I can't start this game, why?

[gyvn]

I recently got this game on sale and after when the download was done, I couldn't start it. It said ''Preparing launch'' and the game didn't pop-up. Can someone help me out of this?

[Metal Izanagi]

Having the same problem, here. Tried restarting Steam. No dice.

[Metal Izanagi]

Problem solved. Go to:

C:\Users\****\Documents\My Games\Dawn of War II - Retribution

Delete the "config" folder. Make sure to right-click the game in your Steam Library, and click "set launch options" and make sure that the text box that shows up is blank.

The problem I had run into was that I had previously been running a mod, and the game was crashing because I reinstalled the game, but the old launch options were still there.

If my solution doesn't work, try making sure that you're running the game as an administrator, and if that fails, go to:

Steam\SteamApps\common\Dawn of War II - Retribution\Install

Run DXSETUP.exe and vcredist.exe, to verify that you at least have the required versions of DirectX and VC installed. If they bring up errors about having newer versions already installed, cancel out of the installers. Let me know if you need more assistance. Feel free to add me as a friend so I can help you out, as well.

[gyvn]

Originally posted by Metal Izanagi:

Problem solved. Go to:

C:\Users\****\Documents\My Games\Dawn of War II - Retribution

Delete the "config" folder. Make sure to right-click the game in your Steam Library, and click "set launch options" and make sure that the text box that shows up is blank.

The problem I had run into was that I had previously been running a mod, and the game was crashing because I reinstalled the game, but the old launch options were still there.

If my solution doesn't work, try making sure that you're running the game as an administrator, and if that fails, go to:

Steam\SteamApps\common\Dawn of War II - Retribution\Install

Run DXSETUP.exe and vcredist.exe, to verify that you at least have the required versions of DirectX and VC installed. If they bring up errors about having newer versions already installed, cancel out of the installers. Let me know if you need more assistance. Feel free to add me as a friend so I can help you out, as well.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOU DID MUCH MORE WHAT STEAM SUPPORT COULD EVER HAD DONE, I OWE YOU ONE MAN THANKS

[Astartes]

Originally posted by Metal Izanagi:

Let me know if you need more assistance. Feel free to add me as a friend so I can help you out, as well.

I've tried all of your suggestions, and it's still not working. I just get a black screen. It's been happening since got a new system with Win 8.1.

[[AC] Lord Elifas]

FORGET EVERYTHING THAT WAS HERE BEFORE. POST IS EDITED, PROBLEM SOLVED

Kharn [SoL]: right click retribution in your library
Kharn [SoL]: properties
Kharn [SoL]: set launch options
Kharn [SoL]: does it say anything there?
(SoL) Lord Elifas: -dev -modname Popcap_v1.1
Kharn [SoL]: remove that
Kharn [SoL]: and click ok
Kharn [SoL]: then try start up the game again
IT WORKED!

this problem appears if you installed the pop cap mode

[maccas]

Setting compatibility on the DoW2.exe to windows 7 got mine working, literally did nothing else.

[r_Kat]

Originally posted by Metal Izanagi:

Problem solved. Go to:

C:\Users\****\Documents\My Games\Dawn of War II - Retribution

Delete the "config" folder. Make sure to right-click the game in your Steam Library, and click "set launch options" and make sure that the text box that shows up is blank.

The problem I had run into was that I had previously been running a mod, and the game was crashing because I reinstalled the game, but the old launch options were still there.

If my solution doesn't work, try making sure that you're running the game as an administrator, and if that fails, go to:

Steam\SteamApps\common\Dawn of War II - Retribution\Install

Run DXSETUP.exe and vcredist.exe, to verify that you at least have the required versions of DirectX and VC installed. If they bring up errors about having newer versions already installed, cancel out of the installers. Let me know if you need more assistance. Feel free to add me as a friend so I can help you out, as well.

This should help resolve most instances of crashing. Thank you for the detailed write up, Metal Izanagi!

If your problem persists, please let me know by continuing to post in this thread!

[Copper]

Nope, still doesn't work, the same problem all the time: https://imgur.com/a/G06zd
Halp!

[Charlando[SunsOfStmChrts]]

Originally posted by Copper:

Nope, still doesn't work, the same problem all the time: https://imgur.com/a/G06zd
Halp!

Wow that is one cryptic error message.

[General JB]

Yo people very weird i tried everything mentioned here and all which is written in the forums or other pages via google. No solution for me tried even uninstalling and redownloading. I think somethink is wrong with windows 10 patches or something. Never had problems with dow 2 and now i have a Laptop with windows 10 ..... just feels anoying sitting for days only to solve the problems which windows 10 has with dow 2 . If sombody has other advices i try them all. Many people are inviting me for Elite Matches but i cant join....AAARRRRRRGGGGGGG

[[CG]FancySweetroll]

It seems I found another way to make the game start. On my Windows 10 workstation the game was unable to start. The icon appears on the taskbar and the game shows up in task manager as not responding. The game was working perfectly fine on my two laptops running the latest version of Windows 10. I even tried installing Windows 7 on my workstation but I got exactly the same result. I had of course also tried installing multiple versions of DirectX, DotNet, even the games for windows live client and followed all the other suggestions I could find.

With both my laptops working, I couldnt help but wonder if it was some hardware issue. I have an i9-9980 XE cpu with 18 cores. I then tried in the Bios to disable 14 of the cores, in effect making it a quad core and then the game actually started perfectly fine lol.

I havent really tried finding the exact max core count the game can work with, though I dont really care too much, I will just disable the 14 cores whenever I feel nostalgic :p

[Charlando[SunsOfStmChrts]]

Have you tried going into the game's folder and launching the exe directly from there?

Sometimes the steam launcher suppresses error messages with things like not having the right directx9 dll

[[VCBC] PsychoAlex]

I can confirm the large Processor problem. Running a Ryzen 9 3950X, disabled one of my CCX's and it launches.

[FIX MATCHMACKING sa-mi bag pula]

Originally posted by VCBC PsychoAlex:

I can confirm the large Processor problem. Running a Ryzen 9 3950X, disabled one of my CCX's and it launches.

how do you disable the Proccesors ( i am not tech savy) i have a I-13900

[SoulEater]

Originally posted by Like to loose?:

Originally posted by VCBC PsychoAlex:

I can confirm the large Processor problem. Running a Ryzen 9 3950X, disabled one of my CCX's and it launches.

how do you disable the Proccesors ( i am not tech savy) i have a I-13900

Here you go!
https://www.dawnofwar.info/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5516
https://github.com/maximumgame/DOW2CoreFix