WCIV Crashes on Startup

[Joshua Brett]

I bought Wing Commander IV off of GOG.com on Tuesday, but I haven't been able to get it to run, and I've tried a great deal. I've made sure all my software is up to date, I've run compatibility mode, I've deactivated my firewall and antivirus software, I've uninstalled and re-installed my codec, re-downloaded the game itself, and installed recommended files.

When I launch the game, the screen goes dark for about a second, and I get an error message that says, "Crash detected, we are sorry for the inconvenience. Please see the contents of the wc_debug.txt file." I have included both the contents of that file and my system specs.

Thank you very much for your time.


------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 4/3/2012, 22:35:04
Machine name: JOSHUACOMPUTER
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.111025-1629)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6000+, MMX, 3DNow (2 CPUs), ~3.0GHz
Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 1358MB used, 2580MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Display Tab 2: No problems found.
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)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 8800 GTS 512
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0600&SUBSYS_23321682&REV_A2
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (85Hz)
Monitor: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Res:
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0012.9610 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 2/29/2012 17:58:00, 4309760 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a



---- Maniac Team Ejection Log ----

"I'm popping the top, Colonel! Good luck!" -- The Maniac



Context:

Context Flags: 0001003f

Dr0: 00000000

Dr1: 00000000

Dr2: 00000000

Dr3: 00000000

Dr6: 00000000

Dr7: 00000000

EAX: 01160a58

EBX: 010f21a0

ECX: 010f21a0

EDX: 010cce2c

ESI: 010f14fc

EDI: 011b4f18

EBP: 0013f89c

ESP: 0013f888

EFLAGS: 00210202

EIP: 74756e3a

Exception Address: 74756e3a

Exception Code: c0000005

Exception Flags: 00000000



Modules:

D:\Wing Commander IV\wc4dvd.exe: 00400000 - 004d9000 (entry = 004a2e00)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntdll.dll: 7c900000 - 7c9b2000 (entry = 7c9120f8)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\kernel32.dll: 7c800000 - 7c8f6000 (entry = 7c80b64e)

D:\Wing Commander IV\mpeg2.dll: 10000000 - 1000c000 (entry = 10001b80)

D:\Wing Commander IV\DXMCI.dll: 00340000 - 0035c000 (entry = 003441c7)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\USER32.dll: 7e410000 - 7e4a1000 (entry = 7e41b217)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\GDI32.dll: 77f10000 - 77f59000 (entry = 77f16587)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\COMDLG32.dll: 763b0000 - 763f9000 (entry = 763b1619)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ADVAPI32.dll: 77dd0000 - 77e6b000 (entry = 77dd710b)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\RPCRT4.dll: 77e70000 - 77f03000 (entry = 77e7628f)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Secur32.dll: 77fe0000 - 77ff1000 (entry = 77fe2146)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\COMCTL32.dll: 5d090000 - 5d12a000 (entry = 5d0934ba)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll: 7c9c0000 - 7d1d7000 (entry = 7c9e7496)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\msvcrt.dll: 77c10000 - 77c68000 (entry = 77c1f2a1)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHLWAPI.dll: 77f60000 - 77fd6000 (entry = 77f6520b)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ole32.dll: 774e0000 - 7761e000 (entry = 774fd071)

D:\Wing Commander IV\XanLib.dll: 00370000 - 0037e000 (entry = 00374a60)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINMM.dll: 76b40000 - 76b6d000 (entry = 76b42b61)

D:\Wing Commander IV\DWRAP.dll: 004e0000 - 00e35000 (entry = 004e5430)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\OPENGL32.dll: 5ed00000 - 5edcc000 (entry = 5ed0a322)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\GLU32.dll: 68b20000 - 68b40000 (entry = 68b215d5)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\DDRAW.dll: 73760000 - 737ab000 (entry = 73761431)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\DCIMAN32.dll: 73bc0000 - 73bc6000 (entry = 73bc1089)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\PSAPI.DLL: 76bf0000 - 76bfb000 (entry = 76bf10f1)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ShimEng.dll: 5cb70000 - 5cb96000 (entry = 5cb78e55)

C:\WINDOWS\AppPatch\AcLayers.DLL: 71590000 - 71609000 (entry = 715ccc70)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\USERENV.dll: 769c0000 - 76a74000 (entry = 769c15e4)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINSPOOL.DRV: 73000000 - 73026000 (entry = 730054a5)

