CK2 does not launch from Steam, nor from .exe in game folder

[pbthrane]

Update: Solved - adding CK2game.exe to list of allowed apps in Windows Defender's Controlled Folder Access feature solves the issue.

I have CK2 on Steam. No mods.
Win 10 with latest updates.
When I launch from Steam, nothing happens.
When I launch from the .exe in the game folder, nothing happens.
I have tried the following:

- Verify game file integrity in Steam
- Uninstall and reinstall with Steam, deleting the Documents\Paradox Games\CK2 folder
- Downgrade to the Beta via Steam
- Run .exe with admin rights
- Run .exe with compatibility for WinXP, Win7, Win8, forced 640x480, disable fullscreen compatibility, as admin
- Checked Windows Defender and Firewall that CK2 is not blocked

Nothing happens, I don't even get as far as the launcher.

Only progress so far is that forcing 640x480 pixels gets me 2 seconds of black full-screen before the program crashes.

I see many posts since 3.0.1 about users with similar problems.

Update: I received the following suggestion from Paradox Support:
"Your issue does seem like an AV app getting in the way. Are you sure you do not have any other one aside from Windows Defender?

Also, with WD if the Controlled Folder Access feature is enabled you need to add ck2game.exe to the Apps Allowed Through list in that feature. Same with the Ransomware feature.


If still a problem, Use Notepad to make a new text file called userdir.txt in the Steam CK2 folder where ck2game.exe is. In that file place a single dot, save and exit. This tells the game to write the user files right there instead of under Documents."

I can confirm that adding CK2 to the Controlled Folder Access allowed app list solves the problem.

 

[AndrewT]

Has the game ever run OK on this computer? Or never?

IF NEVER:
Install ALL these Microsoft modules:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=8328
https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=13523
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=52685
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109
(run dxsetup.exe after extracting from this download)

Also if you have installed RadeonPro, or a gaming VPN app called Evolve, or the MSI Gaming App, or Duet, disable it as it clashes with this game.


IF IT USED TO WORK:
Please do a full **clean** re-install:

- move any valued save games elsewhere
- "uninstall" in Steam-CK2
- manually delete both the Steam/SteamApps/common/CK2 AND Documents/Paradox/CK2 folders
- re-install game in Steam, run a Steam Verify when done.
- add ck2game.exe to the exceptions list/whitelist of your antivirus app
- start the game with no mods active and test

In particular make sure there are no files or folders left under either the Steam CK2 or Documents CK2 locations, before installing again.

Also if you have installed RadeonPro, or a gaming VPN app called Evolve, or the MSI Gaming App, or Duet, disable it as it clashes with this game.


IF NEITHER OF THOSE HELP:
DXDIAG is a program you run from a command prompt or the Windows start menu 'run' dialog box (or 'search programs' in Windows 7 or later). After running it will open a window and start collecting info with a progress bar in the lower-left corner. When it completes click the 'save all information' button and save it to a file then attach that file here.

Please attach your Documents/Paradox/CK2/settings.txt.
From your Documents/Paradox/CK2/logs/ folder, attach system.log .