Surviving Mars - Black screen or lock-up at the start

[Pat_the_Rush]

Description
Black screen or lock-up at the start


Windows


Steam

What is your game version?
228,003

Please explain your issue is in as much detail as possible.
I either get a black screen or a lock-up in main menu. Lock-up meaning I can`t click on anything. But the strangest thing is that I did succeed in playing 3 times (so far) for a total of 7 hours. During that time, everything worked like a charm. No hangup, lag or crash of any sort. But that happened throughout nearly 2 dozens tries. I also uninstall/reinstall 3 times, check integrity of files, checked for video card updates.
Now, while I understand I don`t have recommended specs for the video because the rest is fine, I am beyond the minimum specs one. Here`s my steam info:

Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Model: P55M-UD2
Form Factor: Desktop
No Touch Input Detected

Processor Information:
CPU Vendor: GenuineIntel
CPU Brand: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU 750 @ 2.67GHz
CPU Family: 0x6
CPU Model: 0x1e
CPU Stepping: 0x5
CPU Type: 0x0
Speed: 2131 Mhz
4 logical processors
4 physical processors
HyperThreading: Unsupported
FCMOV: Supported
SSE2: Supported
SSE3: Supported
SSSE3: Supported
SSE4a: Unsupported
SSE41: Supported
SSE42: Supported
AES: Unsupported
AVX: Unsupported
CMPXCHG16B: Supported
LAHF/SAHF: Supported
PrefetchW: Unsupported

Operating System Version:
Windows 7 (64 bit)
NTFS: Supported
Crypto Provider Codes: Supported 311 0x0 0x0 0x0

Video Card:
Driver: AMD Radeon R9 200 Series
DirectX Driver Name: aticfx32.dll
Driver Version: 23.20.15017.3010
DirectX Driver Version: 23.20.15017.3010
Driver Date: 1 31 2018
OpenGL Version: 4.5
Desktop Color Depth: 32 bits per pixel
Monitor Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
DirectX Card: AMD Radeon R9 200 Series
VendorID: 0x1002
DeviceID: 0x6798
Revision Not Detected
Number of Monitors: 1
Number of Logical Video Cards: 1
No SLI or Crossfire Detected
Primary Display Resolution: 1600 x 900
Desktop Resolution: 1600 x 900
Primary Display Size: 22.20" x 12.52" (25.47" diag)
56.4cm x 31.8cm (64.7cm diag)
Primary Bus Type Not Detected
Primary VRAM: -1024 MB
Supported MSAA Modes: 2x 4x 8x

Sound card:
Audio device: Haut-parleurs (Logitech USB Hea

Memory:
RAM: 8187 Mb

Miscellaneous:
UI Language: English
Media Type: DVD
Total Hard Disk Space Available: 1056265 Mb
Largest Free Hard Disk Block: 540797 Mb
OS Install Date: d?c. 31 1969
Game Controller: None detected
VR Headset: None detected

Can you replicate the issue?


Attachments

 

[pixel.perfect]

Not sure, but try to rename your save games or move it to some folder and start without them.

I remove my old game saves. And it's working again. RIP saves (
https://steamcommunity.com/app/464920/discussions/0/1696044439576902211/

 

[AndrewT]

Driver Date: 1 31 2018

Please update your video driver:
http://support.amd.com/en-us/download

If that doesn't help,
Please attach here the game logs:
C:\Users\{Username}\AppData\Roaming\Surviving Mars\logs\

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.

 

[Pat_the_Rush]

Not sure, but try to rename your save games or move it to some folder and start without them.

I remove my old game saves. And it's working again. RIP saves (
https://steamcommunity.com/app/464920/discussions/0/1696044439576902211/

removing the remotecache.vdf didn`t solve the problem but thanks anyway

 

[Pat_the_Rush]

this is today`s update:
Video Card:
Driver: AMD Radeon R9 200 Series
DirectX Driver Name: aticfx32.dll
Driver Version: 23.20.15033.5003
DirectX Driver Version: 23.20.15033.5003
Driver Date: 3 22 2018
Desktop Color Depth: 32 bits per pixel
Monitor Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
DirectX Card: AMD Radeon R9 200 Series

It`s the AMD`s 18.3.4 adrenaline video drivers windows 7 64 bits. To be more precise, have the R9 280x dual fan 3 gb ddr5, which basically is a re-vamped 7970HD. The log I send you is peculiar though, It has error messages stating it can`t find some path or something. I also have several more logs but they seemed to be cut off

 

[AndrewT]

Does this folder actually exist?
C:\Users\Patrice\AppData\Roaming\Surviving Mars\cache

What antivirus app do you use? Add steam.exe and MarsSteam.exe to its Exceptions list.

 

[Pat_the_Rush]

Does this folder actually exist?
C:\Users\Patrice\AppData\Roaming\Surviving Mars\cache

What antivirus app do you use? Add steam.exe and MarsSteam.exe to its Exceptions list.

I have the path. The cache contains 2 files: aidata and ajdata.

I`m using McAfee VirusScan Plus and adding both files in exclusion didn`t solve the issue. I also tried running them as administrator as well.

 

[AndrewT]

You are VERY short of space on your C: drive, I'm surprised Windows has not complained.

Drive: C:
Free Space: 0.9 GB
Total Space: 102.4 GB

You should always have 10% free on C: . Please delete or move files to get to 10gb free at least.

Whether that is causing your problem here I'm not sure, it's all I can see wrong in those files though (aside from the path issue).


If that does not help I'd suggest a full clean reinstall of the game:

- move any valued save games elsewhere; they are under
C:\Users\{UserName}\AppData\Roaming\Surviving Mars\{large number}\
- "uninstall" in Steam-Surviving Mars
- manually delete both the Steam/SteamApps/common/Surviving Mars AND C:\Users\{Username}\AppData\Roaming\Surviving Mars\ folders
- re-install game in Steam, run a Steam Verify when done.
- 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 SM or AppData SM locations, before installing again.