Game Wont Start - Black Screen

[Goffik]

I've played PZ many times over the years without issue, but for whatever reason it now won't start. It's a fresh install of the regular (non-IWBUMS) version. It just hangs at a black screen without ever reaching the main menu. In the console window I see this:

WARNING: Found unknown Windows version: Windows 10
Attempting to use default windows plug-in.
Loading: zombie.core.input.XInputEnvironmentPlugin
Loading: net.java.games.input.DirectAndRawInputEnvironmentPlugin

I found another thread in this support forum mentioning a similar issue when an XBox 360 controller is plugged in. However, I do not have any USB devices attached except my mouse, keyboard and VR headset. I even closed down DS4Windows just in case, but the game still won't start. (I should also add that I've had both my real XBox 360 pad and emulated one (which is a PS4 SixAxis) plugged in when playing Zomboid before without issue.)

Any ideas?

[Beard]

These errors don't really cause black screen issues, it would be helpful to see the whole console log. You can share it by going to C:\Users\YourUserName\Zomboid
Open the console.txt
Copy everything from there to https://controlc.com/
Click “Submit”
Share the given link to the ControlC paste here.

[Goffik]

Originally posted by Beard:

These errors don't really cause black screen issues...

I'm talking about a post which is just a few below this one, in which XBox 360 controllers have been confirmed as the problem in that case. Hangs at apparently the same point. EnigmaGrey suggests removing it, and it got their game working again. Doesn't work for me though.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/108600/discussions/1/405693392912749705/

Originally posted by Beard:

Share the given link to the ControlC paste here.

Here it is:

https://controlc.com/15e64308


(I've also tried compatibility mode, but it still doesn't work.)

[Beard]

Have you tried restarting Steam + Restarting your PC after you plug out the controllers?

[Goffik]

Originally posted by Beard:

Have you tried restarting Steam + Restarting your PC after you plug out the controllers?

No controllers were connected in the first place. The only USB devices connected are those mentioned in the first post... keyboard, mouse and Rift S. Since I posted yesterday my PC has been shut down and restarted, and I still can't start the game.

[Beard]

Originally posted by Goffik:

Originally posted by Beard:

Have you tried restarting Steam + Restarting your PC after you plug out the controllers?

No controllers were connected in the first place. The only USB devices connected are those mentioned in the first post... keyboard, mouse and Rift S. Since I posted yesterday my PC has been shut down and restarted, and I still can't start the game.

In that case have you tried disconnecting the Rift as well? And then again restarting the PC just so there are no issues with connections then.

[Goffik]

Originally posted by Beard:

In that case have you tried disconnecting the Rift as well? And then again restarting the PC just so there are no issues with connections then.

No I haven't, and to be honest I'm not interested in trying. Getting to the rear of my PC to mess with cables isn't easy, which is why I use the front ports for most USB peripherals. The Rift S is the exception because it's split cable cannot reach both a display port and front USB port at the same time. It has to go in the back. I'm simply not willing to be messing about unplugging my HMD and restarting my PC every time I want to play one game... assuming it even "fixed" the issue to begin with.

Thanks for trying to help, but I guess I'll be shelving PZ until this issue is fixed. It must be the game after all, since no other software I run has an issue like this no matter what I have plugged in.

[Goffik]

Five months on and this issue still isn't fixed? Well, I say five months but it's actually more like six years since I've just found posts from 2015 where people have reported the exact same issue.

And yes, I have now tried running the game with ALL USB devices disconnected apart from my mouse and keyboard, and it still won't start. So this problem has nothing to do with XBox controllers (which I don't even own) or my Rift.

Am I ever going to get to play the game I've paid for and supported all this time or what?

[Beard]

There was a fix that was found, but it has to be done manually.
Go to your Steam Library > Rightclick Project Zomboid > Properties

In the "Launch Options" copy this exact line:

-Djinput.useDefaultPlugin=false --

After that close the properties and try launching the game again.

[Goffik]

Originally posted by Beard:

There was a fix that was found, but it has to be done manually.

I didn't see that workaround in any of the threads I found, including on the official forums.

I'd give it a try to confirm if it works, but I'm now on the IWBUMS version. Never tried it before because I prefer stable builds, but for whatever reason it doesn't suffer from this bug. Loads fine, runs fine, and after numerous hours I can't go back to the previous build without losing loads of progress and a bunch of new features which I'm now used to having! :p

Anyway, thanks for the response. I'm just happy it's working again, great game.