Black desert won't launch from steam, only shows black sprite on startup, than crashes without error.

[kvman]

I just bough the game, installed it and tried to launch it but it won't work.
After i press play in steam I get a logo of a black sprite and then it dissapears again and steams says the game is not running anymore.

I have looked all over the internet but can't find a fix that works for my problem.
I have tried the following:
- Setting all .exe files from BDO to run in admin mode
- Run steam in admin
- All drivers are up to date
- Changed the UAC
- Checked integrity of game files
- Fixed the easy anti cheat program in the bdo folder

I'm out of idea's, can someone help?
I have also submitted a ticket with the developers but haven't heard back yet.

[Tsel13]

Have you tried....

Is your anti-virus or firewall blocking BDO?
Put in the exceptions to allow BDO through.
This is what you need to do for the Windows 10 Firewall
Open Windows Security and go into the Firewall & network protection
Left click select ‘Allow an app through firewall’
Left click ‘Change settings’
Left click ‘Allow another app’
Browsed and add the following:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Black Desert Online (both ‘BlackDesertEAC.exe & BlackDesertLauncher.exe’)
Also (choose the one that applies 32bit or 64bit system)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Black Desert Online\bin (BlackDesert32.exe)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Black Desert Online\bin64 (BlackDesert64.exe)
NOTE: If you are running a second firewall, part of an anti-virus bundle, you might need to let them through it as well. Webroot is especially problematic of this.
Then try to play BDO.

[kvman]

Originally posted by Tsel13:

Have you tried....

Is your anti-virus or firewall blocking BDO?
Put in the exceptions to allow BDO through.
This is what you need to do for the Windows 10 Firewall
Open Windows Security and go into the Firewall & network protection
Left click select ‘Allow an app through firewall’
Left click ‘Change settings’
Left click ‘Allow another app’
Browsed and add the following:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Black Desert Online (both ‘BlackDesertEAC.exe & BlackDesertLauncher.exe’)
Also (choose the one that applies 32bit or 64bit system)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Black Desert Online\bin (BlackDesert32.exe)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Black Desert Online\bin64 (BlackDesert64.exe)
NOTE: If you are running a second firewall, part of an anti-virus bundle, you might need to let them through it as well. Webroot is especially problematic of this.
Then try to play BDO.

Thanks for the reply, I have just tried everything you mentioned but the same problem is still present.
Is there anything else i can try?

[Tsel13]

Lets try the easiest thing first.
Quit / Close / Exit PA Launcher and Steam app.
Make sure neither is running. Not even in the background.

a. Click Documents, and double-click the Black Desert folder. Click the UserCache folder and press the Delete key on your keyboard.
b. Navigate to the Black Desert Online installation folder (Usually C:/Program Files(x86)/Black Desert Online). Then, delete the Cache folder.
Try to play BDO.

If that did not work then lets do these steps.
I know you wrote you already did this, but lets try again.

01) Reboot your computer. Not shut it off, but rather reboot.

02)
Check this again. Are you running BDO as an Administrator?
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Black Desert Online
Right-click the BlackDesertLauncher.exe application icon and select Properties.
Select the Compatibility tab.
Click Change settings for all users.
Check the box, Run this program as administrator.
Click Apply > OK.

03)
Try this again. Launch your Steam app and go into your Library
Right click on Black Desert
Left click on Properties
Left click LOCAL FILES
Left click Verify integrity of game files
When it completes try to play BDO through the Steam app.
Your PA Launcher might automatically start to fix files. Let it if it does.

04)
If the above did not work.
Lastly, close the PA Launcher and Steam
a. open steam bdo folder ... \Steam\steamapps\common\Black Desert Online
b. delete BlackDesert32.exe in the bin folder
c. delete BlackDesert.dat in the bin folder
d. delete BlackDesert64.exe in the bin64 folder
e. delete BlackDesert64.dat in the bin64 folder
f. delete pad00000.meta in the paz folder
Launch the Steam app
Start the PA launcher and wait for downloads to complete.
This will take awhile.
When it completes try to play BDO.

[Proctor Cain]

WRT running Steam as Administrator:

If this is to be the fix, it is necessary that you command "Run Steam as Administrator" from a state where there are no Steam processes already running.

If for example you have checked "Start Steam when my computer starts" in Steam Settings, and of course your computer has started, you will need to exit Steam fully before trying to run it as Administrator. Clicking the "X" on the top right of the Steam App window does not fully terminate all Steam Processes. Clicking "Steam | Exit" on the top left, or, clicking on the Steam icon (by default) on the right hand end of the task bar, then exit, does fully terminate all Steam Processes.

An easy way to run steam as administrator is to
tap the windows key
start typing steam
right click the Steam icon on the list when it appears
click Run as Administrator.

