Paradox launcher don't work (only process in task manager)

[Fox_1n]

Clean install Windows 11, install - steam - and Cities Skylines 2, when I tried to start the game, nothing happened. I see launcher in task manager (3 process running), but start window dont open.
I tried reinstalling launcher (steam version from game directory and from this website with all recomedation from this forum), reinstalling game / steam / windows ... nothing happened.

Please help, i cant play paradox games any more...

 

[AndrewT]

Does this also happen from HOI4, Stellaris and CSL 1?

If so 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.
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.

Note that you can run hoi4.exe and stellaris.exe directly from File Explorer, which bypasses the launcher. This will not work for either CSL game though.

 

[Fox_1n]

Does this also happen from HOI4, Stellaris and CSL 1?

If so 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.
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.

Note that you can run hoi4.exe and stellaris.exe directly from File Explorer, which bypasses the launcher. This will not work for either CSL game though.

Did all recomendation and this didn't help
Attached logs

 

[AndrewT]

Does this also happen from HOI4, Stellaris and CSL 1?

There should be a cpatch.log file in that folder too, thanks.

 

[Fox_1n]

Does this also happen from HOI4, Stellaris and CSL 1?

There should be a cpatch.log file in that folder too, thanks.

Today try uninstall Paradox Launcher, clean up all paradox folders, and install Stellaris...and get the same result, paradox launcher won't work, only 3 procces running...
Attached logs, cpatch.log wasn't there... see screenshot please

 

[AndrewT]

Does this also happen from HOI4, Stellaris and CSL 1?

Does E:\Paradox Launcher\launcher-v2.2023.11\Paradox Launcher.exe exist? If so what happens when you run it directly?

 

[Fox_1n]

Does this also happen from HOI4, Stellaris and CSL 1?

Does E:\Paradox Launcher\launcher-v2.2023.11\Paradox Launcher.exe exist? If so what happens when you run it directly?

Yes, this also happens with Stellaris.
Dont know about CSL 1, dont have it to test.

HOI4 brigns something new experience. After uninstall Paradox Launcher and clearing cache, and other files from
- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Roaming/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/

Launcher finally opens (image1, image2, image3), only after HOI installation....but its work once and no Cities 2 here. After rebooting PC and trying to start HOI get alert window, says about wrong install and force me to reinstall launcher (image 4)...and get another error (image 5).

When i start steam as admin user this window not appear, and launcher wont opens (only 3 process in task manager)

At last In logs directory the cpatch file appeared.

image6 - launcher directory, seems strange for me, 3 dif version? attached forr some reason, may be help for something

 

[AndrewT]

Dont know about CSL 1, dont have it to test.

It is in the icons under your forum name here ... ?!? That's why I mentioned it.

From those shots an old launcher version has installed but has had some problem updating itself. Can I get new copies of the 4 launcher logs please.

 

[Fox_1n]

It is in the icons under your forum name here ... ?!? That's why I mentioned it.

From those shots an old launcher version has installed but has had some problem updating itself. Can I get new copies of the 4 launcher logs please.

Yeah, sry, dont understand, i think CSL 1 is crusader kings (dont know why...)
Atached new logs and screenshots when hoi and csl 2 run's differently...

 

[AndrewT]

eah, sry, dont understand, i think CSL 1 is crusader kings (dont know why...)

CSL = Cities Skylines


Your launcher is installed at E:\Paradox Launcher\ instead of the default location
C:/users/{username}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2024.2/paradox launcher.exe

While that ought to work , can you do another clean reinstall as per the above, but install in that location instead please? making sure to run steam.exe as Windows ADmin.

 

[Fox_1n]

While that ought to work , can you do another clean reinstall as per the above, but install in that location instead please? making sure to run steam.exe as Windows ADmin.

Reinstall to default directory C:\Users\afrol\AppData\Local\Programs\Paradox Interactive and its dont help me to solve the problem.
Launcher ver. launcher-v2.2021.8.2 work fine first launch, after downloading update to launcher-v2.2024.2 and reopened its broke, and never open anymore.

Screens and logs attached

 

[AndrewT]

Does this file exist?
C:\Users\afrol\appdata\Local\Programs\Paradox Interactive\launcher-v2.2024.2\Paradox Launcher.exe

If so what happens when you double click on it? Note that it will not show this game, the point is to see if the current launcher works at all on this computer.