C:\WINDOWS\AppPatch\AcGenral.DLL: 6f880000 - 6fa4a000 (entry = 6f8a606e)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\OLEAUT32.dll: 77120000 - 771ab000 (entry = 77121560)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSACM32.dll: 77be0000 - 77bf5000 (entry = 77be1292)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\VERSION.dll: 77c00000 - 77c08000 (entry = 77c01135)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\UxTheme.dll: 5ad70000 - 5ada8000 (entry = 5ad71626)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\IMM32.DLL: 76390000 - 763ad000 (entry = 763912c0)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\LPK.DLL: 629c0000 - 629c9000 (entry = 629c2ead)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\USP10.dll: 74d90000 - 74dfb000 (entry = 74dae439)

C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\x86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.2600.6028_x-ww_61e65202\comctl32.dll: 773d0000 - 774d3000 (entry = 773d4256)

C:\Program Files\ThreatFire\TfWah.dll: 02340000 - 023b4000 (entry = 0237a012)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\WS2_32.dll: 71ab0000 - 71ac7000 (entry = 71ab1273)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\WS2HELP.dll: 71aa0000 - 71aa8000 (entry = 71aa1638)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSCTF.dll: 74720000 - 7476c000 (entry = 747213a5)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\apphelp.dll: 77b40000 - 77b62000 (entry = 77b41c09)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\msctfime.ime: 755c0000 - 755ee000 (entry = 755d9fe1)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\dsound.dll: 73f10000 - 73f6c000 (entry = 73f11788)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wdmaud.drv: 72d20000 - 72d29000 (entry = 72d243cd)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINTRUST.dll: 76c30000 - 76c5e000 (entry = 76c31525)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\CRYPT32.dll: 77a80000 - 77b15000 (entry = 77a81632)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSASN1.dll: 77b20000 - 77b32000 (entry = 77b233a1)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\IMAGEHLP.dll: 76c90000 - 76cb8000 (entry = 76c9126d)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\msacm32.drv: 72d10000 - 72d18000 (entry = 72d12575)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\midimap.dll: 77bd0000 - 77bd7000 (entry = 77bd33bd)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\KsUser.dll: 73ee0000 - 73ee4000 (entry = 73ee1021)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\DINPUT.DLL: 72280000 - 722aa000 (entry = 7228b06f)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\HID.DLL: 688f0000 - 688f9000 (entry = 688f1105)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\SETUPAPI.DLL: 77920000 - 77a13000 (entry = 7792159a)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvoglnt.dll: 69500000 - 6a6e6000 (entry = 69f214ad)

cbNeeded = 224

 

[PopsiclePete]

Hi there. Not sure what to think about your crash dump. It does give me a few hints, so here are a few things I'd have you try out:

• The crash dump seems to point to MSCTF.DLL. Microsoft have acknowledged a bug in that file and suggest you disable the advanced text services. See the knowledge base.
• Are you sure you are using the lastest video drivers ? Your file here says 6.14.0012.9610, but I think we're up to 8.something now. Check this out.
• Are you using a admin-privileged or limited user?

 

[HCl]

Hey,

I'm travelling at the moment, so i don't have access to my PC or my notes on WC4 to check a few things. However, i'd say this problem is likely an OpenGL initialization issue. You could try the following:

- As Pete suggested, update your video drivers.
- Go to your NVidia control panel, Manage 3D Settings, Program Settings and set Threaded Optimiztion to OFF. This option is sometimes problematic.

Let us know if these help!
(I'll look into this in more detail when i get home.)
Mario

 

[PopsiclePete]

Good to see you HCl

 

[Joshua Brett]

Thanks for helping, guys. I installed the hotfix from that knowledge base, tried disabling advanced text services, updated my video driver and made the suggested modification in the nVidia Control Panel. No change yet, and I actually have to keep advanced text services on as I'm studying East Aisan languages, but I really appreciate it.

 

[PopsiclePete]

Keep checking this space - HCl is the WC patch grandmaster behind the GoG patched version. I am sure he'll find out the reason of your crash.

 

[HCl]

Hey,

I freshly installed XP Home on a spare laptop I have around, a Toshiba M50. Since your log indicates a crash related to Advanced Text Services, i added support for East Asian Languages and played with IME a bit. All worked well, the game ran fine.

Then i noticed a reference to ThreatFire on your log. After installing ThreatFire, i can report that the game no longer runs (although it is not exactly the same situation as yours, since a crash log was not generated). I guess it may not agree with some of the tricks being used in our patch. Try disabling / uninstalling ThreatFire or any other anti-virus software you have installed and let us know if it helped!

 

[TheElusiveHobo]

Thank you!

I never thought that I might have to uninstall my firewall entirely. I got another firewall program and everything is running smoothly. I appreciate this immensely.