If this works, you might also want to read another post of mine.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/582660/discussions/12/4997318143964113256/?tscn=1652761683

It's only relevant if you are leery of running steam and consequently the BD game with elevated privileges.

[kvman]

Originally posted by Tsel13:

Lets try the easiest thing first.
Quit / Close / Exit PA Launcher and Steam app.
Make sure neither is running. Not even in the background.

a. Click Documents, and double-click the Black Desert folder. Click the UserCache folder and press the Delete key on your keyboard.
b. Navigate to the Black Desert Online installation folder (Usually C:/Program Files(x86)/Black Desert Online). Then, delete the Cache folder.
Try to play BDO.

If that did not work then lets do these steps.
I know you wrote you already did this, but lets try again.

01) Reboot your computer. Not shut it off, but rather reboot.

02)
Check this again. Are you running BDO as an Administrator?
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Black Desert Online
Right-click the BlackDesertLauncher.exe application icon and select Properties.
Select the Compatibility tab.
Click Change settings for all users.
Check the box, Run this program as administrator.
Click Apply > OK.

03)
Try this again. Launch your Steam app and go into your Library
Right click on Black Desert
Left click on Properties
Left click LOCAL FILES
Left click Verify integrity of game files
When it completes try to play BDO through the Steam app.
Your PA Launcher might automatically start to fix files. Let it if it does.

04)
If the above did not work.
Lastly, close the PA Launcher and Steam
a. open steam bdo folder ... \Steam\steamapps\common\Black Desert Online
b. delete BlackDesert32.exe in the bin folder
c. delete BlackDesert.dat in the bin folder
d. delete BlackDesert64.exe in the bin64 folder
e. delete BlackDesert64.dat in the bin64 folder
f. delete pad00000.meta in the paz folder
Launch the Steam app
Start the PA launcher and wait for downloads to complete.
This will take awhile.
When it completes try to play BDO.

I did all the steps but BDO stil does not launch. Strangly step 4 did also not do anything. I think this is because the BDO Launcher never runs. It is literally: Press play button -> Black BDO sprite appears -> then dissapears and when looking at the steam app it is not showing that BDO is running anymore.

So, i guess the problem is with the launcher, but what, I have no clue? anything else i can try?

Ps.
a couple of years ago i did have BDO installed during a free demo period in which i played like 5 hours or something. Is it possible that some files or registeries from that time could be interfering with BDO now?

[kvman]

Originally posted by Proctor Cain:

WRT running Steam as Administrator:

If this is to be the fix, it is necessary that you command "Run Steam as Administrator" from a state where there are no Steam processes already running.

If for example you have checked "Start Steam when my computer starts" in Steam Settings, and of course your computer has started, you will need to exit Steam fully before trying to run it as Administrator. Clicking the "X" on the top right of the Steam App window does not fully terminate all Steam Processes. Clicking "Steam | Exit" on the top left, or, clicking on the Steam icon (by default) on the right hand end of the task bar, then exit, does fully terminate all Steam Processes.

An easy way to run steam as administrator is to
tap the windows key
start typing steam
right click the Steam icon on the list when it appears
click Run as Administrator.

If this works, you might also want to read another post of mine.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/582660/discussions/12/4997318143964113256/?tscn=1652761683

It's only relevant if you are leery of running steam and consequently the BD game with elevated privileges.

I don't think the elevated privelages has anything to do with it, because i just gave all the BDO files admin rights + Steam xD

[Proctor Cain]

Originally posted by kvman:

Originally posted by Proctor Cain:

WRT running Steam as Administrator:

If this is to be the fix, it is necessary that you command "Run Steam as Administrator" from a state where there are no Steam processes already running.

If for example you have checked "Start Steam when my computer starts" in Steam Settings, and of course your computer has started, you will need to exit Steam fully before trying to run it as Administrator. Clicking the "X" on the top right of the Steam App window does not fully terminate all Steam Processes. Clicking "Steam | Exit" on the top left, or, clicking on the Steam icon (by default) on the right hand end of the task bar, then exit, does fully terminate all Steam Processes.

An easy way to run steam as administrator is to
tap the windows key
start typing steam
right click the Steam icon on the list when it appears
click Run as Administrator.

If this works, you might also want to read another post of mine.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/582660/discussions/12/4997318143964113256/?tscn=1652761683

It's only relevant if you are leery of running steam and consequently the BD game with elevated privileges.

I don't think the elevated privelages has anything to do with it, because i just gave all the BDO files admin rights + Steam xD

Yes but did you try Running Steam as Administrator in the manner I described?

[LuxAeterna]

I have the same issue. Please share if you find a solution

[kvman]

Originally posted by Proctor Cain:

Originally posted by kvman:

I don't think the elevated privelages has anything to do with it, because i just gave all the BDO files admin rights + Steam xD

Yes but did you try Running Steam as Administrator in the manner I described?

