CK2.exe Steamlauncher crashes to desktop before Paradox Launcher even starts

[Provolution]

Dear Technical Support. A change to either Steam, CK2, the Paradox Launcher or a Microsoft Windows update has made Crusader Kings 2 entirely dead in the water. I tried all the remedies with VS++ via 10, 15, 17, 19 and so on. I tried the Compatibility, which is greyed out and entirely locked/inaccessible. I tried several reinstalls, as well as deleting save games etc. I tried to locate the game both on C and D drives. I looked into the Control Panel Admin Event Viewer for a log on the collapse on the exe attempt, and its a memory loss exception. Please help me out, I am at 1160 hours of CK2 play, and own all DLCs.

There seem to be a similar problem with EU4 and Stellars, where both Paradox launchers freeze on a 2016 reissued EULA, whereas Imperator ROME and HOI4 works (at least HOI4 worked yesterday, we will see with the new update from Paradox...).

I read the top 5-10 entries on this forum on topic, as well as external sites, for guidance.

Faulting application name: CK2game.exe, version: 1.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x5da57846
Faulting module name: CK2game.exe, version: 1.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x5da57846
Exception code: 0xc0000409
Fault offset: 0x0000000000e5093c
Faulting process id: 0x3794
Faulting application start time: 0x01d599cfc0be5e67
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Crusader Kings II\CK2game.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Crusader Kings II\CK2game.exe
Report Id: d99dd913-69aa-441b-8333-73087c58049d
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:

BR

Provolution

 

[Provolution]

I think I found the main problem. I studied the task manager during the Steam CTD, before we even got to the Paradox Launcher. There are two major memory hogs, the Microsoft Malware Realtime Virus Detection and the Paradox Launcher (CK2, but also Stellaris and EU4), which lead to the exception above in the quote box. The Launcher of Paradox and the MS Malware hunter program are both massive memory hogs by themselves, collectively, a direct CTD. As soon as I disabled the malware for a bit, and then made it an exception in the duty cycle of the Microsoft Realtime Malware detection, it worked! This will be a long term security problem, so Paradox better comply with the MS Malware detector, so their precious launcher, works with the precious MS hunting dog, so the two corporate alpha male programmers doesn't get in the way of the end customer, paying for all this in $ and their time.

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

Diclaimer: Just another forum member

...As soon as I disabled the malware for a bit, and then made it an exception in the duty cycle of the Microsoft Realtime Malware detection, it worked!...

Is that basically the same as
"..add ck2game.exe to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.."
in Windows Defender/Security/Microsoftsomething/whateveritiscallednow ?

That was something recommended for a while as fix after patch 3.0 as far as i recall until recently,
but was far from being the fix for everyone.

 

[Provolution]

Diclaimer: Just another forum member



Is that basically the same as
"..add ck2game.exe to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.."
in Windows Defender/Security/Microsoftsomething/whateveritiscallednow ?

That was something recommended for a while as fix after patch 3.0 as far as i recall until recently,
but was far from being the fix for everyone.

In Windows 10, its under Virus and Threat Protection, disable the Real-time protection first (from On to Off), then add the Steam folder under "Add" under Exclusions. Clearly, this means you should only buy Steam products, not find counterfeited Steam copies out there, for your own protection. Even then, Paradox need to work on this with MS.

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

In Windows 10, its under Virus and Threat Protection, disable the Rral-time protection first (from On to Off), then add the Steam folder under "Add" under Exclusions.

Rral-time ? Real Time, i suppose ?
Hmm, sounds different. Like a standard exclusion, not ransomware specifc.
Well, i don't have the issue or Win10, but tech support might know.
Good to know either way.

Clearly, this means you should only buy Steam products, not find counterfeited Steam copies out there, for your own protection. Even then, Paradox need to work on this with MS.

No idea what you are trying to say with this.
Besides CK2 is not a Steam product. It works without Steam directly from the exe.
It's only required for patching outside Steam specific features.

Cheers

 

[Provolution]

Rral-time ? Real Time, i suppose ?
Hmm, sounds different. Like a standard exclusion, not ransomware specifc.
Well, i don't have the issue or Win10, but tech support might know.
Good to know either way.


No idea what you are trying to say with this.
Besides CK2 is not a Steam product. It works without Steam directly from the exe.
It's only required for patching outside Steam specific features.

Cheers

Well, corrected Rral to Real, for your book-keeping... This was a virus/detection software exclusion in general, both real time and systemic. I was merely referring to contraband copy versions, in which "programmers" would not identify to work with Paradox, Steam and MS to clear up things, if you did not get my drift, but here I spell it out to you. The Windows 10 may be tied to graphic cards etc.