Game freezes at startup on a black screen...

from GalCiv2 Forums
Well, my game won't initialize. I get frozen at a black screen. Here is my debug.err

Debug Message: Version last updated on: Wed Mar 23 15:05:39 2005
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 3/31/2005, 00:31:16
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: PONEH
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Inspiron 700m
BIOS: Phoenix NoteBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 2.00GHz
Physical Memory: 494MB RAM
Page File: 295MB used, 861MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip Type: Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Controller
DAC Type: Internal
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3582&SUBSYS_018D1028&REV_02
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 768 (32 bit) (65Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4277
Driver Date: 3/10/2005 09:36:40

Display device 2:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY2
Card Name: Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip Type: Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Controller
DAC Type: Internal
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3582&SUBSYS_018D1028&REV_02
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4277
Driver Date: 3/10/2005 09:36:40



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SigmaTel Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24C5&SUBSYS_018D1028&REV_03
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: stac97.sys
Provider: SigmaTel
Driver Version: 5.10.3943.0000
Driver Date: 9/15/2004 19:53:06
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: Could not find a Drengin.net Serial No.
Debug Message: Going Fullscreen
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Anti-aliasing enabled. Overriding recommended multisample settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
*DEBUG ERROR: *** Switching from HAL to REF rasterizer. ***
*DEBUG ERROR: *** Null reference device. Can't render anything. ***
Debug Message: Anti-aliasing enabled. Overriding recommended multisample settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Could not create the render device using default format. Switching to 16bit
*DEBUG ERROR: *** Null reference device. Can't render anything. ***
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Could not create the render device.
Debug Message: InitializeDirect3D Failed.
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize start
9,887 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i az ad no probs with the intel gm/gme chipset. however, i think you DO need the latest drivers...
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
well when i say no probs, i mean starting the game. staying in the game........
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I did install the latest drivers...it's weird cause it worked fine before...all of a sudden it stopped working...I didn't change anything.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hmm..looks like it's dying pretty early in the process.  I'll ask around to see if anyone's seen this before.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Try opening Prefs.ini and setting Multisample=0 and see if that gets you past the creation.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Wow, setting mutlisample to 0 actually worked

Thank you so much! If I may ask, what does multisample actually do?

Also, I don't think the game is using the resolution that I set in Prefs.ini