Vanilla Steam M2TW crash

[zakgord]

I've searched this forum and others and cannot find a solution. I run the game through steam.

The normal launcher opens and I click launch and can even get to the game. The whole time I hear the launcher music continue playing (as it tries to connect to the servers that no longer exist). Once it finally times out, I'm sent back to the desktop, with the game tab still open on the taskbar. However when I click the tab to re-enter, the game closes.

The only way to end the music is ctrl alt del or alt tab to desktop and kill the launcher.exe process. However getting out of the game screen forces it to exit.

I tried the launcher fix recommended. When I try that the game simply wont run at all and I get the unspecified error message.

Log file then says:

23:37:24.312 [system.rpt] [always] CPU: SSE2
23:37:24.312 [system.rpt] [always] ==== system log start, build date: Jun 25 2007 version bld-medieval2-update2.1-30 (43169) ===
23:37:24.328 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_0.pack
23:37:24.328 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_1.pack
23:37:24.328 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_2.pack
23:37:24.328 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_3.pack
23:37:24.328 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_4.pack
23:37:24.328 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/localized.pack
23:37:24.359 [system.io] [warning] open: preferences/keys.dat is missing
23:37:24.375 [system.io] [warning] open: preferences/keys.dat is missing
23:37:26.109 [system.rpt] [error] Medieval 2: Total War encountered an unspecified error and will now exit.


The game works fine with the normal launcher until it forces me to desktop. I can even load *old saved games and play for about 2 min until the launcher times out.

*This game worked about a year ago. Since that time I have reinstalled windows xp 32bit, changed cpu and gpu, all drivers updated. CPU = AMD Phenom II X6 1055T, GPU = ATI Radeon HD 6870

I have deleted and reinstalled this game many times and always have the same problem. It seems like it worked until they turned off the servers and launcher started screwing up. But why does the modified launcher not work for me? And why does my log show missing files when using the modified launcher only?

Its late and I'm sleepy so let me know if this makes no sense, and you need more information.


Also, don't know if it matters, but my medieval2.preference.cfg file only contains:
[video]
widescreen=0
[game]
allusers=1


Seems like that should contain more information?
Have verified cache through steam several times.

[irishron]

Did you delete both Medieval II Total War folders before reinstalling?
Do you also have Kingdoms installed?

[zakgord]

I deleted everything medieval under steamapps and then cleaned my registry. Is there something else to delete?

I have purchased kingdoms through steam but not installed it. If I remember correctly when I tried reinstalling M2TW a couple months ago after reinstalling windows, I tried both Kingdoms as well....same result. Kingdoms used to work, and so did vanilla m2tw, but it's been a long time.

[irishron]

There is also a hidden one. http://shoguntotalwar.yuku.com/topic...EmpireNapoleon for an idea where to look.

[zakgord]

I have nothing where that link refers to. I do have, under username/localsettings/appdata, a folder named M2TWLauncher and under that is Launcher.exe_Url_ssixbtdehovrgbdh4rj1vmozpzuixmf2 and then 1.2.0.2 and then a User XML configuration file.

I can delete that and all other traces of M2TW and try reinstalling it again, but I'm betting that has nothing to do with it. This feels like either an improper download or video configuration error.

The reason I say improper download/install is because of the missing files my log reports and the very small medieval.preference.cfg file.

The reason I say video error is because the games crashes to desktop every time launcher.exe times out.

I tried both versions of the modded launcher replacement (1.2 and 1.0) and both cause an immediate crash (unexpected error). But the game works fine with the standard launcher up until the point it times out and CTD.

It seems like I do remember, during one of the 4 or 5 re-installs of the game, the modded launcher replacement at least opened the GUI and I could see what it looked like. Now it doesn't even go that far, just black screen and crash.

What's weird is my log file will be very short, exactly as I listed in my OP, when I try to run the launcher replacement. But when I run the game through the normal launcher, and the game finally CTD, the log file lists a lot more information. It still lists the same missing files, but it seems to bypass that and continue on, listing a lot more information.

[irishron]

Your log is standard when the does not start.
XP is straight forward. No second folder. My oops.
One reason why I have cussed the launcher since the 1.2 patch but I can understand why in this case.
Post your dxdiag. Maybe something missing.

