Black screen on startup Windows

[Hindering42]

Starting up with steam, getting a black screen with the steam overlay, nothing else.

Model: AMD FX(tm)-6100 Six-Core Processor (16366 MB)
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (6.1.7601) 64bit
Language: English
CPU: AMD FX(tm)-6100 Six-Core Processor (6 core(s))
System Memory: 16366
Gfx Device: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760
Gfx Version: Direct3D 11.0 [level 11.0]
Gfx Memory: 1990
Gfx Shader Model: 50
Game Version: 1.0.5


This is what output_log.txt says:

Initialize engine version: 5.0.0f2 (b4e6f79600c9)
GfxDevice: creating device client; threaded=1
Direct3D:
    Version:  Direct3D 11.0 [level 11.0]
    Renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 (ID=0x1187)
    Vendor:   NVIDIA
    VRAM:     1990 MB
Begin MonoManager ReloadAssembly
Platform assembly: D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\UnityEngine.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\UnityEngine.dll into Unity Child Domain
Platform assembly: D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\Assembly-CSharp-firstpass.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\Assembly-CSharp-firstpass.dll into Unity Child Domain
Platform assembly: D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\Assembly-CSharp.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\Assembly-CSharp.dll into Unity Child Domain
Platform assembly: D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\Assembly-UnityScript-firstpass.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\Assembly-UnityScript-firstpass.dll into Unity Child Domain
Platform assembly: D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\UnityEngine.UI.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\UnityEngine.UI.dll into Unity Child Domain
Platform assembly: D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\ColossalManaged.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\ColossalManaged.dll into Unity Child Domain
Platform assembly: D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\ICSharpCode.SharpZipLib.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\ICSharpCode.SharpZipLib.dll into Unity Child Domain
Platform assembly: D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\ICities.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\ICities.dll into Unity Child Domain
- Completed reload, in  0.086 seconds
<RI> Initializing input.

<RI> Input initialized.

desktop: 1920x1200 59Hz; virtual: 1920x1200 at 0,0
<RI> Initialized touch support.

Platform assembly: D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\System.Core.dll (this message is harmless)
Platform assembly: D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\System.dll (this message is harmless)
Game mode
 
(Filename: C:/buildslave/unity/build/artifacts/generated/common/runtime/UnityEngineDebug.gen.cpp Line: 56)

Unloading 1 Unused Serialized files (Serialized files now loaded: 0)
UnloadTime: 0.352597 ms
Fallback handler could not load library D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/.\D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
Fallback handler could not load library D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/.\D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative
Fallback handler could not load library D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/libD:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
Fallback handler could not load library D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/.\libD:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
Fallback handler could not load library D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/libD:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
Fallback handler could not load library D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/.\D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
Fallback handler could not load library D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/.\D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative
Fallback handler could not load library D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/libD:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
Fallback handler could not load library D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/.\libD:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
Fallback handler could not load library D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/libD:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
System.DllNotFoundException: D:/Spel/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll

  at (wrapper managed-to-native) ColossalFramework.BootStrapper:Preload ()

  at Starter.Awake () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0   [Core]
 
(Filename: C:/buildslave/unity/build/artifacts/generated/common/runtime/UnityEngineDebug.gen.cpp Line: 56)

GameSettings: 'gameSettings' is not found or cannot be loaded. Make sure to call GameSettings.AddSettingsFile() to register a settings file before using SavedValue().  [Settings - Internal]
 
(Filename: C:/buildslave/unity/build/artifacts/generated/common/runtime/UnityEngineDebug.gen.cpp Line: 56)

Localization 'en' failed to load. You may have to delete old versions manually. System.MissingMethodException: Cannot find the requested method.

  at (wrapper managed-to-native) ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation:get_executablePathName ()

  at ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation.get_executableDirectory () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation.get_applicationBase () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation.get_gameContentPath () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.Globalization.LocaleManager.get_localePath () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.Globalization.LocaleManager.LoadLocale (System.String codeString) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 
  at (wrapper managed-to-native) ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation:get_executablePathName ()

  at ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation.get_executableDirectory () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation.get_applicationBase () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation.get_gameContentPath () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.Globalization.LocaleManager.get_localePath () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.Globalization.LocaleManager.LoadLocale (System.String codeString) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0   [Localization - Internal]
 
(Filename: C:/buildslave/unity/build/artifacts/generated/common/runtime/UnityEngineDebug.gen.cpp Line: 56)

Platform assembly: D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\Mono.Security.dll (this message is harmless)
Platform assembly: D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\System.Configuration.dll (this message is harmless)
Platform assembly: D:\Spel\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\System.Xml.dll (this message is harmless)
NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object
  at ColossalFramework.Globalization.Locale.Get (System.String id) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at Starter.Awake () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 
 
(Filename:  Line: -1)


Unloading 2 unused Assets to reduce memory usage. Loaded Objects now: 752.
Total: 0.199414 ms (FindLiveObjects: 0.024348 ms CreateObjectMapping: 0.023732 ms MarkObjects: 0.143628 ms  DeleteObjects: 0.006164 ms)

Setting up 1 worker threads for Enlighten.
  Thread -> id: f08 -> priority: 1

 

[MN121MN]

This might be a stretch, but .... disable Steam overlay?

 

[Hindering42]

Already tried that, no dice.

Also tried to force directx9 and windowed mode.

 

[MN121MN]

Well... another thing to try is verifying integrity of game cache, but I doubt it will help.

