Game failing to launch through Steam.

[Matt2142]

While trying to launch this game through my library in steam, the launching window where you choose mods that you wish to enable pops up and the game immediately crashes saying "CK2game.exe has stopped working"

Now to circumvent this issue, I have gone through
C:/ProgramFiles (x86)/Steam/SteamApps/Common/Crusader Kings II
and I click on the "ck2" application file and it launches immediately and by-passes the launching window and goes right into the game and is fully playable.

Even though this game is fully playable and works properly, it is a hassle and it also bypasses the launching window, meaning that I cannot enable mods.

If there is a way that this can be resolved, I would love to know how this can be so that I would be able to launch this game through Steam and enable mods.

Thank you very much.

 

[AndrewT]

BTW you can enable mods from the command line, add something like this:

-mod=mod/ModName.mod

These can be stacked. DLCs can be added or excluded the same way.

Launcher problems are almost always .NET issues, as it uses .NET and the game itself does not - visit the Windows Update site and allow it to apply all .NET updates/patches it wants to, for all .NET versions.

 

[Matt2142]

I went to the Microsoft website and downloaded the most recent .NET framework. (That being 4.5.1) I attempted to run the game again, and the same thing, CK2Game.exe has stopped working.

Also, where would I type that command into? Would that work even if I was circumventing launching through the launcher and used the C:/ProgramFiles (x86)/Steam/SteamApps/Common/Crusader Kings II/ck2.exe path?

 

[AndrewT]

You'd have to make a desktop shortcut to ck2.exe, the target field in that should then look like:
" C:/ProgramFiles (x86)/Steam/SteamApps/Common/Crusader Kings II/ck2.exe" -mod=mod/ModName.mod

My laptop only has .NET 4 installed (which I know is different from 4.5.x) and it works fine, so try installing that http://www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=17851

If that's already there, or doesn't help, try the .NET repair tool http://www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=30135

 

[Matt2142]

First I want to say that you are being incredibly helpful and thank you.
but sadly, secondly I must report that all three of these things have failed me.

The first, works, hooray, but when the game has the loading bar going across the top, it makes it all the way to the right, indicating that it is loaded and instead of going to the menu, the screen goes black and it crashes to the desktop saying "ck2.exe has stopped working" (I was attempting to play the A Game of Thrones mod by the way)

Second. I attempted to, and successfully installed that but when i restarted my computer and attempted to reload through steam, the launcher crashed again. I just don't know what is happening.

Finally, I used the .NET repair tool. it did it's job. I clicked through it as it did things. Once it was done, I restarted, and tried to run CK2 through steam again and it failed at the launcher as it has been doing.

Do you know if there is anything else that could be the issue? If you or anyone has any idea I will give you any and all information necessary to figuring out how to make this work(either thing, the mod or the game launcher through steam) because without the launcher I can't even run the mods I have purchased.

Thank you so much again for your time and assistance.

 

[Matt2142]

I figured out what was wrong with the mod, outdated version, that was incompatible with the v1.111 (MLYP) CKII version. After updating that the target command -mod=mod/A Game of Thrones.mod works and I am able to launch the mod though the back way.

Sadly I can't get the launcher to work still. I've verified the integrity of the cache via Steam. I've tried to run as admin, I've tried to run in compatibility mode. I've tried to run through the troubleshooting options. Nothing seems to be working. That is my update so far.

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

Not knowing if relevant, but i ask anway.

Have you got all x86 and x64 versions of VisualC++ of 2008 and 2010 ?

Altogether i got six. Four versions( incl.updates) for the 2008 one and two for the 2010.
Maybe a missing one might cause this.

AndrewT , please correct me if this is nonsense or if it might make sense.:unsure:
Thanks

 

[Matt2142]

I'll one up you on number of VisualC++ I have.

I have:
(2) 2005,
(1) 2005 x64
(3) 2008 x64
(3) 2008 x86
(1) 2010 x64
and (1) 2010 x86
all together I have 11 Microsoft Visual C++ versions installed, could that be too many?

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

I'll one up you on number of VisualC++ I have.

I have:
(2) 2005,
(1) 2005 x64
(3) 2008 x64
(3) 2008 x86
(1) 2010 x64
and (1) 2010 x86
all together I have 11 Microsoft Visual C++ versions installed, could that be too many?

To many ? No.
My number was excluding windows 'KBnumber' updates though.
I wonder why you got three each for the 2008 one. I got two each. Also i got two x64 and one standard for the 2005 instead.
You got Windows 7, right ?
Of NET i only got 4.5.


I don't really know though if this is really relevant, let's see what AndrewT has to say on this....

 

[AndrewT]

So what exact .NET versions are now installed? My laptop just shows
Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile
Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Extended

My Visual C++ installations list 3 iterations each of 2008 32bit 9.0 and 2008 64bit 9.0.x, and one each of 2010 32bit 10.0 and 2010 64bit 10.0.x .


Also have you tried exiting Steam and manually running ck2game.exe (the launcher) ? Does that show any error or message if/when it fails?

What anti-virus app do you have? Have you whitelisted the two .exe files in it? The same goes for any firewall software you might have active.

 

[Matt2142]

I have .NEt Framework 4 Client profile and Extended as well.

