Will not run.

[not smart]

Whenever I attempt to run this game, I am shown a black screen for approximately three seconds before it exits. The icon is shown on the taskbar, but it doesn't do anything. Yesterday, it worked, and I played through the tutorial, but all attempts since then have been unsuccessful.

[brother matthias]

Have you tried uninstalling then reinstalling the game? Or did you have a mod activated when your problem began? Or if you were configuring files that could cause it.

[not smart]

I don't have any mods installed, and I've reinstalled three times. I wasn't configuring any files during any of the attempts. I'm totally lost.

[not smart]

Every couple of attempts, I get a snippet of audio and a flash of white.

[Cursed Hawkins]

rotdunearthed check my profile cause i posted a guide that will ensure that your game will be up and running like it was

[not smart]

Nevermind, it's fixed. I don't know how or why, but it suddenly just starting working.

[zigdaddy911]

Please i need help. I have a similar problem to rotdunearthed. I can start and play the game and start a campaign. The problem is when i try to load a same i get a black screen and the game does nothing and becomes unresponsive. I eventually have to alt-tab out and close the game from the task bar or task manager. After many hours of goggling i have found many people with the same question and no real answer. The common solutions to this are: reinstall, verify game cache, run as admin, run in compatibility mode for win 98/ me/ xp, update drivers. I have tried all of these things with no luck. People with this problem need a real answer. Below is log from warnings.txt


22:36:00.47 DARKCR~1 started at 2015-03-21 22:36
22:36:00.47 OS Win 4.10, 256MB Physical Memory
22:36:00.47 RUN-OPTIONS
22:36:00.47 WORKING-DIR C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Dawn of War Dark Crusade
22:36:00.47
22:36:02.90 GAME -- SigmaApp:InitSteam: appID is 4580
22:36:02.90 MATHBOX -- Version=5, Cpu=INTEL Pentium-III:f=6,m=10, Mode=SSE
22:36:02.90 FILESYSTEM -- filepath failure, path does not exist 'Engine\Locale\english\Data'
22:36:02.90 GAME -- Warning: Failed to map folder 'Engine\Locale\english\Data'.
22:36:02.90 GAME -- Warhammer, 1.3, Build 197806
22:36:02.90 SPOOGE - Driver[Dx9 : Hardware TnL] on adapter[0], version[4,32]
22:36:02.90 SPDx9 -- Driver Name = aticfx32.dll Device = \\.\DISPLAY1 Desc = Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
22:36:02.90 SPDx9 -- Driver Vendor = 0x8086 Device = 0x0166 SubSys = 0x71021558 Rev = 0x0009
22:36:02.90 SPDx9 -- Driver Version Product = 0x0008 Version = 0x0011 SubVersion = 0x000A Build = 0x0535 (1333)
22:36:02.90 SPDx9 -- Driver GUID = {D7B78E66-4226-11CF-DD73-0851B7C2C535}
22:36:02.90 SPOOGE -- 3338.00MB available texture memory
22:36:02.90 SPOOGE -- 3338.00MB available texture memory
22:36:02.90 GAME -- Available memory: 255MB RAM, 1792MB Pagefile
22:36:02.90 GAME -- Beginning FE
22:36:05.94 MOVIE -- Opening movie 'movies:dxp_relic_intro.lua'
22:36:05.94 DivXMovie -- ERROR 1005: Unexpected error occurred. Error occurred in function DivxDoFrame().!
22:36:05.94 DivXMovie -- Could not decode frame at 0.00 in movie.
22:36:05.94 MOVIE -- Closing movie 'movies:dxp_relic_intro.lua'
22:36:05.94 MOVIE -- Opening movie 'movies:nvidia_logo.lua'
22:36:05.96 DivXMovie -- ERROR 1005: Unexpected error occurred. Error occurred in function DivxDoFrame().!
22:36:05.96 DivXMovie -- Could not decode frame at 0.01 in movie.
22:36:05.96 MOVIE -- Closing movie 'movies:nvidia_logo.lua'
22:36:05.96 MOVIE -- Opening movie 'movies:dow_intro.lua'
22:36:05.97 DivXMovie -- ERROR 1005: Unexpected error occurred. Error occurred in function DivxDoFrame().!
22:36:05.97 DivXMovie -- Could not decode frame at 0.00 in movie.
22:36:05.97 MOVIE -- Closing movie 'movies:dow_intro.lua'
22:36:05.98 FE -- Loading front end.
22:36:05.98 FE -- Cursor hidden.
22:36:07.53 MOD -- Initializing Mod dxp2, 1.0
22:36:07.53 MOD -- Warning: Failed to load archive 'W40k\W40kDataGOTY.sga'
22:36:07.53 MOD -- Warning: Failed to open folder 'DXP2\Locale\english\Data'.
22:36:07.53 MOD -- Warning: Failed to open folder 'DXP2\Data_Shared_Textures\Full'.
22:36:07.53 MOD -- Warning: Failed to open folder 'DXP2\Data_Sound\Low'.
22:36:07.53 MOD -- Warning: Failed to open folder 'DXP2\Data_Music'.
22:36:07.53 MOD -- Warning: Failed to open folder 'DXP2\Data_Whm\High'.
22:36:07.53 MOD -- Warning: Failed to open folder 'W40k\Locale\english\Data'.
22:36:07.53 MOD -- Warning: Failed to open folder 'W40k\Data_Shared_Textures\Full'.
22:36:07.53 MOD -- Warning: Failed to open folder 'W40k\Data_Sound\Low'.
22:36:07.53 MOD -- Warning: Failed to open folder 'W40k\Data_Whm\High'.
22:36:08.57 SetOwnVersionAndDataChecksums modName:winter assault modDllFile:WXPMod.dll modVersion:1.0 appBinaryCRC:3451394890 dataCRC:4260714959 modDllCRC:2978826926
22:36:08.57 GAME -- Using player profile name
22:36:08.57 AppRegistry::GetValue - Failed to read valueName CDKEY
22:36:08.94 Lobby - LOE_PlayerCompleteStats received
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\AUTORESOLVE.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\AUTORESOLVE.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\FontDecor.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\FontBody.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\ToolTip.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\CAMPAIGNNUGGET.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\CAMPAIGNNUGGET.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\COMMANDERSCREEN.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\COMMANDERSCREEN.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\METAMAP.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\METAMAP.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\FontHead.gfx
22:36:52.64 RENDER ANIM -- Dummy: Unable to open file!
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\MESSAGEBOX.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\MESSAGEBOX.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\RACESELECTION.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\RACESELECTION.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\REINFORCESCREEN.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\REINFORCESCREEN.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\LOADSAVE.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\LOADSAVE.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\HISTORY.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\HISTORY.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\REWARDSLOSSESSCREEN.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\REWARDSLOSSESSCREEN.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\WARGEAR.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\WARGEAR.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\SELECTDIFFICULTYSCREEN.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\SELECTDIFFICULTYSCREEN.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\METAMAP_MAINMENU.gfx
22:36:52.64 GFx -- loading file DATA:ART\UI\SWF\METAMAP_MAINMENU.gfx
22:36:58.42 APP -- Game Load
22:36:58.42 GAME -- Ending FE
22:36:58.42 GAME -- Shutdown play
22:36:58.42 GAME -- Beginning FE
22:36:58.42 GAME -- (worldmanager) Unable to load scenario 'PLAYER:Singleplayer\SaveGames\savegame1.sav': 'String buffer overrun!'
22:36:58.42 FE -- failed to load savegame
22:36:58.42 APP -- Game Stop
22:37:15.43 SPOOGE -- 3333.00MB available texture memory
22:37:15.43 SPOOGE -- 3338.00MB available texture memory
22:37:19.52 SPOOGE -- 3338.00MB available texture memory
22:37:19.52 SPOOGE -- 3338.00MB available texture memory
22:37:22.99 GAME -- Ending FE
22:37:22.99 GAME -- Shutdown quit
22:37:22.99 MOD -- Shutting down Mod 'dxp2'...
22:37:23.16 SPOOGE -- 3338.00MB available texture memory
22:37:23.16 SPOOGE -- 3338.00MB available texture memory
22:37:23.16
Application closed without errors

