Every time I launch stellaris since the last update before xmas I cannot play due to various issues including, database migration error even with the beta launcher, crashing when either trying to start a new game or when closing out of the program, game not keeping settings from launcher for resolution and when trying to adjust settings in game saying that it cannot save due to files being write protected. I have tried various solutions including deleting the launcher .sql every time try to eliminate the database error, uninstalling the game and even going so far as to find and delete any mention of paradox and stellaris from my system, and having AVG I even tried the manual exception for the paradox folder, even verification of the game doesn't work, nothing works and that's with a vanilla play-through.
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This is certainly caused by AVG. Putting in exceptions for a folder will do nothing; you need to tell AVG to not block C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2021.10.1/paradox launcher.exe
from doing what it wants to. You may need help from AVG support on how to ensure that.
from doing what it wants to. You may need help from AVG support on how to ensure that.
This does not work for me, even before doing this I could still launch into the main menu of the game, unfortunately the game ignores the launcher settings for resolution and trying to change them results in the game saying that it cannot save them due to the folder being write protected, have gone in and tried to set the folders as writable, even tried to run the game as administrator now it won't even launch the game from the launcher. And still have the database error
Then I'm afraid AVG is still getting in the way - all those symptoms you report are consistent with that.
Have you gone to AVG support?
Yesterday removed AVG Internet Security and AVG Anti-Track from the system and am now going with Defender, a new problem has arisen, when launching the game it insists that a launcher was found but that it is not working. Uninstalling the Paradox launcher to have the game reinstall the launcher but still insists the launcher isn't working. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the game itself multiple times now and still it won't work. Can I just install the launcher directly from the website and bypass the auto installation from starting the game?
When I do let it try the re-install it says it could not start the launcher at USERS\****\AppData\Local\Programs\ParadoxInteractive\;fork/exec or USERS\****\AppData\Local\Programs\ParadoxInteractive\bootstrapper-v2.exe. I am attaching the logs that generated this time around for analysis.
Please try this:
- uninstall Paradox Launcher v2 from the Windows "Apps and features" utility, if still present.
Delete the following folders if still present:
- C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Roaming/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.
- exit the Steam app entirely
- run steam.exe as the Windows Admin user
- run the game from the PLAY button in Steam
Everything seems to be fixed (at least until the next update 
). If anyone else needs this for AVG on Windows you will have to uninstall at the very least both AVG Internet Security and AVG Anti-Track and use default Windows Defender, make sure all processes for Defender are active including the ransomware protection, follow the above instructions and ensure that both the launcher and the game are added to the exception list for the Defender ransomware controlled folder list and enjoy.
). If anyone else needs this for AVG on Windows you will have to uninstall at the very least both AVG Internet Security and AVG Anti-Track and use default Windows Defender, make sure all processes for Defender are active including the ransomware protection, follow the above instructions and ensure that both the launcher and the game are added to the exception list for the Defender ransomware controlled folder list and enjoy.
Finally solved
I finally figured out how to play a Paradox game (in particular Stellaris) without having to start in administration mode, I tracked the issue to the fact that the bootstrapper.exe had been set to administration mode in the compatibility settings and unchecking the setting has made it possible to play without starting in admin mode.