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Rather surprising that going from no updates to all of them has made no difference whatsoever. You still get that 7b exception code?
Something obviously changed on this computer between the last time the game worked and the first time it had this problem, but I cannot see what it is. You can't pick anything?
Please install and run the free utility Speccy. Send its output to a text file and attach that here please.
Please install and run the free utility Speccy. Send its output to a text file and attach that here please.
EDIT (14:12): Attached the Speccy file last night. Got an idea this afternoon. Rolled back to version 3.2.1 using the Betas tab in Steam and loaded the game. It worked fine, but more importantly it created the necessary folders and files in MyDocuments which were missing and I've so far been unable to do anything about. Then I opted out of the Betas returning the game presumably to 3.3, whereupon I tried loading a couple of times and it was right back to not working. But now I'm able to attach the two files you wanted on Saturday - Documents/Paradox/CK2/settings.txt and Documents/Paradox/CK2/logs/system.log. Hope they help.
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If the older ck2game.exe can access those folders and write to them but the new one cannot, that virtually certainly means your antivirus is in the way still.
Place the attached userdir.txt file in the same folder as ck2game.exe . It tells the game to write settings.txt and the /logs/ folder right there instead of under the Documents folder. Even if the game still fails like that, does it make those files and folders now?
Place the attached userdir.txt file in the same folder as ck2game.exe . It tells the game to write settings.txt and the /logs/ folder right there instead of under the Documents folder. Even if the game still fails like that, does it make those files and folders now?
I only have the free version of Avast antivirus. It doesn't have block/allow lists as apparently that's a feature of the paid for verson, so I couldn't do anything there. I'd try closing it but I'm not sure how to do that.
Just tried that and no, it doesn't. I put the txt in SteamApps/common/Crusader Kings II with the exe, but nothing new is created on load attempt.
I see, that's pretty bad. I can only suggest removing it entirely with the free Revo Uninstaller utility. You should then enable Windows Defender, if Avast has disabled it.
That OTOH is unexpected given the above. Can you please also manually install the MS patch KB4019990
Okay, having went through the options I have on Avast, although I couldn't see an option to close or exit, I managed to find Avast Shields Control and "disable all shields" which I think should turn off everything important (it did say I was "unprotected" as a result, so I assume so). Tried running the game again at that point, but still nada.
Which version? There's "Update for Windows 7 (KB4019990)" or "Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB4019990)". Or do I install both of them?
As I say, uninstalling it is the only way to make sure it is not in the way.
I'm no Windows support professional, I just know what I've seen and can google in that area ... I would expect that the x64 version would be right as you have 64bit Win7.
EDIT (14:14): Just uninstalled Avast through Windows control panel and rebooted. Tried loading game again, same issue as before. Can I reinstall now? I'm a bit nervy about my computer being completely open to anything and everything.
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Windows Defender should be adequate as long as you don't go to risky sites, but sure, go ahead and reinstall Avast.
BTW in that Speccy output you also had MalwareBytes running, were you aware of that? Is the game allowed through it also? And Spybot also?
My free trial expired on Malwarebytes some time ago and I didn't buy it, so all the real-time protections are disabled. Doubt that's the problem, but I'll see if there's any active block/allow list on it. At this stage I'll try anything.
Spybot I think was on the computer when I bought it. The local computer shop do their own software build when you buy a computer from them and that was part of it. I use it now and then to scan the system. I don't know how you block/allow on it, though I can exit the program easily enough so it doesn't affect anything. Will report back in a few mins.
Edit (04:11): Okay, uninstalled Malwarebytes. Not much point keeping it on here when I don't use the thing. Rebooted the computer and closed Spybot. Tried loading game again - same thing, no change.
I only have Windows Defender up and running now, there's not much more I can kill from the system tray. I even shut down Dropbox in case that was doing something, but no change after that either. All that's in the system tray now is "Remove Hardware and Eject Media", Network indicator, CPU Usage indicator, headphones volume, and Windows Action Centre begging me to install an antivirus. Oh, and Steam of course.
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Is there any issue with just going back to 3.2.1 and playing that for the duration, if I can't get 3.3 to work (which I'm suspecting may be the case, even if I don't know why)?
Only that any mods that have been updated to work with 3.3 may not still work with 3.2.1 .
So is there anything else I can do at this point, or am I out of options? So far, nothing has affected the problem. Obviously 3.3 doesn't like some way the computer's configured, but the culprit seems to be able to hide better than Wally.
We had one report that uninstalling VC++ 2017 and installing 2015 instead helped ... no idea why if so.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=52685
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=52685
Disclaimer: I'm just another forum member
Me again..
My cents :
- Updating graphics driver (I'd seen some posts claiming that had helped)
- Installing NET 4.6.1, if you haven't ( a pure wild guess admittedly)
- Regarding Spybot S&R :
(I had used it in the past myself, but not its automated background services; you only said you "closed" or "exited" it and i don't know what that actually implies)
Immunization, if you hadn't done that yourself, i don't think it's automated, so can probably be ignored.
I'd try disabling Live Protection and/or System Services (see info how both under Settings&tools https://www.safer-networking.org/support/spybot-2-faq/ , don't forget the reboot)
and test. I imagine it could conflict with Avast (see also in the FAQ how it can conflict with WIndows Defender).
Just suggestions and ideas thrown on the road. Good luck.
Me again..
My cents :
- Updating graphics driver (I'd seen some posts claiming that had helped)
- Installing NET 4.6.1, if you haven't ( a pure wild guess admittedly)
- Regarding Spybot S&R :
(I had used it in the past myself, but not its automated background services; you only said you "closed" or "exited" it and i don't know what that actually implies)
Immunization, if you hadn't done that yourself, i don't think it's automated, so can probably be ignored.
I'd try disabling Live Protection and/or System Services (see info how both under Settings&tools https://www.safer-networking.org/support/spybot-2-faq/ , don't forget the reboot)
and test. I imagine it could conflict with Avast (see also in the FAQ how it can conflict with WIndows Defender).
Just suggestions and ideas thrown on the road. Good luck.