 

[Dossou]

Well... another thing to try is verifying integrity of game cache, but I doubt it will help.

I tried that as well as all the steps OP tried, no luck.

 

[Hindering42]

Sorry, should have said so in the above post...

Already tried that.

Also deleted all the files and reinstalling it.

Rebooted steam.

Rebooted the computer.

Installed the game files from a different computer that can run the game.

Also checked directx and ensured that I got the correct C++.

Made sure I have the latest nvidia drivers.

 

[EtriX]

I get the same issue
I've also tried reinstalling DirectX and VCRedist x64, still same issue.

Output_log.txt

​

GfxDevice: creating device client; threaded=1
Direct3D:
    Version:  Direct3D 11.0 [level 11.0]
    Renderer: AMD Radeon HD 5700 Series (ID=0x68b8)
    Vendor:   ATI
    VRAM:     1013 MB
Begin MonoManager ReloadAssembly
Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\UnityEngine.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\UnityEngine.dll into Unity Child Domain
Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\Assembly-CSharp-firstpass.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\Assembly-CSharp-firstpass.dll into Unity Child Domain
Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\Assembly-CSharp.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\Assembly-CSharp.dll into Unity Child Domain
Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\Assembly-UnityScript-firstpass.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\Assembly-UnityScript-firstpass.dll into Unity Child Domain
Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\UnityEngine.UI.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\UnityEngine.UI.dll into Unity Child Domain
Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\ColossalManaged.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\ColossalManaged.dll into Unity Child Domain
Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\ICSharpCode.SharpZipLib.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\ICSharpCode.SharpZipLib.dll into Unity Child Domain
Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\ICities.dll (this message is harmless)
Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\ICities.dll into Unity Child Domain
- Completed reload, in  0.066 seconds
<RI> Initializing input.

<RI> Input initialized.

desktop: 1920x1080 60Hz; virtual: 1920x1080 at 0,0
<RI> Initialized touch support.

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\System.Core.dll (this message is harmless)
Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\System.dll (this message is harmless)
Game mode
 
(Filename: C:/buildslave/unity/build/artifacts/generated/common/runtime/UnityEngineDebug.gen.cpp Line: 56)

Unloading 1 Unused Serialized files (Serialized files now loaded: 0)
UnloadTime: 0.390376 ms
Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/.\C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/.\C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative
Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/libC:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/.\libC:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/libC:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/.\C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/.\C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative
Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/libC:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/.\libC:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Mono/libC:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll
System.DllNotFoundException: C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Cities_Skylines/Cities_Data/Plugins/ColossalNative.dll

  at (wrapper managed-to-native) ColossalFramework.BootStrapper:Preload ()

  at Starter.Awake () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0   [Core]
 
(Filename: C:/buildslave/unity/build/artifacts/generated/common/runtime/UnityEngineDebug.gen.cpp Line: 56)

GameSettings: 'gameSettings' is not found or cannot be loaded. Make sure to call GameSettings.AddSettingsFile() to register a settings file before using SavedValue().  [Settings - Internal]
 
(Filename: C:/buildslave/unity/build/artifacts/generated/common/runtime/UnityEngineDebug.gen.cpp Line: 56)

Localization 'en' failed to load. You may have to delete old versions manually. System.MissingMethodException: Cannot find the requested method.

  at (wrapper managed-to-native) ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation:get_executablePathName ()

  at ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation.get_executableDirectory () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation.get_applicationBase () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation.get_gameContentPath () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.Globalization.LocaleManager.get_localePath () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.Globalization.LocaleManager.LoadLocale (System.String codeString) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 
  at (wrapper managed-to-native) ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation:get_executablePathName ()

  at ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation.get_executableDirectory () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation.get_applicationBase () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.IO.DataLocation.get_gameContentPath () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.Globalization.LocaleManager.get_localePath () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at ColossalFramework.Globalization.LocaleManager.LoadLocale (System.String codeString) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0   [Localization - Internal]
 
(Filename: C:/buildslave/unity/build/artifacts/generated/common/runtime/UnityEngineDebug.gen.cpp Line: 56)

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\Mono.Security.dll (this message is harmless)
Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\System.Configuration.dll (this message is harmless)
Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\Managed\System.Xml.dll (this message is harmless)
NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object
  at ColossalFramework.Globalization.Locale.Get (System.String id) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 

  at Starter.Awake () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 
 
(Filename:  Line: -1)


Unloading 2 unused Assets to reduce memory usage. Loaded Objects now: 752.
Total: 0.219507 ms (FindLiveObjects: 0.029758 ms CreateObjectMapping: 0.023678 ms MarkObjects: 0.158710 ms  DeleteObjects: 0.006079 ms)

Setting up 1 worker threads for Enlighten.
  Thread -> id: 1f5c -> priority: 1

 

[KaiserCnins]

Got it working! Don't know what it was that finally fixed it.

I did several restarts (of Steam and of the PC), repaired the VC++ redistributables, uninstalled then reinstalled the C++ redistributables, restarted Steam, turning off Steam overlay, verify files in Steam, etc etc. Final step was restarting the PC (yet again), logging back in to Steam, and trying (yet again).

Hooray! Happy now. Good luck to those still trying to get it working, and to those trying to diagnose the problem properly and produce a fix.

 

[Hindering42]

Finally got it to work.

Turns out my VC++ 2013 was 32 bit instead of 64 bit, updated that and everything is running perfectly.