Black screen when loading

**Rooty** · August 15, 2008, 02:09 PM

Hi folks.

Straight into business. When I load up MIITW, all I see is a black screen. Then, when and if I manage to exit said screen, I am greeted with this cheery message:"Medieval II has suffered a fatal error and had to exit".
While it is on the black screen, my cursor changes to the lovable MIITW hourglass, but flickers intermittently between it and my regular cursor.

Now, I think this is the onset of my recent (today's) graphics card upgrade. I am now sporting an nVidia Geforce 9800 GTX+. Are there any known compatibility issues with it? My drivers are fully up to date, as is my copy of MIITW. I reinstalled for good measure, but it still gave me no joy.

This game has worked before perfectly, with my previous Geforce 7300 SE (although at very low graphics settings).

**Mythic_Commodore** · August 15, 2008, 02:25 PM

Did you do any modding? Certain files, like the battle_models.modelsdb cause this error when they are messed up (I know from experience).

**Rooty** · August 15, 2008, 02:40 PM

I had a few mods loaded, but I removed all of those before I uninstalled.
Atleast, I think I did.

I will do a quick check now.

**Rooty** · August 15, 2008, 02:49 PM

No mods. But just to be safe, I will do another complete reinstall.

**Rooty** · August 15, 2008, 03:16 PM

Just done a reinstall.
Deleted Sega folder.
Cleaned registry.

And no luck. Still won't load.

Any more ideas?

**CodOfDuty** · August 15, 2008, 02:47 PM

Do a clean reinstall, uninstall the game, delete the SEGA folder in program files, then go through the registry to clean up any unnecessary files, using a tool such as EasyCleaner or Ccleaner can help, too.

**CodOfDuty** · August 16, 2008, 01:50 AM

Can you post a log?

**Rooty** · August 16, 2008, 04:04 AM

21:13:55.927 [system.rpt] [always] CPU: SSE2
21:13:55.927 [system.rpt] [always] ==== system log start, build date: Oct 5 2006 version bld-medieval2-final-52 (29455) ===
21:13:56.077 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_0.pack
21:13:56.127 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_1.pack
21:13:56.207 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_2.pack
21:13:56.287 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_3.pack
21:13:56.357 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_4.pack
21:13:56.367 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/localized.pack
21:13:56.447 [system.io] [warning] open: preferences/player.txt is missing
21:13:56.447 [system.io] [warning] open: preferences/keys.dat is missing
21:13:56.447 [system.io] [warning] open: preferences/keys.dat is missing
21:13:59.252 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for ANISELECT
21:13:59.332 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_SABOTAGE
21:13:59.412 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_TRADE
21:13:59.993 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for DRAGGABLE
21:13:59.993 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for DRAGGING
21:14:00.123 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_MULTIPLE_SELECT
21:14:00.123 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_ATTACK
21:14:00.123 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_CHARACTER
21:14:00.123 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_RESOURCE
21:14:00.123 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_FORT
21:14:00.123 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_MOVE_OBJECT
21:14:00.123 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_WATCHTOWER
21:14:00.123 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_DEPLOYMENT_AREA
21:14:00.123 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_TILE
21:14:00.123 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_SPECIAL_PIECE
21:14:00.123 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PAINT
21:14:00.123 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_ADJUST_HEIGHTS
21:14:00.123 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_ADD_UNIT
21:14:00.123 [data.missing] [warning] missing/invalid cursor for MODIFIER_PLACE_SETTLEMENT
21:14:00.984 [system.rpt] [error] Medieval 2: Total War failed to initialise audio system.
Audio card is not supported or audio drivers are out of date or not installed.
Game will continue with audio disabled.

