Could anyone help. Frustrated newbie who cant run FM14. Getting the "app already running" error

[kailano]

i have just opened a steam account today and downloaded Football manager 2014 demo. When i completed the download and clicked play it says it was installing "Microsoft directX for windows" this screen this just went off with no message to say it was installed. i then went to click play to which i had a loading circle by my mouse for about 5 seconds, after about a minute i realised that it wasn't going to open, so i clicked play again and then got an error message that the game already running. It is not, that is the problem, i have check and its not running. i have opened my task manager and tried ending the running football manager task and even the steam task. i have tried deleting the game, and also re downloading steam. still nothing. I've even tried verifying the cache? still nothing. I even bought the disc version online because i somehow thought it wouldn't require steam involvement. so i have now wasted £15 and got nowhere. could anybody help me out?!

[steff]

it always involves steam involvement regardless of disc or no disc.

[kailano]

yeah i know that now..lol

[JH]

Originally posted by kailano:

i have just opened a steam account today and downloaded Football manager 2014 demo..... I even bought the disc version online because i somehow thought it wouldn't require steam involvement. so i have now wasted £15 and got nowhere. could anybody help me out?!

Why are you downloading the demo if you have the game ?

Playing any new game on steam often initiates a "first run" setup which involves installing directX, +net, etc. This can take quite some time and you must be patient.

Even after installing a game from disc there will still be some downloading before it starts in order to apply patches. Again be patient and wait as this can take some time. You can monitor downloads by going to library>downloads in Steam.

If you do come across an error it is best to just restart your computer in order to end any processes and avoid "game already running" messages.

Open steam before clicking on the game icon. Browse around steam and look in your library to check the game is there. If there are any downloads or updates happening a notification will be present at the bottom of the steam window. Try starting the game first off through the steam library as if anything is happening before running it will tell you there.

Hope that helps. Come back with any further issues.

[kailano]

hello thanks for your reply. i tried to download the demo to test out the game, and straight away i was getting the "app is already running error" i then used my friends steam account to see if the full game gave me the same problem which it did. i then thought the disc version may just run without having to go through steam, i did not know the game was powered by steam as i have only recently started using steam and never tried a football manager game before. I have tried everything you have said and been extremely paitent. The problem is, i click play to launch the game and the loading circle appears, after a few seconds its goes, and ive left the game 30 minutes and nothing happen, when i go to click play the 2nd time i have the error that its already running, even though its not. Its like the game is trying to launch the first time and telling my computer and steam it has launced but it doesnt appear anywhere on my screen or even when i look at open appilications, it isnt there. although it does appear on my task manager which is odd. ive now tried EVERYTHING, every forum has suggested from running as an administarter to checking my DirectX to attempting to rename and edit common files. im getting nowhere

[JH]

Originally posted by kailano:

The problem is, i click play to launch the game and the loading circle appears, after a few seconds its goes, and ive left the game 30 minutes and nothing happen, when i go to click play the 2nd time i have the error that its already running, even though its not.

As I suggested try and do everything through the Steam interface as it may provide information about what is happening.

Go into Steam and check the game is installed and says "ready to play" in your library, accessed along the top of the steam window.

If you click play via the page in your game library it will keep you informed of what is happening either beside the game name or at the bottom of the steam window.

If the game is still downloading/installing/patching it is not ready to start and it will tell you in the game library (e.g. installing, updating). Hence when you try again (without restarting your computer) it says it is already running as it is performing the task(s) necessary to run the game.

If the game is installed on your PC you should be able to navigate to this-

Program files(x86)>Steam>Steam Apps>Common>Football Manager 2014/ _commonredist> DirectX > Jun2010

In that foler you will find DXSETUP.exe. Click and run that as sometimes Steam has a problem with this setup.

Restart your computer before attempting to start the game.

Another common issue with FM installation in particular is having and antivirus software (particularly McAfee or norton) active during install.

In Steam go to library>all games>FM2014 right click and delete local content to remove it.

Again restart your computer as this will ensure all registries are clear .

Then turn off your antivirus software.

Open Steam and go back to your game library. Click on FM2014 and select install via the button on your game library page.

Follow the install status via Steam>library>downloads.
When ready to play start the game up.

Of course re-activate your antivirus if necessary after this process.

[kailano]

I really do appericate your help. Although, sadly nothing has worked, i tried the two last suggestion and no change sadly. Ive even added Football manager to my exclusions list on my norton anti virus software and still nothing. I really have no idea what is wrong. Steam customer service is possibly the worst ive ever come across and they make no attempt to help. Ive emailed at least 4 days ago with NOTHING back. Im in contact with Sega but they are extremely slow also. Really frustating situation. if you have any more idea, please fire away.

[krashd]

Delete the 'Sports Interactive' folders in both Users/Public/Public Documents and Users/<YourUsername>/My Documents.

It is likely that something has gone awry during the first run and saved a bad configuration, and no matter how many times you remove and reinstall a game it will usually leave config files behind in either your documents or the shared documents.

If you delete the Sports Interactive folders in both locations then the next run of the game should be a clean run. This fix only applys to the thread starter because deleting those folders is basically a factory reset of the game, it will delete custom saves, tactics, graphics, anything manually added to the game by the user.

[WajID]

kailano.. im facing the same prob as you.. nothing seems to fix the prob.. :( even nw im stl in contact with sega n did everthng they askd but stll the prob stl the same..:(

[kailano]

Originally posted by krashd:

Delete the 'Sports Interactive' folders in both Users/Public/Public Documents and Users/<YourUsername>/My Documents.

It is likely that something has gone awry during the first run and saved a bad configuration, and no matter how many times you remove and reinstall a game it will usually leave config files behind in either your documents or the shared documents.

If you delete the Sports Interactive folders in both locations then the next run of the game should be a clean run. This fix only applys to the thread starter because deleting those folders is basically a factory reset of the game, it will delete custom saves, tactics, graphics, anything manually added to the game by the user.

Hi i have tried this and still getting the same error? should i have deleted the folders, then restarted my pc or? thanks for your help

[kailano]

Originally posted by duddster:

kailano.. im facing the same prob as you.. nothing seems to fix the prob.. :( even nw im stl in contact with sega n did everthng they askd but stll the prob stl the same..:(

:( very frustrating isnt it! if i find i fix i will let you know mate

[WajID]

yup do let me noe.. stl cant fix it:(

[eel]

have u tried verifying game files?

[kailano]

Originally posted by duddster:

yup do let me noe.. stl cant fix it:(

Hi, i have fixed it now. I contacted sega and they asked me to attach a file report (cant remember the actual name) where you show them the specs of your graphics and audio cards ect. Sega told me i needed to download the latest graphics card for my particular laptop, i search my model number and through HPs website found the latest graphics card software and now its works :)

[kailano]

Originally posted by leo82:

have u tried verifying game files?

tried that! fixed it now. thanks anyway

[themoot]

I had problems with this too and it was fixed for a while but then came back. If i start steam in offline mode it runs fine and i can still get my fm fix