 

[Fox_1n]

Does this file exist?
C:\Users\afrol\appdata\Local\Programs\Paradox Interactive\launcher-v2.2024.2\Paradox Launcher.exe

If so what happens when you double click on it? Note that it will not show this game, the point is to see if the current launcher works at all on this computer.

Yes, .exe file exist and when double click it... nothing happens, only 3 process in task manager (see screen pl). If i try to launch previos ver. C:\Users\afrol\AppData\Local\Programs\Paradox Interactive\launcher-v2.2021.8.2\Paradox Launcher.exe its work fine but wanna update...

 

[AndrewT]

I see, then there is something wrong in Windows here that prevents that updated launcher from running. Quite what I do not know.

Make a new Windows user on this computer and log into it with that. Go into Startup apps and disable everything, then reboot and log in as that new user again. Does C:\Users\afrol\appdata\Local\Programs\Paradox Interactive\launcher-v2.2024.2\Paradox Launcher.exe now run?

 

[Fox_1n]

1. Whats wrong with clean installed windows 11?
2. Why launcher-v2.2021.8.2 is running fine?

Its app problem 99%. You can try install windows 11, then install launcher 1st app...

How i can contact with tech support or developers?

 

[AndrewT]

1. If I knew that I would have solved it for you already!
2. Presumably whatever it is in WIndows causing this problem, does not affect this app as it was 2.5 years ago. A LOT has been added to the app since then!

Its app problem 99%. You can try install windows 11, then install launcher 1st app...

If it is a launcher bug, why is it not affecting everyone with the identical launcher version?


Please try these two Windows tools:
.NET

Microsoft .NET Framework Repair Tool is available - Microsoft Support

Describes the .NET Framework Repair Tool and how to obtain it.

support.microsoft.com

SCANNOW:

Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files - Microsoft Support

Describes how to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files in Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows Vista.

support.microsoft.com

How i can contact with tech support or developers?

I am in tech support. The launcher developers use this forum for support.


If all the above does not help,

• Right click the game in question in Steam > Properties > Launch Options
• Paste in this: --pdxlDebug
• Run the game
• Once it fails to launch, locate the logs in the following place

%LocalAppData%\Paradox Interactive\launcher-v2\logs\
(example: C:\Users\{user}\AppData\Local\Paradox Interactive\launcher-v2\logs\)


Please attach all logs in that folder and we will check them out.

 

[Fox_1n]

Damn, i reinstalled windows 11 (clean install, keep nothing). After that, dont instal any apps/drivers/vendors soft/steam....
Absolutelly clean windows 11, next step inslall Paradox Launcher v2 using this link https://www.paradoxinteractive.com/our-games/launcher
As a result - launcher dont work...logs attached

 

[Fox_1n]

If all the above does not help,

• Right click the game in question in Steam > Properties > Launch Options
• Paste in this: --pdxlDebug
• Run the game
• Once it fails to launch, locate the logs in the following place

%LocalAppData%\Paradox Interactive\launcher-v2\logs\
(example: C:\Users\{user}\AppData\Local\Paradox Interactive\launcher-v2\logs\)


Please attach all logs in that folder and we will check them out.

Install steam, install HOI 4, use --pdxlDebug
logs attached

 

[AndrewT]

Now there isn't even a cpatch.log , and as you can see those detailed logs are empty. I have no idea what could be causing this to you (and AFAIK to you alone).

That link you used is a REALLY old installer, even the ones that come with the games are newer and better; 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.

Install from here:

https://launcher.paradoxinteractive.com/v2/paradox-launcher-installer-windows

THEN
- exit the Steam app entirely
- run steam.exe as the Windows Admin user
- run the game from the PLAY button in Steam


If no good still, Please install and run the free utility Speccy. Send its output to a text file and attach that here, thanks.

Speccy - Free Download

Download Speccy - the System Information tool

www.ccleaner.com

 

[Fox_1n]

None of what you asked me to do helped for me. But, I've finally solved this problem. As i say before, there was 3 process in task manager after launching any game, and ill try close (end task) them one by one. One of them conflict each others, when i close it everything works fine. Important close coorect one and wait few sec

Hope it helps someone

p.s. its 100% app problem so