For the Visual C++ I have:
2008 x64 9.0.30729.17
2008 x64 9.0.30729.4148
2008 x64 9.0.30729.6161
2008 x86 9.0.30729
2008 x86 9.0.30729.4148
2008 x86 9.0.30729.6161
2010 x64 10.0.40219
2010 x86 10.0.40219

I have tried to launch the launcher without steam manually and it fails in just the same way.

I used Microsoft security essentials, and yes I have whitelisted both the ck2game.exe and ck2.exe files.

 

[AndrewT]

Well that all looks fine, I really have no idea what your problem is, sorry. What if you copy the whole CK2 directory structure out from under the system path to somewhere new, such as c:\ck2\ ? Any change?

 

[Matt2142]

Do you mean move the CK2 file from /steamapps/common/ to somewhere else like the desktop? If so, that failed.

I don't know what to do anymore either. Also, do you know if there is a way for me to launch one of the mods I own using the target command like I do for the mod?

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

Do you mean move the CK2 file from /steamapps/common/ to somewhere else like the desktop? If so, that failed.

Try to copy the CK2 game folder just into C:, or if you got another hard drive, then there.
You should be able/have permission to do so. You should know your admin password if necessary, right.
Then try to launch the ck2game.exe manually.

With your second question, if you meant DLCs, it should work to edit the settings.txt file.

 

[AndrewT]

Do you mean move the CK2 file from /steamapps/common/ to somewhere else like the desktop? If so, that failed.

I don't know what to do anymore either. Also, do you know if there is a way for me to launch one of the mods I own using the target command like I do for the mod?

I assume you mean DLCs; they should all load automatically, and you'd have to use the -excludedlc command to prevent certain ones from loading. You could try -forcedlc .

 

[Matt2142]

I moved the entire Crusader Kings II folder from steam apps/common/ to just C:/ and it still failed. Ugh...

Also, I did mean DLC. Sadly they do not load automatically. I have the sword of islam, ruler designer, Old gods. Yet I can't access any features (ie. Playing as muslim or pagans)

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

I moved the entire Crusader Kings II folder from steam apps/common/ to just C:/ and it still failed. Ugh...

Oh, i was under the impression that copying the folder failed before. Sorry then. So it failed to start the ck2game.exe, eh. Hmm.. Seems it's not a Steam issue then at least.

Also, I did mean DLC. Sadly they do not load automatically. I have the sword of islam, ruler designer, Old gods. Yet I can't access any features (ie. Playing as muslim or pagans)

Maybe we should try a clean and complete uninstallation and reinstall then ? Let's see what AndrewT has to say there.

 

[Matt2142]

I have uninstalled the game 3 times. I would prefer not to un- and re-install steam because I have about 25 games downloaded all with varying levels of completeness. Especially because I would be really bothered if I lose all my progress in all my games and this doesn't work.

Also, I tried the -forcedlc it didn't work.

Oddly, when I play the game, when it opens, I get a hint screen that talks about me not playing as a pagan and stuff about pagan. That has been popping up since I first played the game, so it has nothing to do with -forcedlc addition to my target on the ck2.exe shortcut on the desktop.

AndrewT do you have any idea or advice left?

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

I have uninstalled the game 3 times. I would prefer not to un- and re-install steam because I have about 25 games downloaded all with varying levels of completeness. Especially because I would be really bothered if I lose all my progress in all my games and this doesn't work.

Also, I tried the -forcedlc it didn't work.

Oddly, when I play the game, when it opens, I get a hint screen that talks about me not playing as a pagan and stuff about pagan. That has been popping up since I first played the game, so it has nothing to do with -forcedlc addition to my target on the ck2.exe shortcut on the desktop.

AndrewT do you have any idea or advice left?

I see. Did you unistall through Steam and the proceeded to delete the game folder (if its left over) and the CK2 folder in 'Documents' manually thereafter ?
To delete the folder in documents as well is/can be important.


It's probably not Steam related, so i see no need to re or uninstall Steam.
Though i believe there is a way to simply move Steam out of 'Program Files' without the need to reinstall games, to circumvent any problems caused by security settings in Windows.
Hmm...wondering if there might be a problem for the launcher to access the files in the 'documents' folder in your case, but i doubt it.


As AndrewT is, as far as i know, on the Steam forums as well, he should know about Steam related problems.
I'm just guessing regarding Steam, though the launcher has nothing to do with Steam...err...it's confusing.
Sorry, just my 2cents.

 

[AndrewT]

So just to be clear: you copied the whole CK2 folder and sub-folders from under Steam to somewhere new like c:\ck2\ ? And included in that is the DLC folder and files, so c:\ck2\dlc\ and files in there like dlc001.zip/dlc001.dlc ?

Now create a file in c:\ck2\ with Notepad called userdir.txt , and just put a single dot (.) in it. This makes the game use c:\ck2\ for the user files like settings.txt , savegames and so on. Now run just ck2.exe from c:\ck2\ manually, which will create those files and folders at default settings. Exit it, and make a desktop shortcut pointing to it, the Target field should say "c:\ck2\ck2.exe" -forcedlc , and now run that shortcut - it really should work!