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Author Topic:   Help please

Lothar Harris posted 06-19-99 06:36 AM ET
I purchased the game and could never play more than 30 min before getting errors. I've noted the "known problems" list (two items) does not include anything susbstantive. This forum has a long running discussion under Terran - Illegal operations, which seems to describe my frustrations. I've tried all the suggested fixes with various results. What I want to know is plain and simple - will this game be fixed by a patch and if not, what is my remedy? In other words, I want a playable game or a refund - how do I go about getting either?
Thanks
Darkstar posted 06-21-99 02:25 PM ET
Well, if all of your drivers are up to date, and you have the latest and greatest of everything on your system, you will need to either...
a) post your system's hardware and OS up here and see if anyone else can help isolate the problems. (You haven't given us much to work with other than you have a problem.)
or
b) return SMAC for a refund.
-Darkstar
Lothar Harris posted 06-27-99 07:59 AM ET
I tried to work with the vendor of the PC. Cybermax advertises its system as the "gameplayers choice" so I had hopes. They sent me out a new video board and while it improved the performance, it didn't fix the problem. Because I waited to get the board, when I tried to return the game (option b) it was a no go. When I tried to run DX DIagnostic tools, it reports Chromatic Research as the Mfr and the m2gfx.drv as not certified. The machine vendor says "that's not the problem". When I tried to find a new driver from Chromatic, it seems the company vanished. I've run Dr Watson and on each crash it either reports no problems (seldom) or an error in Terran.exe (often), or an occasional invalid page fault in Kernal32.dll. I've run the MS update utility and appear to have all current versions. I've ordered the Win98 update kit (arrives in three weeks) but I hold little hope there.
My system is a Win98, 4.10, build 1998 with a AMD-K6, 3D processor, MMX, 3Dnow, 64MB RAM, pagefile says 23MB used with 1961MB available. The vendor tells me the system is not overclocked - how can I check? Directx Version 6.1(4.06.02.0436). I've tried all the tips and tricks you've indicated in this forum but no help. The game runs fine on my older machine (but very slowly). I would appreciate any help but would also like to know if EA will offer a full refund if the game can not be fixed?
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS posted 06-27-99 01:26 PM ET
Where does the game crash? Is it random, or always at a certain point. If the graphics card directdraw compatibility is the issue, try setting (or adding if it's not present) directdraw=0 in the alpha centauri.ini file. Also, forcing your desktop resolution to one the game uses may help (800x600x8bit (256 colors) or 1024x768x8bit).
Overclocked non-intel processor DO seem to have problems with the game. They lead to random fatals and lockups, if that matches your symptom. To verify it, you'll need your motherboards manual and the speed of the CPU.
If you decide to return the game, refer to the warrenty contact information listed in the back of the install guide.
jkm
firaxis games
mas_zlin posted 06-29-99 02:11 PM ET
Perhaps is your procesor overheated. Try to open the computer and play in cooler room.
Lothar Harris posted 06-29-99 07:04 PM ET
The case has been off the computer since replacing the video card so overheating is hardly the issue. I've compared the EA built SMAC with the new SSL Imperialism II. The SSL game uses Directx and comes with the latest software. It doesn't crash as SMAC does although it mysteriously just "exits" the game about the time an autosave is due but the music keeps playing. Guess all game vendors are having problems these days. In any event, Dr Watson reports no errors with Imperialism when it shuts down as opposed to reporting several problems with SMAC. My machine is a AMD K6-2 with 3Dnow at 400MHZ.
It has 64Meg Ram, lots of disk space and lots of swap space. System resources are at over 90% available before game starts. It uses the M5ALA system board. Even though Cybermax tech support claims the CPU is not overclocked and that the fault rests with the game vendor, the manual says the bus clock has a multiplier of 4 to get to 400MHZ. Is this defined as "over clocked"? If it is, can I change the jumper to x3 and 300MHZ without causing more problems? Please don't guess if you aren't sure.
Both games run just fine on my 100MHZ pentium - but slowly. I've turned off everything I can think of-with no help. The problems in SMAC appear to come at random times. Restarting the autosave game and going through the exact keystroke sequence seldom duplicates the crash. I am running 600x800 resolution.
I looked at the warranty information as you suggested and to no great surprise, the warranty is limited to replacement of defective media only. I guess I'm stuck with an expensive lesson unless you can help me solve my problem. What other information should I send?
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS posted 06-29-99 07:49 PM ET
We have consistently seen heat problems with AMD and Cyrix chips cause these kinds of instability. Perhaps blasting a fan into the case might at least eliminate that as the cause. Underclocking won't hurt the machine (though refer to your documentation just to be sure), and may very well solve the problem (albeit not in a very satifactory manner). The completely random nature of the crashes suggest this is the cause. Perhaps an additional internal fan might be a more elegant solution one it's pinned down.
