==================================================================

                          Civilization II

                     Frequently Asked Questions

                          22 August 1996

==================================================================



  This FAQ is now divided into 5 major sections to make it

  easier for you to find information:

   

  Section 1: Startup/General Troubleshooting

  Section 2: Video

  Section 3: Sound

  Section 4: Error Messages

  Section 5: Gameplay



  Original text by Brian Reynolds with additions by Calvin Rien

=================================================================

   

Section 1: Startup/General Troubleshooting

------------------------------------------



Q: Where can I get the latest patch for Civilization II?

   

A: The latest patch is now available for download. If you're 

   having problems and you haven't downloaded the latest patch

   yet, DO IT! The patch can be found on our FTP site 

   (ftp.microprose.com under "new versions"), our Web site 

   (www.microprose.com under CivII "latest"), CompuServe,

   America Online or our BBS (510-522-8909).

   

Q: How do I tell which version of Civilization II I am playing?

   

A: Go to the Game Options menu (Ctrl-O); the window title says 

   which version you are playing.

   

Q: How do I install the patch for Civilization II?

   

A: If the file name ends in .ZIP, then you will need the shareware 

   utility called Pkunzip or Winzip. This can be found easily on 

   most online services (or at www.pkware.com). You then use 

   Pkunzip or Winzip to extract the files from the archive. The 

   extracted files should then be copied to the CIV2 directory on 

   your hard drive. When you are asked if you want to replace 

   existing, say "yes to all."

   

   If the file ends in .EXE (CIV2P111.EXE), copy the file to the 

   CIV2 directory and run it. It will automatically extract and 

   ask you if you wish to replace existing. Again say "yes 

   to all."

   

Q: What are the system requirements for the game?

   

A: The minimum requirements are a 33MHz 80486 compatible, Windows

   3.1, 8MB RAM, Super VGA graphics, a double-speed CD-ROM drive, 

   MSCDEX version 2.2 and a Microsoft-compatible mouse. With the

   minimum system requirements, though, you may not be able to get

   full performance out of the Video for Windows portions of the 

   the game. (Check the Video for Windows Readme file on the 

   Civilization II CD-ROM for more information.)

   

   The recommended minimum system is at least a 66MHz Intel-based

   80486. Obviously the faster the system and the higher the display 

   resolution, the better the gameplay. The reason we recommend an 

   Intel processor is that some users have had problems with Video

   for Windows on non-Intel processors (such as NexGen, Cyrix and

   AMD).

   

Q: Does Civilization II work with Windows NT, OS/2 or 

   SoftWindows?

   

A: Although some users have had some success running Civilization 

   II under these operating systems, we did not test the game under 

   these conditions. We, therefore, cannot recommend or support such 

   installations.

   

Q: What programs could cause problems with Civilization II?

   

A: We recommend not running anything in the background when 

   playing Civilization II. Programs that we especially recommend

   avoiding are:

   

   Virus scan programs that stay resident in memory (Norton

     AntiVirus, McAfee, VShield)

   Third-party font managers (Adobe Type Manager)

   RAM Expanders (RAM Doubler, SoftRAM, MagnaRam)

   CD-ROM acceleration software (D-Time, FlexiCD)

   Third-party shell programs (PC Tools, Norton Desktop, Packard 

     Bell Navigator)

   Hard drive compression (DriveSpace, DoubleSpace, Stacker, etc.)

   Uninstallers (CleanSweep, RemoveIt)

   

Q1: I am getting a GPF @ 0041:_____ when starting CIV2.EXE.

   

Q2: I am getting a GPF @ 0044:_____ when starting CIV2MAP.EXE.

   

A: This problem usually means that WinG installation was somehow 

   skipped when you installed the game (it is supposed to be 

   installed automatically). To install WinG manually, run

   WINGSET.EXE in the WING directory on the CD-ROM. You'll also

   want to install Video for Windows manually by running

   VFWSETUP.EXE from the VFW_INST directory.

   

   Occasionally this problem persists. So far we've encountered 

   this on Windows 95 systems with Windows installed on some drive

   other than drive C. Windows 95 seems to have a hard time loading

   WinG in this case.

   

Q: I am getting a GPF @ 0042:____.

