Please Help: I Still Can't Open Train Simulator

[JoeTransit]

This is a re-post of a discussion I made about two or three weeks ago. Since then, I have contacted Intel and Windows support repetitively. Intel Support even remotely controlled my computer and they said it was a problem with Train Simulator because my computer runs perfectly fine (according to them). I'm re-posting this because I am really desperate for advice on how to fix this. January 26th will make two months since I unsuccessfully tried to launch Train Simulator and I have spent well over $150 USD. Below is my original post:

I have been directed from Steam to DTG Support and back to Steam Support and I'm on the brink of getting redirected back to DTG Support again. I will just copy and paste my messages here in the hopes that I can get a solution here. I payed good money for a good amount of DLC on Monday, Nov. 26 (the day before the Steam Autumn Sale ended) and I haven't been able to play Train Simulator since. All different messages will be separated by lines.

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To whom it may concern,
Everytime I click PLAY on Train Simulator, either one of two error messages show. It is either:

"This operation was canceled by the user. (0x4c7)"

"Failed to load shared content.
Steamworks Common Redistributables."

After following all directions given by the website in the first error message (including restarting Steam Client, restarting computer, verifying integrity of game files, clearing download cache, and reinstalling Steam), the error messages do not cease to appear. These error messages started appearing on Monday, November 26th of 2018, which is the day of my purchase of 47 dollars-worth of add-ons. I have not had the ability to play the game since. However, Train Sim World is faring well for me. Please get back to me at your earliest convenience at this email address.

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All dependencies are installed. After I installed them, I followed advice on the forums, which told me to:

"If you have the means (separate hard disk space, USB keys or even dropbox), back up your Assets and content folders
Go back into steam. Go to library and then Train Simulator. UNTICK all of your DLC. Verify
This will uninstall all your steam DLC.

Try running the game. You may not have any DLC addons installed but you should still be able to access the academy and the other menu options.
If it crashes again then you know it's the core game.
You can uninstall this via steam, and there are instruction vids online about complete reinstalls

If it doesn't crash then add the DLC back in one or two at a time (verifying every time) which will either work, or give you an idea of which DLC is causing the crash"
- "ARuscoe"

Before shutting off my computer yesterday (12/15/18), I encountered a different error about Steamworks Common Redistributables that I stated in the initial message. However, today (12/16/18) I am encountering "This operation was canceled by the user. (0x4c7)" again.

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I have tried reinstalling Steam before. After doing it again today, I am encountering a new error message about Steamworks Common Redistributables. This happened after I un-ticked "Railworks UK LED Signals" from my DLC list and clicked play. I am still getting the same error message after I re-ticked it.

I do not know if this will help, but I have the Steam folder installed on my Desktop. What is also possibly noteworthy is that the Steam Client doesn't load anything but the Library tab. Any other things that I click on will show a black screen and maybe a green link saying that it is loading. To view anything else other than my library, I have to use online Steam. I don't know if this has anything to do with the problem at hand.

Attached are pictures of the Steamworks Common Redistributables error message and a list of all my DLC.

--------- (DTG Support)
Hi Joseph,

As the error message indicates that files needed by Steam are missing you'll need to determine why.

The following Steam support page may help but you may need to contact Steam support directly for more information as we cannot see your Steam account or why such an error message would occur:

https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/common_redist

Kind Regards,

Daniel
Dovetail Games Customer Support

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For all those who read through this lengthy post, I do thank you very much. If possible, can someone get back to me at their earliest convenience.

Kind regards,
JoeTransit.

[Phase3]

Where is TS2019 installed? C:\Program Files (X86)?
Is UAC turned on?
Amtivirus, Malware, FireWall set to allow Railworks.exe, Railworks64.exe, and steam.exe to be bypassed.
Does the error occur when starting TS2019 in Windows SAFE MODE
Ditto starting TS following a clean boot in windows?
Have you run sfc /scannow? at a command line!
Did you try this registry hack?
Close steam

You can also force Steam to reinstall common redistributables by deleting the following registry key:
Win key + R/r Type regedit - OK
Navigate to
(64-bit Windows:) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Valve\Steam\Apps\CommonRedist
Delete this entry
Restart Steam!
What happens?

[JoeTransit]

The directory for TS is: C:\Users\ljtab\OneDrive\Desktop\Steam\steamapps\common. There are then three folders after "common": "RailWorks", "Steamworks Shared", & "Train Sim World"

UAC is turned on to notify me when apps try to make changes to my computer but not when changes are made to Windows settings.

For some reason, I can't activate Safe Mode.
Clean Boot also doesn't work.

sfc /scannow also did not work.

When I deleted that entry, and restarted Steam, something different occurred in the background window. Normally it says "Preparing to launch Train Simulator..." before and after I click Play 64- or 32-bit edition however now it only says that before I click the Play. After I click play, it now says:
"Performing first time setup...
Installing: (step of )"

Thanks for the advice. Please get back to me at your earliest convenience.

Kind regards,
JoeTransit

[Phase3]

Joe
If safe mode (GOOGLE it) and/or Clean boot do not wotk you may have a Corrupt Windows install These are basic windows commands and HAVE to work!!

With sfc /scannow (space betweenthe "fc" and "/". Google how to open "cmd.exe" and then use sfc /scannow.

UAC is not needed on a home computer - so try it turned OFF before starting TS2019 then turn it back on later.

The registry hack changes settings in STEAM, and removing the entry in the registry may have triggered the response to install TS, did you let it do that?

Have you tried:
Close TS - navigate to: \STEAM\steamapps\common\RailWorks\Content
Delete 4 files
SDBCache.bin
SDBCache.bin.MD5
RVDBCache.bin
RVDBCache.bin.MD5

Restart T2019 and these will be rebuilt.

If that is correct placemnet of Ralworks - "The directory for TS is: C:\Users\ljtab\OneDrive\Desktop\Steam\steamapps\common. There are then three folders after "common": "RailWorks", "Steamworks Shared", & "Train Sim World" - that is a very poor place to install TS, TSW etc!
Why are using "One Drive"?
That not be the correct directory.
Where is "Railworks.exe" file located on your drive?

[JoeTransit]

When I navigate to that directory, I am presented with a folder called "Routes" and then an XML document called "ConsistTemplates". When I open this document, MS Internet Explorer opens with this text:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

-<cRecordSet d:id="91887704" d:version="1.0" xmlns:d="http://www.kuju.com/TnT/2003/Delta">

<Record/>

</cRecordSet>
--- END TEXT ---

I had no other choice because I have barely any space in my OS (C:\) drive. I tried not to save it to OneDrive however it seems that it automatically backs up into OneDrive.

RailWorks.exe is located in this directory:
C:\Users\ljtab\OneDrive\Desktop\Steam\steamapps\common\RailWorks\RailWorks.exe

I turned UAC off however this has made no effect.

MAJOR EDIT:
When I double click RailWorks.exe, it sends me to the game. And it works! :) Sorry to put you through all this trouble @Phase3.

[Phase3]

Joe
Glad you got it working!

[JoeTransit]

Thanks, Once again, sorry to put you through all that trouble to find a solution.