Performing a Clean Boot

A "clean boot" starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, so that you can determine whether a background program is interfering with your game or program. This is similar to starting Windows in Safe Mode, but provides you more control over which services and programs run at startup to help you isolate the cause of a problem.

Creating a new Windows Administrator Account

For testing, please create a new Windows Administrator account.

Windows 7 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-user-account#create-user-account=windows-7

Windows 8

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-user-account#create-user-account=windows-8

Windows 10 & 11

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/create-a-local-user-account-in-windows-10

Log in under that account and try.  If it fails, and while still under that account, please click the link below for performing a 'clean boot' under it:

Windows Clean Boot Documention

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929135

Prior to continuing, it would be prudent to make sure the issue you are encountering is not occurring as a result of an application conflict. The best way to proceed would be to try loading under a new Window's Administrator account and in a "clean boot" state.

Create a new Windows Administrator (<--important that its an Administrator) account:

Windows 10\11:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/create-a-local-user-account-in-windows-10

Log in under that account and try. If it fails, and while still under that account, please click the link below for performing a 'clean boot' under it:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929135

After you've loaded Windows in a clean state, please try once again. 

Purging game installation

Please uninstall GC4 from Epic Library:

After GC4 has been uninstalled, please press the Windows key and "R" at the same time. In the window that appears, paste the path below and hit enter:

 %userprofile%\Documents\My Games 

In the "My Games" folder, rename any folders related to 'Galciv4' to 'Galciv4_OLD'. Upon reinstall (if that is the goal), a new folder will be created. 

Once again, press the Windows key and "R" at the same time, and use the path below:

%programdata%\Stardock

You should see a folder named "Galactic Civilizations IV", please rename this likewise as well.

Lastly, please navigate to the location where you installed the game - typically that is:

C:\Program Files\Epic Games

If a GCIV folder exists, delete it.

Restart your computer and reinstall GC4 using Epic Client. After it has completed the installation, please create a new game to see if your issues persist.