Could not open file: gfx/flags/flagfiles_0.tga, error: Access is denied.

[mikepfromnyc]

Hi, I'm really frustrated and am looking for any help I can get. I have been able to play ck2 on my brand new ASUS ROG Zephyrus M windows 10 laptop for a few weeks now and all of a sudden, the game started to crash on the "Loading Graphics" step of the loading process. The message in the error log is the title of this thread.

I have done everything I can possibly do to try to fix this and none of the following have worked (all while running steam as admin):
- uninstalled, deleted the Paradox interactive folder in my documents, reinstalled and verified files
- all of the above except I installed it to my SSD instead of my HDD
- deleted the flags folder and verified files (none were found to be missing actually)
- sent myself the flagfiles_0.tga file from a different laptop (much older running windows 7...and ck2 just fine) and placed it in the flags folder
- fidgeted with the settings file and flipping override_resolution_safety to yes (grasping at straws at this point)

Please help me, I've spent my hard earned money on this game and just about all of its DLC's as well as this beautiful laptop just to have one of my favorite games of all time not run.

 

[AndrewT]

You don't mention the known cause of this issue which is antivirus apps. Most commonly Avast and AVG but it can be almost any one.

Add ck2game.exe to the exceptions list/whitelist of whatever you use.

FYI there is no need to run Steam or the game as Admin.

 

[mikepfromnyc]

Wow...thank you so much! Every other support forum I browsed on Google didn't mention antivirus being the issue.

What's odd is that AVG is the first thing i downloaded on this laptop and obvously CK2 subsequently and it worked fine for a few weeks prior to this.

Smh, well I guess I'm lucky its a known issue, thanks again for your help, I can now go back to enjoying life.

 

[AndrewT]

What's odd is that AVG is the first thing i downloaded on this laptop and obvously CK2 subsequently and it worked fine for a few weeks prior to this.

Not odd at all. Every time a .exe gets update any AV app worth its salt will treat it as potentially infected.

 

[mikepfromnyc]

TIL