New solution found for black screen/no launch problem

[Zednaught]

While I can't say this will solve everyone's problem with the black screen/failure to launch problem, I was recently given a solution to this persistent problem on the Eidos technical forum.

Essentially, it's a problem with Windows Crypto Service Provider, and all I had to do was switch to a new user account (make sure you log out of Steam first). That was it. I'm quite pleased with the technical support provided by Nixxes (who handled the PC port).

Here's a link to the site:http://forums.eidosgames.com/showthread.php?p=1993703&posted=1#post1993703

[yusupov]

<3 nixxes...hope nvidia buys them out though

[Noratek]

Zednaught, i cannot express how grateful i am!
I have tried everything here, including asking a developer - and nothing worked.
But you good Sir, fixed my problem!
Thanks A LOT for this!!
I hope you have a lovely weekend

[Zednaught]

Originally posted by Noratek:

Zednaught, i cannot express how grateful i am!
I have tried everything here, including asking a developer - and nothing worked.
But you good Sir, fixed my problem!
Thanks A LOT for this!!
I hope you have a lovely weekend

Thank you, I hope you enjoy. Really, though, the credit goes to the tech support from Nixxes. I share in your relief. I'd spent literally hours and hours trying to fix this, and I was about to give up.

I'm just happy to spread this info to others. Nixxes were pretty stumped until the second patch, but after I gave them my Thief log, they had a solution for me within the hour.

[gamendub]

what do you mean switch to new user account, like if its that simple, i will have to move everything to the new profile , i might as well format my hard drive too

[Zednaught]

Originally posted by gamendub:

what do you mean switch to new user account, like if its that simple, i will have to move everything to the new profile , i might as well format my hard drive too

You know how when you load up windows you choose an account to log in to? Simply make a new one and log in to that. I think it's under user accounts somewhere. Takes a few minutes.

Why in the world would you have to format your hard drive? That's crazy.

[gamendub]

Originally posted by Zednaught:

Originally posted by gamendub:

what do you mean switch to new user account, like if its that simple, i will have to move everything to the new profile , i might as well format my hard drive too

You know how when you load up windows you choose an account to log in to? Simply make a new one and log in to that. I think it's under user accounts somewhere. Takes a few minutes.

Why in the world would you have to format your hard drive? That's crazy.

because the new account will be completely empty

[Zednaught]

Originally posted by gamendub:

Originally posted by Zednaught:

You know how when you load up windows you choose an account to log in to? Simply make a new one and log in to that. I think it's under user accounts somewhere. Takes a few minutes.

Why in the world would you have to format your hard drive? That's crazy.

because the new account will be completely empty

And why would it be completely empty? Didn't happen to me, and I'm pretty sure you can set it up so that the new account has access to all the old files.

Even if it was, it would take minutes to copy over the files for the game. It's just a minor inconvenience either way.

I think all of your questions could have been pretty easily answered if you'd just try to do it yourself.

[gamendub]

i dont think its worth the hussle

[Zednaught]

Originally posted by gamendub:

i dont think its worth the hussle

So...you literally can't spare the extra minute or two that it would take to set this up? That busy huh? That's all it takes. The black screen bug is a complicated problem, but the solution was incredibly simple.

You have't clarified if you're having this problem, or you're just being...I dunno.

Ironically, my final opinion of the game is pretty negative, so I would actually argue that it's not worth it either...but since you're not especailly valuing my opinion, why not take the few minutes it takes to fix the bug and discover for yourself if you like the game.

[gamendub]

I like the game, i have to wait like 30 seconds to play though and it is loading on my ssd ,
creating a new profile is gonna take extra space on my ssd which i really need,

[Zednaught]

Originally posted by gamendub:

I like the game, i have to wait like 30 seconds to play though and it is loading on my ssd ,
creating a new profile is gonna take extra space on my ssd which i really need,

The bug that I experienced was that it simply wouldn't load, and I couldn't play it at all. I don't think that's happening to you.

I agree that if you can already play it then it's probably not worth the hassle.

[VAAM the Anomaly-AA-]

Originally posted by Zednaught:

While I can't say this will solve everyone's problem with the black screen/failure to launch problem, I was recently given a solution to this persistent problem on the Eidos technical forum.

Essentially, it's a problem with Windows Crypto Service Provider, and all I had to do was switch to a new user account (make sure you log out of Steam first). That was it. I'm quite pleased with the technical support provided by Nixxes (who handled the PC port).