   

A: The initially shipped version of Civilization II requires a

   sound card in order to run properly. If you don't have a sound

   card or if it isn't active in Windows, you'll need to download

   the patched version of Civilization II.

   

Q: I am getting a lot of GPFs in the game.

   

A: Make sure you have the latest drivers for your video card and 

   sound card. Otherwise, check section 4 for more information.

   

   We are aware of problems with certain models of Cirrus Logic 

   and Diamond brand video cards. In most cases, these problems 

   can be solved by updating the Windows video drivers. If

   you have a Cirrus Logic card, new drivers can be found at 

   ftp.cirrus.com. If you are using any other brand of video

   card, we recommend checking your drivers to make sure they are

   up-to-date. If you are using older versions of video drivers,

   they can cause problems. Generally speaking, most GPFs can be

   solved by updating all your Windows drivers for video, sound,

   etc.

   

Q1: I accidentally selected French when I first set up the game;

   how do I get back to English?

   

Q2: I would like to see what the German version is like, but I

   don't seem to have the option to play in German.

   

A: If you are playing Civilization II version 1.01 or later, you

   will find a file called CIV.INI in the Windows directory. You

   can open this file using either the DOS editor or Windows' Notepad.

   CIV.INI has a "Language Preference" line: 3=German, 2=French,

   1=English, 0=Ask Me Again.

   

Q: The text in the game is unreadable, or I receive a TrueType 

   font error.

   

A: Make sure that TrueType fonts are enabled on the Control Panel. 

   Also, Adobe Type Manager has a known incompatibility with the 

   Authorware tool we used for the hypertext Civilopedia. You'll 

   need to disable ATM (and other third-party font managers) and tell 

   it to use resident fonts.

   

   If you've tried all of this and you're still getting text in 

   "Greek," we've had some success by actually uninstalling the 

   Symbol TrueType font (under Control Panel, Fonts) and then 

   removing the font file (SYMBOLE.FON) from the WINDOWS\SYSTEM 

   directory. This is a somewhat crude and last-ditch solution.

   

Q: I am getting GPFs whenever I discover a new technology, or 

   bring up the Civilopedia.

   

A: Try renaming or deleting the file GET_INFO.EXE from your CIV2

   directory. You won't get the fancy Civilopedia, but you will get 

   the beta version of the Civilopedia. In this case, the problem is

   some conflict with the Authorware package we used to do the

   hypertext version of Civilopedia.

   

Q: The game tells me to run "VFWFIX.BAT" on the CD-ROM, but I cannot 

   find the file.

   

A: Actually, the file is "VFWFIX.REG" and you can still run the 

   file. If you double-click on the file in the File Manager 

   (Windows 3.1) or "My Computer" (Windows 95), the information in

   the file will be added to the Windows registry and the problem

   should be fixed. Sorry for the confusion.

   

   If double-clicking on the VFWFIX.REG doesn't work, you will need 

   to run REGEDIT. This is usually found in the Windows directory, 

   or you can access it through the "Run" dialog. You will then 

   want to go to the Registry menu in Windows 95 or the File menu 

   in Windows 3.1. Choose Import Registry or Merge Registry, and

   then select VFWFIX.REG from the CIV2\VIDEO directory on the 

   Civilization II CD-ROM.

   

Q1: I get a window titled "(Inactive C:\mps\civ2\civ2.exe)."

   

Q2: I am receiving the message "Error -8 in Module 4, data 0 0" and

   "File open failed MODULES.DB"

   

A: When CIV2.EXE is run, its working directory must be set to your 

   CIV2 directory (usually C:\MPS\CIV2). Check the properties on 

   your Civilization II icon to make sure its working directory is

   set correctly. If you've been trying to start Civilization II

   in some other way (such as via File Manager or Explorer), try 

   starting it by double-clicking the designated icon/shortcut.

   

   These messages basically mean that Civilization II cannot find a

   file necessary to start the game. Another step to take is make

   sure you have more than enough hard drive space, and then delete

   and reinstall the game.

   

Q: I'm not sure what is causing my lockups or crashes.

   

A: Try the following steps:

   

   1) Try starting the map editor. If it crashes, the problem is 

      with WinG.

   

   2) Try starting Civilization II without the CD-ROM in the drive.

      If the game doesn't crash, the problem is with Video for

      Windows.

