CK II won't start

[unmerged(764228)]

I just formatted my computer b/c and reinstalled Steam and then reinstalled CK II. After the installation is complete and I run CK II, I open up to the window where you can choose MODS and click Start CK II, the game never starts up. Has any1 had this problem? Thanks!!

 

[AndrewT]

Please try installing:

First: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5555

After that: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=8328

Then: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35
(If that doesn't do anything then http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109 )

Then: visit the Windows Update site and allow it to apply all .NET updates/patches it wants to, for all .NET versions.


Then right-click on ck2.exe and ck2game.exe and set them to run as the Admin user, and to disable desktop composition.
And then check if you can run the game after that.

 

[unmerged(769488)]

I have the exact same problem as OP and the solutions AndrewT suggested do not work. Nothing in the Steam or Paradox support files work. I have spent three hours now trying to get this game to play but all I can do is get to the launch window, click "PLAY CKII!!!" and then... nothing.

I've tried launching the game via the ck2.exe file and only get this message: "The program can't start because d3dx9_41.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem."

I can get to the game launch window if I try to play it through Steam or by using the desktop shortcut, but again: once I click "Play CK2!" from there the window closes and nothing happens.

Note: I have no problem running any other games downloaded from Steam. Just this one. Is this game as super buggy as this forum suggests? Because frankly I'm at the end of my rope here. I can understand needing to do a few work arounds for bugs, etc. to get a game to play but this is ridiculous.

 

[unmerged(769488)]

Update:

D'oh, I feel like an idiot. I never updated DirectX after I did a fresh install of my system a while back. After going to the official Microsoft website and downloading/installing the latest DirectX the game now launches fine and runs like a charm.

Note: do not download or insteall DirectX from any site that is not the official Microsfot one! A friend of mine did this once after he got lazy with his google search and his machine was messed up pretty bad as a result (viruses, malware, etc.).

 

[IcratoX]

The error indeed was pointing either to directX not at all or not correctly installed on your system, the first downloadlink of AndrewT points towards the Microsoft Download page for the DirectX web installer which should have helped you further And indeed, it is not wise to download stuff like that from non-official sources.