unable to start BI

[engineer]

the game always starts as RTW no matter what file i launch (RomeTW or RomeTW-BI). Can anybody tell me what to do to start BI
(i' ve just downloaded RTW collection via Steam, no mods, new computer)

[Tom]

its not working for a lot of people ethier

[pablo220684]

Not working, unable to launch. No support from Steam. Come on man, we purchased this game and now its not working? not cool you guys..

[Amarinth]

Are you guys on Windows 7 by any chance?

If so, your problem might be related to the Windows Games Explorer service having become dysfunctional in the past week. Many older games suddenly refuse to start on Windows 7 because they're integrated into the Games Explorer service and waiting for a response from a Microsoft server that appears to have gone down some time around the 8th of June.

I only know this because one of the older games I play, Guild Wars, is also affected by this issue and we've figured out some workarounds while we wait for the developers to patch out the Windows Games Explorer dependency.

Since older singleplayer games like this are unlikely to get updated, here are the workarounds we've been using to bypass the Windows Games Explorer service and force the game to launch:

* Start the game twice. If Steam doesn't allow you to open it again whilst it's already running, open task manager and close the first instance of the game, then start it again and it should start the 2nd time (the first time it tries to invoke rundll32.exe and as long as you leave that process alone it should bypass it the 2nd time).

* For a more permanent solution you can try to rename gameux.dll in C:// Windows / SysWOW64 (after taking ownership and adjusting permissions). This will break the Windows Games Explorer service for all 32-bit games and should allow you to bypass it permanently.

[Mimistan]

I have that issue too. I found a simple solution: start the game from the steam library rather than the icon. Steam will give you the option to either start RTW or RTW:BI

[engineer]

Many thanks, Mimistan!

[MANWHATADONGA]

Did not work for me tried run as admin still no work.

[piper.spirit]

It will never work launching from icon, you need to launch from the steam menu. Many games are like this.

[mkz]

Rome total war dont start. There is a voice on my library ...The game is in execution...but dont start. If you check the integrity of the game some part missing. After reinstalled the game dont work either. Just try do erase my game from pc and reinstalled on Steam but nothing changed. I have contacted the assistance...hope to play again. I playin g this game from tthe 2004 but never finished...
I always try to start the game from the Steam library

[mkz]

Originally posted by Amarinth:

Are you guys on Windows 7 by any chance?


* Start the game twice. If Steam doesn't allow you to open it again whilst it's already running, open task manager and close the first instance of the game, then start it again and it should start the 2nd time (the first time it tries to invoke rundll32.exe and as long as you leave that process alone it should bypass it the 2nd time).

* For a more permanent solution you can try to rename gameux.dll in C:// Windows / SysWOW64 (after taking ownership and adjusting permissions). This will break the Windows Games Explorer service for all 32-bit games and should allow you to bypass it permanently.

Need more info about the second:
rename gameux.dll in.....what? whats the new name

[Matyranitar]

Originally posted by Amarinth:

Are you guys on Windows 7 by any chance?

If so, your problem might be related to the Windows Games Explorer service having become dysfunctional in the past week. Many older games suddenly refuse to start on Windows 7 because they're integrated into the Games Explorer service and waiting for a response from a Microsoft server that appears to have gone down some time around the 8th of June.

I only know this because one of the older games I play, Guild Wars, is also affected by this issue and we've figured out some workarounds while we wait for the developers to patch out the Windows Games Explorer dependency.

Since older singleplayer games like this are unlikely to get updated, here are the workarounds we've been using to bypass the Windows Games Explorer service and force the game to launch:

* Start the game twice. If Steam doesn't allow you to open it again whilst it's already running, open task manager and close the first instance of the game, then start it again and it should start the 2nd time (the first time it tries to invoke rundll32.exe and as long as you leave that process alone it should bypass it the 2nd time).

* For a more permanent solution you can try to rename gameux.dll in C:// Windows / SysWOW64 (after taking ownership and adjusting permissions). This will break the Windows Games Explorer service for all 32-bit games and should allow you to bypass it permanently.

I found gold here! You just answered a big question I've had for days!
Rome used to lauch the first time and work OK in my PC, but suddenly I started having this issue you mention. I had to start the game, then kill the process and restart it; I also noticed run32.dll was invoked, and it would take my CPU to 100% usage, so the game ran terribly.
I renamed C:\Windows\SysWOW64\gameux.dll to a random name, and now Rome is working as before. Thanks a lot man!

[baah pkal]

Yeah, interfering with gameux.dll also solved my issues regarding launcing the game and CPU choke. Thanks!

[DIY Miracle]

The solution will work if you can load it after loading it a second time, running two instances of the game in task manager.
https://steamcommunity.com/app/4760/discussions/0/1646544348824561996/