Missing Executable

[Fulax]

Hi,

After updating to 2.6 I was getting a CTD during the initial loading screen (on 'loading databases'), so I tried reinstalling and now the game won't start at all. Steam tells me that the game failed to start due to a missing executable, and there does not seem to be a ck2game.exe file in my /steamapps/common/ck2 folder.

I have tried verifying the integrity of the game cache but it came up clean. I have also done a full reinstall (manually delete the CK2 folders in steamapps and documents) but I get the same error.

I sort of feel like I'm missing something obvious but I can't see it.

I'm using Windows 10 and my system is otherwise fine - apart from my GPU, which is dead, but CK2 has been running fine without one.

Thanks.

 

[vlademer17]

Im having same issue and im on windows 8.1 hopefully a solution can be found.

 

[AndrewT]

This always used to be caused by various anti-virus apps, like Comodo. The game update means it no longer recognizes ck2game.exe as Ok and quarantines it.

 

[Magraev]

I have the exact same problem as the OP. If I browse the game files I can see, that I have no exe file in the root of the game - I do have a 00_get ck exe.bat file, but running it won't work, since it says that it cant download the file.

And I have verified the files cache twice after a reinstall today. Also windows defender have no files in quarantine.

I hope somebody can help us!

ps - I'm onn windows 10

 

[Fulax]

This always used to be caused by various anti-virus apps, like Comodo. The game update means it no longer recognizes ck2game.exe as Ok and quarantines it.

I checked AVG's Virus Vault but there is nothing there. I thought perhaps it only held suspect files temporarily so I reinstalled the game again, but still nothing. I tried looking for it in file explorer but it wasn't in the relevant folders. And I tried downloading the game with AVG disabled, assuming that if it was turned off it wouldn't quarantine anything, but I get the same 'missing executable' error.

I have the exact same problem as the OP. If I browse the game files I can see, that I have no exe file in the root of the game - I do have a 00_get ck exe.bat file, but running it won't work, since it says that it cant download the file.

I also have that .bat file, should that be relevant.

 

[Magraev]

I also have that .bat file, should that be relevant.

I just think it looks like the install maybe failed at some point. Just strange, that I can verify the game on steam, when the .exe is missing...

 

[Benedox]

I also have this exact problem, along with the initial ctd while loading databases, and then with the mysterious batch file. I'm using avira antivirus, but no CK2 files are quarantined. I tried verifying the game cache, doing a clean reinstall (also deleting Documents/Paradox/CK2), but no luck sadly.
This looks like a problem on Paradox's part, hopefully they can provide a solution soon.

I'm running Windows 10 btw.

A few pictures, if they help:

The root folder:

What the batch file does, when opened:

 

[Tymarius]

I have the exactly same problem, something that surfaced only after the 2.6.1 patch and The Reaper's Due hit. The game is currently broken and unplayable for me and I don't know if I can do anything about it.

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

I have the exactly same problem, something that surfaced only after the 2.6.1 patch and The Reaper's Due hit. The game is currently broken and unplayable for me and I don't know if I can do anything about it.

More specifc details could potentially be realy helpful.
Things like operating system, antivirus program and an attached dxdiag report.


The 00_GET CK.EXE batch file is probably in every game folder, though it is new.
I have no issue with the game (on Win7) and got that file too.

 

[Benedox]

More specifc details woud probably be realy helpful.
Things like operating system, antivirus program and an attached dxdiag report.


The 00_GET CK.EXE batch file is probably in every game folder, though it is new.
I have no issue with the game and got it too.

It is new. I tried to roll back to previous versions on steam and, though there were still no executables or dlls, the batch file disappeared with the most recent rollback.

 

[Tymarius]

That's true, my bad.

I run Windows 10 and use Avast and AVG for antivirus, and Comodo for Firewall; I did attempt everything with all three turned off and none of them have classified the game files as dangerous.

Attached is a DxDiag file.

 

[Benedox]

Could it be possible that the culprit is Windows 10 and 8.1? As far as I know anyone who encountered this problem (so far) were using either 10 or 8.1.

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

It is new.-....

Thats what i said.

though it is new

edit

I tried to roll back to previous versions on steam and, though there were still no executables or dlls

So a rollback didn't work either ? Oh,,,,
------------------------
I read of exactly one person reverting his Win10 to before the Anniversary edition and fixing his launch problems, but that might be completely misleading.
I'd rather recommend a full and manual un-and reinstallation first, but let's see what tech support has to say, i propose.

 

[Benedox]

Thats what i said.

Yeah, I misread that part, sorry. It's still worth mentioning that you can't get back previous versions of the executables, even though you had them before the patch hit.

 

[Gilbrilthor]

I am running into this issue as well. The bat file appears to have been left in from development. If you edit the file, you can see that it's trying to reach out to a build server to pull back the latest build. This is common in development.

I believe this is an issue with steam downloading the necessary files. Before, when you downloaded the game, it brought all the files needed to run the game. Now, when you get steam to download the files, It pulls down the new files for the reaper update, but fails to pull several files, one of them being ck2game.exe.

I was lucky in that I had a backup of the game that contained the executable and other missing files. Unfortunately, I now crash at the loading screen on "Loading Database...". I'm still working through this problem, but I have been able to run the older version that I had saved away just fine. It seems that their latest update didn't make it into production without issue.

Here is my relevant specs:
OS: Windows 10 Version 1511 (OS Build 10586.545)
Antivirus: Windows Defender
DxDiag: Attached

 

[AndrewT]

Installation is done by Steam, not our game as such. I have suspicions there is some new problem in the latest Steam version, but regardless of where the problem is why does it only affect a handful of people, not everyone?

Can I ask the affected people to contact Steam Support about it? I'll also raise it with Paradox on Monday.

 

[Gilbrilthor]

I'll raise a ticket, but it may be a while before something happens on that end. Thanks for getting back with us.

I am curious about the dev artifact. Did that get pushed to everyone, or is it just the ones affected? Anyway, I'll post here when I hear back from steam.

EDIT: I went through the steam uninstall and these are the files left in my CK2 folder (I attached them to this post). Of interest, at least to me, is that CK2game.exe is still there, along with many of the .dlls I would imagine being very important to have.

Also, there are several .pdb files, which are used in debugging a program during development.

 

[Fulax]

I've also contacted Steam support. Fingers crossed there, and hopefully we'll hear from Paradox tomorrow.

 

[Tymarius]

Personally I have contacted Steam Support before posting here.

 

[AndrewT]

I presume if you roll back to 2.5.2.2 it works OK again?