21:14:15.184 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/civilians/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.184 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/civilians/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.194 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/rogues/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.194 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/rogues/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.194 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/princesses/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.194 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/princesses/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.194 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/merchants/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.194 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/merchants/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.194 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/priests/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.194 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/priests/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.194 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/heretics/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.204 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/heretics/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.204 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/witches/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.204 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/witches/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.204 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/inquisitors/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.204 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/mesoamerican/portraits/portraits/young/inquisitors/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.224 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/civilians/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.224 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/civilians/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.224 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/rogues/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.224 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/rogues/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.245 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/princesses/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.245 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/princesses/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.245 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/merchants/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.245 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/merchants/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.245 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.245 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/priests/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.245 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/heretics/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.245 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/heretics/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.245 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/witches/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.245 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/witches/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.255 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/inquisitors/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.255 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/eastern_european/portraits/portraits/young/inquisitors/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.255 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/middle_eastern/portraits/portraits/young/princesses/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.255 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/middle_eastern/portraits/portraits/young/princesses/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.265 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/middle_eastern/portraits/portraits/young/heretics/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.265 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/middle_eastern/portraits/portraits/young/heretics/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.265 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/middle_eastern/portraits/portraits/young/witches/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.265 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/middle_eastern/portraits/portraits/young/witches/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.265 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/middle_eastern/portraits/portraits/young/inquisitors/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.265 [data.missing] [warning] Cannot find the portrait path: data/ui/middle_eastern/portraits/portraits/young/inquisitors/000.tga, using the default culture path if it exists
21:14:15.325 [script.err] [warning] Trigger parsing warning in data/export_descr_character_traits.txt, at line 10638, column 28 :
we should only have trait(BattleChivalry) additional affects for triggers(battle3Chivalry_Dread_Not_fighting)
21:14:15.325 [script.err] [warning] Trigger parsing warning in data/export_descr_character_traits.txt, at line 10639, column 25 :
we should only have trait(BattleDread) additional affects for triggers(battle3Chivalry_Dread_Not_fighting)
21:14:15.325 [script.err] [warning] Trigger parsing warning in data/export_descr_character_traits.txt, at line 10649, column 28 :
we should only have trait(BattleChivalry) additional affects for triggers(battle3Chivalry_Dread_Routing)
21:14:15.325 [script.err] [warning] Trigger parsing warning in data/export_descr_character_traits.txt, at line 10650, column 25 :
we should only have trait(BattleDread) additional affects for triggers(battle3Chivalry_Dread_Routing)
21:14:15.325 [script.err] [warning] Trigger parsing warning in data/export_descr_character_traits.txt, at line 10662, column 28 :
we should only have trait(BattleChivalry) additional affects for triggers(battle3Chivalry_Dread_Routing2)
21:14:15.325 [script.err] [warning] Trigger parsing warning in data/export_descr_character_traits.txt, at line 10663, column 25 :
we should only have trait(BattleDread) additional affects for triggers(battle3Chivalry_Dread_Routing2)
21:14:15.325 [script.err] [warning] Trigger parsing warning in data/export_descr_character_traits.txt, at line 10703, column 25 :
we should only have trait(BattleDread) additional affects for triggers(battle3Dread_Let_Them_Go)
21:14:15.365 [script.err] [warning] Trigger parsing warning in data/export_descr_character_traits.txt, at line 15740, column 27 :
we should only have trait(GoodDenouncer) additional affects for triggers(hereticinit1_denouncerclear)
21:14:15.365 [script.err] [warning] Trigger parsing warning in data/export_descr_character_traits.txt, at line 15748, column 25 :
we should only have trait(StrongFaith) additional affects for triggers(hereticinit1_denouncerclear)

Lots of things missing. Weird. I installed straight from the CD, I don't understand how they aren't there.

**CodOfDuty** · August 16, 2008, 04:15 AM

Ok, does it work if it is patched and unpacked?

**irishron** · August 16, 2008, 08:23 AM

I read someplace audio has to be turned on for this game to work. Odds are that's 90% of your problem.

**Rooty** · August 16, 2008, 12:14 PM

That could very well be it.
I have been having some problems with my sound card, as I had to remove it to get my huge graphics card in. I put the sound card back in, but the machine has been struggling to detect it. I will fiddle more with it tonight. Thank you all for your help.