[zigdaddy911]

Forgot to include answer to the normal follow on question. I have no mods installed. Pure vanilla patched to the latest Steam version.

[not smart]

zigdaddy911, it looks like your copy appears to be misreading or missing a few files that are making the whole thing fail. Do you have any kind of download managing software installed?

[not smart]

Sometimes, though, programs fail for literally no understandable reason. Just keep trying, and it will most likely happen eventually. Software this large in size has millions of, or even more, lines of code, which makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact problem.

[zigdaddy911]

I do not have any download manager software.

[not smart]

Keep trying. It's possible that eventually, something will just click and it will work perfectly.

[zigdaddy911]

Ok. Like everyone else it is fixed and i dont know exactly why. For the next person with this problem I will post my process. I can start and play the game and start a campaign. The problem is when i try to load a save from DOW: Dark Crusade i get a black screen and the game does nothing and becomes unresponsive. I eventually have to alt-tab out and close the game from the task bar or task manager.

After many hours of goggling i have found many people with the same question and no real answer. Many with majic fixes tried some or all of these steps.

These are the steps i tried in order:
1. Verify game cache
2. Delete and redownload through steam
3. Navigate to the game exe and run as admin, run in compatibility mode for win xp
4. Run in compatibility mode for win 98/me
5. Delete and redownload through steam
6. Run video setup program that came with game and set to lowest setting
7. Install the .net software that came with the game
8. Update drivers for my Intel 4000HD and AMD Radeon HD 7970M video cards.
9. Run video setup program that came with game and set to higher resolution
10. Weird suggestion but someone said "start steam, go to game folder on hard drive, delete all files, close steam, set steam shortcut to run as admin, start steam. This will force it to download the game again." I was desperate so i tried it. Still no luck.
11. I decided to try new campaign and make a new save. Wont load.
12. At this point i wonder if it could have something to do with my laptop switchable graffics program so i set it to run on the 4000HD video card since that is what the video setup program that came with the game detects.
13. Run video setup program that came with game and set to "safe mode"
14. At this point i notice the loading error in the warning.txt is now reading "read past the chunk end" instead of "string buffer overrun"
15. Create new campaign and new save with "safe mode" video settings.
16. FINALLY it works. Run the video setup program that came with the game and switch it back to the high resolution i want to play at. Save game loads fine.
17. Change my switchable graffics back to Radeon 7970m. Save loads fine.
20. A dozen saves and loads later game is working fine.