GAME WONT LAUNCH

[ChillxThrill]

What the heck, i just downloaded the game and it wont launch. it initializes and then just ends process...

[Spotter]

There's a Sound File Bug you need to fix that works.
Please try this:
1- Go to *\StandingStoneGames\The Lord of the Rings Online\raw and delete the raw folder. That is where all those .jpg files are stored. Deleting that folder will cause them to be downloaded fresh the next time you run LotroLauncher.exe so if one of them was corrupt that should repair that isssue.
2- Delete your desktop shortcut. You can create a new one later.
3- Go to *\My Documents\The Lord of the Rings Online\UserPreferences.ini and open UserPreferences.ini with your favorite text editor.
Look for these two lines in the [Sound] section:
SoundFeatures=OpenAL Soft on Built-in Output
SoundProvider=OpenAL
The lines in your file will be different. They might be something like, SoundFeatures=Generic on Headphones. All you need to change is the parts immediately after SoundFeatures= and SoundProvider=. Your file probably says Generic after those things. Just change Generic to OpenAL Soft in the first line and OpenAL in the second line. You do not need to change anything else. SAVE the file, QUIT out of your text editor.
4- Go to *\StandingStoneGames\The Lord of the Rings Online\LotroLauncher.exe, right-click it, and choose to run it as administrator.
5- There will be a small amount of time required when you launch LotroLauncher.exe to download all those .jpg files and for the raw folder and its contents to be recreated. It should not take long unless your network is very, very slow. When that's done, you should be able to enter your credentials, choose your server, the client should start, and you should be able to log in to a game world.
6- If everything goes as expected with Step 5, log out your character and quit out of the game. Then create a new desktop shortcut for *\StandingStoneGames\The Lord of the Rings Online\LotroLauncher.exe so you can more conveniently start the game in the future. If you continue to have trouble, please do not create a new desktop shortcut at this time.
7- Please report back with your results. The above should fix you up but if not, there are other things we can try.

[Running-Target]

Windows 10 or 11 tips

- Here is a good guide to new LOTRO installs >

https://forums.lotro.com/index.php?threads/install-new-lotro-installs-one-guide-to-rule-them-all.125/

- All who install LotRO for the first time on a new Windows 10 or 11 PC, need to install 3 pre-req things (ALL MUST BE DOWNLOADED FROM THE OFFICIAL MICROSOFT WEB-SITE www.microsoft.com):

1. DirectX 11 = > https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/179113/how-to-install-the-latest-version-of-directx

2. Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update ( vcredist_x86.exe ) and ( vcredist_x64.exe ) = > Google for " Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package " and pick Download choice from Microsoft.

3. Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update ( vcredist_x86.exe ) and ( vcredist_x64.exe) = > Google for " Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package " and pick Download choice from Microsoft.

- If your game client not running on Windows 10 or 11, try this: Right click the LOTRO game link in your Steam game list, pick Manage from list, then pick Browse Local Files, this brings up the Window explorer for LOTRO. Look in the LOTRO directory for the 3rdParty folder, look inside that folder and run all the .exes you find there while the game launcher Not running and under Admin rights account.

- Make sure your Firewall and active defending anti-malware programs have LOTRO directory or game exes in exceptions.

- Make sure you are running the game as Administrator or an account with administrator rights.

- Use the troubleshooting compatibility options in Windows 10 or 11 OS.

- Game crashes or not runs after pressing "Play" button on launcher. > https://help.standingstonegames.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002036287--Nothing-happens-after-clicking-Play-on-the-launcher-OR-Game-crashes-after-clicking-play-on-the-launcher-

- Many problems with the game stem from poor or faulty Network connection between your computer and the game servers near Boston, MA, USA. Read the sticky thread on the official forum, > Network and Game Connection Troubleshooting - Updated 1/19/2016

https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?107727-Network-and-Game-Connection-Troubleshooting-Updated-1-19-2016

https://help.standingstonegames.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015989067-LOTRO-Firewall-Help

- LOTRO uses Akamai Content Delivery Network still so that could be a problem that you need to allow Akamai to work. Even updating the launcher calls to Akamai.

https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?646126-Is-it-possible-to-not-use-Akamai

[Spotter]

Originally posted by Running-Target:

Windows 10 or 11 tips

- Here is a good guide to new LOTRO installs >

https://forums.lotro.com/index.php?threads/install-new-lotro-installs-one-guide-to-rule-them-all.125/

- All who install LotRO for the first time on a new Windows 10 or 11 PC, need to install 3 pre-req things (ALL MUST BE DOWNLOADED FROM THE OFFICIAL MICROSOFT WEB-SITE www.microsoft.com):

1. DirectX 11 = > https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/179113/how-to-install-the-latest-version-of-directx

2. Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update ( vcredist_x86.exe ) and ( vcredist_x64.exe ) = > Google for " Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package " and pick Download choice from Microsoft.

3. Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update ( vcredist_x86.exe ) and ( vcredist_x64.exe) = > Google for " Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package " and pick Download choice from Microsoft.

- If your game client not running on Windows 10 or 11, try this: Right click the LOTRO game link in your Steam game list, pick Manage from list, then pick Browse Local Files, this brings up the Window explorer for LOTRO. Look in the LOTRO directory for the 3rdParty folder, look inside that folder and run all the .exes you find there while the game launcher Not running and under Admin rights account.

- Make sure your Firewall and active defending anti-malware programs have LOTRO directory or game exes in exceptions.

- Make sure you are running the game as Administrator or an account with administrator rights.

- Use the troubleshooting compatibility options in Windows 10 or 11 OS.

- Game crashes or not runs after pressing "Play" button on launcher. > https://help.standingstonegames.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002036287--Nothing-happens-after-clicking-Play-on-the-launcher-OR-Game-crashes-after-clicking-play-on-the-launcher-

I know John Hammer, and everyone of his FIXES works 100% of the time.

[iKon]

thank god for hurin and john