Age of Empires II: HD Startup Crashes and Startup Problems

Hey reader, this is a compiliation of the most common solutions I have seen working for people to get their games started. Typically if your game isn't launch because it instantly disappears or nothing happens, we should be able to figure out what's going on.

Please let me know if you know a common solution that worked for you that I may have missed. I'm still gathering data and working on the formatting of this guide.

If this guide has helped you don't forget to upvote so it can help other people!

Start-Up and Launching Issues

Missing Windows updates:

1. Run windows update multiple times until it says no updates available.

Antivirus problems:

1. Ensure that the game is added to your list of exceptions.

Microsoft C++ Redists didn't install properly:

1. Go to your control panel for add/remove programs.
   
2. Uninstall all versions of 2012 Microsoft C++ Redistribs.
   
3. Uninstall all versions of 2013 Microsoft C++ Redistribs.
   
4. Uninstall all versions of 2015 Microsoft C++ Redistribs.
   
5. Navigate to: \Steam\steamapps\common\age2hd\_CommonRedist\vcredist
   
6. Note: If you do not have that folder; please use the official Microsoft website[support.microsoft.com].
   
7. In the 2010 folder, install the x86 and x64 versions, and right-click run as admin.
   
8. In the 2013 folder, install the x86 and x64 versions, and right-click run as admin.
   
9. In the 2015 folder, install the x86 and x64 versions, and right-click run as admin.
   
10. Try playing the game now.

DirectX didn't install properly:

1. Go to Steam Library.
   
2. Right-click on Age of Empires II: HD Edition.
   
3. Select Properties.
   
4. Go to Local Files tab.
   
5. Click "Browse Local Files".
   
6. Open the _CommonRedist folder.
   
7. Open the DirectX folder.
   
8. Open the Jun2010 folder.
   
9. Run the DXSETUP.exe.
   
10. Try playing the game now.

My game updated and now it is broken, it used to work though:

1. Verify the integrity of your game cache.
   
2. Redo the steps listed in launcher closes.

Launcher closes after clicking play:

If the game doesn't start after clicking Play from the launcher, try disabling the launcher. To disable the launcher follow the steps below. Game updates or verify file caches may re-set these changes.

1. In your Steam Game Library, find the game. Right click it and click Properties.
   
2. Click the "Set launch options..." button.
   
3. Type in NoStartUp and click OK.
   
4. Click the "Local files" tab.
   
5. Click the "Browse local files..." button to open the game folder.
   
6. Delete (or rename) "Launcher".
   
7. Make a copy of "AoK HD".
   
8. Rename the copy to "Launcher".
   
9. Go back to the Steam properties window and click Close.
   
10. Try playing the game now.

Crashing Issues

If you're crashing imediately when clicking single-player or trying to play a campaign or some other action the first things to try are:

Verifying game cache:

This is the most common Steam solution to erroneous issues.

1. Go to Steam Library.
   
2. Right-click on Age of Empires II: HD Edition.
   
3. Select Properties.
   
4. Go to Local Files tab.
   
5. Click Verify Game Cache.
   
6. Try playing the game now.

Creating new profile:

Sometimes the profile being used for the game becomes corrupted. Please note this will reset and campaign progress and custom hotkeys. You can quickly regain campaign progress by using "i r winner" when starting the campaign mission. You only really need to beat the last mission without cheats for the achievement to pop.

1. Go to Steam Library.
   
2. Right-click on Age of Empires II: HD Edition.
   
3. Select Properties.
   
4. Go to Local Files tab.
   
5. Click "Browse Local Files".
   
6. Open the Profiles folder.
   
7. Delete the file called "Player.nfp".
   
8. Launch the game.
   
9. Create a new profile in-game by going in Options from the main menu and click "New".
   
10. Try playing the game now.

Waiting For Other Players...

Verifying game cache:

This is the most common Steam solution to erroneous issues.

1. Go to Steam Library.
   
2. Right-click on Age of Empires II: HD Edition.
   
3. Select Properties.
   
4. Go to Local Files tab.
   
5. Click Verify Game Cache.
   
6. Try playing the game now.

Downloading Problems

Try changing your Steam download region.

The following two parental controls could interfere with downloading:

1. K9 Parental Control
2. Steam Parental Control

[mertcand587]

The game crashes when I select a hut or a granary and try to change screen size

[Gequi]

Age of Empires 2 problem , same as Scribblenauts

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3180849554

[franc11385]

I did all the recommandation found here to try to fix the game that would'nt start. The launcher was working but closes and nothing happen after clicking play. Which was linked to the error 0xc000007b when I looked in the logs.

For me the solution that finaly work was installing the following package that include all in one the 32 and 64 bits Runtimes DirectX files.


Original forum page where it can be found (in french) :
https://forum.malekal.com/viewtopic.php?p=482975#p482975

Second forum page (in french) :
https://www.wincert.net/forum/topic/10834-runtimes-directx-32-64-bits/

Direct link to download the 32-bits files :
{LINK ENTFERNT}https://www.mediafire.com/file/6e3743413eo18uj/DXrtAiO.exe


I am under Windows 10 (22H2)
Hope this can help

Also if you have a big screen resolution and all the interface and font is quite small, try the following guide to Override high DPI scaling behavior.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=862524297

[Racistream]

please help me i did the "Launcher closes after clicking play" completely true but now my game gives 0000007 error how do i fix this one

[defaultuser]

had ai related crashing/hang on load issues...
to fix I set both launcher.exe and AoK HD.exe
(located in directory: Steam/steamapps/common/Age2HD/)
to run with administrator privilege
(right click each of above .exe, select properties and then navigate to compatibility tab)

problem solved (for me and hopefully for you)

this solution may solve many issues, not just the issue I have personally experienced

[Steenbok]

I have the same problem AOE can´t start. no arranca !!!

[Potap]

And it still crashes during first video with Microsoft logo.

[Tickle ma Pickle]

Anyone manage to fix the game? cuz ive tryed everything for almost a year and nothing
Click play, game is about to start then when the whit screen apears the game closes.
Would really appreciate if anyone got any tips ;)

[{f}airborne]

white screen after launch. I get the AoE curser, but nothing else. Have to close via Alt + F4. Tried renaming launch file, updated all my drivers, pls help.

[Sir Paul McCaka]

I have the same problem... AOE can´t start.