Game won't load

[Phae's Bane]

Every time I try to open the game, it says its running but I cant open the window. Steam support is useless, anyone have any ideas? I can hear the audio but the game doesn't play and I have to restart my computer to stop it from playing.

[roo]

Try adding legacy DirectX files to Win10.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/564530/discussions/0/3247562523072302625/

Also you could try replacing your original pharaoh exe with a widescreen fix.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2232556389

Otherwise it may require uninstalling and reinstalling if there are errors in the file system.

[toteman]

Quite a few people have experienced the same problem. Some of them found this thread useful:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/564530/discussions/0/1696043806561980306/

Good Luck!

[igniszet]

I managed to fix this yesterday using the above advice, and then fixing some other crashes. I played almost all night and today... The game won't start even though nothing changed in my OS or the game files. I'm beyond frustrated. I'm back to the beginning where the game gets minimized to task bar after logos, I can hear the intro play, but the game won't come back up and it can't be alt tabbed to. Widescreen and dx fixes don't help anymore.

[roo]

That sounds like a tough situation :(

All I could suggest would be to undo everything you did - or if you have good bandwidth uninstall the game completely (all files) and do a re-install.

You mentioned that you fixed some other crashes - if doing a re-install, it may be best to look into them first before adding any other fixes.

Also you will not need to download the older DirectX files, as they will still be in your systems files - or should be.

Not sure what you are playing on? But laptops can have extra issues as the game was designed in the '90s.

[igniszet]

I actually reinstalled the game completely and even tried to move it to a different folder, none of those things or any available fixes online helped. I spent another few hours wrestling with it and completely losing my mind over what could have changed when I'd turned my comp off for the night. And then magically it started working again. Played for a few hours, and today was another big test. The game started only after 4 tries, like it needed to warm up or something, haha. It's really weird.
So far I had no issues.

In case anyone needs it in the future:

The first time I made it work (after applying the widescreen fix) it would crash on seemingly random intervals, and I was able to eventually resolve it by replacing mss32.dll and MP3DEC.ASI files with their Zeus and Poseidon versions in the game folder, as suggested in an old forum somewhere.
I run the game in Win 98 compatibility mode with 16-bit color and 640 x 480 resolution options on. For whatever reason I am unable to play it in my native res 1920 x 1080 anymore (the first time I could, now the game won't start if I apply that particular fix), so I experimented with lower resolutions until I found one that worked. Once I start it up, I get no crashes or glitches whatsoever. It seems like it might not like it if there are any explorer windows open, so best to have the shortcut on desktop or start the game straight from Steam (I turned Steam off while trying to limit the amount of potential interference). Right now I'm even able to alt-tab to another app without causing the game to freeze or crash.

As a precaution I made a backup of the game folder in its functioning state.
If it stops working again I will be really REALLY surprised (and lost).

[..]

I had a similar issue with 'game running'. What I did was go to task manager: see apps running - would not see Pharaoh (Cleopatra Expansion) then click on Processes
scroll down until you see Pharaoh.exe Click End Process This stops the game.
I also found by starting the game using Pharaoh+Cleopatra icon on my desktop instead
of starting the game from within Steam resolved that little problem.
Hope this helps.

[roo]

@John the Bandit - good point :)

I have had a few minor problems with different games when using the Steam game start option.
Only ever use the desktop shortcuts as it by-passes any conflicts that Steam might introduce. Never had any problems since...

[Limetkka]

Hi there:-)
I have problem with loading the saved game too, but little bit different.. When I load the saved game (usually after more saving), there light up warning, that the save is "old version"... The game is load just partly - bars, menu bar and overwisers. I hear sounds, but game window is black..
Do someone know, how i can fix it?
Thanks for your tips:-)

[Phae's Bane]

Thanks guys, I an running windows 10 on an HP envy, i tried everything listed above and it still does it randomly. I will just skip playing that day and usually the next it magically fixes itself which leads me to believe it's a server bug, not a computer compatibility issue, or at least not JUST that.

[Telariust]

The game freezes up to a minute on startup?
and
The game will not open at all from the 1st time?
and
Steam thinks the game is already running?

Wait 1min, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and kill Pharaoh.exe process
Run it again and it should open.
So, at the first start, rundll32.exe is launched in the background.
And while rundll32.exe is running, the game re-opens without problems.
If you exit Steam and start Steam again, Steam will suddenly claim that the game is running.
(this is because of rundll32.exe, we kill it in the Task Manager so that Steam releases)

Where does rundll32.exe come from?
Uh.. it's trying to connect to the servers..
(over the network? in a game in which there is no multiplayer? how is it in general?)
" .. rundll32.exe C:\Windows\system32\gameux.dll,GameUXShim .. "
As it turned out, this is the functionality of "Windows Game Explorer".
It looks like MicroSoft collects statistics.
My Steam version of the game is trying to connect to 40.113.76.66:443
No one answers him there and he hangs endlessly in eternal expectation.
The problem is solved by everyone in their own way.
Someone radically removes gameux.dll from the system.
But there is a more civilized way through the creation and launch (from the Admin)

GameUX_OFF.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\GameUX\ServiceLocation]
"Games"=""

It's funny that the "Compatibility Win95/98" mode completely removes the problem.
(apparently network support for old Windows is not implemented)

More
https://steamcommunity.com/app/564530/discussions/0/3185737486660609902/#c3185737486660613401

[Telariust]

..the screen goes black,.. then a black screen with a window... then it just closes it..

