Paradox games wont launch from steam

[Loreanya]

All my Paradox games ck2, eu4 and stellaris are not launching from steam when i hit play.

CK2 - i can see it running for a while on the steam library bar and then nothing happens.
EU4 - Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library. Runtime Error!
Stellaris - Click play on steam.Look at the steam library bar. It runs and then tries to synchronize but stops.

I am running steam and all the games as admin

I did a clean uninstall and install and verified integrity of all of them

I have ran
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\game name\ _CommonRedist\DirectX\Jun2010\dxsetup.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\game name\ _CommonRedist\vcredist\2010\vcredist_x86.exe and vcredist_x64.exe

Disabled firewall (windows defender). It did nothing.
Updated my drivers using AMD Catalyst Control. Ditto
And i am not running any third party apps that i know of.

If you could help me out i would appreciate it.

 

[AndrewT]

Not a forum problem, so moved.

 

[AndrewT]

Did they all stop working at the same time? Or there were periods when some worked and some didn't?

Between the last time one of them ran OK, and the first time one of them had this problem, what changes or updates were there to your Windows or computer? A new antivirus app perhaps?


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/XXX/settings.txt for each game
From your Documents/Paradox/XXX/logs/ folder, attach system.log for each game

 

[Loreanya]

Ck2 was the first one to stop about 10 days ago. I bought couple days back Stellaris and donwloaded it and it would not start. So to test i downloaded EU4 back after 2 months of not playing it and it would not start aswell.

There has been one or two small windows updates between this month. I have done alot of updates on my C++ to try if that would help. About a new antivirus app i have no idea.

At the moment i do not have Documents/Paradox/ folder. I deleted it after the countless of clean and not so clean uninstalls. And steam has not downloaded them back

DXDIAG file attached

 

[Nocchi575]

I have clean installs of CK2 EUIV and Stellaris and do not thus have settings files, I have the same issue.

Task manager shows the games running but they freeze at random data usage values, none of the launchers show up but steam still says I am in game, clearly the executables are active but stuck somewhere along the process.

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

(edit) Disclaimer: i'm just another forum member

Seeing it#s an AMD Radeon driver, while not sure if relevant i post this here for tech support:
Recent AMD driver(s) caused issues on old Directx 9 dependant games:
http://www.pcgamer.com/amd-vows-to-fix-adrenalin-driver-bug-affecting-some-directx-9-games/
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/amd-releases-adrenalin-driver-directx-9-issues,36365.html

There is also an interesting reddit thread in the AMD subreddit, but i don't post it as that would be against forum rules..
hint: .... /r/Amd/comments/7ncr3y/regarding_amd_and_the_lack_of_directx_9_support_a/

Driver 18.1.1 is supposed to fix that it seems.

Might not be relevant as i read in an older post:

The games crash with an error stating “Fatal error: Exception in exception handler.” It was discovered that the issue is only present with driver releases after and including 17.12.1--AMD’s last major driver release, which is called Adrenalin.

But i have no idea if that's representative of the issue or was only so in a single or few cases.
So this might have nothing to do with it, but who knows.
I don't know.

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

, I have the same issue.

You might have a different cause and not even the same (true) symptoms actually.
Start your own thread to avoid confusions, as is common in this subforum.
That's what i would recommend.
Cheers

 

[Loreanya]

Seeing it#s an AMD Radeon driver, while not sure if relevant i post this here for tech support:
Recent AMD driver(s) caused issues on old Directx 9 dependant games:
http://www.pcgamer.com/amd-vows-to-fix-adrenalin-driver-bug-affecting-some-directx-9-games/
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/amd-releases-adrenalin-driver-directx-9-issues,36365.html

There is also an interesting reddit thread in the AMD subreddit, but i don't post it as that would be against forum rules..
hint: .... /r/Amd/comments/7ncr3y/regarding_amd_and_the_lack_of_directx_9_support_a/

Driver 18.1.1 is supposed to fix that it seems.

