Games won't launch

[msubudda]

Hi all,

First time poster so forgive me if this isn't the correct place to post this.

I've played games on steam for a while, no problem. Then, something happened where I could no longer launch my games via the steam launcher. I could browse local files, find the game exe, double click and the games load that way and that's how I've been playing them for a while now.

But my son wants to play games with me and use dlc's and mods, and apparently I need the launcher to be able to turn certain ones on and off and I'm unable to do that and cannot figure out how to get them to load in the launcher. (I was tech savvy back in the 90's but now not so much, lol).

What happens:
When I open steam, I select my game and click the green "play" icon. A steam window opens up for less than half a second saying preparing to launch the game I'm trying to play, and the green play icon turns into a blue "x stop" icon for about 3 seconds, then goes back to the play icon and nothing happens. Like I said, this is the way I used to launch games, then something changed and I have no clue what.

What I've tried to do:
I've watched videos that said to browse local files and change the compatibility to windows 7 and 8, I've changed it to run as administrator. I've made sure the game, steam, and my video card drivers have all been updated. I've backed up game files and verified integrity of game files.

I'm not sure what else to do. Does anyone know what else I can try?

[msubudda]

Oh, and I forgot to mention, I also completely uninstalled steam, deleted all the game folders, and reinstalled steam, reinstalled games, and still the same thing.

[Jaunitta 🌸]

Wow lots of time involved there.
Have you tried right clicking Steam desktop shortcut and run as administrator.

[msubudda]

Originally posted by Jaunitta 🌸:

Wow lots of time involved there.
Have you tried right clicking Steam desktop shortcut and run as administrator.

I just tried that now, same result.

[HAPPY]

Maybe just change your graphics to performance rather than graphics and it should run smoothly

[msubudda]

Originally posted by SterlingSilver:

Maybe just change your graphics to performance rather than graphics and it should run smoothly

I've always had it set to that. Never changed it.

[Bee🐝]

Originally posted by msubudda:

Originally posted by SterlingSilver:

Maybe just change your graphics to performance rather than graphics and it should run smoothly

I've always had it set to that. Never changed it.

Can you give us an example of games it happens with?

Have you tried reinstalling the client?

[msubudda]

Originally posted by Bee:

Originally posted by msubudda:

I've always had it set to that. Never changed it.

Can you give us an example of games it happens with?

Have you tried reinstalling the client?

Yes, I forgot to include that in my OP, but did as the first comment. I completely uninstalled steam and verified all game folders were deleted as well. Upon re-installing, same issue.

The two games I play regularly are Imperator Rome and Hearts of Iron 4. But it happens with all the games I play, nothing loads from the launcher.

[Bee🐝]

Originally posted by msubudda:

Originally posted by Bee:

Can you give us an example of games it happens with?

Have you tried reinstalling the client?

Yes, I forgot to include that in my OP, but did as the first comment. I completely uninstalled steam and verified all game folders were deleted as well. Upon re-installing, same issue.

The two games I play regularly are Imperator Rome and Hearts of Iron 4. But it happens with all the games I play, nothing loads from the launcher.

Can you try a non-Paradox game that doesn't use a third-party launcher?

This is a known problem for some people with the Paradox launcher, usually, the workaround is to just add the Paradox launcher .exe to Steam as a non-Steam game.

[msubudda]

Originally posted by Bee:

Originally posted by msubudda:

Yes, I forgot to include that in my OP, but did as the first comment. I completely uninstalled steam and verified all game folders were deleted as well. Upon re-installing, same issue.

The two games I play regularly are Imperator Rome and Hearts of Iron 4. But it happens with all the games I play, nothing loads from the launcher.

Can you try a non-Paradox game that doesn't use a third-party launcher?

This is a known problem for some people with the Paradox launcher, usually, the workaround is to just add the Paradox launcher .exe to Steam as a non-Steam game.

Ok, so I just tried it with a Creative Assembly game and it worked!!

So how do I do this fix for Paradox games? Explain like I'm 5 lol

[msubudda]

Originally posted by SterlingSilver:

Maybe just change your graphics to performance rather than graphics and it should run smoothly

So I went through and changed it in my bios. Still doesn't launch.

[Bee🐝]

Originally posted by msubudda:

Originally posted by Bee:

Can you try a non-Paradox game that doesn't use a third-party launcher?

