game won't run (steam)

from Stardock Forums

I purchased the game through steam; it installed and ran fine first time.  After that, whenever I go to run it the .exe file runs and I get the Steam cd key box, and after I click ok on that I remain on desktop indefinitely.  The computer is not froze, it's just that nothing is launching.  Further attempts get me (file is already running) error. I end the .exe file through task manager, after which the above process repeats.  I have checked file integrity, have uninstalled and re-installed the game, have run three .exe files (listed under steam support page) in sequence after exiting steam and my drivers are up to date.  Incidentally, on the second or third day, the game ran fine again, but after I ended that session I've had the same problem and have not been able to resolve it.  Any ideas?  I really doubt if it's a hardware issue as the game has run on a couple of occasions, but can send my system info if necessary.

6,565 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

When it fails to start, does the debug.err file in My Documents\My Games\FallenEnchantress update? If so please post its contents.


Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Could be either the Fallen Enchantress or the steam app hanging. I'd try opening task manager and manually killing either of the two or both of them, and then trying again from there.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

I purchased the game through steam; it installed and ran fine first time.  After that, whenever I go to run it the .exe file runs and I get the Steam cd key box, and after I click ok on that I remain on desktop indefinitely.  The computer is not froze, it's just that nothing is launching.  Further attempts get me (file is already running) error. I end the .exe file through task manager, after which the above process repeats.  I have checked file integrity, have uninstalled and re-installed the game, have run three .exe files (listed under steam support page) in sequence after exiting steam and my drivers are up to date.  Incidentally, on the second or third day, the game ran fine again, but after I ended that session I've had the same problem and have not been able to resolve it.  Any ideas?  I really doubt if it's a hardware issue as the game has run on a couple of occasions, but can send my system info if necessary.
End of quote

Not possible. You must be lying. All those steam lovers out there guarentee that you cannot have problems with Steam.

(please note the sarcasm).

Recommend you obtain a Stardock key and download direct from their website. I never had a problem with that.

 

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

ok there is a debug.err file there, it's a very long file... 220 pages in word... so I'm sure you don't want me to post the whole thing.  Can you be more specific as to what to post?  Here's the last couple of pages anyways:

 

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 14) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 14) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 13) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 10) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 6) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 7) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 11) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 9) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 6) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 7) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 15) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 16) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 14) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 14) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 13) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 10) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 6) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 7) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  CDXSASManager ERROR: DXSAS Script Command (Type 11) leaked. 1 Refs

Debug Message:  LEAK (CLib3DComponentFactory): IRenderer refcount nonzero at release-time; 19 refcount.

Debug Message:  Effect 21582340 leaked technique: AnimationNode_Geometry_Skinning_Diffuse   Refs: 326

Debug Message:  Effect 21582340 leaked technique: AnimationNode_Geometry_Skinning_Diffuse_LightMap   Refs: 5

Debug Message:  Effect 21582340 leaked technique: AnimationNode_Geometry_Skinning_Pewter_WorldSpace   Refs: 301

Debug Message:  Effect 21582340 leaked technique: AnimationNode_Geometry_NonSkinning_Pewter_WorldSpace   Refs: 301

Debug Message:  Effect 21582340 leaked technique: OutlineRenderCWUnskinned20   Refs: 301

Debug Message:  Effect 21582340 leaked technique: OutlineRenderCWSkinned20   Refs: 567

Debug Message:  Effect 21582340 leaked technique: OutlineRenderCCWUnskinned20   Refs: 301

Debug Message:  Effect 21582340 leaked technique: OutlineRenderCCWSkinned20   Refs: 301

Debug Message:  Effect 21582340 leaked technique: AnimationNode_Skeleton   Refs: 301

Debug Message:  Effect 3BCFC9E0 leaked technique: HWBatching20   Refs: 6

Debug Message:  Effect 3BCFC9E0 leaked technique: HWBatching20_OutlineRender   Refs: 6

Debug Message:  Effect 20D47BD8 leaked technique: Draw_ZOCLine_Default   Refs: 1

Debug Message:  Effect 20D47BD8 leaked technique: Draw_ZOCLine_ClothMap   Refs: 1

Debug Message:  Effect 13FFA4B0 leaked technique: DecalGraphicDiffuse2_0   Refs: 1

Debug Message:  Effect 13FFA4B0 leaked technique: DecalGraphicDiffuseClothMap2_0   Refs: 1

Debug Message:  Effect 3BCFC1C0 leaked technique: HWBatching   Refs: 4

Debug Message:  Effect 3BCFC1C0 leaked technique: SHBatching   Refs: 2

Debug Message:  Effect 081986F8 leaked technique: Bloom   Refs: 76

Debug Message:  Effect 08198900 leaked technique: HDRLighting   Refs: 38

Debug Message:  Effect 3BEE0338 leaked technique: RadialBlur   Refs: 38

Debug Message:  Effect 3BEE0338 leaked technique: RadialBlurFast   Refs: 19

Debug Message:  Effect 3BCF97E8 leaked technique: Main   Refs: 38

Debug Message:  Effect 2157E9F8 leaked technique: DrawRoad   Refs: 1

Debug Message:  Effect 2157E9F8 leaked technique: DrawRoad_Tactical   Refs: 1

Debug Message:  Effect 2157E9F8 leaked technique: DrawRoad_Tactical_NoFog   Refs: 1

Debug Message:  Effect 2157E9F8 leaked technique: DrawRoad_NoFOW   Refs: 1

Debug Message:  Effect 3BCFA1A8 leaked technique: Main   Refs: 38

DebugMessage:  Main Shell terminating normally

 

 

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

When you (try to) start the game, that file should be wiped and recreated; if it's that long then that's from a normal session and aside from the driver/system info at the top isn't likely to be of much interest.

If you try to start it and it fails, and the file doesn't get recreated at that point in time, it takes something pretty major to keep it from getting even that far. You might try running the game outside of Steam (it doesn't need it).

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

well yes, something is pretty wrong.  How do I run it without steam?  the desktop icon automatically launches steam first, I found the fallenenchantress.exe file in c:program files (x86)\steam\steamapps\common\Elemental Fallen Enchantress.  When I run that, I get a black screen with a sword icon, then a bunch of what appears like menu options, except they all say: String Not Found.  I can click on the string not founds and get other strings filled with String Not Founds... that's all I get.  Can I download the game directly from stardock and use the CD key I got when I purchased it from steam and delete the steam version?

 

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Running the game directly as you did would be the way. It's the same version of the game you would get from us directly and doesn't actually require Steam to run. If the game is not getting far enough to even recreate the debug log then that would seem to indicate Steam itself may be interfering.

If it's not finding the language files (and does when you run it via Steam), try using a shortcut with the start in path set to the same as the game's location:

 

Failing that, please open a ticket with support@stardock.com and they should be able to help further.

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

Your last suggestion worked!  Thanks!  I'm curious though, why would running the game through the shortcut work when running the exe file directly wasn't reading the language files?  Don't they both run the same file?  Just curious.  Thanks again.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Depending on how exactly you ran it (Run box, search, etc), Windows would have set the working folder differently. The game expects to be starting from its own folder when it looks for data files, so if the working folder is other than that it can't find them.