[SOLVED!] No matter what, I can't get Empire to start.

[Acid]

Hey guys,

I've been faffing around endlessly trying to get this game to work. I can launch it, bring up the main loading screen before it CTD's a few seconds later. It may or may not be related to trying to start Darthmod before playing Vanilla after a fresh install, but by this point, I've -completely- reinstalled the game at least four times now.

I've deleted the Empire folder in the appdata folder, I've deleted the entire Empire Total War folder in Common. I've verified the cache here, there, everywhere throughout my attempts. I've deleted ClientRegistry.blob and done a full restart of Steam. I've tried reinstalling Darthmod and setting it to Vanilla, then reinstalling the entire game. I've done two driver updates since I started. I've done compatibility mode, admin mode etc... I've played the game before plenty of times on this PC in the past. I'm trying to find any mention of Darthmod in the registry in case that's it, but I can't see anything other than the installer its self.

There's probably more that I've done that I can't remember, but I've exhausted every option I can find.

Can anyone help me? My inspiration to play this game is being met with this seemingly unbreakable wall of♥♥♥♥♥♥

Edit:

SOLUTION!

I'm so ♥♥♥♥ing annoyed is was this all along. From some previous playthrough, I had a long line of launch options set on the game that I had forgotten about. Despite the numerous -full- re-installs, Steam hadn't removed the previous launch options! The game started up perfectly!

I thought I was never going to play this again, until I thought it might be the Intro was crashing the game. I went to set -skipintro just in case, and saw the old line still there!

Thanks for everyones contribution regardless.

[Hugh de Salle]

Have you been running mods previously not just Darthmod?.

[Acid]

No, just Darthmod. It was a fresh install of the game and Darthmod.

[Hugh de Salle]

Ok i had the same problem then deleted the whole empire folder from app-data and it worked.

Did you download the Darthmod in 3 parts or just 1 part + the patch?

[Devil Doug]

Every privately made "mod" will change the original files on your computer, and you have to agree to it (most times). Look at all the complaints filed in this forum, and maybe recognize that most all of them have to do with "mods" that were not meant for the original programming. There really should be a WARNING required prior to installation.

[operating1]

I do feel sorry for the OP and offer this https://support.sega.co.uk/hc/en-gb/requests/new Also the OP's problem is one of the most frequent issues members have after going with a mod, then going back to vanilla, it almost always ends up being a nightmare, or seems so. It's like groundhog day everyday.

[Acid]

I should re-iterate that I have completely reinstalled Empire at least fours times now. That means wiped out its existence in the Common folder & the Appdata folder, even the registry. The same goes for the mod. Is there anywhere else the mod would edit? I haven't found anything in my search.

As for downloading the mod, I did it in all three parts. But that should be irrelevant by this point.

[Hugh de Salle]

Originally posted by Devil Doug:

Every privately made "mod" will change the original files on your computer, and you have to agree to it (most times). Look at all the complaints filed in this forum, and maybe recognize that most all of them have to do with "mods" that were not meant for the original programming. I'm one that does NOT feel sorry for you.

Mods do not change any of the original files that's why with Darthmod you can play both Vanilla and Darthmod.

Are you a Modder? Because i am.

Its impossable to change original files because for one they are packed away and two you need need to use a pack file manager to do so and even then the PFM will warn you not to do it.

Mods are made using custom tables with vanilla asset's please don't peddle false infomation.

[Devil Doug]

Originally posted by Hugh de Salle:

Originally posted by Devil Doug:

Every privately made "mod" will change the original files on your computer, and you have to agree to it (most times). Look at all the complaints filed in this forum, and maybe recognize that most all of them have to do with "mods" that were not meant for the original programming. I'm one that does NOT feel sorry for you.

Mods do not change any of the original files that's why with Darthmod you can play both Vanilla and Darthmod.

Are you a Modder? Because i am.

Its impossable to change original files because for one they are packed away and two you need need to use a pack file manager to do so and even then the PFM will warn you not to do it.

Mods are made using custom tables with vanilla asset's please don't peddle false infomation.

I'm not peddling false information to anyone, and although you seem to have been lucky and not had any problems after installing mods on your computer (or at least no problems that you couldn't fix yourself), there's quit a long list of other people on this venue who have had trouble.

