BATTLETECH - Black screen after company logos

[Alverant]

One line summary of your issue
Black screen after company logos

What platform are you running the game on?
Steam

What operating system do you use?
Win 10

Which version of the game are you running?
latest

What DLC do you have installed?
Flashpoint, Urban Warfare, Shadowhawk Pack, Heavy Metal

Please explain your issue is in as much detail as possible.
This started in December a few weeks after I installed BTA. I would start the game but after the HBS, Paradox, and Unity splash screens there would just be a black screen and mouse icon. I figured it was BTA and took a break from it. Tonight I uninstalled the game, deleted the BTA files left behind, and reinstalled the game again and the same thing is happening. I can't even get the base game to play. Does anyone know what is wrong and how to fix it? Note, I can move the mouse and tab to another program. I just can't get to the opening video or menu.

Have you tried verifying your files?
Yes

Steps to reproduce the issue
Start the game. Screen goes black after Unity splash screen

Attach DxDiag (PC), System Info log (Mac), or run sudo lshw -html > specs.html and uploaded specs.html (Linux)
File(s) attached

Attach Output Log
Windows: \Users\YourUserName\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BATTLETECH\output_log.txt
Mac OS: Users >{name} > Library > Logs > Unity > Player.log
Linux: ~/.config/unity3d/Harebrained Schemes/BATTLETECH/Player.log
File(s) attached

If the game crashed, please attach the crash file with the time stamp closest to the crash.
Windows: [Steam library folder]\steamapps\common\BATTLETECH\DumpBox
For v.17 and beyond try here: C:\Users\[YourUserName]\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BATTLETECH
OSX: Macintosh HD > Users > [username] > Library > Application Support > Steam > steamapps > common > BattleTech > DumpBox
Linux: [Steam library folder]/steamapps/common/BATTLETECH/DumpBox
File(s) attached

If a save game was loaded at the start of the game session, upload it. Please make sure to upload the save game with the timestamp closest to when you loaded it.
Windows:
Steam: [Steam installation folder]\userdata[SteamID]\637090\remote\C0\SGS1
GOG: 'C:\Users\USER_ID\AppData\Local\GOG.com\Galaxy\Applications\50593543263669699\Storage\Shared\Files\C#\SGS#'
Vanilla:'C:\Users\USER_ID\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BattleTech\C#\SGS#'
OSX:
Steam: Macintosh HD > Users > [username] > Library > Application Support > Steam > userdata > [SteamID] > 637090 > remote > C#> SGS#
GOG: Macintosh HD > Users > [username] > Library > Application Support > GOG.com > Galaxy > Applications > 50593543263669699 > Storage > Shared > Files > C# > SGS#
Vanilla: Macintosh HD > Users > [username]> Library > Application Support > unity.Harebrained Schemes.BattleTech > C# > SGG#
Linux:
Steam: /home/.steam/steam/userdata/[steamID]/637090/remote/C#/SGS#
GOG: /home/[username]/.config/unity3d/Harebrained Schemes/BATTLETECH/remote/C#/SGS#/
Vanilla: /home/[username]/.config/unity3d/Harebrained Schemes/BATTLETECH/remote/C#/SGS#/
File(s) attached

Attach screenshot / video
File(s) attached

 

[AndrewT]

InvalidProtocolBufferException: Protocol message contained an invalid tag (zero).
at Google.Protobuf.CodedInputStream.ReadTag () [0x0011b] in <f9cf94bbbfb041d0abe88cee5be00fc7>:0

Please go to C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BATTLETECH\ and delete the profiles.dat file .
Note it may be under Local, LocalLow or Roaming, depending. To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.

All the best!

 

[Alverant]

That worked. Thank you very much. I wonder how it became an issue in the first place.

 

[AndrewT]

That profile file can get corrupted, we don't know why. I used to think it was due to updating from old to new game versions but that can hardly be the case here.

In any case that error I quoted always points to that problem, so you'll know if it ever happens again.