Here's a link to the site http://forums.eidosgames.com/showthread.php?p=1993703&posted=1#post1993703

INCOMING RANT - NO TECHNICAL SUPPORT OR SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IN THIS POST - OLD MAN RANTING.

Tried this suggestion. Did NOT work. Made a standard account as well as making an admin account. Tried switching users and log off options to make sure the main was logged. Decided that since the CSP was the problem ( for this at least I wasnt blind tech'n anymore so for that thanks ) I would stop the service. Loaded the game and made it to the options hub and clicked play while still observing the service's behavior as the game attempted to load.

The service turned it self back on. I noticed that during the black screen, as soon as the service turned itself on, the black screen closed to the desktop so I disabled the service completely after stopping it. Reloaded the game. Same thing happened.

Upon this, I turned the damn thing off once again, but noticed that even though the service was disabled it still turned on. I am looking for a way to keep this service off. I have had this game for years and never even played it. The 3 hours I have logged are black screen time. How sad is that? Tried explaining my problem to Steam and they might as well have said, "Thanks for the money, sucka!" I told them the game is aptly named, cause they sure as hell robbed my azz! The only silver lining is, luckily I bought the game when it was like 11 dollars.

In all honesty, THAT should have tipped me off as the old adage in this instance holds true, "You get what you pay for."

EDIT : Fix'd the link also.

[Zednaught]

Originally posted by VAAM the Anomaly -AA-:

Originally posted by Zednaught:

While I can't say this will solve everyone's problem with the black screen/failure to launch problem, I was recently given a solution to this persistent problem on the Eidos technical forum.

Essentially, it's a problem with Windows Crypto Service Provider, and all I had to do was switch to a new user account (make sure you log out of Steam first). That was it. I'm quite pleased with the technical support provided by Nixxes (who handled the PC port).

Here's a link to the site http://forums.eidosgames.com/showthread.php?p=1993703&posted=1#post1993703

INCOMING RANT - NO TECHNICAL SUPPORT OR SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IN THIS POST - OLD MAN RANTING.

Tried this suggestion. Did NOT work. Made a standard account as well as making an admin account. Tried switching users and log off options to make sure the main was logged. Decided that since the CSP was the problem ( for this at least I wasnt blind tech'n anymore so for that thanks ) I would stop the service. Loaded the game and made it to the options hub and clicked play while still observing the service's behavior as the game attempted to load.

The service turned it self back on. I noticed that during the black screen, as soon as the service turned itself on, the black screen closed to the desktop so I disabled the service completely after stopping it. Reloaded the game. Same thing happened.

Upon this, I turned the damn thing off once again, but noticed that even though the service was disabled it still turned on. I am looking for a way to keep this service off. I have had this game for years and never even played it. The 3 hours I have logged are black screen time. How sad is that? Tried explaining my problem to Steam and they might as well have said, "Thanks for the money, sucka!" I told them the game is aptly named, cause they sure as hell robbed my azz! The only silver lining is, luckily I bought the game when it was like 11 dollars.

In all honesty, THAT should have tipped me off as the old adage in this instance holds true, "You get what you pay for."

EDIT : Fix'd the link also.

Sorry that it didn't work for you. Let me give youa warning for future pruchases: this bug affects ALL Nixxes titles.

So, that means that the Tomb Raider and Deus Ex games also won't work.

[Azrael]

Originally posted by VAAM the Anomaly -AA-:

Originally posted by Zednaught:

While I can't say this will solve everyone's problem with the black screen/failure to launch problem, I was recently given a solution to this persistent problem on the Eidos technical forum.

Essentially, it's a problem with Windows Crypto Service Provider, and all I had to do was switch to a new user account (make sure you log out of Steam first). That was it. I'm quite pleased with the technical support provided by Nixxes (who handled the PC port).

Here's a link to the site http://forums.eidosgames.com/showthread.php?p=1993703&posted=1#post1993703

INCOMING RANT - NO TECHNICAL SUPPORT OR SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IN THIS POST - OLD MAN RANTING.

Tried this suggestion. Did NOT work. Made a standard account as well as making an admin account. Tried switching users and log off options to make sure the main was logged. Decided that since the CSP was the problem ( for this at least I wasnt blind tech'n anymore so for that thanks ) I would stop the service. Loaded the game and made it to the options hub and clicked play while still observing the service's behavior as the game attempted to load.

