Potential Solutions to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Crashing to Desktop upon Startup

[A Jedi Princess]

Greetings,

I recently reacquired Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic as a gift on Steam from one of my mates. Upon opening it, the title cinematics would load (Lucasfilm, BioWare, and the SW:KotOR legal and copywright information screen with Revan's lovely visage) and then the game would crash with an error message from Windows saying "Windows Error Report: Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic has stopped working. Windows is working on a solution..." with a green progress bar in the window that loads until the message inside changes to "Windows could not find a solution to the problem." and the only option it offers is a "Close Program" button (I have Windows 7 x 64 by the by in case anyone was wondering).
So first thing was first, I went in to make sure the game was running in the appropriate compatability mode: [My Computer > OS (C:) > Program Files (x86) > Steam > steamapps > common > swkotor > (right click on the swkotor Application file type and select "Properties", then select the "Compatibility" tab and make certain that the box next to "Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows XP Service Pack 3" has a tick mark in it.] I tried loading it again and the same issue occured.
Next, I checked the integrity of the game cache: [Open Steam > Library > (Find "Star Wars: The Old Republic" from the list on the left and right click the game title. Select "Properties" from the popup menu and select the "Local Files" tab then click "Verify Integrity of Game Cache")]. This revealed the file to be faulty, as it "failed to validate and will be reacquired". After the brief downlaod of the new file, I opened it to play and the very same thing happened: it crashed after the opening titles. I had Steam "reacquire" the file four different times and each time the game crashed to the desktop upon startup.
After perusing many many forums, all having the same issues, I found and tried multiple "successful solutions" none of which worked for me but may work for others which is why I am including them here:
First, I tried to remove the title cinematics from the file entirely so that it would simply open to the menu upon launching the game. This can be done by using either of two methods:
1.) Remove the title cinematics: [My Computer > OS (C:) > Program Files (x86) > Steam > steamapps > common > swkotor > movies > (find and select the following "biologo.bik", "leclogo.bik", and "legal.bik" and cut them from the movies folder. Go back to the "common" folder and paste them there. They have now been removed.)]
2.) Rename the title cinematics: [My Computer > OS (C:) > Program Files (x86) > Steam > steamapps > common > swkotor > movies > (locate the following "biologo.bik", "leclogo.bik", "legal.bik" and rename them "biologo.bik.old", "leclogo.bik.old", and "legal.bik.old". You should get a warning from Windows cautioning you that renaming the files might compromise their ability to run. Ignore it because that's exactly why you're re-naming them. They will no longer activate upon launch.)] But all that happened for me was the error and crash as soon as I launched the game.
Second, I tried to adjust the viewer: [My Computer > OS (C:) > Program Files (x86) > Steam > steamapps > common > swkotor > swkotor Configuration settings (once inside the code window locate [Graphics Options] and where it says "Fullscreen=1" change it to Fullscreen=0 and change "V-Sync=1" to "V-Sync=0". Close the window.)]
Third, someone recommended updating DirectX to the latest version (as of today 7/3/2014 that would be DirectX 11). I have provided a link: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35
Fourth, I tried fiddling about with the Steam launch options: [Open Steam > Library > (Find "Star Wars: The Old Republic" from the list on the left and right click the game title. Select "Properties" and then select "Set Launch Options" and change the affinity to "/affinity 1")]
Finally, after more research I discovered that Steam only downloads an old version of the game. It is absolutely crucial to update the game once downloaded: [swkotor > swupdate Application (at the very bottom of the list inside the swkotor file.)] After running the update, many internal issues should be fixed, but personally I still experienced the crash to desktop after the title cinematics.
Other people have said that due to the issue being with the cinematics in the game, it solves the issue to simply turn all the cinematics off. I wanted to find an effective solution that would allow me to keep the films in the game.
Here's what DID work for me (all steps together):
- Run the game in Compatibility Mode
- Run the game as Administrator
- Make sure V-Sync is off, in other words "V-Sync=0" inside the Configuration settings
- Make sure the file has been updated
- Set Launch Options to "/affinity 1"
- And after going into swkotor Configuration settings, make sure under [Graphic Options] that the following settings are in place: "Fullscreen=1" and directly below that type and add "AllowWindowedMode=1" and close the code window. Upon launching the game, press Alt + Enter to cause the fullscreen to change to a window (larger view of the cinematic films is an added bonus). Play the game in window mode until your first dialogue with Trask Ulgo aboard the Endar Spire at the beginning. When given the dialogue options to respond to him, press Alt + Enter once more to return the game to fullscreen (allowing you to click and select your options).
Subsequently, I had no further issues. I'm sorry this comment has been so long, but I sincerely hope that any of the above solution options are able to help others play this game to the fullest and truly enjoy all that Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic has to offer.

Cheers,
Meg

[Seth9628]

Okay i read half of that and this is what i have to say. Do you have steam overlay enabled? if you do the game doesnt work. Thats what i did then it worked fine.

[A Jedi Princess]

For me personally, disabling Steam overlay didn't help any, but I'm glad you found a solution to this very irksome issue!

[odst2432]

I don't have a compatibility tab in my Properties.

[KINGPIN_Ghandi]

Thanks for the help it works now!

[meda]

Originally posted by A Jedi Princess:

Finally, after more research I discovered that Steam only downloads an old version of the game.

What? Game version is 1.03, which is the last version.

[PornoRanger]

Deleting the intro videos does the trick.

[TeoTheGamer]

nothing ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ works for me: ive done all those things but the same damn thing occurs...
FAULTY MODULE: StackHash_be9b
wtf