[zakgord]

My dxdiag should be attached.

[irishron]

If it was disc version, I'd say Securom is stopping you because of Daemon Tools.
Have you gone through this? https://support.steampowered.com/kb_...9828-SFLZ-9289

[zakgord]

I went through that troubleshoot and turned off other processes. I have been in selective startup for a while anyways. I used the unpacker in tools folder; there are a lot more files and folders in data now. Still not working though.

Now, with kingdoms also installed, the launcher runs and but I cannot even enter the game. Clicking launch opens and closes a black screen immediately.

I don't have this problem with any other steam game.

[PoleCat]

I went through that troubleshoot and turned off other processes. I have been in selective startup for a while anyways. I used the unpacker in tools folder; there are a lot more files and folders in data now. Still not working though.

Now, with kingdoms also installed, the launcher runs and but I cannot even enter the game. Clicking launch opens and closes a black screen immediately.

I don't have this problem with any other steam game.

Why have you been in selective start up "for awhile now"? Also - When you used the Unpacker did you delete the two files that have proven to cause problems like your own?

It's weird, if I click through the title screen quick enough I can get to a quick battle and it will even load and allow me to start deployment. But then the launcher connection times out and sends me back to desktop. I click ok on the error window and the launcher exits, but medieval2.exe is still running fine and I can hear the sound from the game so I know it "wants" to work. But every time I click the medieval.exe tab on my task-bar or alt tab back into it, the game immediately closes.

But if I try to bypass the launcher with the modded replacement launcher, it wont even open the game. Gives me that black box and says encountered unspecified error. Maybe I should buy the disc version...

This will sound strange but please bear with me.

Try the following - Run M2 in Online mode and then again in Privacy mode and tell us if there is a difference in behavior with either the Launcher or the error screen you're getting. If there is no difference then also let us know.

Also please tell us what kind of connection to the Internet you have (Cable, ADSL, Fiber-optic, etc.), what your ISP is and what model router you're using. Thanks in advance. Good luck!

[zakgord]

Why have you been in selective start up "for awhile now"?

I did that some time ago to eliminate so many processes from running and slowing my computer down during restarts.

When you used the Unpacker did you delete the two files that have proven to cause problems like your own?

I'm not sure what two files you are referring to, but I did not delete anything after unpacking.

Try the following - Run M2 in Online mode and then again in Privacy mode and tell us if there is a difference in behavior with either the Launcher or the error screen you're getting. If there is no difference then also let us know.

I don't know what you mean by online and privacy mode. If you mean running the steam online and offline modes, then I tried both of those with the same results.

Also please tell us what kind of connection to the Internet you have (Cable, ADSL, Fiber-optic, etc.), what your ISP is and what model router you're using. Thanks in advance. Good luck!

Connection is Cable. ISP is Charter. Router is Netgear WNR2000v3.

Today when I got home the first time I tried the game, I could launch into the game and run it until the launcher connection timed out or escaped to desktop. After that launch wouldn't start the game at all. It does that sometimes.

[PoleCat]

...I'm not sure what two files you are referring to, but I did not delete anything after unpacking....

I haven't used the Unpacker much but there are two files that need to be deleted after using it. irishron knows more about that.

[irishron]

Since your native resolution is 1600 x 1200, set your monitor to that.

[zakgord]

When I go to display properties 1440 x 900 is as large as it will let me set it. Also would this not conflict with the game since 1440 x 900 is also the largest in game resolution you can set?

I wondered if it was something simple as a resolution setting because of the way alt tab or ctrl alt del back to desktop forces the game to crash.

[zakgord]

Also isn't it odd that my medieval.preference.cfg file is only 1kb and contains only the lines:

[video]
widescreen=0
[game]
allusers=1

[irishron]

That's all the .cfg file you'll get until you start a campaign.
This game is so single-minded, alt-tabbing and multitasking is not recommended.
Yes, I've seen monitor resolution mess up others even though yours should be supported for as long laptops have had it.
Okay, set it at 1280 x 1024, the game's native.

[zakgord]

Tried that, still no good.

[irishron]

Are you using a router?

[zakgord]

Yes I am using a router

[irishron]

I don't have one but from what I've read they are notorious for having their own built in firewalls. Check it out.