Civ 3 startup problems

corsair · 09-02-2007, 06:59 AM

Hello :)

I just tried to install Civ 3 complete edition on my XP machine (p4 2.4 Ghz, 1.5GB RAM, Geforce 4 MX 4000). It installs fine but upon trying to play it, after the initial company logos, I get a blank screen with my monitor lights blinking. I tried a couple of different versions of Nvidia driver, also tried changing the resolution settings to every option that my monitor supports, but I still get the blank screen. Could someone kindly shed some light on this please? Also, once the monitor goes on the blink, is the only option to restart? For me, alt+tab or alt+ctrl+del just keeps showing the same blank screen and I have to reboot.Hope someone can help.

**pharoah** · 09-02-2007, 10:48 AM

if your monitor is going into sleep mode.just go into the control panel power options,and set it to never do that.

corsair · 09-02-2007, 11:51 PM

Ty for replying, Pharoah. I tried fiddling with my power options and set my monitor to be always on but it still gives me a black screen when I try to run Civ3.

**pharoah** · 09-03-2007, 11:08 AM

have a run through the follow these steps first link in my sig.if nothing there helps post back.

corsair · 09-05-2007, 01:05 AM

Hi
I tried the newest driver for Nvidia Geforce 4 but it doesnt make any difference. And about the patches- I cant find any patches for civ 3 complete edition. Still, I think the problem is vid card or monitor. The system specs say :Video: 1024x768: Windows(r) 98/Me/2000/XP-compatible video card
The problem is, I can get my monitor to work in 1024*768 at the particular setting of 60 hertz only.(Monitor has been repaired quite a few times, could that affect the refresh rates?).On the other refresh rates, I just get the blank screen with blinking monitor lights. This could be the problem couldnt it? Does it mean I need a new monitor? Or is it a new video card that would be the answer?
Oh and even at the 60hz refresh rate, my game still doesnt work. So it sounds like my hardware isnt good enough ,right?

mturczyn · 07-13-2008, 09:10 PM

I had a problem like this and tried running in Win98/ME compatibility mode, but that didn't work. Then I read a note for one of the older patches that said to add "Refresh=60" to the end of civilization3.ini and turn off any compatibility mode you had set before. I made the update to the .ini and turned off compatibility mode and it worked!

09-02-2007, 06:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
corsair Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 335 OS: windows XP home edition	Civ 3 startup problems Hello :) I just tried to install Civ 3 complete edition on my XP machine (p4 2.4 Ghz, 1.5GB RAM, Geforce 4 MX 4000). It installs fine but upon trying to play it, after the initial company logos, I get a blank screen with my monitor lights blinking. I tried a couple of different versions of Nvidia driver, also tried changing the resolution settings to every option that my monitor supports, but I still get the blank screen. Could someone kindly shed some light on this please? Also, once the monitor goes on the blink, is the only option to restart? For me, alt+tab or alt+ctrl+del just keeps showing the same blank screen and I have to reboot.Hope someone can help.

09-02-2007, 10:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
pharoah Super Gaming Mod Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,778 OS: vista business edition My System	Re: Civ 3 startup problems if your monitor is going into sleep mode.just go into the control panel power options,and set it to never do that. __________________ Follow These Steps First Power Supply Selection Posting System Specs Oblivion Tweak Guide Video Drivers& Information TSF folding at home team 85015

09-02-2007, 11:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
corsair Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 335 OS: windows XP home edition	Re: Civ 3 startup problems Ty for replying, Pharoah. I tried fiddling with my power options and set my monitor to be always on but it still gives me a black screen when I try to run Civ3.

09-03-2007, 11:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
pharoah Super Gaming Mod Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,778 OS: vista business edition My System	Re: Civ 3 startup problems have a run through the follow these steps first link in my sig.if nothing there helps post back. __________________ Follow These Steps First Power Supply Selection Posting System Specs Oblivion Tweak Guide Video Drivers& Information TSF folding at home team 85015

09-05-2007, 01:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
corsair Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 335 OS: windows XP home edition	Re: Civ 3 startup problems Hi I tried the newest driver for Nvidia Geforce 4 but it doesnt make any difference. And about the patches- I cant find any patches for civ 3 complete edition. Still, I think the problem is vid card or monitor. The system specs say :Video: 1024x768: Windows(r) 98/Me/2000/XP-compatible video card The problem is, I can get my monitor to work in 1024768 at the particular setting of 60 hertz only.(Monitor has been repaired quite a few times, could that affect the refresh rates?).On the other refresh rates, I just get the blank screen with blinking monitor lights. This could be the problem couldnt it? Does it mean I need a new monitor? Or is it a new video card that would be the answer? Oh and even at the 60hz refresh rate, my game still doesnt work. So it sounds like my hardware isnt good enough ,right? Last edited by corsair : 09-05-2007 at 01:07 AM.*

07-13-2008, 09:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
mturczyn Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1 OS: xp	Re: Civ 3 startup problems I had a problem like this and tried running in Win98/ME compatibility mode, but that didn't work. Then I read a note for one of the older patches that said to add "Refresh=60" to the end of civilization3.ini and turn off any compatibility mode you had set before. I made the update to the .ini and turned off compatibility mode and it worked!