To answer your question though... My experience was with installing an ETW mod that allowed me to play the minor factions, including pirates, but I can't remember the name of it. Sure it was fun for a few days, but then the problems started rolling in.

I tried so many different things to get myself out of that jam, that I honestly don't know which one worked. After that miserable experience, I recognized that my decision making process was clouded because I wanted to play those other factions so badly, and it was my own dumb decision to ignore all the trials & tribulations that other people had been writing in about.

Anyways, I'm glad you found your Total War niche, but it's obviously not for everybody.

[Devil Doug]

Originally posted by Àçìd:

I should re-iterate that I have completely reinstalled Empire at least fours times now. That means wiped out its existence in the Common folder & the Appdata folder, even the registry. The same goes for the mod. Is there anywhere else the mod would edit? I haven't found anything in my search.

As for downloading the mod, I did it in all three parts. But that should be irrelevant by this point.

My apologies for the earlier post. I guess it brought back bad memories of my own troubled experiences with modding. You might also try the free version of CCleaner found here.

https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/download?upgrade

[Hugh de Salle]

Originally posted by Devil Doug:

Originally posted by Hugh de Salle:

Mods do not change any of the original files that's why with Darthmod you can play both Vanilla and Darthmod.

Are you a Modder? Because i am.

Its impossable to change original files because for one they are packed away and two you need need to use a pack file manager to do so and even then the PFM will warn you not to do it.

Mods are made using custom tables with vanilla asset's please don't peddle false infomation.

I'm not peddling false information to anyone, and although you seem to have been lucky and not had any problems after installing mods on your computer (or at least no problems that you couldn't fix yourself), there's quit a long list of other people on this venue who have had trouble.

To answer your question though... My experience was with installing an ETW mod that allowed me to play the minor factions, including pirates, but I can't remember the name of it. Sure it was fun for a few days, but then the problems started rolling in.

I tried so many different things to get myself out of that jam, that I honestly don't know which one worked. After that miserable experience, I recognized that my decision making process was clouded because I wanted to play those other factions so badly, and it was my own dumb decision to ignore all the trials & tribulations that other people had been writing in about.

Anyways, I'm glad you found your Total War niche, but it's obviously not for everybody.

The problem you had more than likely was the fact that in all total war games you can only ever use 1 Start Pos File , This file is your starting map and anything on the starting map ie factions , armies , characters are all governed by this file.

If you use a faction unlocker it means you cant use other mods that effect this particular file hence the reason why people struggle when adding mods to their TW game.

When adding a mod take note if it changes the start pos file as i say you can only have 1 mod active that does this.

Hope that clears a few things up.

[Acid]

I think we're veering off topic. I've already used CCleaner to deal with registry issues.

Any other ideas?

[Hugh de Salle]

This is a long-shot but you do know you have to start the Darthmod Empire Exe first before you start the game in steam?.

[Acid]

Yeah, but Darthmod doesn't exist on my computer anymore. Like I said, I completely wiped it from Common, Appdata and the Registry well before I had got to the fourth reinstall of Empire. It shouldn't even be a factor anymore, unless I'm missing something.

[Hugh de Salle]

Originally posted by Àçìd:

Yeah, but Darthmod doesn't exist on my computer anymore. Like I said, I completely wiped it from Common, Appdata and the Registry well before I had got to the fourth reinstall of Empire. It shouldn't even be a factor anymore, unless I'm missing something.

The install of Empire isnt the problem something is blocking the file-path.

The only thing i can think of is that Darthmod is indeed still on your comp and i know you have stated you have wiped it and im at a loss why its still there.

You cannot start the game while Darthmod is active as it requires you to pick which mode you want to play in if you try to play vanilla from steam it will just CTD to desktop.

Im really sorry i cant help more but this sounds exactly like the problem.

Try looking on the net for solutions of removing Darthmod from your comp.

[Devil Doug]

Originally posted by Àçìd:

I think we're veering off topic. I've already used CCleaner to deal with registry issues.

Any other ideas?

CCleaner also has "Tools," by clicking on the wrench icon, you should see the "uninstall" button in the upper right. I've found that it does a much better job at completely uninstalling then anything else I've used. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if this is a registry issue.

Have you tried it?