The service turned it self back on. I noticed that during the black screen, as soon as the service turned itself on, the black screen closed to the desktop so I disabled the service completely after stopping it. Reloaded the game. Same thing happened.

Upon this, I turned the damn thing off once again, but noticed that even though the service was disabled it still turned on. I am looking for a way to keep this service off. I have had this game for years and never even played it. The 3 hours I have logged are black screen time. How sad is that? Tried explaining my problem to Steam and they might as well have said, "Thanks for the money, sucka!" I told them the game is aptly named, cause they sure as hell robbed my azz! The only silver lining is, luckily I bought the game when it was like 11 dollars.

In all honesty, THAT should have tipped me off as the old adage in this instance holds true, "You get what you pay for."

EDIT : Fix'd the link also.

How did you disable CSP? Simply by killing it in Task Manager? If so try this:
- Right-Click on 'My Computer' and select 'Manage'
- Navigate to Services and Applications, then click Services
- Find Windows Crypto Service Provider and right-click it, select properties
- Start-up Type to 'Disabled'.

Now check in Task Manager>Services if it's still on, if so turn it off. It shouldn't turn on again. Restart your PC just in case. It shouldn't start CSP at all next start-up.

If for some miraculous reason it still starts up press Win+R to open Run and type in 'regedit'. Now this is where it gets complicated:
- Make a backup by clicking on 'File' and select 'Export', save it somewhere.
- Now navigate to the following address: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\services\CryptSvc
- Find the keys: DelayedAutostart and Start, right-click one and select Modify
- Change value to 0, now the same with the other one.
- Restart PC.

If you can't find these folders, tell me what version of Windows you're using. Alternatively you could try AutoRuns program.

[Zednaught]

Originally posted by ;1745605598711764726:

Originally posted by VAAM the Anomaly -AA-:

INCOMING RANT - NO TECHNICAL SUPPORT OR SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IN THIS POST - OLD MAN RANTING.

Tried this suggestion. Did NOT work. Made a standard account as well as making an admin account. Tried switching users and log off options to make sure the main was logged. Decided that since the CSP was the problem ( for this at least I wasnt blind tech'n anymore so for that thanks ) I would stop the service. Loaded the game and made it to the options hub and clicked play while still observing the service's behavior as the game attempted to load.

The service turned it self back on. I noticed that during the black screen, as soon as the service turned itself on, the black screen closed to the desktop so I disabled the service completely after stopping it. Reloaded the game. Same thing happened.

Upon this, I turned the damn thing off once again, but noticed that even though the service was disabled it still turned on. I am looking for a way to keep this service off. I have had this game for years and never even played it. The 3 hours I have logged are black screen time. How sad is that? Tried explaining my problem to Steam and they might as well have said, "Thanks for the money, sucka!" I told them the game is aptly named, cause they sure as hell robbed my azz! The only silver lining is, luckily I bought the game when it was like 11 dollars.

In all honesty, THAT should have tipped me off as the old adage in this instance holds true, "You get what you pay for."

EDIT : Fix'd the link also.

How did you disable CSP? Simply by killing it in Task Manager? If so try this:
- Right-Click on 'My Computer' and select 'Manage'
- Navigate to Services and Applications, then click Services
- Find Windows Crypto Service Provider and right-click it, select properties
- Start-up Type to 'Disabled'.

Now check in Task Manager>Services if it's still on, if so turn it off. It shouldn't turn on again. Restart your PC just in case. It shouldn't start CSP at all next start-up.

If for some miraculous reason it still starts up press Win+R to open Run and type in 'regedit'. Now this is where it gets complicated:
- Make a backup by clicking on 'File' and select 'Export', save it somewhere.
- Now navigate to the following address: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\services\CryptSvc
- Find the keys: DelayedAutostart and Start, right-click one and select Modify
- Change value to 0, now the same with the other one.
- Restart PC.

If you can't find these folders, tell me what version of Windows you're using. Alternatively you could try AutoRuns program.

You'll definitely need to do the second step. It'll still turn on if you start the game.

To be honest, I'm 95% sure that even the second step with the regedit won't work either; it turns on no matter what when you start the game. I vaguely recall trying something like that years ago and it still wouldn't work. Only making a new account seemed to work.

The good(ish) news is that after many games, Nixxes seems finally to have ended the bug. The Shadow of the Tomb Raider demo works without crashing.