EU2 exits to desktop when I hit start button.

[unmerged(35638)]

I've re-installed EU2 after about 6 months of no play. I don't recall having any problems last time I was getting my EU2 fix, but this time around I can't play at all. I'm running EU2 v1.08 (English version) on an AMD 3.2+ with a gig of RAM. Latest video, sound, direct X drivers. WinXP but NOT with service pack 2 installed.

Anyway, the game seems to start fine and I can go through all the menus with no problem. I can select a campaign or scenarios and select options/nation/etc but no matter what else I do, when I click on "START" to actually start the game, EU2 exits to the desktop. Every time. The screen goes black and the next thing I know I'm staring at my desktop.

Don't know what to try since I'm running the latest drivers I know of.

 

[Castellon]

Okay let's try some standard things.
1) Rename the AVI folder to AVI_back
2) Set the color depth to 16BIT
3) Turn off everything in the background like E-mail/ICQ/Messenger, Virus protection and everything in the system tray beside the clock.

If none of that works then:
Please run a DirectX Diagnostic:
Start menu –Run - then type Dxdiag, then select each tab across the top of the window, and run the tests on each tab. Then select “Save All Information” button in the lower right of the window. This will bring up a dialog box to allow you to select a name for the file where the information will be saved. You can save it right on the desktop as this will make it easy to find. Then copy the contents of that file from the start to the heading that says “DirectX components” then paste what you have copied into a post in this thread.

 

[Dalwin]

I have the identical problem ever since applying 1.08. Also on WinXP SP1.

Was basically OK with base version.

 

[Dalwin]

Renaming the AVI folder did the trick in my case. Thanks.

 

[Castellon]

That's why it is Number one on my list.

 

[unmerged(35838)]

I had a similar problem. I tried several of the suggested fixes on the forum but to no avail. My wife managed to fix it tho (she was fed up of me sulking).

Start the program, before selecting a scenario/save and pressing start, do CTRL=ALT-DEL then end an unimportant TSR but keep the program manager open then return to the game and start. It has worked every time so far for me but only if the program manager is left open, just removing TSRs at any point doesntdo the trick.

hope this helps someone else

 

[Castellon]

You have something major wrong with your system then if you need to have program manager open while playing the game.

 

[unmerged(35838)]

You have something major wrong with your system then if you need to have program manager open while playing the game.

such as?

btw CK and anything else I play run fine without such antics

 

[Castellon]

I would start with the tsr your wife shuts down for you.
What is the name of it?

 

[unmerged(35838)]

I would start with the tsr your wife shuts down for you.
What is the name of it?

any TSR I shut down does fine, msn messanger for instance or realshedule, not critical stuff. size doesnt seem to matter. What is also odd is that once the game is running ok I can start other programs such as IE and surf as I do have plenty of memory.
I am inclined to think it is as Roger Rabbit said "only when it's funny!"

 

[Castellon]

Those would be apps my standard advice tells you to shut down.
You had mentioned that you had tried the advice here before using the tsr thing, so I assumed you were talking about something more exotic.

My standard advice, found in almost every thread here:
1) Rename the AVI folder to AVI_back
2) Set the color depth to 16BIT
3) Turn off everything in the background like E-mail/ICQ/Messenger, Virus protection and everything in the system tray beside the clock.

 

[unmerged(36931)]

I have the same problem

Those would be apps my standard advice tells you to shut down.
You had mentioned that you had tried the advice here before using the tsr thing, so I assumed you were talking about something more exotic.

My standard advice, found in almost every thread here:
1) Rename the AVI folder to AVI_back
2) Set the color depth to 16BIT
3) Turn off everything in the background like E-mail/ICQ/Messenger, Virus protection and everything in the system tray beside the clock.

I have renamed the avi folder to avi_back and color depth to 16. This morning I could load the saved file without any problem. Now EU2 returns to desktop before I hit the start button. I can't turn off virus protection etc, but I had the same configuration this morning and months before without problem.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 12/20/2004, 20:24:19
Machine name: YBDC014386
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (5.0, Build 2195) Service Pack 4
Language: English (Regional Setting: Swedish)
System Manufacturer: FUJITSU SIEMENS
System Model: LIFEBOOK E7010
BIOS: PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0.
Processor: Intel x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 4, ~1594MHz
Memory: 254MB RAM
Page File: 240MB used, 376MB available
DirectX Version: DirectX 8.0 (4.08.00.0400)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.01.2258.0400

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: Several files (ddraw.dll, dpmodemx.dll, dpwsockx.dll, etc.) are old versions, which could cause problems.
You should reinstall DirectX to get the latest version.
Display Tab 1: The file ati2dvag.dll is uncertified, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs. You may be able to get a certified driver from the manufacturer of the hardware device.
DirectDraw test results: Alla test lyckades.
Direct3D test results: Alla test lyckades.
AGP texturing test results: All tests were successful.
Sound Tab 1: DirectSound test results: All tests were successful.
Music Tab: DirectMusic test results: Failure at step 3 (Creating the IDirectMusicPerformance object): HRESULT = 0x80040154 (Class not registered)
Input Tab: No input devices detected.
No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

 

[AndrewT]

I assume you've rebooted since making those changes? If so, Try updating Directx to the current version, 9.0c I believe.

While it's not related to your problem, you might consider more RAM too, 256mb is about the minimum for win2000 and EU2.

 

[unmerged(36931)]

Still problem

I assume you've rebooted since making those changes? If so, Try updating Directx to the current version, 9.0c I believe.

While it's not related to your problem, you might consider more RAM too, 256mb is about the minimum for win2000 and EU2.

I have updated DirectX, but the test says there are still old files!
What's funny is I loaded and run a file yesterday morning and some hours later without any SW or HW changes the EU2 exits before I hit Start game button after loading the very same file.
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 12/21/2004, 12:26:57
Machine name: YBDC014386
Operating System: Windows 2000 Professional (5.0, Build 2195) Service Pack 4
Language: English (Regional Setting: Swedish)
System Manufacturer: FUJITSU SIEMENS
System Model: LIFEBOOK E7010
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 Mobile CPU 1.60GHz, ~1.6GHz
Memory: 254MB RAM
Page File: 241MB used, 374MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINNT
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: /PackageInstall
DxDiag Version: 5.03.0001.0904 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: Several files (ddraw.dll, dsound.dll, dsound3d.dll, etc.) are old versions, which could cause problems. You should reinstall DirectX to get the latest version.
Display Tab 1: The file ati2dvag.dll is not digitally signed, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL). You may be able to get a WHQL logo'd driver from the hardware manufacturer.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

 

[jdrou]

Are you sure you've installed the new DirectX (using DXSetup) and not just uncompressed it? Or did you get it from Windows Update?

 

[unmerged(36931)]

Are you sure you've installed the new DirectX (using DXSetup) and not just uncompressed it? Or did you get it from Windows Update?

I downloaded it from Windows Update and restarted the computer

 

[jdrou]

Do you have any problems with starting new games or is it just this savegame?

 

[AndrewT]

Are you sure you've installed the new DirectX (using DXSetup) and not just uncompressed it? Or did you get it from Windows Update?

His latest SysInfo file does say "DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)".

 

[jdrou]

His latest SysInfo file does say "DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)".

That means that at least the registry got written to. I don't know why it wouldn't overwrite the old files though. Maybe trying to install as a non-admin user? I would expect the install to report failure if it couldn't overwrite the files. This could just be a "red herring" though if the problem only happens on a single savegame.

 

[Castellon]

Shut down the Virus protection.
Most likely it is not compatible, most are not.
If you are paranoid, then unplug your modem from the internet.