Yes I did, but still thanks for the suggestion.

[kvman]

Originally posted by LuxAeterna:

I have the same issue. Please share if you find a solution

I will

[Proctor Cain]

Have you looked into Windows Event Viewer just after attempting to run BD? Might be a clue there with any luck.

[kvman]

Originally posted by Proctor Cain:

Have you looked into Windows Event Viewer just after attempting to run BD? Might be a clue there with any luck.

Yes there is one related error in event viewer:

Faulting application name: BlackDesertLauncher.exe, version: 22.7.19.1, time stamp: 0x62df8fe3
Faulting module name: BlackDesertLauncher.exe, version: 22.7.19.1, time stamp: 0x62df8fe3
Exception code: 0xc0000409
Fault offset: 0x0009bbda
Faulting process ID: 0x4c7c
Faulting application start time: 0x01d8d59290b6551f
Faulting application path: F:\Program Files Ryzen\steamapps\common\Black Desert Online\BlackDesertLauncher.exe
Faulting module path: F:\Program Files Ryzen\steamapps\common\Black Desert Online\BlackDesertLauncher.exe
Report ID: 1e722c59-d8ff-4f3c-b86d-1d0156061bfe
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:

[Proctor Cain]

This is what a microsoft tool (Err_6.4.5.exe) says about that Exception code;

D:\Downloads>Err_6.4.5.exe c0000409
# for hex 0xc0000409 / decimal -1073740791
STATUS_STACK_BUFFER_OVERRUN ntstatus.h
# The system detected an overrun of a stack-based buffer in
# this application. This overrun could potentially allow a
# malicious user to gain control of this application.
# 1 matches found for "c0000409"

So I guess we should suspect that either the system or BlackDesertLauncher.exe is faulty.

Try deleting BlackDesertLauncher.exe from your Steam Library then run the Steam "Verify integrity of game files" tool. That should result in BlackDesertLauncher.exe as well as the other files that Tsel suggested you delete being downloaded and reinstalled.

WRT your question earlier;
"a couple of years ago i did have BDO installed during a free demo period in which i played like 5 hours or something. Is it possible that some files or registeries from that time could be interfering with BDO now?"

BD ferrets away data under your Documents folder. Try renaming any folders with Black Desert in their name, since renaming will have the same effect as deleting but makes restoring easier if needed. There may be Black Desert folders under other User Names too. These folders should get rebuilt when you get BD to start.

If you don't have any joy from these steps, it may be worth running the microsoft System File Checker tool. You can learn about it here;

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system-files-79aa86cb-ca52-166a-92a3-966e85d4094e

Make sure you read this carefully and understand it. Also back up your valued data before running it. You do backups routinely anyway right?

[kvman]

Originally posted by Proctor Cain:

This is what a microsoft tool (Err_6.4.5.exe) says about that Exception code;

D:\Downloads>Err_6.4.5.exe c0000409
# for hex 0xc0000409 / decimal -1073740791
STATUS_STACK_BUFFER_OVERRUN ntstatus.h
# The system detected an overrun of a stack-based buffer in
# this application. This overrun could potentially allow a
# malicious user to gain control of this application.
# 1 matches found for "c0000409"

So I guess we should suspect that either the system or BlackDesertLauncher.exe is faulty.

Try deleting BlackDesertLauncher.exe from your Steam Library then run the Steam "Verify integrity of game files" tool. That should result in BlackDesertLauncher.exe as well as the other files that Tsel suggested you delete being downloaded and reinstalled.

WRT your question earlier;
"a couple of years ago i did have BDO installed during a free demo period in which i played like 5 hours or something. Is it possible that some files or registeries from that time could be interfering with BDO now?"

BD ferrets away data under your Documents folder. Try renaming any folders with Black Desert in their name, since renaming will have the same effect as deleting but makes restoring easier if needed. There may be Black Desert folders under other User Names too. These folders should get rebuilt when you get BD to start.

If you don't have any joy from these steps, it may be worth running the microsoft System File Checker tool. You can learn about it here;

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system-files-79aa86cb-ca52-166a-92a3-966e85d4094e

Make sure you read this carefully and understand it. Also back up your valued data before running it. You do backups routinely anyway right?

No success, sfc said there was no problem and deleting the files again and doing the steam files integrity check did not fix the problem.

I have also been in contact with PearlAbyss and they told me to:
- Reset Windows Socket API
- Check the proxy settings
- power cycle the modem/route
- Check firewall
- Check ports 8888 and 9991 - 9993
None of the above fixed my problem.

I never had so much problem running a game in like ten years or so xD

[Proctor Cain]

Have you got Anti Virus? It would be a good idea to run a full scan of your system.