Cant launch game

[Guidsmaster]

Using windows 7. Launcher starts up, but when I "Launch", my mouse cursor changes to a loading circle for half a second and then nothing happens. Not sure what the process is called, but I don't notice any obviously "arcanum" processes running other than the launcher.

I've tried installing the official patch and unofficial patch, though neither was able to get the game to launch.

I see all these threads about issues with windows 10, but my old win 10 laptop was able to run the game just fine, it was just extremely laggy (which could be what everyone is describing or just that my laptop happens to be garbage).

Any help would be appreciated!

[SouP]

Have you tried launching the game directly from the directly, therefore bypassing using the steam overlay wrapper? I’m unable to use the ddraw fixes in conjunction with the Steam Overlay on my W7 PC

[Guidsmaster]

I mean I've tried running the .exe directly from the local folder, but that's still within steam. Even then, nothing happens. Not sure if there's another directory it may be installed to.

I'll try verifying cache and reinstalling later to see if it helps

[SouP]

The launcher is in the main directory for Arcanum, but it points to another .exe specifically for the game. The launcher will always try to run through steam and is what provides the game with the steam wrapper functionality, but if you go into a subfolder there's the actual game executable that can be launched which bypasses any launcher. Is that the one you mean you tried, or did you only try the launcher in the local file?

[Guidsmaster]

The only directory i was aware of was the one within the typical steam/steamapps/common/etc. However, i did see that arcanum had an exe, and then it had a further arcanum folder with another exe. The first arcanum exe gives me error msg: Missing binkw32.dll
The next arcanum .exe in the next folder does the same thing as steam, just loading circle for half second and then nothing.

Which is the main directory you're talking about? Couldnt find arcanum in program files x86 nor normal Program Files

*edit: also tried verifying integrity, it found a bunch of missing files but i think thats because of the patches. Tried and still the same thing.

[Chevette]

You could try using the steps in this guide. Though it says it's for Win 10 I see no reason it wouldn't work for Win 7 as well unless some of the patches are specifically for Win 10.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1599118418

[Guidsmaster]

thanks for the guide but no luck :(( Still get the message "The program can't start because binkw32.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem."

Im checking out the terra-arcanum forums and it seems this is a known, giant pain-in-the-ass issue. Leaving the links here in case I or someone else wants to try in the future.

https://terra-arcanum.com/forums/index.php?threads/binkw32-dll-and-mss32-dll-problem.12483/
https://terra-arcanum.com/forums/index.php?threads/dohh-ship-mod-doesnt-work.12550/