Try right clicking on the .EXE, Properties
"Run as Admin" + "Windows98/XP Compatibility" (+ "Disable Scaling" + "Color Rendering 16bit")

When the Game starts for the 1st time, it tries to run in full screen (not windowed) mode at a resolution of 640x480.
Some modern graphics cards and monitors really don't like this.
(now often the minimum supported native resolution is 1024x768)
You can change these settings only from the Menu, but it does not reach it.

The Game saves all settings in the Pharaoh.inf binary file.
There are special .INF sets for changing game settings bypassing the Menu.
From the most primitive
support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/213038885-Windowed-mode
support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013499854-Pharaoh-Launch-crash
Up to improved
"Resolution Switcher EXEs"
"Windowed mode On or Off EXEs"
sourceforge.net/projects/xjdhdr-random-code/files/Game_related_files/City_Building_Strategy_Games_Series_files/

To run Windowed Mode, it is very important:
1) To lower the Color Rendering to 16bit
2) Scaling equal 100%

For Windows 10, it is possible to set options only for the Game
(to avoid changes to the entire System)
Right click on the .EXE
Properties =>Compatibility =>LowColorMode =>16bit
Properties =>Compatibility =>HighDPISettings
check the box OverrideScalingBehaviour and "Application"

For Windows 7, you will have to set options of the entire System
Start =>ControlPanel =>Screen =>Resolution =>AdvancedSettings =>Monitor =>Color Quality =>16bit
Start =>ControlPanel =>Screen =>EaseScreenReader =>Small-100%

Overlays are known to interfere with the Game
(we are not talking about overlay-filters from the Game)
Disable overlays or close these programs:
- AMD GPU (delete GPU gaming profile)
- Nvidia GPU (GeForce Experience, Shadowplay as Share)
- AfterBurner, RivaTuner
- Origin
- Discord, Skype
- Windows Xbox
- Steam? (Steam overlay doesn't seem to interfere)
- other
Shadowplay, known as Share, must be disabled in the GeForce Experience Settings Panel.
Closing the process in Task Manager will not disable Shadowplay!

Try renaming the "/BINKS" folder
Actually the Game works, but it crashes when try to play Video.

You need to install DirectX 9.0c on the system
DirectX 9.0 with Runtime Pack (June 2010)
www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=8109

More
https://steamcommunity.com/app/564530/discussions/0/3185737486660609902/#c3185737486660612232

[Telariust]

Widescreen patchset "cleopatra.7z" (05 Feb 2012, JackFuste) did not completely fix the interface.
It changes the resolution, but the World Map, Expert Advisors, and the Editor have a lot of defects.
Therefore, it is recommended to use a fresh Resizer (08 Nov 2016, crudelios)
https://www.wsgf.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=14149&start=320#p167799

XJDHDR Widescreen Pack 2018 (with last Resizer, 08 Nov 2016, crudelios)
sourceforge.net/projects/xjdhdr-random-code/files/Game_related_files/City_Building_Strategy_Games_Series_files/

More
https://steamcommunity.com/app/564530/discussions/0/3185737486660609902/#c3185737486660612977

[Telariust]

Updated
You need to install DirectX 9.0c on the system
DirectX 9.0 with Runtime Pack (June 2010)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=8109

Regular freezes/crashes of the game are associated with a bug in the playback of sounds.
Especially strong when "Compatibility WindowsXP(sp2/sp3)"
Use "Compatibility Windows95/98"
Or update mss32.dll+Mp3dec.asi (from Zeus+Poseidon v2.1)
CRC32:9BD81E9D mss32.dll (Version:6.0m)
CRC32:FA4BC870 Mp3dec.asi
https://wdfiles.ru/e11658

If the problem is still not fixed, then

Looping audio problem
When you have more than 2 speakers (2.1 or 5.1 or 7.1 sound)
Older games don't know what surround sound is.
Also, modern sound cards can work in surround sound emulation mode.
Download, unpack and copy-paste with replace to game folder.
www.indirectsound.com/downloads.html
Try v12 (EAX=ON) or v14 (EAX=OFF) or v15 (noX3DAudio)
This dsound.dll replaces the native one from DirectX, like a wrapper, reconciles the old with the new.

More
https://steamcommunity.com/app/564530/discussions/0/3185737486660609902/#c3185737486660612737

[Telariust]

(we are not talking about overlay-filters from the Game)
Overlays are known to interfere with the Game
- The screen just freezes sooner or later, the music plays in the background;
- Blank screen in the Main Menu as the main sign of a running Overlay;

Disable Overlays or close these programs:
- AMD GPU (delete GPU gaming profile)
- Nvidia GPU (GeForce Experience, Shadowplay as Share)
- AfterBurner
- RivaTuner
- Steam? (Steam overlay doesn't seem to interfere)
- Origin
- Discord
- Skype
- Windows Xbox
- other

Shadowplay, known as Share, must be disabled in the GeForce Experience Settings Panel. Closing the process in Task Manager will not disable Shadowplay!

More
https://steamcommunity.com/app/564530/discussions/0/3185737486660609902/#c3185737486660612473