ESO - Won't Start!

[Ralindra]

I can't get my copy of ESO to start from STEAM - though it will from the install directly DL from the ESO website (just not with all my expansions I purchased through STEAM). Obviously I would like access to my expansions and so would like to launch from STEAM. We have ensured there are no Firewalls going, uninstalled, reinstalled, made sure VPN isn't running, we have updated DirectX and Graphic Drivers. This is all on a brand new PC, mind you. It will launch just fine from my laptop and crafting PC. I want it to run on my gaming PC! Is that too much to ask?

My husband has installed C++ as requested, too. He is a software engineer so he has also tried a few things, and he can't figure it out either. What the heck!

I don't know what else to do. It gets stuck on the Play button - it says it's trying to install some launcher.

Can anyone help?

[Jorik]

Do not turn off your firewall. Do not change your system settings and do not post logs.

go to Documents The Elder Scrolls / Live find the UserSettings.txt and delete it.

Restart the game.

Click -- > repair < -- from the cogwheel above the news.

Wait till it is finished.

Click play.

[cheshirm]

game launcher needs to create folder
Documents\ElderScrolls Online\live
folder should contain UserSettings.txt and folders AddOns Errors Logs SavedVariables Screenshots

if these files/folders are missing

check antivirus log? might be blocking game/game launcher from writing to disk
check firewall log? might be blocking the launcher or game from accessing internet

check windows security/controlled folder access.
if on add exceptions for game launcher/game.

running Windows One Drive? one drive with default settings moves files out of your Documents\Elder Scroll Online folder. so if your launcher creates settings files, the game itself has nothing to read. either disable/uninstall one drive. or if you need it/use it, windows one drive was released in 2007. VERY many websites with tutorials/manuals/movies/youtube videos written by experts devoted to One Drive/synching files/using steam, etc. try leaving a local copy of the ESO settings files.

check windows event viewer and also windows reliability history.
might be a game crash event or system related problems.

might not be of any help but there are some logs in folders

Documents\Elder Scrolls Online\live\logs
...\steam\steamapps\common\zenimax online\launcher
...\steam\steamapps\common\zenimax online\logs

[oroche]

I have the same problem, and neither solutions worked. It is sad to know that this error happens for over 5 years.

[cheshirm]

community hub says over 8000 in game. game seems to work for many.

many possibilities but suggestions for solving "it dont work" on unknown hardware on unknown operating system running unknown apps/programs/services/mods and no error msgs anywhere = just a wild guessing game.

maybe its your new nvidia 5xxx card driver. contact nvidia.

maybe you have a multicore cpu so try
https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/#en/answer/42162

go to the steam game folder
run zossteamstarter.exe

go to the steam game folder then the launcher folder
run bethesda.net_launcher.exe

go to the steam game folder then Elder Scrolls Online folder then the game folder then the client folder
run eso64.exe

do any of them work? any error msgs anywhere?

have crash dumps set up on your pc? I have a eso63.exe.dmp from yesterday having a d3d11.dll bad instruction as well as several other games with same error. so my dx11 needs repair.

[Shotgun Slither]

Originally posted by cheshirm:

running Windows One Drive? one drive with default settings moves files out of your Documents\Elder Scroll Online folder. so if your launcher creates settings files, the game itself has nothing to read. either disable/uninstall one drive. or if you need it/use it, windows one drive was released in 2007. VERY many websites with tutorials/manuals/movies/youtube videos written by experts devoted to One Drive/synching files/using steam, etc. try leaving a local copy of the ESO settings files.

Just highlighting this part about OneDrive, since this is occurring on a brand new PC.

[Sharazar]

Wife and I have been down for 3 days. done multiple repairs and full uninstall reinstall

[cheshirm]

Originally posted by Sharazar:

Wife and I have been down for 3 days. done multiple repairs and full uninstall reinstall

that would seem to tell me that you are installing/reinstalling the exact same files.
and they still do not work with something on your machine.

I have 80 games and over another 20 apps. all working fine.
tried to install a new program which refused to work.
ran sfc and dism and all windows system files were okay.
turned out visual c++ 2015 x64 was damaged and need repair.

so over 100 working programs and all windows systems are fine =
meant absolutely nothing. much like repairing and reinstalling the exact same files.

you are going to have to dig deeper into your system.
or fill out a trouble ticket with the devs and maybe they can spot something in the data you submit.

[oroche]

I can only play using another user.

[Sharazar]

After fighting with it for 5 days. today after 2nd full uninstall to a new drive, when trying to load my Norton antivirus popped up the eso64.exe has idp.generic and it was blocking it.

[Jorik]

If Norton has quarantined ESO64.exe on Windows 11, follow these steps to restore it and prevent future issues:
1. Restore ESO64.exe from Quarantine

Open Norton Security.
Go to Security > History (or Quarantine).
Locate ESO64.exe in the list.
Click Restore & Exclude (this will put the file back and prevent future quarantine).
Confirm the action when prompted.

2. Add ESO to Norton’s Exclusions

To prevent Norton from flagging it again:

Open Norton Security.
Go to Settings > Antivirus.
Click Scans and Risks.
Scroll down to Items to Exclude from Auto-Protect, SONAR, and Download Intelligence Detection.
Click Configure [+], then Add and select ESO64.exe from the game’s installation folder.

3. Check for False Positive Reports

If Norton falsely flags ESO64.exe, you can report it as a false positive to Norton via their website.

4. Verify Game Files (Steam or Launcher)

If restoring ESO64.exe fails, verify ESO’s game files:
Steam: Right-click ESO in your library → Properties → Installed Files → Verify Integrity.
ESO Launcher: Click Repair on the launcher.

[Ralindra]

Thank you! I will try this.

[oroche]

I had the same problem, and I'm coming back with my solution.

What resolved in my case was to close the msi afterburner, what use for my pc monitor.

After that I managed to open the game quietly.

Even with the game open, if I try to open MSI again, the game automatically closes.

So that was the solution of my case.