EU4: Launcher does not work, EU4 runs in stand-alone, but with no DLCs

[Falken5]

My EU4 does not launch from the Paradox launcher. I used to run it in stand-alone mode linking directly to the EU4.exe file, and the game worked fine. Then the "France" update came, and I can only run it stand-alone with 0 DLCs.

 

[Falken5]

Even the forum software stopped me from finished my post..

My EU4 does not launch from the Paradox launcher. I used to run it in stand-alone mode linking directly to the EU4.exe file, and the game worked fine. Then the "France" update came, and I can only run it stand-alone with 0 DLCs.

 

[Falken5]

Ok, I have to post my message sentence at a time, it seems, otherwise it things I'm spam.
I have turned off my VPN (NordVPN).
I have turned off my anti-virus software (Kaspersky).

 

[Falken5]

The launcher gives the following error message.

 

[Falken5]

Launching the game failed. Please verify the integrity of your game files.

 

[Falken5]

If you are using Windows, you may also need to install visual C++ Redistribution and .NET framework.

 

[Falken5]

Steam integrity check gives 2 thumbs up. I am using Windows, and installed the C++ Redistribution, and already had the latest .NET framework (install failed due to latest version working). The fact that the game launches in stand-alone, lets me the game install is fine.
I also own CK2, HOI4, and Stellaris, and I have 0 issues playing any of those game. Only EU4 is problematic.

 

[AndrewT]

Ah, that is usually an antivirus app getting in the way. What antivirus app do you use? You need to make sure all these apps are in its exceptions lists:

eu4.exe and dowser.exe (in the Steam EU4 folder)
C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2022.7/paradox launcher.exe
C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/bootstrapper-v2.exe

IF that doesn't help, also set each of those .exe files (EXCEPT eu4.exe !) to run as the Windows Admin user.

Then the game should run from Steam/our launcher, and enable all the DLCs.

 

[Falken5]

Ah, that is usually an antivirus app getting in the way. What antivirus app do you use? You need to make sure all these apps are in its exceptions lists:

eu4.exe and dowser.exe (in the Steam EU4 folder)
C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2022.7/paradox launcher.exe
C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/bootstrapper-v2.exe

IF that doesn't help, also set each of those .exe files (EXCEPT eu4.exe !) to run as the Windows Admin user.

Then the game should run from Steam/our launcher, and enable all the DLCs.

Many thanks. It wasn't the anti-virus (I had it turned off, and I had read previous forum articles indicating that you should set exceptions up (which I did), so with the Anti-Virus exceptions setup and anti-virus (which was My Kaspersky) turned off, no luck

But then I set the 3 programs to "Run as Administrator", and then, suddenly, everything worked like a charm! Very weird to have 752 hours played and zero achievements, now I can address that!

Thanks again!