Launcher not launching the game, again

[hammerfalls]

The Paradox Launcher seems to have stopped working for this game. I had the same issue several months and was able to resolve it by following the steps in this thread: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...-unable-to-launch-game.1298575/#post-26120962

However, I am getting the same error message again.

I have already followed all the instructions in the old thread. I have done a full clean re-install, deleting all folders for both Imperator and the launcher, and added Imperator and the launcher to my antivirus exceptions.

The game launches normally directly from imperator.exe.

 

[AndrewT]

The launcher looks fine there, that's more likely a game or Windows issue.

In the launcher set Display mode to borderless.

Add imperator.exe to the exceptions list of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.

Also if you have the MSI Gaming App installed, disable it as it clashes with this game.

If that doesn't help:
DXDIAG is a program you run from a command prompt or the Windows start menu 'run' dialog box (or 'search programs' in Windows 7 or later). 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 your Documents/Paradox/Imperator/pdx_settings.txt.
From your Documents/Paradox/Imperator/logs/ folder, attach system.log .

 

[hammerfalls]

Game is set to borderless. I use Avira for antivirus and imperator.exe is on the exceptions list.

I do not have the MSI Gaming App installed.

Attached are the three files.

Now that you mention it, there may be something wrong with the game. Sometimes when I open it, the game doesn't read the DLC I have and won't let me open save games because of it.

 

[AndrewT]

No obvious issues with Imperator in those files, but there are many crashes in Avira.

Now that you mention it, there may be something wrong with the game. Sometimes when I open it, the game doesn't read the DLC I have and won't let me open save games because of it.

That actually sounds more like a launcher issue! Goodness.


Please try this:

- exit the Steam app entirely
- uninstall Paradox Launcher v2 from the Windows "Apps and features" utility, if still present.

Delete the following folders if still present:

- C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Roaming/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.

- run steam.exe as the Windows Admin user

- run the game from the PLAY button in Steam

IF that doesn't help, in this folder are some .log files:
C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
Please attach them here.

 

[hammerfalls]

Didn't help. The launcher still doesn't launch the game and I am still having intermittent problems with DLC loading. I have attached the two log files in the /launcher-v2 folder.

 

[AndrewT]

The launcher has installed but not updated itself.

Let's try forcing an update of the launcher.

Download the installer package for Windows: https://forumcontent.paradoxplaza.com/emailsignatures/2020.5-win-prod.zip

Unpack the file you just downloaded and place the three files in the Steam folder for the game you're having issues with. If asked if you want to replace already existing files click "yes" - that's a sign you are in the right place!

Then please repeat the launcher reinstall procedure from before.

Good luck with that!

 

[hammerfalls]

Well the launcher updated to 2020.5.1.

The launcher still doesn't launch the game and I am still having intermittent problems with DLC being detected.

 

[AndrewT]

Well I'm confused. The launcher runs fine, the game runs fine from imperator.exe, but somehow the launcher can't run imperator.exe ... is that still the situation?

In the folder where those launcher logs were is there not a cpatch.log?

 

[hammerfalls]

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one, that is still the situation.

I have attached cpatch.log and included the other two log files in the same folder.

 

[AndrewT]

That all looks fine, no error or problem at all.

Generate the problem again please, and attach here all the files in the Documents/Paradox/Imperator/logs/ folder that are over 0 bytes.

 

[hammerfalls]

Opened the game and DLC were not detected. I attached all log files over 0 bytes.

 

[AndrewT]

Opened the game and DLC were not detected.

This was from imperator.exe I assume, the game still won't run from the launcher?


I know you've done this but can we please do it again:

- move any valued save games elsewhere
- "uninstall" in Steam-Imperator
- manually delete both the Steam/SteamApps/common/Imperator AND Documents/Paradox/Imperator folders
- re-install game in Steam, run a Steam Verify when done.
- add imperator.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 you need to make sure there are no files or folders left under either the Steam Imperator or Documents Imperator locations, before installing again.

 

[hammerfalls]

That's right, game runs from imperator.exe but I am still getting the same error message from the launcher. On the bright side, the launcher is updating normally and is now 2020.6.2.

Tried reinstalling the game and launcher after going through all the steps to completely remove both from the computer.

Both were added to Defender's exception list and I don't use Window's Ransomware protection (its annoying when I'm working). I also recently uninstalled Avira so Defender is my only antivirus at the moment.

 

[AndrewT]

Did the reinstall at least allow the DLCs to work again?

And the launcher update did not fix the problem with the game not running from the launcher, is that right?

 

[hammerfalls]

DLC are still intermittent and don't get picked up every few times I load.

The launcher update did not fix the problem.

Not sure it is a launcher problem to be honest, it works fine for Stellaris and EU4.

 

[AndrewT]

Not sure it is a launcher problem to be honest, it works fine for Stellaris and EU4.

I see, that does look that way I have to agree. But we still have the enigma that imperator.exe runs ok when you ru it but not if the launcher runs it.

If you set steam.exe and paradox launcher.exe to run as the Windows Admin user, does that change anything?

 

[hammerfalls]

Well I don't believe it but that did it.

The game is now launching normally and the DLC all seem to be loading correctly.

It's been an odyssey (no pun intended) but glad everything seems to be working now.

Thank you so much for your help getting this resolved!