CK2 Won't Launch

[fourtunehunter1]

So yesterday I decided to reinstall CK2 and get back to playing it, however I've found that it will not run no matter what I do. I've looked around and tried everything to get it running, but it won't start up the launcher or even show up in the task manager. All it does on Steam is say "Game Running", for a few seconds then it disappears and nothing happens. One thing to note is that I can't start up most of the other paradox games, they all have the similar problem it would seem. I try to start them up but the launcher doesn't work/start up and nothing happens. I've tried CK2, EU4 and HOI4. The only game whose launcher actually works is Stellaris for some reason. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

... All it does on Steam is say "Game Running", for a few seconds then it disappears and nothing happens. One thing to note is that I can't start up most of the other paradox games, they all have the similar problem it would seem. I try to start them up but the launcher doesn't work/start up and nothing happens. I've tried CK2, EU4 and HOI4....

Disclaimer: I'm just a forum member

Got Evolve, or MSI afterburner or Discord or some other gaming app ?
If so, disable/quit/exit it/them.

This suggestion is based on your description that other games are affected as well and the issue is known.

 

[fourtunehunter1]

Disclaimer: I'm just a forum member

Got Evolve, or MSI afterburner or Discord or some other gaming app ?
If so, disable/quit/exit it/them.

This suggestion is based on your description that other games are affected as well and the issue is known.

Did have discord running, don't have any of the others. Turned it off but it still doesn't work. Although I have discovered on thing to update, CK2 does show up on my task manager, but in background processes and only for a second or two, then disappears. Thanks for the help though!

 

[AndrewT]

Please go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Europa Universalis IV\_CommonRedist\DirectX\Jun2010\ and run dxsetup.exe
Please go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Europa Universalis IV\_CommonRedist\vcredist\2010\ and run vcredist_x86.exe and vcredist_x64.exe
Please go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Europa Universalis IV\_CommonRedist\DotNet\4.0 Client Profile\ and run dotNetFx40_Client_x86_x64.exe

Also if you have installed RadeonPro, disable it as it clashes with this game.

If none of that helps, exit Steam entirely. Then run ck2game.exe , eu4.exe and hoi4.exe by themselves. When they fail now, is there any error message?

 

[fourtunehunter1]

Please go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Europa Universalis IV\_CommonRedist\DirectX\Jun2010\ and run dxsetup.exe
Please go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Europa Universalis IV\_CommonRedist\vcredist\2010\ and run vcredist_x86.exe and vcredist_x64.exe
Please go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Europa Universalis IV\_CommonRedist\DotNet\4.0 Client Profile\ and run dotNetFx40_Client_x86_x64.exe

Also if you have installed RadeonPro, disable it as it clashes with this game.

If none of that helps, exit Steam entirely. Then run ck2game.exe , eu4.exe and hoi4.exe by themselves. When they fail now, is there any error message?

Tried all of them, none of them worked. No error messages when starting up CK2, eu4 or hoi4, only the same problem. Their process starts up in task manager in background tasks then, after a second of running, end without any errors at all.

 

[AndrewT]

Do the games create their respective folders in documents/paradox folder?

 

[fourtunehunter1]

Yes, they all have their own folders in the Documents section. I've tried deleting the CK2 folder previously but with no luck.

 

[AndrewT]

Please delete this list of files (about 50 in total)

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msvcp100.dll
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msvcr100.dll
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msvcr100_clr0400.dll *
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\xinput1_3.dll
C:\Windows\System32\mfc100.dll
C:\Windows\System32\mfc100u.dll
C:\Windows\System32\msvcp100.dll
C:\Windows\System32\msvcr100.dll
C:\Windows\System32\msvcr100_clr0400.dll *
C:\Windows\System32\xinput1_3.dll

* you may need to change user permissions on these two files before you can delete them. If they won't delete, don't worry about them

PLUS all files that fit the pattern d3dx9_??.dll in both those folders; usually about 20 in each. Then re-run those installer .exe files from above, which will replace them all with known good ones.

 

[fourtunehunter1]

Please delete this list of files (about 50 in total)

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msvcp100.dll
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msvcr100.dll
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msvcr100_clr0400.dll *
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\xinput1_3.dll
C:\Windows\System32\mfc100.dll
C:\Windows\System32\mfc100u.dll
C:\Windows\System32\msvcp100.dll
C:\Windows\System32\msvcr100.dll
C:\Windows\System32\msvcr100_clr0400.dll *
C:\Windows\System32\xinput1_3.dll

* you may need to change user permissions on these two files before you can delete them. If they won't delete, don't worry about them

PLUS all files that fit the pattern d3dx9_??.dll in both those folders; usually about 20 in each. Then re-run those installer .exe files from above, which will replace them all with known good ones.

Tried doing that, still nothing, same as before

 

[AndrewT]

Well, I don't know what else could be wrong on this computer to cause this to you. Such issues are always the above modules, an app like Evolve getting in the way, or a moved documents folder, but we've checked each of those.

What changes or updates were there to this computer/Windows between the last time one of these games worked, and the first time that one of them had this problem?

 

[fourtunehunter1]

Honestly? I haven't a clue. I don't really pay attention to the updates, though I have Windows 10 if that helps. The weird thing to me is why only Stellaris will launch but none of the other Paradox games will, it baffles me!

 

[AndrewT]

When you ran the 4 EU4 installers again after deleting all those files, did they all seem to work, to install anything?

Those files are all back in place?

It's still the case that if you run the games' .exe files without Steam being active, you get no error or message?

If you delete the games' Documents folders, then come back when you do the above?

Let me see new copies of dxdiag.txt, and settings.txt from CK2. Plus all files in the new /logs/ folder that are over 0 bytes.

 

[fourtunehunter1]

Yes, when I ran EU4 again after deleting the documents folder it took a while longer, as if it was installing the files again, though it still didn't launch (but the files were back in the documents folder). Unfortunately, when running the games' without steam I still get no error messages, even when deleting the documents folders, it's just the same thing.

Also, here are all the files in the logs folder in CK2 that are over 0 bytes. I was not able to find dxdiag.text or settings.txt files. I think the settings file was deleted with the folder, and hasn't come back yet, as I was able to find one for Stellaris. I have no idea where dxdiag.txt may be.

 

[AndrewT]

That system.log shows the issue is in the video area, the game cannot make a video device.

I have no idea where dxdiag.txt may be.

You have to make it. 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.

 

[fourtunehunter1]

Okay, that should be it, provided I did everything correctly. Hopefully this will help

 

[AndrewT]

No obvious issues there, but you might try a newer video driver version
http://support.amd.com/en-us/download


Also, as the issue stops the launcher from even appearing (as I understand it), We can try this: In your Steam Library right-click on this game and choose Properties. Click on Set Launch Options, and paste this in there:
-skiplauncher

I imagine the games will still fail, but is there any difference, or even an error message?

 

[fourtunehunter1]

Yep, games still fail but, for some reason still no error messages at all from any of the games that won't start, I have no idea what I have to do to get an error message at this point.

 

[AndrewT]

OK, last shot before I suggest a total Windows clean re-install!

Uninstall your nVidia video driver, then reboot. It will come up using the default Microsoft driver.

Then install the new driver I linked above, and reboot again.