Game won't start after install-weird crash

from Sins Forums
Hi,

Installed this game yesterday, DVD copy, and it worked fine on my test desktop, went to install it on my gaming rig today and it won't start. First, when i go to install it says the application requires IE 6.0..(have IE 7.0 installed)..but going manually onto the CD and using the setup.exe worked fine.

After it installs along with the Bonus pack, if I click on the icon, I get a split second flash of a dos box and then nothing. Looking at task manager, it doesn't even show up in the processes tab. I was not in any of the betas so there was no clean up to do prior to installing.

It doesn't say anything about a dump, and the folders in the documents and settings/user/application data/ folder aren't there, I don't know if the game has to start once correctly for them to be created.

All sound, audio, and system drivers and DirectX are current as of noon today, the OS is Window XP 32 bit SP 2.

Not sure what is up as the game installed perfectly fine on another computer.

(and before people ask, no i am not installing multiple copies from one DVD, i un-installed the copy on the test desktop before I installed it again on my gaming rig)
technical
8,695 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
an additional note, I don't seem to have a user.setting file, and I have done 4 installs now with a reboot between each un-install and re-install...good times... :(
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
After it installs along with the Bonus pack, if I click on the icon, I get a split second flash of a dos box and then nothing. Looking at task manager, it doesn't even show up in the processes tab. I was not in any of the betas so there was no clean up to do prior to installing.
End of quote


If you browse to the game's folder in explorer and run the Sins of a Solar Empire.exe directly, does the game run? It sounds like it's just the launcher having issues, especially if the one on the DVD did too.
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Nope, going for the Empire.exe doesn't do anything but flash a dos box for a nanosecond and then nothing...and just to be double sure, I tried installing it on my gaming laptop and it worked like a charm, so the disk and game are a verified good media copy.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
and the weird thing is, if you click launcher and it says you need IE 6, it then displays some elements of the launcher but they are all messed up, the menu choices stacked on one another. I will take a screenie tomorrow when I am at that computer.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
I'm interested in this because I'm having a very similar problem for my Desktop. I too have the DVD retail version. The launcher gives me an error to 'install using the setup.exe and Play using the start menu.' The game is installed. The only way I can start is after each install has completed and check mark the run application and hit finish.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
I too have the DVD retail version. The launcher gives me an error to 'install using the setup.exe and Play using the start menu.' The game is installed. The only way I can start is after each install has completed and check mark the run application and hit finish.
End of quote


Sounds like you're running the launcher from the DVD autoplay? If this is happening on the launcher on the installed game (i.e., from the start menu, not the autoplay), something isn't right in the registry. But since it's just the launcher, you should be able to make a shortcut directly to the game exe and run it fine without the launcher.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
That works! Thank you. And a simple solution I didn't try...duh.

I hope this helped you thethiefbarabus. I apologize for using your thread if it didn't.
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
Glad to hear it helped you, didn't do a thing for me, auto play of the DVD doesn't work, via the start menu doesn't work, and going directly to the sins folder and double clicking the .exe doesn't work as well...strange and frustrating, going to try and get a shot of my weird launcher layout...
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
Auto play and the start menu didn't work for me either. The only way I could install was through the explore disc and on the main folder using one of the setup icons. There were a few of them so it's hard to explain which. Hope that helps.
Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top
EUREKA! Figured out my problem, the Sins DVD, or should I say, MY sins DVD, does NOT LIKE my new LG Blue-Ray/HD DVD drive. I figured I would check the easiest stuff first and dropped in an older DVD drive and everything worked like a charm. Not sure what's up with my LG drive, everything else seems to like it just fine. Annnnyhow, if you are getting weird install errors, check that drive and make sure your firmware is up to date. Cheers all, thanks for the help, off to go nuke something now...
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
I can't start sins. It gives me the windows error report no matter what. it gives me the error report if i try to run the autoplay also. ive reinstalled, ive gone directly to the exe. i installed the 1.05 patch. what can i do? I'm not replacing my dvd drive for the game!
Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top
Having a night mare with this game. installed it from DVD and stardock and impulse.

Running a 2.4 quad core Intel on asus maximus formula MB 4 gig of ram and an ATI 3870 X2 with vista ultimate 64

had hoped it would run nice but when i run the launcher i get a flash of black and then it fills a quarter of the desktop with black then hangs and when i kill the program it runs a minidump, cant find a user settings file.

Really want to play this but starting to wonder if i should get money back....

help would be much appreciated
Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
1. Do you still have the DEMO installed? If you do, please un-install both (the game and demo completely) and re-install the game.

2. Please make sure all of your hardware device drivers are up-to-date. (making sure one's drivers are the latest is the user's responsibility afterall)

3. Once the game is re-installed and after all of your driver updates make sure you update to the latest game-version (1.05) and do not attempt to load a save-game from an older game-version (this will "crash" your game as well).

Also, running some older MODS (that contain older game-version files) have been known to cause "mini-dumps" (crashes) as well.

btw....I'm assuming you've tried kryo's suggestion of bypassing the "launcher" by using a shortcut directly to the game's .exe?

the Monk
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

I had a problem getting sins to start because of a theme program I was using aka windowblinds.