Fixed: Please fix your game launcher (my launcher)

[Hooster1]

Using Avast antivirus.

Added exceptions for Eu4, dowser, and paradox launcher.exe
No bootstrapper-v2.exe in the noted folder

Program still crashes with the same messages.

 

[AndrewT]

Those screenshots show rights to the game's Steam installation folder (but no Write right?). But the issue is with access to the Windows User Documents folder, by default C:/users/{userName}/Documents

And, are you 100% sure Bootstrapper-v2.exe is not in C:/users/{username}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/ I've not seen that before if so ...

 

[Hooster1]

Those screenshots show rights to the game's Steam installation folder (but no Write right?). But the issue is with access to the Windows User Documents folder, by default C:/users/{userName}/Documents

And, are you 100% sure Bootstrapper-v2.exe is not in C:/users/{username}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/ I've not seen that before if so ...

There is not a bootstapper program in C:/users/{username}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/

But - there is one in the next directory down...C:\Users\Scott\AppData\Local\Programs\Paradox Interactive\launcher

Double clicking on this brings up:

 

[AndrewT]

Those file system rights look okay, so really the issue must be Avast getting in the way somehow! I'm not familiar with it, but all those 4 .exe files must be in all its exceptions lists.

 

[Hooster1]

Running from steam - I get the usual errors after the EU4 splash screen
Trying to run the eu4.exe from the program directory (regular and admin) - I get the EU4 splash screen but no errors.

 

[AndrewT]

[virtualfilesystem_physfs.cpp:1252]: Could not open file: pops_filestorage.index, error: permission denied

Are you still seeing this in error.log? If so, something outside the game is doing it!

How about if you make a new Windows user on this PC and try it under that?

 

[Hooster1]

I have created a new Windows user on my PC, and I am seeing the same behavior.

Today's error.log shows [virtualfilesystem_physfs.cpp:1252]: Could not open file: pops_filestorage.index, error: permission denied

 

[AndrewT]

Wow, okay. Whatever is blocking the launcher from accessing the file system is doing so under both users ... very hard to imagine it is not Avast!

Can you maybe contact their support?

 

[Hooster1]

Reset Avast to base install options.
Deleted EU4 programs and reinstalled everything.

Avast says dowser.exe is asking for permission to write to the hard drive, and I grant permission.
Dowser says it cannot communicate with Steam:

I hit ignore and then play:

 

[AndrewT]

Avast says dowser.exe is asking for permission to write to the hard drive, and I grant permission.

But Paradox Launcher.exe and EU4.exe also need that permission - Avast didn't ask about them?

We may be getting to the point of needing to uninstall Avast completely. Clean up any remnants of it with Revo Uninstaller, then check the game and launcher now work. You can then install Avast again; AV apps tend to trust apps that are already there when they are installed.

A lot to contemplate to get a game going, I know!

 

[Hooster1]

I uninstalled AVG antivirus and rebooted. It does not show up anymore.

EU4 gives the same error messages.

I turned on windows defender and still get the same messages.

 

[AndrewT]

Today's error.log shows [virtualfilesystem_physfs.cpp:1252]: Could not open file: pops_filestorage.index, error: permission denied

You still get this in the log? Because we are running out of things that can cause this! I am very surprised removing AVG did not help.

I've only ever seen it ias an AV app getting in the way, or a folder/file flagged Read Only.

 

[Hooster1]

From yesterday in the directory

C:\Users\Scott\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Europa Universalis IV\logs\error.log

 

[Hooster1]

Fixed it!

I went up to the Europa Universalis IV directory, used the properties page and unclicked read-only and hidden from there, and applied it to subfolders. Dowser still asked me for permission to make changes to the files, but EU4 ran this time!

Thank you for the many times you replied with suggestions.

 

[unmerged(17307)]

do you have a windows server OS running modded into a workstation? just a guess since you have missing DLLs, that quadro card, and all sorts of problems which seem related to right management.

 

[Hooster1]

Nope, Windows 11 Pro version 24H2

I built the system to do 3D mapping from aerial imagery, and it has to be beefy, which is why I have a Quadro card. As long as I have enough VRAM, I can run any game except the Paradox titles.

No modding, vanilla windows installed by the techs when I purchased the system about 3 years ago. I usually build my own, but there was a conflict between my motherboard and Ryzen 7 5800X processor and it was easier to take it back and have it installed for free.

No idea why some directories are protected. It would help if the log files gave more information on why it was crashing.