Skyrim Won't Run/Missing Exe.

[HospitallerInaBoat]

Hi, not sure if this is the right forum or what not to ask, but I have a technical problem that I can't seem to figure out.

So I haven't been able to play Skyrim for probably two weeks, I've been sporadically returning to attempt to the fix the problem. So the actual problem I'm having, is that whenever I click on the run button, the game will either tell me 'UNKNOWN ERROR' or 'MISSING EXECUTABLE'

Now I've reviewed the Steam Help pages on both subjects, and I have tried the following methods for each problem-

For UNKNOWN ERROR-

1. I tried flushing my files, didn't work.

2. Deleted the 'appcache' folder, restarted the computer and steam, didn't work.

3. Checked the integrity of the game files, the thing said it worked, I tried the game, and was
then told the EXE file was missing.

4. Simply restarting steam, didn't work.

5. Uninstalled Skyrim three-differing ways (With Computer, With Steam, With Steam and Computer) Reinstalled, and got the same errors, didn't work.


I tried stuff for the MISSING EXECUTABLE too-

1. Downloaded a internet-found replacement EXE file, didn't work.

2. Checked the game integrity, said it was fixed, then got UNKNOWN ERROR as a result.

3. I found a non-working EXE in the folder, deleted and reinstalled it multiple times and in multiple ways, none of that worked.


I haven't downloaded any mods that have conflicted, nor updates, and I have no programs listed on the Steam Help page that could conflict with Skyrim.

And any programs that ARE on my system on the list, have not conflicted so for the 200 hours I have played the game, so I don't think they are the culprit.

If someone could give me some technical help, or refer me to someone/somewhere to get that help, I'd be very grateful :)
Thanks.

[Viper]

You should always use the Steam uninstalation procedure to uninstall a game from Steam. Downloading and inserting other Exes is not a good idea either since they have to be the exact same build. You best bet to make sure you get a clean insatll is to right click the game in the Library and select delete local content. Then go to the SteamApps directory and delete the Skyrim folder then reinstall it through Steam. Your Firewall/ Anti VIrus program might be interferring with the install so turn it off while it is installing. It might have been quarantined the Skyrim.exe file for some reason. So you might have to tell your security program that Skyrim is a safe file. The process varies with different security suites. Reinstalling over and over again seems like a whole lot of wasted time since in either it installs or something such as your firewall stops it. So doing it over again is just a waste of time since the result will be the same.

[HospitallerInaBoat]

Hi, thanks for the response.

Duelly noted on uninstalling games on Steam, without Steam uninstalling procedures, its just that I tried the solution you just told me after my faulty attempt, I deleted the local content, saved all of my data in a different copy folder, and reinstalled the game using Steam.

I have McAfee, and I checked the Virus/Bug report, and it said there was nothing, and like I quoted, my game has run hundreds of times earlier, and McAfee has never interfered in the past.

I was asked a long time ago on allowing the Skyrim launcher to run on my pc by the firewall, I clicked yes, and it has never presented to me that I changed the option, and I didn't manually access anything to change the option either.

[Viper]

Yes but if your getting the error missing EXE. the only way it could be missing is if a program removed it from the Skyrim directory, or if its the wrong EXE. I suspect you got missing EXE after you inserted other EXEs in the directory. As for the unknown error did you try running Steam or the game itself as administrator. Do other Steam games start for you. This would tell you if the problem is a Steam problem

[HospitallerInaBoat]

Yep, all of my other games work. I tried running Steam as an Administrator, and that didn't do it.

I first got the Missing Executable alert BEFORE I put in the one I downloaded, the file was still in my folder at that point, and when I would run it, I was told the app wasn't compatible with my PC (Windows 8) so I tried the other solutions I mentioned prior.