AoE II:HD - Game Won't Start!

[-Dare Devil/x/]

Hey everyone, hopefully this post will help you resolve any launching problems you're having. Please start a new thread in the support section in the hub for gameplay related bugs.

Startup Crashes and Startup Problems

If you're experiencing problems getting the game to launch, the following guide will walk you through the common troubleshooting steps. http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=690728094

Last updated 02/01/18

[-Dare Devil/x/]

Originally posted by Gwythaint:

I'm stuck on "Validating Subscriptions" screen. 15 minutes and still running. Is this normal for 1st time run?

-There is a section about that in OP.

[grummangy]

Have there been any updates from Steam themselves? I cant load this game.

[grummangy]

Originally posted by -Dare Devil/x/:

Originally posted by Gwythaint:

I'm stuck on "Validating Subscriptions" screen. 15 minutes and still running. Is this normal for 1st time run?

-There is a section about that in OP.

And where is the link to the OP ?

[nintendohunter]

Originally posted by BluTooth:

Finally got to the game to start. recently installed and it kept crashing at the Microsoft studios splash screen.
After trying many thing including deleting the "Player.nfp" file, i found that steam has been automatically replacing it, after removing steam cloud synchronization and deleting the "Player.nfp" file the game loads again.

WORK FOR ME!!! Thank you :D

[beltiana]

If you use Windows 10 and got trouble, setting Compatibility mode in Properties of "AoK HD.exe" may help you. At least it worked for me. (I set it for "Windows 8" and It fixed my crashing.)

[xX-HeavensSin-Xx]

Originally posted by davagusor:

I tried it all, and my game still doesn't run.

Go to the game files within your steam folder {leave the file named launcher alone} rename the other executable file to AoE2 Hd and it should start right up steam is trying to launch the game but for some reason the file is incorrectly named within the folder so just rename it

[xX-HeavensSin-Xx]

Originally posted by beltiana:

If you use Windows 10 and got trouble, setting Compatibility mode in Properties of "AoK HD.exe" may help you. At least it worked for me. (I set it for "Windows 8" and It fixed my crashing.)

bypass it all and rename it {AoE2 HD} the file path for steam and the file itself wont match due to the file exe being named incorrecty

[Jops]

Issue launcher won't start after many try attempt.
Finally work after many month giving up.

Running on Win10.
My solution;
Go directory folder "Steam\steamapps\common\Age2HD" or Browse local files
Go to folder "D3D9_DLLBACKUP"
Copy file "d3dx9_43.dll" to directory folder "Steam\steamapps\common\Age2HD"

That how I fix.
hope will help.

[ellisk1]

Been playing this game fine for years, then since yesterday it won't launch, say's it is playing in green on my library.

Tried uninstall, re-install, verifying integrity etc, but it just won't have it, anyone having any joy out there?

[seannomac]

Originally posted by PiratesOfBengal:

Hi guys,
I need your help.
My game was working fine last 1 and half yrs or so but since last 2 weeks it wont launch. i have done all the steps on stratup issue.

OS: win10.

Please someone help me to resolve issue cant wait to play again

Thanks.

Same my Game is does not work and i only played a total of 56 min of the game and it didnt work then because i didnt have the specs needed. i know have 2 Gaming computers well capable but it now doesn't start it says catastrophic error!! i even requested a refun for the item which i was denied. i believe its time we should all link up and file a class action lawsuit in order to get this issue resolved for everyone in some way atleast?? 1-507-530-7344 Sean

[Saugstauber]

Originally posted by ellisk1:

Been playing this game fine for years, then since yesterday it won't launch, say's it is playing in green on my library.

Tried uninstall, re-install, verifying integrity etc, but it just won't have it, anyone having any joy out there?

Almost the same here! Yesterday I tried, after a while, to play again. It won't start.

Upon Verifying integrity it told me that four files were damaged, which were then fixed.
Still doesn't start, even after reinstall!

[СашО]

PROBLEM SOLVING.
1. Click steam library.
2. Click properties AoE II (2013)
3. Enter in Startup parameters word "NoStartUp"
4. Then enter in to the folder with game files
5. Delete file "Launcher.exe"
6. Rename file "AoE 2 HD" to "Launcher"
It will fix your problem

[ellisk1]

Cawa, you are a genius my friend - it has finally worked and it is all thanks to you - fantastic work.

[Morbidius]

It crashes for me when I click "Play" at the Microsoft studios splash screen every time. It crashes on startup with a Critical Error dialog saying "SteamAPI_RestartApplfNecessary/()"

My old computer from 2010:
CPU: Intel Core i7 950 @ 3.07GHz
RAM: 12,0GB Triple-Channel DDR3
Motherboard: ASUSTeK Computer INC. SABERTOOTH X58 (LGA1366)
Graphics: 4095MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (MSI)
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1 (received a real license as a university student many years ago)

Tested lots of stuff from the guide:
Checked if my Windows was up to date by searching for updates in "Windows Update". My Windows was up to date so that didn't help.
Downloaded Microsoft C++ Redists from Microsoft and installed it. It still didn't help.
Downloaded DirectX to install that again. It went fine but game still didn't work.
In Steam when clicking properties for Age of Empires 2 then I added "NoStartUp" but it didn't help the game kept crashing.

Then tried the delete launcher file and renaming AoK HD to Launcher. Then it crashed immidietly. But I got an error where it said it could not find "steam_api.dll". Did a search for the file and it turns out the file is in the Age of Empires 2 folder. Thought maybe something was wrong with the file so one of my friends sent me his "steam_api.dll" file. I replaced my file and started the game again. Crashed again but this time the game could not find "zlibwapi.dll" instead. After that I unistalled the game. After the unistall I went a manually removed the map all the remaining files which was left after the uninstall.

This time I installed the game at a different location. Previously I had installed the game on my D: drive which is a disk I install only games on since it's an SSD-drive. Now I installed it on my hard drive with the operating system on. This is also the disk where I installed Steam on first. So I used the deafault way and installed Age of Empires 2 on C: > Program Files (x86) > Steam >

And to my sursprise I was able to start and play Age of Empires 2 now. For some reason Age of Empires 2 didn't work when I wanted to install it on another location then where my default steam map is located.
Another thing that won't work is if you use account sharing. So if another account with family sharing wants to play Age of Empires 2 and tries to play it the result will be the same that the game crashes. So only play it on the account that owns the game.

[crazy_charlie321]

Originally posted by davagusor:

This worked for me:

- Go to the instalation folder
- Right click on the .exe (launcher)
- Click properties
- Compatibility
- Compatibility mode for Windows 8

Run it.

Worked for me. My problem was that you start the game but can't get to the menu, running Win10 here.