   

   3) Try selecting something from the Civilopedia. If this

      crashes, the problem is with the Civilopedia (see above).

   

   4) Try selecting the High Council, If you get black windows,

      the problem is with Video for Windows.

   

   5) Try turning off sound effects or music in the game options 

      window (Ctrl-O). If the game stops locking up or crashing, 

      the problem is with the sound card drivers.

   

Section 2: Video

----------------

   

Q: I am having problems running the videos in the game 

   (particularly if they always show up as black squares).

   

A: Try reinstalling the "Video for Windows" program (VFWSETUP.EXE 

   found in the Vfw_Inst folder on the Civilization II CD-ROM).

   When reinstalling, make sure that you agree to all the licensing 

   questions and restart Windows so that the changes take effect.

   

Q: The heralds appear but they aren't animating (Windows 95

   machines only).

   

A: You are probably using the 32-bit Indeo driver. You can

   check this by looking for a file called IR41_32.DLL in your 

   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. If the file is there, you can 

   either uninstall the 32-bit version and install the Video for 

   Windows on the Civilization II CD-ROM or you can wait for a 

   patch which we hope will be ready soon.

   

Q: I get strange shifting colors when the videoes for the Wonders

   of the World or the High Council are played.

   

A: Switch your video display to 256-color mode.

   

Q: The Civilopedia causes a black screen.

   

A: This will happen if you have Windows 95, did not install the 

   Civilopedia files to the hard drive and are playing with the

   CD-ROM. You'll simply need to download the latest patched

   version.

   

Q: I have an STB Lightspeed 128 video card and whenever I try to

   access "Advances" from the Civilopedia menu, my monitor goes

   black or I get a fatal exception error.



A: This problem is caused by the 16-bit driver for QuickTime. 

   (The 32-bit QuickTime player works fine.) You will need to edit 

   the QTW.INI files in your \WINDOWS directory using Notepad. 

   Change "Optimize=Driver" to "Optimize=BMP" in the QTW.INI file. 

   Then right-click on the QTW.INI file and select "Properties" 

   from the popup menu. In the Attributes section, click to put a 

   checkmark in the "Read-only" box.



Section 3: Sound

----------------

   

Q1: I can't hear music, even though the CD-ROM is in the drive. 



Q2: When I select "Pick Music," it tells me this option is not 

   available unless the CD-ROM is in the drive, but the CD-ROM is

   in the drive.

   

A: The music in the game is standard Redbook CD audio. This means 

   that you can put the Civilization II CD-ROM into any CD player

   and the music should play just like any regular music CD (except

   for track 1). In order to hear the CD audio music, you must have

   the following:

   

   1) The Civilization II CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive.

   

   2) The proper (and up-to-date) Windows MCI CD audio drivers for 

      your sound card loaded.

   

   3) A CD audio cable connecting your CD drive to your sound card. 

      This last is part of the standard system configuration and is 

      probably present unless you installed your sound card or

      CD-ROM drive yourself.

   

   If these conditions are satisfied, the music will play. If you 

   do not have the latest sound card drivers, you should contact

   your sound card manufacturer for an update. Also, there have been 

   reports of other CD programs (such as Microsoft FlexiCD) causing

   a conflict with the game. In this case, disabling these other 

   programs should fix the problem.

   

   If you're having problems with the music, you may want to check

   if you can play a regular audio CD on your CD-ROM drive. Open up 

   the Media Player (found in the Accessories program group), make

   sure CD Audio is in the device list, select it and press "Play."

   If music plays in the Media Player, you should be able to hear

   music in Civilization II.

   

Q: The game can't find the CD-ROM after I have been playing for a 

   while.

   

A: If you open the CD-ROM drive during the course of gameplay, the 

   game will stop recognizing the presence of the CD-ROM. For now,

   the only fix is to not to open the CD-ROM drive while you are

   playing.

   

Section 4: Error Messages

-------------------------

   

Q: I am getting "SMEDS Application Errors" or "PORTALLOCFAILED" 

   messages.

   

A: The most likely problem is a lack of global memory space. Even 

   when you have the required amount of physical memory, it is 

   possible for other applications or disk cache programs to 

   drain these resources.