Might not be relevant as i read in an older post:

But i have no idea if that's representative of the issue or was only so in a single or few cases.
So this might have nothing to do with it, but who knows.
I don't know.

I have updated my driver but it is 15.201.1151.1008 and not 18.1.1 did i do something wrong there?

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

I have updated my driver but it is 15.201.1151.1008 and not 18.1.1 did i do something wrong there?

Oops... as it was intended as an infopost i forgot to post a disclaimer.
I'm just a forum member.

Hard to say not knowing the specifics of your card, what you downloaded and if you got a laptop or desktop computer
and if that 7480D is the APU or a seperate dedicated card.

Tech support should know, but as i said before, my post might be unrelated.

PS on earlier post of yours:

At the moment i do not have Documents/Paradox/ folder. I deleted it after the countless of clean and not so clean uninstalls. And steam has not downloaded them back

The CK2 folder in Documents/Paradox In../ gets created on game start. As you deleted your earlier one it likely couldn't get recreated yet.

 

[Loreanya]

Oops... as it was intended as an infopost i forgot to post a disclaimer.
I'm just a forum member.


The CK2 folder in Documents/Paradox In../ gets created on game start. As you deleted your earlier one it likely couldn't get recreated yet.

Hahah thanks for trying to help About the Documents/Paradox I thought as much.

 

[Loreanya]

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.

Looking at the bottom of the txt file


+++ WER9 +++:
Fault bucket 109219020369, type 1
Event Name: APPCRASH
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: stellaris.exe
P2: 1.0.0.0
P3: 59edf336
P4: pops_api.dll <---------- Is this the PROBLEM?? and what should i do with it?
P5: 0.0.0.0
P6: 5942b588
P7: c0000005
P8: 0002a817
P9:
P10:

 

[AndrewT]

If none of these games create their Documents folders, you either have an AV app problem, or have moved your Documents folder so the games cannot find it.


What AV app do you use? Add steam.exe and all the game .exe files to its Exceptions list. If it's BitDefender you also need to add them to its Safe Files list.



One more possibility that can cause the failure to create the Documents/Paradox Interactive/ folder, is if the Documents folder has previously been moved so the game can't find it. Is that possible?

Use Notepad to make a new text file called userdir.txt in the Steam folder where the games' exe files are. In that file place a single dot, save and exit. This tells the game to write the user files right there instead of under Documents. If that works and the game now runs, you can replace that dot with any file path you like.

 

[Loreanya]

I just made a double check of my apps and there are no antivirus apps there that i have downloaded. I have only used the default Windows Defender.

All 3 games are on the exception list. Is it possible that Windows downloads some other firewall without my knowing?


About the Documents/Paradox Interactive/ folder I deleted it after many clean and unclean installs.

Me trying to launch the game
-Created txt file named userdir.txt which only containd a single dot to Steam/steamapps/common/game name and saved it.
-Disabled Windows Firewall " just to be safe "
-Run game name as administrator
-Beat my head at the keyboard

Do i need to uninstall/install Windows 10.

 

[AndrewT]

All 3 games are on the exception list. Is it possible that Windows downloads some other firewall without my knowing?

Firewalls are not an issue, we are solely talking about antivirus apps.

-Created txt file named userdir.txt which only containd a single dot to Steam/steamapps/common/game name and saved it.

That should have created files like settings.txt and /logs/system.log in that samne folder instead of under Documents. Did that happen with any/all of these games?


If you exit the Steam app entirely and just run the game .exe files, do you get any new error or message?