This is a known problem for some people with the Paradox launcher, usually, the workaround is to just add the Paradox launcher .exe to Steam as a non-Steam game.

Ok, so I just tried it with a Creative Assembly game and it worked!!

So how do I do this fix for Paradox games? Explain like I'm 5 lol

Sorry for the late reply, somehow I totally missed the comment notification.

For a proper fix you need to ask members of the Paradox community. I’d recommend either in the Steam community hub of one of the games or in Paradox’s own forums.

Seems this is just an on-going issue right now with the Paradox launcher for some people.


Oh, the quick fix that’s working for some is to add the launcher as a separate, non-steam game.

Bottom Steam client interface + -> Add non-Steam Game -> find the launcher’s .exe file within any Paradox game directory -> add that and try start the launcher > Play Game.

This still might not work. Seems this new version of the bug is far more of a pain.

[msubudda]

Originally posted by Bee:

Originally posted by msubudda:

Ok, so I just tried it with a Creative Assembly game and it worked!!

So how do I do this fix for Paradox games? Explain like I'm 5 lol

Sorry for the late reply, somehow I totally missed the comment notification.

For a proper fix you need to ask members of the Paradox community. I’d recommend either in the Steam community hub of one of the games or in Paradox’s own forums.

Seems this is just an on-going issue right now with the Paradox launcher for some people.


Oh, the quick fix that’s working for some is to add the launcher as a separate, non-steam game.

Bottom Steam client interface + -> Add non-Steam Game -> find the launcher’s .exe file within any Paradox game directory -> add that and try start the launcher > Play Game.

This still might not work. Seems this new version of the bug is far more of a pain.

Oh wow, this got the game to load from the launcher, but from a different icon than the game usually loaded from. Will mods to the game still work doing it this way? I'll see my son next week so I can try it then, but just curious if you've had experience with it.

[Iceira]

Things that impact game launcher seen from that point of view.

1 client and game install ( dont have multi client with same game

2 security and anti-virus app

3 thirdpart app , VC++ / netframework / directX

4 other app that might interference with it ( safe boot mode )

5 ( os system is broken somehow for unknown reason ( from the many update in windows, best test have a spare harddisk reinstall OS on it and can you reproduce the error )

this is roughly , and still require you know best Driver and Bios update, and even try previous Driver if newest is the problem , there is alot of if here, dont install other securiry you want test as soon as possible with MS Fresh system and ofc dont have unknown hardware other then that as much default before you add alot of apps or other software.

just because i said all of this dont ruleout good old advice as dont have printer and other unnessary things attached then it's not need by the game.

ps.
you dont need multi monitor and stuff like that, there is need and then there is i want 2 things thats not the same.

pc was build on 1 monitor 1 mouse 1 keyboard, i hope you know what im saying here old tekst book senarios, not the other way im sure you know all of this sense you was a old tech dude from past. so you know alot of this, i bet.


and what happend to windows event viewer log in why app crash, ( google it ) how to use "subject"

[Jack Schitt]

Check your security features and software including Windows Firewall and Defender settings to insure they have exceptions for Steam and all your games. Insure security like those utilities and your anti-virus are ignoring Steam and your games completely. Sounds like your anti-virus or something is in the way.

You can if you want, of course, but you don't need to use the big ugly UI. If you go to View > Small Mode your games will be listed in a small windiow, just a list of your games. Double-Click to launch them.

[Bee🐝]

Originally posted by msubudda:

Originally posted by Bee:

Sorry for the late reply, somehow I totally missed the comment notification.

For a proper fix you need to ask members of the Paradox community. I’d recommend either in the Steam community hub of one of the games or in Paradox’s own forums.

Seems this is just an on-going issue right now with the Paradox launcher for some people.


Oh, the quick fix that’s working for some is to add the launcher as a separate, non-steam game.

Bottom Steam client interface + -> Add non-Steam Game -> find the launcher’s .exe file within any Paradox game directory -> add that and try start the launcher > Play Game.

This still might not work. Seems this new version of the bug is far more of a pain.

Oh wow, this got the game to load from the launcher, but from a different icon than the game usually loaded from. Will mods to the game still work doing it this way? I'll see my son next week so I can try it then, but just curious if you've had experience with it.

They should work now that the launcher is properly up and running.

You can always test it and then get back to us.