DreadLords and DarkAvatar crash when starting a new game

if nobody can help me because this is the wrong place, could you please tell me where to go? i really would like to play again, but it simply doesnt work.

by the way, if i start a campaign in Dark Avatar it works. in Dread Lords there isnt a campaign i can choose. i really have no idea what went wrong

Same things here, same issue.

The game crash at the exact same moment, the log file ended with the same line.

Here's my 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: 9/30/2009, 23:48:53
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
Machine Name: STERFIELD-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Édition Intégrale 64-bit (6.1, Build 7100) (7100.winmain_win7rc.090421-1700)
Languages: French (Regional Setting: French)
System Manufacturer: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO.,LTD
System Model: MS-7514
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU    Q6600  @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Physical Memory: 4096MB RAM
Page File: 1872MB used, 6315MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM v1.1)
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 8800 GTS
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0193&SUBSYS_2A72107D&REV_A2
Display Memory: 2408 MB
Current Display Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (59Hz)
Monitor Name:
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Date:
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: No
 


Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Haut-parleurs (Creative SB X-Fi)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_00311102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1373
Driver Date: 6/4/2009 02:49:08
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 
Sound device 1:
Description: Sortie SPDIF (Creative SB X-Fi)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_00311102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1373
Driver Date: 6/4/2009 02:49:08
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 
Sound device 1:
Description: Audio numérique (SPDIF) (Périphérique High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_14627514&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 65535
Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 6.01.7100.0000
Driver Date: 4/22/2009 06:15:37
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 


Debug Message:  *********END dxdiag info.*********
Debug Message:  WARNING: DirectX Acceleration is not enabled.
Debug Message:  Entering WinMain
Debug Message:  ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message:  Going Fullscreen
Debug Message:  Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message:  Using hardware vertex processing
Debug Message:  Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message:  Game Resolution: 1680 x 1050
Debug Message:  Running fullscreen.
Debug Message:  HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM v1.1)
Debug Message:  D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message:  Refresh rate: 59
Debug Message:  Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message:  *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message:  A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
Debug Message:  RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message:  Now Fullscreen
Debug Message:  Shell initialization complete
Debug Message:  GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message:  ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message:  No string tables in ./Data//ToolTips.tips
Debug Message:  Timer Frequency is 0 23ac9d
Debug Message:  No string tables in ./Data//*.str
Debug Message:  Initializing sound card.
Debug Message:  initailizing bink
Debug Message:  Create setup screens.
Debug Message:  Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message:  Clear influence.
Debug Message:  Clear up laws.
Debug Message:  Clear first time events.
Debug Message:  Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message:  Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message:  Set mouse.
Debug Message:  Set update timer.
Debug Message:  Clear data definitions.
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\sterfield\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\sterfield\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message:  Danger Will Robinson, no Stars!!!!
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask ./Data//Tutorials/*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask D:\Jeux\Galactic Civ II\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask ./Data//Scenarios/*.GC2Scenario
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask D:\Jeux\Galactic Civ II\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
Debug Message:  Creating Galaxy
Debug Message:  Killing threads.
Debug Message:  Kiling civs.
Debug Message:  Killing ships.
Debug Message:  Killing rallypoints.
Debug Message:  Killing misc objects.
Debug Message:  Killing stars.
Debug Message:  Killing anomalies.
Debug Message:  Killing space resources.
Debug Message:  Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message:  killing scenario.
Debug Message:  Clearing Turn Event Log
Debug Message:  Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message:  Clear influence.
Debug Message:  Clear up laws.
Debug Message:  Clear first time events.
Debug Message:  Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message:  Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message:  Galaxy Size Set: 3 x 3
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message:  Number of Unplaced Stars: 7.
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Planets
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Anomalies
Debug Message:  Num Anomalies: 28
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Resources
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Done
Debug Message:  Setting Game Options
Debug Message:  Creating Civs
Debug Message:  Alliance Terrienne: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message:  Empire Drengin: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message:  Empire Arcéan: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message:  Confédération Torienne: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message:  Collectif Yor: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message:  Dominination Korx: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message:  Empire Thalan: Intellence -> 30
Debug Message:  Creating Civs... Done
Debug Message:  Updating ZOC.
Debug Message:  Updating ZOC.
Debug Message:  Galaxy Create... Done
Debug Message:  UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 1
Debug Message:  UIBeginGameHelper: New Game Started
Debug Message:  UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled

Thanks for your help

1.53 is quite an old version--are you also running an outdated version of DA? It will have its own debug.err.

Actually, it's the exact version installed by Impulse on my computer.

I just hit "Run" on Impulse, choose "Play the game" in the launcher, and that's it. The launcher tries to launch Dread Lords, v1.53. I have also DA in v2.01 and TA in 2.03.

Most of the time, after launching the game, I have a warning related to "Direct X Acceleration is not enabled". This is apparently related to Seven RC, which I'm using right now. The screen goes black for a few seconds, then the game crash and send me back to Windows.

Sometimes, it launches successfully, but then I encounter the crash when launching a new game.

You're speaking about a outdated version. Where can I found the last version / patch for each game ? I search the web site + Update on Impulse, but found nothing.

Thanks for your help.

Doh! I'd looked for it when I first replied for this thread since it's a common issue, but must have glossed right over it:

Just save and merge this registry file and it should solve the issue for both of you. Apologies for missing that the first time around.

Yeah, that's ok now.

After updating the registry with the file just above, it's now possible to start a new game.

In addition, I used a lower resolution (1024x768) as mentionned in sticky. The game then starts, and I could set the game to my standard resolution (1600x1050).

Now the game is running every time, and I can play a game.

Thanks a lot for your help.

I definitly love Stardock, for the worst and the best !