   

   a) Usually the best solution is to increase the amount of 

      virtual memory swap space you have available. If you are 

      running Windows 3.1, go to Control Panel, 386 Enhanced,

      Virtual Memory and increase your swap memory to 32MB or

      more. Of course, you'll need to make sure you have enough

      disk space to accommodate the swap file. (The minimum you

      should set it for is 10MB or about 11000K.)

   

   b) If you're running Windows 95, it will usually manage your 

      virtual memory for you correctly. However, you must have 

      enough disk space available for Windows 95 to create and

      use a swap file (at least 15MB free on the hard drive).

   

   c) The above will usually eliminate the GPFs, but you may also 

      be able to improve performance by freeing up physical memory, 

      particularly by reducing the size of your disk cache if you 

      have a large one.

   

Q: I am getting a "Page Fault" error.

   

A: Try the above steps for SMEDS Errors. Also make sure that you 

   have the latest driver for your video card.

   

Q: I received a "Can't find WinG" error message.

   

A: Some computer systems have their Windows System directory 

   write-protected. To fix this problem, you need to change this

   attribute and reinstall both WinG and Video for Windows.

   

   Also on some systems, the WinG files fail to decompress when

   they are copied to the system folder. Check the following chart 

   against what is in your Windows\System folder:

   

   FILE NAME      COMPRESSED     EXPANDED

   --------------------------------------

   WING32.DLL            7k          13k

   WINGDE.DLL           86k         185k

   WING.DLL             47k          91k

   WINGDIB.DRV           6k           7k

   WINGPAL.WND           4k           5k

   

   If one, or all, of these files is still compressed, then 

   something is preventing the WinG installation from completing 

   properly.

   

Q: I received a "Cannot find MSVideo.dll" or "Cannot find 

   AVIFile.dll" error message.

   

A: This appears to happen when the Video for Windows installation 

   is skipped. Rerun the VFWSETUP.EXE from the VFW_Inst folder on 

   the Civilization II CD-ROM.

   

Q: I'm getting an "Undefined Dynalink" error message.

   

A: This is an error message caused by having two Dynamic Link 

   Library files (DLLs) of the same name on your system. It 

   usually has to do with the Video for Windows drivers. Try 

   rerunning VFWSetup from the VFW_Inst folder on the Civilization

   II CD-ROM. If this fails, try starting the game without the

   Civilization II CD-ROM in the drive. This should get you around

   the problem. To fix it, however, you will have to find which

   two *.DLL files installed on your system are trying to do the

   same function.

   

Q: I am getting a GPF in WING.DLL.

   

A: This probably means you are using some kind of "RAM doubling" 

   software (such as RAM Doubler, SoftRAM) which seems to cause a 

   conflict.

   

Q1: I am getting an "Incorrect Windows Version" error when trying 

   to launch Civilization II.

   

Q2: I am getting a "Not enough memory" error when trying to launch 

   Civilization II, even though I have enough RAM and enough virtual

   memory. (See SMEDS above for virtual memory info.)

   

A: We have encountered rare cases in which the Windows 

   configuration itself is at fault; somehow Windows has been 

   corrupted since it was installed, possibly by some other 

   application or by a faulty "uninstall" procedure for another 

   application. Several users with mysterious problems have cured 

   them by reinstalling Windows. Obviously, this is a last resort.

   If you decide to reinstall Windows, you must then reinstall 

   Civilization II completely, including WinG and Video for Windows.

   

Section 5: Gameplay

-------------------

   

Q: Why can't I find the portrait option in the game?

   

A: Unfortunately, this feature was planned, but not implemented, in 

   the game. It was, however, left in the documentation.

   

Q: It states on page 93 of the manual that, with the railroad and 

   supermarket advance, appropriate terrain will be automatically 

   upgraded. Why isn't this happening?

   

A: The terrain in the city square will be automatically upgraded.

   This is true and is implemented. Some players have read this and 

   thought that all squares around the city are improved, but this 

   was not the intent.



Q: My file listing is filling up quickly with saved games. How do 

   I get rid of them?

   

A: Civilization II's saved game files are files that contain the 

   first two letters of your ruler's name and the year. Their file 

   extension is .SAV.

   

   With Windows 3.1, use the file manager to search for *.SAV. You

   can then select and delete the files as you wish.

