Exit Code Null - game won't open

[MurderofCrows]

I have about 450 hours into this game over the past several years. Fired it up again recently. Played for a couple of days. Last night my game suddenly crashed (after my ruler found a kitten and then had an event remarking about how the kitten has kept down the rodent population). Probably not a thing, but thought I'd include that tidbit. After that crash, my game crashed every time on load, even when attempting to start up without mods. Still crashed upon file verification (I'm on Steam). I then uninstalled and reinstalled the game, deleting all the "left overs" uninstallation leaves in.

Today, the game won't start at all. The launcher gave me the below message. I did as instructed: verified the game files, uninstalled and reinstalled. DL-ed the latest C++ and installed. Also DL-ed .Net Framework but was informed I already have the most current form. Now my game won't open at all.

 

[AndrewT]

Please do a full **clean** re-install:

- move any valued save games elsewhere
- "uninstall" in Steam-CK3
- manually delete both the Steam/SteamApps/common/CK3 AND Documents/Paradox Interactive/CK3 folders
- re-install game in Steam, run a Steam Verify when done.
- add CK3.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 CK3 or Documents CK3 locations, before installing again.


THEN Right click on ck3.exe , properties, compatibility. Tick "disable fullScreen optimisations" untick every other box in that dialog, Apply and exit.

Then in the launcher Game Settings menu, select fullScreen display mode, Vsync off, cap refresh rate at 60.


If those don't help:
DXDIAG is a program you run from the Windows search box on the task bar. 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 here your Documents/Paradox Interactive/CK3/pdx_settings.txt .
From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/CK3/logs/ folder, attach here system.log , error.log , exceptions.log

 

[Thario94]

Hello, I have the exact same issue, which was actually caused by completely de-installing the game and then re-installing it. Before it was crashing A LOT for months though.

Now I cannot play at all anymore. I attached two of the requested files, however there is no "log" folder, so I cannot attach the last three files/logs.

Please help.

 

[AndrewT]

Please make your own new thread in future, rather than re-opning old ones. Thanks.

What happens if you run ck3.exe directly from File Explorer?

 

[Thario94]

Please make your own new thread in future, rather than re-opning old ones. Thanks.

What happens if you run ck3.exe directly from File Explorer?

Hello, thanks for your reply!

I just tried that and the game starts when I click on the .exe. Is there a way to get this connected back to the launcher?

 

[AndrewT]

Did you do this?

THEN Right click on ck3.exe , properties, compatibility. Tick "disable fullScreen optimisations" untick every other box in that dialog, Apply and exit.

Then in the launcher Game Settings menu, select fullScreen display mode, Vsync off, cap refresh rate at 60.

 

[Thario94]

Yes I already did this the last time when I did the re-install, when the launcher actually broke.

 

[AndrewT]

What antivirus app do you use? You need to make sure all these apps are in its exceptions lists:

ck3.exe (in the Steam CK3-binaries folder)
dowser.exe (in the Steam CK3-launcher folder)
C:/users/{UserName}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2023..12/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 ck3.exe !) to run as the Windows Admin user.

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

 

[Thario94]

I will try that later this week, but it all worked before for years. Why would it suddenly stop working after I deinstall and then reinstall the game?

 

[AndrewT]

A new launcher came out recently - maybe your AV app doesn't like it?

 

[Thario94]

So in my antivirus software, the game was already (automatically) marked as an exception.

At the moment I am playing without using the launcher, but I am still getting frequent, random crashes. It has just been a very frustrating experience to play this game for the last half a year or so.

 

[AndrewT]

Did you implement those settings I gave above? You don't mention them either way.

 

[Thario94]

Okay, I did all that now. The Launcher now says, there is no game installed. When I redirect it to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Crusader Kings III\
it says, there is no installed game in select directory. So I de-installed the game from steam and installed it through the launcher. Now it starts through the launcher, but it´s not installed in steam. Is there a way to install this game so both the launcher and Steam "know" it is installed?

Thanks for all your help so far.

 

[AndrewT]

Okay, I did all that now. The Launcher now says, there is no game installed.

You must have run the launcher from the desktop shortcut or Paradox launcher.exe, which is a standalone mode for users who do not want to run Steam. It does need a separate game installation if used that way, but this game is no longer supported on that platform.

You'll need to run it from the PLAY button in your Steam Library instead.

 

[Thario94]

I know that, but when I install it on Steam and start the game there, the launcher opens and can't find the game

 

[AndrewT]

I know that, but when I install it on Steam and start the game there, the launcher opens and can't find the game

That sounds exactly as if you are running the launcher from Paradox Launcher.exe , not via Steam. You are not doing it from a desktop shortcut or anything like that?

Can we see a screenshot of it please?

 

[Thario94]

I am just clicking the "Play" button in Steam and then Play in the Launcher that opens.

 

[Thario94]

I am very thankful for your help. If I am able to find hidden "AppData" Folders, I am surely able to click a big button with "Play" on it, I assure you.

 

[AndrewT]

Can I see a screenshot of the launcher when you get the "can't find games" message please? I'm struggling to see how that would come up when run from Steam!

 

[Thario94]

Sorry to reply so late, I did not get a message in my mails for your reply and forgot to look in the thread myself sooner. Here is the screenshot: