I get cut back to the desktop when...

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Author Topic:   I get cut back to the desktop when...

Barshy posted 02-11-99 11:32 PM ET
I just received my SMAC in the mail! Anyway, I installed it and everything. When I run it, I see the Firaxis logo, then I see that scene where the Firaxis logo metal stamp thing stamps it down, but EVERY TIME right after that, i get cut back to the desktop.
I set DirectDraw = 0. My windows resolution, i tried it both at 800 and 640, and i set it to 256 colors.
Please help me out with any advice (other than, update your video drivers. ) Thanks!
Sean
JaimeWolf posted 02-12-99 12:41 AM ET
I think a quick fix would be to find the "opening.wve" file and rename it to something else ... there seems to be a problem with the movie player. Others can give you some options for finding the exact problem.
James
Barshy posted 02-12-99 01:47 AM ET
Thanks James,
I tried that, and what happens is that instead of seeing that opening part I was talking about, i wait for a long time then nothing happens. Just black screen. Then I start getting Windows registry errors...
I have a question. What should I do if I CONSTANTLY encounter Windows registry errors, in different programs? Do i have too many programs? What's going on? I've reinstalled Windows before, but i still encounter these problems. What should I do?
Cya,
Sean
Jim Vieira posted 02-12-99 02:44 AM ET
Your registry shouldn't be giving you that kind of trouble, at least not constantly. Everyone gets the occasional error, but in the frequency you describe, it sounds like a serious hardware problem, or a virus.
I dont work for Firaxis but as a long time computer technician I felt I should jump in and let you know that if you are having CONSTANT registry problems as you describe, you either have a serious system problem, or have some kind of virus.
The most common hardware problems causing this are either bad memory or bad cache ram on the board or cpu. On a few occasions when I have overclocked cpu's I have also seen this happen. The bad memory/cache
(or unstable overclocked cpu) causes random garbage to replace valid data.
I'm not sure what I can really suggest. If you have access to a memory tester you'll want to do it. Or if you can (for a reasonable price) take your system somewhere for a diagnosis of some kind, I would suggest it. Or perhaps you can download some software to check your cpu cache, motherboard cache or memory. I would also
suggest a virus scan, it could hopefully be something that simple.
Good luck
Jim

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Author	Topic: I get cut back to the desktop when...
Barshy	posted 02-11-99 11:32 PM ET I just received my SMAC in the mail! Anyway, I installed it and everything. When I run it, I see the Firaxis logo, then I see that scene where the Firaxis logo metal stamp thing stamps it down, but EVERY TIME right after that, i get cut back to the desktop. I set DirectDraw = 0. My windows resolution, i tried it both at 800 and 640, and i set it to 256 colors. Please help me out with any advice (other than, update your video drivers. ) Thanks! Sean
JaimeWolf	posted 02-12-99 12:41 AM ET I think a quick fix would be to find the "opening.wve" file and rename it to something else ... there seems to be a problem with the movie player. Others can give you some options for finding the exact problem. James
Barshy	posted 02-12-99 01:47 AM ET Thanks James, I tried that, and what happens is that instead of seeing that opening part I was talking about, i wait for a long time then nothing happens. Just black screen. Then I start getting Windows registry errors... I have a question. What should I do if I CONSTANTLY encounter Windows registry errors, in different programs? Do i have too many programs? What's going on? I've reinstalled Windows before, but i still encounter these problems. What should I do? Cya, Sean
Jim Vieira	posted 02-12-99 02:44 AM ET Your registry shouldn't be giving you that kind of trouble, at least not constantly. Everyone gets the occasional error, but in the frequency you describe, it sounds like a serious hardware problem, or a virus. I dont work for Firaxis but as a long time computer technician I felt I should jump in and let you know that if you are having CONSTANT registry problems as you describe, you either have a serious system problem, or have some kind of virus. The most common hardware problems causing this are either bad memory or bad cache ram on the board or cpu. On a few occasions when I have overclocked cpu's I have also seen this happen. The bad memory/cache (or unstable overclocked cpu) causes random garbage to replace valid data. I'm not sure what I can really suggest. If you have access to a memory tester you'll want to do it. Or if you can (for a reasonable price) take your system somewhere for a diagnosis of some kind, I would suggest it. Or perhaps you can download some software to check your cpu cache, motherboard cache or memory. I would also suggest a virus scan, it could hopefully be something that simple. Good luck Jim