If you run all these installers again, what exactly happens with each one?
Please go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Europa Universalis IV\_CommonRedist\DirectX\Jun2010\ and run dxsetup.exe
Please go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Europa Universalis IV\_CommonRedist\vcredist\2010\ and run vcredist_x86.exe and vcredist_x64.exe
Please go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Europa Universalis IV\_CommonRedist\DotNet\4.0 Client Profile\ and run dotNetFx40_Client_x86_x64.exe


Do you have any of these apps installed:
FRAPS
Plays.tv
MSI Gaming app
Evolve gaming VPN
RadeonPro
Asus AI Suite 3
AMD Gaming Evolved
Rivatuner
Roccat mouse/keyboard (hardware)
Prismatik for Lightpack
MSI Afterburner

All of them have been a problem for one or other of these games over the years, although admittedly not all of these games for any one of them.

 

[Loreanya]

Looks like i dont have any antivirus apps. I thought Windows Defender was one

Userdir.txt did not create any files to any of them.

If i run a game while out of steam via exe files
CK2 nothing happens no error message or steam opening
EU4 ditto
Stellaris ditto
Looking at Task Manager while launching them nothing they wont even show up
But Antimalware Service Executable
Windows Defender Antivirus Service sky rockets from 0% 30%


.....dxsetup.exe Runs without a problem. Check
.....vcredist_x both 86 and 64 I run repair and they work. Check
.....dotNetFx40_Client_x86_x64.exe "Installation will not occur Details 1. Microsoft .NET Framework 4 I already have it. 2 Same or higher cersion"

I had Plays.tv, AMD Gaming Evolved and Quick Stream after i updated my drivers but i deleted them via control panel.

 

[Loreanya]

UPDATE!!!!!!!!! SOLUTION!!!!!!

I had allowed all three games+steam through my Windows Firewall and NOT Virus&Threat protection.

I clicked "Virus&threat protection setting". Scrolled down to "Controlled folder access". Allowed all my games+steam through it.

After that i went to "Properties" of each games exe file and selected "Compatibility". CHANGE settings for ALL users. ticked the Run as administrator. KABOOM! I can run all games without a problem. I still have userdir.txt in all my games but after i started ck2 it created Paradox folder in my documents.

A huge thank you to you Andrew!!

 

[AndrewT]

I had allowed all three games+steam through my Windows Firewall and NOT Virus&Threat protection.

So to be clear for others (as you can see there may be others here affected!): you go into Windows Defender Security Center, Virus & Threat Protection, Virus & Threat Protection settings. You didn't disable "Controlled Folder Access", but instead you allowed the steam and game .exe files through, is that right?

Note you'll also find that the Documents folder is in there under Protected Folders, you should probably remove that (although I couldn't immediately see how to do that!).

After that i went to "Properties" of each games exe file and selected "Compatibility". CHANGE settings for ALL users. ticked the Run as administrator.

This should not at all be necessary - are you sure you had to do that too?

 

[Loreanya]

When i had trouble launching the games. I had ONLY added the games on my FIREWALL exeptions and not the virus one.

That is right I did not disable the "Controlled Folder Access" instead alloowed the steam and game.exe files through via "Allow an app through controlled folder access"

To be honest i did not experience any problems while testing couple hours with the Documents paradox folder being as it is.
But I have now added Documents Paradox folder to "Exclusions" on Windows Defender Antivirus.

About the Administrator. I did that just to be sure i have the rights for them.


EDIT..
Ck2 only patches to version 2.7.2 and under
EU4 1.9.2 and under
Stellaris 1.8.3 and under

Will try installing them back and see if i cant get the latest patches working.

 

[Loreanya]

Looks like im not out of the waters with this one XD

The same three games are not updating to the latest released versions
CK2 the highest beta i can use is 2.7.2 aswell as "Open Beta use at own risk"
EU4 1.9.2
Stellaris 1.8.3
No idea whats going on now.

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

Looks like im not out of the waters with this one XD

The same three games are not updating to the latest released versions
CK2 the highest beta i can use is 2.7.2 aswell as "Open Beta use at own risk"

You won't get the latest version by using a Beta option, obviously.
Choose "None - Opt out of all beta programs".

Then Steam will download the standard and thus latest released patch,
depending on your Steam settings on download times.