CK2 Stops Responding After Running the .exe

[SaltyMint]

Hello, For the past couple days my CK2 have had some very bad and sudden problems. Any time that I attempt to run the game, it will ask if this program (the .exe) can be allowed to make changes on my computer, after accepting, I am greeted with the CK2 launcher window but it is completely white and proceeds to stop responding before closing soon after. Attempting to verify integrity of the game files will result in the same message of "1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired" doing another verification directly afterwards will have it state that all files are there, but any attempt to run the game just results in the same cycle. The only game that I have noticed this happening to is CK2, even other Paradox games like HOI4, EU4, even VIC2 have been working perfectly fine.

So far I have:
-Verified game files several times.
-Uninstalled & Reinstalled the game multiple times.
-Uninstalled & Reinstalled any mods/DLCs.
-Restarted my Computer.
-Checked the firewall to see if it was allowed (it was).
-Uninstalled & Reinstalled Steam itself.
-Installed any Windows Updates
-Force Quit & Re-opened any/all Steam programs in task manager.
-Checked Back-up game files.
-Updated any drivers and checked to see if there were any changes to them.

There is probably one or two other things I did that I have forgotten. But I am hoping that people who are more experienced with this type of problem could help me.
Thank you, and have a good day!

 

[AndrewT]

What antivirus app do you use?
Add ck2game.exe to the exceptions list of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.

Any time that I attempt to run the game, it will ask if this program (the .exe) can be allowed to make changes on my computer,

Are you running Steam or the game as the Windows Admin user? If so that's not necessary.

 

[SaltyMint]

I'm running Steam for the game. I added the CK2 .exe to the Windows Defender Exceptions list but it is still asking if Ck2.exe can make changes and then same as before happens, My Ransomware Controlled Folder Access is already off, and turning it on, and allowing CK2.exe through also didn't work.

 

[AndrewT]

I'm running Steam for the game.

My question was whether you are running either as the Windows Admin user.

 

[SaltyMint]

I don't believe I am, I've tried running it as an Administrator but got the same results. Usually, I will start up my games through my Steam Library.

 

[AndrewT]

Any time that I attempt to run the game, it will ask if this program (the .exe) can be allowed to make changes on my computer,

I focus on that because of this, it's not normal!

To check it right click on steam.exe and ck2game.exe - properties - compatibility. If anything is ticked in there, untick it.

If you exit Steam entirely and run ck2game.exe manually from Windows Explorer, do you get these same problems?

 

[SaltyMint]

After Unticking, and attempting to run the game through just the exe, I was met with the same results unfortunately.

 

[AndrewT]

Let's try 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 of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.
- 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 RivaTuner, 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 .

 

[SaltyMint]

That seems to have done the trick, Everything is working again, Thank you so much for your help!