2 gig mem
etc..
What could keep mods from working?
Slow day in space??
Best to all,
GFG
Reply #105 from Sins Forums Top

The MODS are the mod-makers responsibility to keep updated as the game gets updated. If a MOD is crashing the game then don't use it until it is updated by the MOD-maker.

thanks,

the Monk
Reply #106 from Sins Forums Top
Mod tools haven't been updated for the beta yet, so almost all mods have to be with 1.05 at the moment.
Reply #107 from Stardock Forums Top

totally different problem than all the rest i have seen...  whenever i try to load a mod, i place it in what would be the appropriate folder, i open the game>> click on options   >> and nothing.  there is no mods tab.  not before, or after the update.  i actually saw it once, but the game crashed and i had to reinstall it... afterwards i cannot for the life of me, seem to be able to get it back.  it just disappeard into thin air.  could sumone tell me where a fix is?

Reply #108 from Sins Forums Top

there is no mods tab. not before, or after the update.

What version number shows in the bottom right corner of the main menu?

Reply #109 from Stardock Forums Top

Video Issue - Intel GM45 Mobile

Just installed Sins on my new Lifebook s6520 and I am having lots of graphical oddities.  The game bars and buttons flicker, appearing and disapearing as I move the mouse.  Structures around planets are simply vanishing as well. 

I am using Intel's latest drivers, and the resolution is set to the screen at 1280x800.  I won't be able to try an external monitor for several days.  Any ideas?

Reply #110 from Sins Forums Top

 

You could try updating to the latest game version and/or turning some settings in-game down.

More than likely though your Intel chipset doesn't have proper pixel shader support....

 

Reply #111 from Stardock Forums Top

Not sure what you mean by updating - I downloaded Sins via Impulse and installed just prior to that post.  Impulse shows no updates available.  As for shader support, I'll call BS.  Sins runs fine on the older Intel integrated video solutions, and this is the latest.  In fact, the specs show it to have better shader support than the older chipsets that run fine.

As for turning in-game options down, is there a recommended path to follow?  I had rather not just pick with no clear procedure or documentation.

Reply #112 from Sins Forums Top

 

Turn all available settings from "highest" to "high"......and see if that makes a difference.

By the way, one of my notebooks runs SINS using the same chipset you have and I've had to do the above.

Reply #113 from Sins Forums Top

I can't figure out how to work the online part... I'm not sure how this port stuff works by the way I am running Vista.

Reply #114 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Budzey, reply 13
I can't figure out how to work the online part... I'm not sure how this port stuff works by the way I am running Vista.

 

How to work the ports rather.

Reply #115 from Sins Forums Top

Hey, this is the first game I've played where i had to put mods in certain folders to get them in-game, can someone give me the file-path? I'm using Windows Vista and I got the retail bax, updated to version 1.5.

 

 

Edit: btw, i'm having issues with mini-dumps on some maps i downloaded, where can i find the dxdiag file i need to send in?

Reply #116 from Sins Forums Top

Budzey,

Please download my guide "Networking and SINS" which will take you through the process (step-by-step).  It can be found linked to right at the bottom of the OP of this sticky!

 

AetheroToland,

If you're having crashes (mini-dumps) with "custom maps" that isn't something to look to the DEVS to support.  Please contact the map/mod maker. ;)

Reply #117 from Sins Forums Top

Thanks the_Monk, I'll go spam their comments now, lol.

I still need help with the file-path though, I have some mods for ship strengths and weaknesses, etc. Not too keen on putting files everywhere just in case I do something wrong. Where do I put these things and how do I activate them?

Reply #118 from Sins Forums Top

AetheroToland < sins tells you where to find the mod file direcotry if you click on mods in sins it will tell you exactly the directory in my documents and settings..

 

A sugestion to those who have internet and might not have internet when installing a game from impulse is it possible to back up a entire running version of the game sins of a solar empire ?. and also can it be made that the updates for games also be made downloadable to a location of choosing since the person could still have hd space issues or if not wanted to back up the patches for later use if not on net. thanks.

Reply #119 from Stardock Forums Top

My game keeps crashing because of "minidumps".  I have little knowledge on them. All i know is that they have something to do with multiplayer games and thats where my confusion starts: i have never played a multiplayer game on sins. I made the maps my self and therefor i'm lost.  Any help here? Please and thank you

Reply #120 from Stardock Forums Top

I am able to use the Options/Video screen to move into Windowed mode, but once I am in Windowed mode, selecting a different resolution doesn't do anything. This happens on two separate computers.

Is this feature broken, or am I doing it wrong?

Reply #121 from Stardock Forums Top

8500 GT +32-bit Vista+ Sins of a Solar Empire= Crash

Freezes on menu screen. Just purchased and updated to 1.1

Tried a couple different Nvidia drivers. Have service pack 1 for vista installed too.

Running at same res as desktop, 1152x864.

I have been trying for hours to get this to work and am becoming very frustrated.

Any ideas?

Reply #122 from Stardock Forums Top

Try running sins with out patching it to 1.1 and see if you get the same result, also are you getting an error message with your crash ?

 

are you running directx 9c ?

 

 

Reply #123 from Sins Forums Top

Any ideas?

If none of the suggestions you've read on the forums have helped, please contact [email protected].

Reply #124 from Stardock Forums Top

I have a french version of soaSE, but I don't understand french. How can I change the language to english? I hope someone can help, this game looks good, thanks

Reply #125 from Stardock Forums Top

ok i was able to play on ironclad online earlier but then bam it says disconnected from ironclad even though it had been working what in hells name is the problem?