Portal 2 Not Launching

[Dragoncaker]

***Possible solution found***

Run the .exe from the steamapps/common/game. It should pop up with an error message saying some .dll file is missing. If it does, its microsoft visual c++ file, so go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30679# and download the file, run it, select repair, should work after that.

***End of solution***

Hey community, I've been having this odd problem where my Portal 2 game won't launch. When I click "play game" from my library, it says "Preparing to launch..." then doesn't launch. It shows my color as green, to indicate that I'm in-game, then turns blue again. It only happens for this game, Portal and Half-Life 2 work fine. Here are the fixes that I have tried that did -not- help nor work for me:

-google for hours
-restarting system
-restarting steam
-verify game cache
-reinstall game
-reinstall steam
-updated video drivers.
-restarted system
-using the "set launch options," entered screen resolution, windowed, etc.
-run .exe in compatability mode for Windows: xp, vista, 7, 8
-run .exe as administrator
-restarted system
-run steam as administrator
-delete "update" folder (and un-delete it after it didn't work) in the Portal 2 folder
-minor tinkering with directx and such
-restarted system
-launched from .exe in Portal 2 folder instead of steam

If it helps, I noticed that when I launch the exe, it runs the program for about a second and then it crashes. I verified this by looking in the windows task manager.

My system is a dell inspiron laptop with an integrated graphics card (ugh, I know.) Running 64-bit Windows 10. Intel i5 processor, 2.5 GHz, 8 GB RAM.

Any helpful suggestions would be wonderful, thanks!

[Lump Beefbroth]

i don't know if this is on windows but i run Ubuntu, i had the same problem and this is what i came up with
Delete SteamApps/common/Portal 2/bin/libstdc++.so.6
like i said i have no idea if its on windows

[Dragoncaker]

It is there, but deleting it didn't help unfortunately.

[Zoé]

I have the exact same problem.
It was working perfectly fine yesterday. I was able to launch the game and play it (I even launched it several times yesterday)

But today.. I can't do anything to make it works! I can see the game in task manager. Not under "apps" but in the "background processes" though. It uses 30% of my processor, but still no window.

I tried every suggestion I could read online, nothing.


EDIT: Ok so I found the solution less than 10 minutes after posting on this thread... Anyway, this afternoon I played some local coop with my girlfriend, so I plugged in an old X360 controller. Unplug in it solved my issue.
My XOne controller doesn't cause any problem but the X360 does, for some reasons... I hope it could be useful to someone else.

[godadoptedme]

WHere can the solution be found? WHY WILL STEAM CUSTOMER SERVICE NOT TELL ME HOW TO FIXTHIS ISSUE WITH THIER SITE??

[Lump Beefbroth]

What OS are you running?

[godadoptedme]

Windows 10, reinstalled video drivers for NVidia GEForce, Verified Cache, nothing works

[Lump Beefbroth]

was that the free upgrade?

[Lump Beefbroth]

Because it is a complete buggy mess of an OS.
It is still in beta.

[godadoptedme]

Is there a way to undo- installing Windows 10?

[Lump Beefbroth]

did portal 2 work before the upgrade?

[lexveado]

Hello guys, I have a similar problem. When I start Portal 2, Valve comes to the screen and the initial figure of Portal 2, then freezes! Comes a window stating: "Unable to load manifest file scripts/surfaceproperties_manifest.txt 'Well, I think that started to appear after the update Windows7 64 for windows 10/64 Can anyone help? Thanks?

[Lump Beefbroth]

did it work before the update?

[Dragoncaker]

If you're having problems with files not loading, try validating the local files via steam. Still not sure on the not launching problem though.

[Joker]

Originally posted by Zoé:

EDIT: Ok so I found the solution less than 10 minutes after posting on this thread... Anyway, this afternoon I played some local coop with my girlfriend, so I plugged in an old X360 controller. Unplug in it solved my issue.
My XOne controller doesn't cause any problem but the X360 does, for some reasons... I hope it could be useful to someone else.

WHAT. THE. HELL.

I spent the last four hours after buying this game googling around and having nothing work, then as I read this and say "...you know, I do have an Xbone controller plugged in for Rocket League...", unplug the controller, BAM. Source pops up with the valve baldie.

You are my hero, and this solution needs to be made more publicly visible.

[Dark Redshift]

Even with my One controller out, cache verified and running in compatability for 8, 7 and Vista pack 2, the f.ucking game won't run. (pardon my francais, I'm just p.issed off at the OS is all) I'm using a Windows 10 Laptop (formally Windows 8.1) using the buggy as hell free update.

The game doesn't even appear as a background process; it just stops 2 seconds after the Steam launch message appears as if it wasn't even trying.