About the warranty, they are very interested in helping in any way they can. If we can't resolve this to your satisfaction, I'd explain your case to them and see what options are available.
jkm
firaxis games
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Author	Topic: Help please
Lothar Harris	posted 06-19-99 06:36 AM ET I purchased the game and could never play more than 30 min before getting errors. I've noted the "known problems" list (two items) does not include anything susbstantive. This forum has a long running discussion under Terran - Illegal operations, which seems to describe my frustrations. I've tried all the suggested fixes with various results. What I want to know is plain and simple - will this game be fixed by a patch and if not, what is my remedy? In other words, I want a playable game or a refund - how do I go about getting either? Thanks
Darkstar	posted 06-21-99 02:25 PM ET Well, if all of your drivers are up to date, and you have the latest and greatest of everything on your system, you will need to either... a) post your system's hardware and OS up here and see if anyone else can help isolate the problems. (You haven't given us much to work with other than you have a problem.) or b) return SMAC for a refund. -Darkstar
Lothar Harris	posted 06-27-99 07:59 AM ET I tried to work with the vendor of the PC. Cybermax advertises its system as the "gameplayers choice" so I had hopes. They sent me out a new video board and while it improved the performance, it didn't fix the problem. Because I waited to get the board, when I tried to return the game (option b) it was a no go. When I tried to run DX DIagnostic tools, it reports Chromatic Research as the Mfr and the m2gfx.drv as not certified. The machine vendor says "that's not the problem". When I tried to find a new driver from Chromatic, it seems the company vanished. I've run Dr Watson and on each crash it either reports no problems (seldom) or an error in Terran.exe (often), or an occasional invalid page fault in Kernal32.dll. I've run the MS update utility and appear to have all current versions. I've ordered the Win98 update kit (arrives in three weeks) but I hold little hope there. My system is a Win98, 4.10, build 1998 with a AMD-K6, 3D processor, MMX, 3Dnow, 64MB RAM, pagefile says 23MB used with 1961MB available. The vendor tells me the system is not overclocked - how can I check? Directx Version 6.1(4.06.02.0436). I've tried all the tips and tricks you've indicated in this forum but no help. The game runs fine on my older machine (but very slowly). I would appreciate any help but would also like to know if EA will offer a full refund if the game can not be fixed?
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS	posted 06-27-99 01:26 PM ET Where does the game crash? Is it random, or always at a certain point. If the graphics card directdraw compatibility is the issue, try setting (or adding if it's not present) directdraw=0 in the alpha centauri.ini file. Also, forcing your desktop resolution to one the game uses may help (800x600x8bit (256 colors) or 1024x768x8bit). Overclocked non-intel processor DO seem to have problems with the game. They lead to random fatals and lockups, if that matches your symptom. To verify it, you'll need your motherboards manual and the speed of the CPU. If you decide to return the game, refer to the warrenty contact information listed in the back of the install guide. jkm firaxis games
mas_zlin	posted 06-29-99 02:11 PM ET Perhaps is your procesor overheated. Try to open the computer and play in cooler room.
Lothar Harris	posted 06-29-99 07:04 PM ET The case has been off the computer since replacing the video card so overheating is hardly the issue. I've compared the EA built SMAC with the new SSL Imperialism II. The SSL game uses Directx and comes with the latest software. It doesn't crash as SMAC does although it mysteriously just "exits" the game about the time an autosave is due but the music keeps playing. Guess all game vendors are having problems these days. In any event, Dr Watson reports no errors with Imperialism when it shuts down as opposed to reporting several problems with SMAC. My machine is a AMD K6-2 with 3Dnow at 400MHZ. It has 64Meg Ram, lots of disk space and lots of swap space. System resources are at over 90% available before game starts. It uses the M5ALA system board. Even though Cybermax tech support claims the CPU is not overclocked and that the fault rests with the game vendor, the manual says the bus clock has a multiplier of 4 to get to 400MHZ. Is this defined as "over clocked"? If it is, can I change the jumper to x3 and 300MHZ without causing more problems? Please don't guess if you aren't sure. Both games run just fine on my 100MHZ pentium - but slowly. I've turned off everything I can think of-with no help. The problems in SMAC appear to come at random times. Restarting the autosave game and going through the exact keystroke sequence seldom duplicates the crash. I am running 600x800 resolution. I looked at the warranty information as you suggested and to no great surprise, the warranty is limited to replacement of defective media only. I guess I'm stuck with an expensive lesson unless you can help me solve my problem. What other information should I send?
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS	posted 06-29-99 07:49 PM ET We have consistently seen heat problems with AMD and Cyrix chips cause these kinds of instability. Perhaps blasting a fan into the case might at least eliminate that as the cause. Underclocking won't hurt the machine (though refer to your documentation just to be sure), and may very well solve the problem (albeit not in a very satifactory manner). The completely random nature of the crashes suggest this is the cause. Perhaps an additional internal fan might be a more elegant solution one it's pinned down. About the warranty, they are very interested in helping in any way they can. If we can't resolve this to your satisfaction, I'd explain your case to them and see what options are available. jkm firaxis games