Game in a Dread Lock - New Install - Black Screen!

It looks like there's an issue with DirectX or the video drivers on your machine; the game can't recognize the video card. You may try reinstalling your video drivers and DirectX 9, and check that you don't have any other 3D apps running at the same time. Failing that, please contact [email protected] to help look into this further.

Uninstalled DirectX 9.0c, reinstalled which was a pain as it needed original files from Windows XP Pro CD-ROM, then ran DirectX 9 Web update, and rebooted.

Downloaded ATI Radeon 48xx series Catalyst 13.1 driver, installed and rebooted/

Ran Windows Update and rebooted.

Ran DXDiag, all tests including DirecX3D worked fine. 

Game still won't work, black screen, "debug.err" still reporting "No compatible devices found" and InitializeDirect3D Failed", and I have nothing else running, except Windows background services as seen in Task Manager.

Debug.err

Debug Message: Version v1.53 last updated on: Tue Nov 4 11:55:35 2008
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 10/20/2013, 15:20:09
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: LIVINGROOM
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_qfe.130704-0421)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: GA-MA78GM-S2H
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Phenom(tm) II X2 555 Processor, MMX, 3DNow (2 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
Physical Memory: 1022MB RAM
Page File: 215MB used, 2242MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip Type: AMD Radeon Graphics Processor (0x9442)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9442&SUBSYS_E810174B&REV_00
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.7267
Driver Date: 11/16/2012 16:24:32
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB X-Fi Audio [0001]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_000B&SUBSYS_00431102&REV_03
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1348
Driver Date: 12/18/2012 20:32:52
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: AMD HD Audio rear output
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_1002&DEV_AA01&SUBSYS_00AA0100&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: AtihdXP3.sys
Provider: AMD
Driver Version: 5.18.0000.5514
Driver Date: 5/14/2012 02:12:12
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0



Debug Message: *********END dxdiag info.*********
Debug Message: Entering WinMain
Debug Message: ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message: Going Fullscreen
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: No compatible devices found.
Debug Message: InitializeDirect3D Failed.
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize start

Prefs.ini

[Initialization]
ForceTextureUpdate=0
HyperthreadEnhancement=0
ThreadedInitialLoading=0
SkipIntro=1
PreloadModels=1
[Video]
DisplayWidth=1024
DisplayHeight=768
ColorDepth=32
Fullscreen=0
HardwareMouseCursor=0
Multisample=4
Brightness=50
Contrast=50
AmbientLight=25
GfxForceTnL=0
GfxForceNoTexShips=0
GfxForceNoTexPlanets=0
GfxForceNoTexAnomalies=0
GfxForceNoTexResources=0
GfxForceNoTexStars=0
GfxForceNoTexDamage=0
GfxForceNoTexWeaponsDefenses=0
GfxForceNoTexRallyPoints=0
GfxForceNoBump=0
GfxForceNoPointSprites=0
GfxThrottleFrameRate=1
[Sound]
MusicVolume=8000
EventMusicVolume=8000
SFXVolume=8000
UserDefinedPlayList=0
Sfx=1
Music=1
EventMusic=1
CurrPlayListDir=PlayList
CurrentPlayList=
CurrPlayListPos=0
[Prompts]
PromptToBuildStarbase=1
PromptToUpgradeStarbase=1
PromptToHarvestResource==1
ImpDonePopup=1
ShowAnomalyPopup=1
[Display]
DrawGrid=0
ShipBattleSpeed=1.200000
ShipTurnSpeed=7.853982
ShipMoveSpeed=800.000000
BackgroundStars=1500.000000
SnapBack=1.000000
[GameOptions]
TutorialMode=0
AutoTurn=0
ViewAttacks=1
WatchEnemyShips=0
WatchAutoPilot=0
ShowShipBattles=1
ShowShipDamage=1
ShowExplosions=1
LoseRemainingMoves=1
ShowAIShipBattles=1
AutoSave=1
TurnsBeforeAutoSaving=12
AutoBuild=1
GNN=1
ShowQuarterlyReport=1
EnableMods=0
[Interface]
UseSmallerFontsForForeignLanguage=1

There are some reported problems with the Radeon 4850 and black screens, judging from a quick Google search.  it might be worth looking over some of the troubleshooting other people have done just in case.

Your motherboard has an AMD chipset so I think it's unlikely that there's a hardware incompatibility.

I seem to remember that when I had to install DirectX9c, the redistributable package (containing all the updates) works best.  It might also be worth updating MS Visual C++ 2005 runtimes if you haven't done so recently.

Hope you get it to work!

It's a different black screen problem I have. I get a partial black screen, equilant to this game's ini file set resolution.