Larian Studios Forums Divine Divinity (English) Technical Problems Game Won't Start - aaaargh!

I've been completely hooked by this game - the only problem had been, before now, dreading it ending!! I saved and exited as normal yesterday, but when I tried to load it today it got about halfway along the load-up "sword" then "bonged" at me and returned to the desktop. I've had a look at the error file, and it states: "Can't create universal inventory".

I'm running XP Home on a Pentium 1.6 Ghz PC with 768 MB RAM. The graphics card is a Nvidia Geforce3 Ti 200 (which, since the problem, I have upgraded the driver for, just in case).

Can anybody help? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" />

First and foremost have you got the latest patch 1.34 installed? you really need to do that and if you have, make sure you read this topic here by Raze.

It just about answers any questions and/or problems you may ahve , if Raze hasn't answered already while I am typing this, I am sure he will try to help you soon <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

The first thing I would try is deleting all of the files in the '..\Divine Divinity\Run\Dynamic' folder. If you have the 1.34 patch installed and re-set the configuration in the error message that comes up when you try to start Divinity after a crash, this would already have been done.

Do you have any earlier saves, and if so, do they load ok?

I wasn't sure what version I was running, but patched it to make sure I was current. I've cleared the cache folder, checked the number lock, etc, changed my display mode from 32 to 16 (and back again!), used various different configurations in the set-up utility, and still nothing. Oh - and I've restarted the machine several times. I'm in the process of doing a scandisk now, so that's going to take a while, and if all else fails, I'll try a re-install (when i find all of the disks - really should tidy my computer room ocassionally!). But what's getting me is that error log stating it can't create a universal inventory - what and where is this? Is there anything I can do to just that file to fix things? And will I lose all my belonging and items if there is something wrong with this file?

Raze - unfortunately I can't get to the point of actually loading a game - it crashes whilst loading "divine divinity", before it gets to the menu screen for loading a game. I'm assuming because this file it can't create is vital to the programme running. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />

Backup your saved game folders before doing an un-install / re-install (just in case), but you should not loose any belongings. Since the game itself is crashing when loading, then the universal inventory may be something the game uses to keep track of everything (when NPC inventories get reset, etc). If Divinity ran, but crashed when trying to load a particular save, then it would be more likely to be a problem in the save itself. Right now, there is no reason to suspect that anything is wrong with your saved games (knock on wood).

There is a file verification method in the troubleshooting post, which can help identify corrupt files. Assuming that is the case, they can be replaced individually rather than re-installing the game (see the manual install section). Re-installing might take a little longer, but may be less hassle.

I have no idea what on earth is going on. I uninstalled it, after copying the saved games to elsewhere - or I thought I had. But then When I tried to re-install it said that it couldn't write the unwise folder, or something. Then it came out. So I had a look at where I keep my games, and it turns out it was refusing to let me amend or write to that whole directory. It was like I didn't have administrator rights to it, yet I did. The only way I could solve it in the end was to share it on the network - which is weird in itself as the folder that the games folder was in was set to being shared (along with its sub-folders).

Anyway, I had another look and discovered most, if not all, the Divine Divinity files still there, so I tried to uninstall again, but this time it couldn't find the unwise.exe file (I'm assuming this is the uninstall programme). So I decided to reinstall anyway, which I did.

And I thought - hurray - it's loading!! And it did. I got to the menu screen (which I haven't before) and loaded my last game. It got all the way to the end of the loading bar, then just chucked me back to the desktop. Didn't even bleep or anything. So I tried another save game and the same happened. I tried the earliest save game I have, from about 3 weeks ago - still won't work.

So I'm going to try and uninstall again - hopefully I will have that unwise.exe programme there now - and reinstall again. And keep my fingers crossed. I'll let you know how I get on! (and if anyone has any ideas why I had to share this folder to get it working, I'd be interested to hear them!). <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" />

The game keeps everything in its own folder, aside from a couple registry entries so the patch can find the install path. If you copy/move the 'savegames' folder somewhere else, you can just delete the 'Divine Divinity' folder to un-install it, and force a clean re-install.

Finally!! Got it working - hurray (just in time for me to go on holiday - boooo!). <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

I uninstalled it, deleted all the folders and stuff it left behind, then reinstalled it again.

It loaded up the first bit, gave me the option to load, pressed the "load" button - but there was nothing there!!! Then I realised I'd forgotten to shift the save games back - doh! So, shifted the save games back, loaded, pressed the "load" button, my saved games were there, selected the most recent - didn't work.

Then tried selecting the oldest one. Still didn't work. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />

Then came back here, saw Raze's post and thought - aha!! Patch! Again, so excited to try the game, forgot to re-patch. So ... repatched, held my breath, crossed my fingers .... and it works!!!! I am soooo relieved. I thought I'd lost all my saves and would have to start from scratch again. Which, don't get me wrong, I probably will do anyway - but when I've gone through it once already. I'd like to try a magician, I think. Or perhaps, by then, I'll be playing a certain other "Divinity" Game. Got my dad hooked as well - which is probably very sad!! Our local "Game" shop is selling Divine Divinity for less than a fiver. Unbelievable!

Thanks for all your help. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kissyou.gif" alt="" />

I bought mine for 58$ and the game refuses to work half the time. it's a lot of money for a tech-buggy game. -.-