Launcher v2 cannot be installed

[MiAnRa86]

Hi and thanks in advance for your support.
I am suffering since hours and dont know what else to do/try.

Played stellaris, EU4 and a few other games without issues.
Bought Victoria3 and wanted to play through steam - the launcher tried to start but an error occurd.
I followed those steps at support.paradoxplaza, deletet some folders, reinstalled, restarted and so on.

Now this error prevents me from installing the Launcher:
"Could not acces network location \\?\Uses\.."

As far as I can see there is no issue with Windows Defender or Sophos.
Everything runs on "C". Everything is run by admin-rights.

There a tons on threats about issues with the v2 Launcher - but I could not find a solution to this exact problem/error.

Thank you for your help.
BR

 

[AndrewT]

Please try this:

- 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.

- exit the Steam app entirely
- 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.

 

[MiAnRa86]

Thank you for your answer.
Like I wrote, I already tried this (and many more).
I tried again - same error like before (see screenshot above)
Logfiles attached.

I hope you can find a solution.
BR

 

[AndrewT]

The 1603/1605 errors we see there are typically a previous other installation stuck, or a problem in the Windows update/install processes.

If you see msiexec running in Task manager-processes, kill it and try this launcher install again please.

Otherwise run the Update app in Windows, does it load okay, find anything to apply - whether a patch, update, or whole new Windows 10 version? If so do that and reboot, then try this launcher install again please.

If still no good, do you see Paradox Launcher v2 in the Windows Control Panel to uninstall? If so does it uninstall cleanly, or get an error doing that? You can use this MS tool to clear the stuck install/uninstall:

Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed - Microsoft Support

The Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter helps you automatically repair issues when you're blocked from installing or removing programs.

support.microsoft.com

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


PS: you can run victoria3.exe directly from File Explorer, which bypasses the launcher and this problem.

 

[MiAnRa86]

Thank you for your reply.
I already checked those points and did so again.
Unfurtunatelly there is still the same error.
New Logiles attaced.

PS: I know abaout the .exe bypass, but I do bypass steam as well, right?
Its not just abaout Vivky3, most of my other Paradox Games now need this new Launcher and do not work anymore through steam.
Are DLCs still applied if I bypass through .exe?
Are Steam Achievments still tracked?
Thanks for clarification.

BR

 

[AndrewT]

Its not just abaout Vivky3, most of my other Paradox Games now need this new Launcher and do not work anymore through steam.

They all use the same installation of the same launcher (which is part of the point of the launcher in fact), so naturally the same problem will occur from any of them.

PS: I know abaout the .exe bypass, but I do bypass steam as well, right?

That's right.

Are DLCs still applied if I bypass through .exe?

Typically they will be for a while, but at some point they will need to be re-authenticated by a proper Steam connection, or they will be disabled.

Are Steam Achievments still tracked?

They ought to be earned, but will not be acknowledged until you connect via Steam in the future. I'm not sure how thoroughly that functionality is tested with all these games though.


Did that MS utility find anything to fix or remove, in terms of stuck installs? Does our launcher show as installed in the control panel still?

 

[MiAnRa86]

Thank you for your reply.
So bypassing the Launcher is not the intended solution.

MS Utility did not find anything to fix.
The Paradox Launcher does not show as installed.

In the meantime I follow another tipp on the web.
I extracted Launcher.zip to the following location:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Programs\Paradox Interactive\
(created the "Paradox Interactive" folder manually.)

I can now start the launcher through executable file. (it is not shown as installed in the control panal though)
But once I start through Steam it is not recognised and wants to be installed with same Error as usual.

Frustration Levels are rising - I hope you do have any more ideas
BR

 

[AndrewT]

I can now start the launcher through executable file.

That runs it in standalone mode, which is intended for users who do not want to use Steam. So naturally it cannot find your Steam installation of the same game; in fact I'm not even sure this game is supported on that platform.

It seems clear your Windows installer infrastructure has a big problem! You could again uninstall our launcher, and then use the free utilities Ccleaner and revo Uninstaller (I suggest both) to make 100% sure its gone (plus any other stuck installs they might find).

If still no good, try making a new Windows user on this machine and log into it as that. Will the launcher install properly now?

 

[MiAnRa86]

Thanks for the reply and happy new year.

Back to topic
Neither cdcleaner nor revo do see any stuck installation or paradox installation at all - still same error.

I tried to install the launcher on a new windows user - installation hat no issue and worked properly.
Can I install it through an other user to my main account?

BR

 

[AndrewT]

Can I install it through an other user to my main account?

I don't know enough about how Windows handles user profiles to answer that for sure, I'm sorry. I suspect the answer is "no", but if you have access to any form of Windows support you might ask there. Also if they have any suggestion how to deal with this issue, which is in the Windows installation infrastructure (msiexec.exe basically).

 

[ian0523]

sorry my english is really bad
I have the same issue
and i ask chatgpt how 2 fix it
and it work!!

it gave me a code that tap in powershell
it will repire all file

the fix log in GPT sorry for chinese u can translate it

• 找出錯誤關鍵：Error 1606. Could not access network location _\
• 確認「User Shell Folders」中有遺失或錯誤的值（像是 Personal）
• 幫你產出完整的修復腳本來一次修正所有關聯資料夾
• 終於讓 Paradox Launcher 安裝成功