   

   With Windows 95, you can use the Find command from the Start menu

   to search for *.SAV. Then select and drag the unwanted files to 

   the Recycle Bin. Remember: you must empty the Recycle Bin to 

   reclaim the hard drive space.

   

Q: I have selected the Capitalization advance in 10 of my cities 

   and none of them seem to build anything.

   

A: If you've built Capitalization in 10 cities, you must be very 

   rich by now. Capitalization is a nonstandard improvement; it 

   turns the shield production of a city into tax income. It is 

   generally used in cities that are well-defended and that don't

   need other improvements at the moment. Use the money to bribe,

   buy and influence.

   

Q: Sometimes, when I try to move a unit one direction (even one 

   square), it moves the opposite way. It then goes around the 

   world to get to the point I selected!

   

A: What is happening is the unit is trying to cross the 0 degrees

   longitude line. Since the game's Goto function doesn't know that

   the shortest route would be to cross this line, it avoids this

   line at all costs.

   

   What I recommend is, early in the game, click with the right 

   mouse button. This changes you to the flashing diamond cursor. 

   On the right-hand side of the screen, it will display 

   coordinates. When the first number reaches 0, you have found

   the line. Find or place a visual landmark (a fort or boat). 

   Remember not to use the Goto function to cross from one side of 

   this landmark to the other. Instead approach the line with 

   Goto and use manual moves to cross it.

   

Q: I placed a city in a really dumb place. How do I get rid of it?

   

A1: If you are playing in Chieftain level, there isn't much you 

   can do. Just leave it at size 1 (don't allow it to produce much 

   food) and let an enemy destroy it.

   

A2: If you are playing Warlord or higher, you can do the above or 

   you can get the city down to size 1 (again by starving the 

   citizens) and build, or buy, a settler.

   

Q1: I've gotten the necessary advances, but I can't build 

   Granaries.

   

Q2: I've gotten the necessary advances, but I can't build Police 

   Stations.

   

A: These are two city improvements that are directly linked to 

   certain Wonders of the World. Pyramids count as a Granary in 

   all friendly cities; Women's Suffrage counts as a Police Station 

   in all cities.

   

Q: I've gotten the necessary advances, but I can't build Nuclear 

   Plants.

   

A: This answer is similar to the above. The Hoover Dam Wonder 

   makes Nuclear Plants obsolete. Also, if you haven't built a 

   Factory in the city, you can't build Electric or Nuclear Plants. 

   Also, if you have built a Solar Plant, this makes Electric and 

   Nuclear Plants obsolete.

   

Q: I've gotten the Apollo Program Wonder, but I can't build Space 

   Ship Parts.

   

A: If you got the Apollo Wonder without using the cheat menu, you 

   should be able to build SS Structural right away. To build SS 

   Components and SS Modules, you need a few more advances.

   

   Note that for technical reasons no one is allowed to build 

   spaceship parts in the B.C. part of the game. If you want to 

   cheat and build spaceships right away, you need to set the date 

   to at least A.D. 1.



Q1: I downloaded the Civilization II demo. When I try to run it, 

   though, it says "Cannot find SMEDSNET.DLL."

   

Q2: I downloaded the Civilization II patch. When I try to run it, 

   though, it says "Cannot find SMEDSNET.DLL."

   

A: The file you have is not a demo or an update program. It is a 

   replacement executable file for Civilization II. What you need

   to do is copy this file, along with the other files that came

   with it, to the CIV2 directory that is on your hard drive. If

   Civilization II isn't on the hard drive yet, you need to install

   it before you can copy over the patch.

   

Q: I'm having trouble with my user-defined techs and units.

   

A: User-defined techs are pretty easy. Just edit the RULES.TXT 

   file (or RULES.GER or RULES.FRE) and change both "no" entries 

   for the user-defined tech to either "nil" or any valid advance 

   abbreviation. Also remember that no matter what you name the 

   tech, the abbreviation will always be U1, U2 or U3.

   

   The extra units are basically the same, but you will want to 

   experiment with different attack and defense ratings. Also 

   certain things will cause the game to act weirdly, like an air 

   unit that can carry air units doesn't work. Remember: if you 

   want these units attached to your user-defined techs, you must 

   use the U1, U2 or U3 abbreviations.

   

   You can only create three extra techs and units.

   

