Something in Patch 2.8 locks me out of DLCs

[NewbieOne]

I've tried:

• the solution from 'Known Issues'
• deleting dlc_signature
  
• renaming the DLC folder
• reinstalling the game and Steam + resets

all to no avail. The DLC tab is greyed out.

Steam says I have to contaxt P-dox Support. I can't contact P-dox Support because it won't let me log in — it says something about Zendesk hostname not allowed. So I had to post here.

Reverting to 2.7.2 restores all of my DLCs and shows Jade Dragon among them.

 

[AndrewT]

Please do a full **clean** re-install:

- move any valued save games elsewhere
- "uninstall" in Steam-CK2
- manually delete both the Steam/SteamApps/common/CK2 AND Documents/Paradox/CK2 folders
- re-install game in Steam, run a Steam Verify when done.
- start the game with no mods active and test

In particular make sure there are no files or folders left under either the Steam CK2 or Documents CK2 locations, before installing again.

 

[NewbieOne]

Hi, Andrew. Thanks. This is how I did it at first. Also did this again now, anyway: clean reinstall => verify => launch through Library. The result is still the same: The game does not recreate the folder in Documents, and the launcher fails to load, though the application/process shows as running and Steam sees the game as running. Basically nothing happens — it's not listed as not responding, but it shows 0% CPU load and 8MB mem load.

 

[AndrewT]

Something is blocking access to Documents then. What antivirus app do you use? Add steam.exe and ck2game.exe to its Exceptions list.

 

[Lithros]

I was able to fix this simply by closing down Steam and reopening it. It seems to be an issue with the DLC package not being completely loaded after purchase until restarting Steam.

 

[NewbieOne]

I don't actually have anything blocking access. Specifically disabled the antivirus to check. Permissions are okay too.

Reinstalling Steam didn't help either, but I may have failed to find some of Steam's settings to delete (outside of its home folder in Program Files).

 

[AndrewT]

I don't actually have anything blocking access.

Well, something sure is! I focus on your AV because that is the most common cause of such things, and because it will be cool with your older .exe version but be suspicious of the updated one in the patch.

Use Notepad to make a new text file called userdir.txt in the Steam CK2 folder where ck2game.exe is. 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.

Do you have access to any other computer, to do a trial installation on?

You're not in a beta version of Steam, are you?

 

[NewbieOne]

Thanks, but didn't work. The game still fails to create the files. Antivirus disabled. No beta Steam.

 

[NewbieOne]

Hey, Andrew. COMODO is the issue (after its latest update). Somehow, it managed to sandbox ck2game.exe even when not running. Something about how you were sure something must have been blocking access made me desperate enough to see if relaunching COMODO and disabling its sandbox crap would work. And it did. The game actually ignored userdir.txt in its main folder but recreated the subfolder in Documents just fine. I can go get my Imperial Mail Order bride right away (unfortunately doesn't work in real life ). Thanks!