TERA launcher issues made simple - error messages explained, plus Steam players notes

Hello guys! Sunflare here.

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"Classic" EU server Visionmaker update (12.02.2019)

Bear in mind you will not be able to play on the so called classic server via Steam. To avoid losing your progress by creating a separate account, make sure you've linked your Steam created account to the Gameforge website before starting on that server.
You can message me on Discord if you need help with something, especially over the weekend when Gameforge Support can't be bothered to work. My Discord username is Sun#0314.
I won't be reading the official forum because it's simply unreadable after the recent downgrade they performed without warning. Hope you're not fooled to seek help there because you'll just be told to stfu by moderators and to write to Support.
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Following the recent Steam release of TERA Europe and a new class coming down the line, I think it's high time I made a launcher troubleshooting video guide.
I've been helping random players in recent months overcome installation and patching issues and I believe the present video covers the most commonly occurring problems. If for some reason you find this too complicated, although – believe me – it's not as bad as it sounds, and would like one-on-one assistance via TeamViewer, drop me a message here. If you'd rather get support by Gameforge, then by all means write to them instead. I'm just a regular player.

Read below for info not included in the video.
Here are a few alternative things for you to (re)consider while troubleshooting your launcher problem(s) that I've come across since publishing this guide:

1. Double check your system's drivers. You can use Driver Booster for example (free version)
   
2. Double check your Windows updates in case you're using some 'lighter' version
   
3. As described at 3:43, to determine whether your ISP is blocking some ports, you can use a mobile Internet connection. If you've eliminated the IPv6 possibility, then it's either a firewall or blocked ports on your ISP's side. So phone them up and ask them about these ports: TCP 7801 to 7810, TCP 80, TCP 443, TCP 4566
   
4. Disable GPU bridging - for those of you who might have 2 graphics cards
   
5. Use the so called 'Google DNS' - it might help with IPv6 connection problems
   - 8.8.8.8 as primary and 8.8.4.4 as secondary, or
   - 208.67.222.222 as primary and 208.67.220.220 as secondary
   
6. Bear in mind 'an error has occurred' could also relate to having your account temporarily blocked for various reasons, including the use of a VPN or ping optimisers, IP changes (logging in from another country), your payment method
   
7. See what resolution the game is set to run with. You might need to adjust it before starting the game client - either in your GPU's control panel and/or game settings .ini file (in Tera/Client/Config/S1Option.ini change SCREENMODE=0 to either 1 or 2). This helps with white screen -> crash issues
   
8. Last but not least, 'using the /set IncreaseUserVa 3072 allows you to use max RAM,' as suggested by a fellow player (it's unlikely to help the majority of players though, as no-one uses 32-bit OS anymore)
   
9. 20th Aug 2018 edit: If getting a Termination Code 5 (about DirectX) error, check if enabling the setting Disable fullscreen optimizations will help. To find it, right click the Tera-launcher.exe (or the game shortcut if not playing via Steam) -> Properties -> Compatibility -> [check] Disable fullscreen optimizations
   
10. 20th Aug 2018 edit: Current Version Unknown - as already suggested in my guide last year, restarting the launcher multiple times could actually help. Alternatively, see if deleting the content of this folder - \AppData\Local\Solid State Networks\ - then restarting the game launcher has any result. Try restarting your PC too after deleting that folder. I'm sceptical, tbh. It's advice that's been around for years and has become sort of a myth. Another alternative - try getting the 3 'orphan' files in \Tera\Client\ (pgc_v2.version, tl.exe and version.ini) from another player who has no issues playing, or just manually change the values in version.ini. Currently, you must have "72.03.02-live-hf1-ls15" in there.

Launcher issues and links from the video (table of contents):

• 0:46 Source file corrupt – there's a corrupted or missing file (Note to Steam users: Use the Steam launcher's file integrity verification function as the repair function of the TERA launcher is unavailable to you.)
  
• 1:48 An error has occurred. Please try again later
  
• 4:09 News not loading
  
• 4:15 WebGet request failed
  
• 4:23 Launcher won't start (relates to Launcher is already running)
  
• 4:39 Can't log into any game server
  
• 5:03 Launcher size/resize
  
• 5:40 User authentication failed
  
• 6:16 Current version unknown & Unable to determine current version
  - How to Install TERA (get launcher files and 'Repair' your installation right away)
  
• 6:37 Launcher deletes files too early (relates to Reliable source serving corrupt data)
  
• 7:10 Unable to download metafile, Unable to download manifest, Unable to unzip manifest, Failed to update host
  
• Steam FAQ and related issues:
  
  • 7:31 Before you start – Play via Steam vs Link Existing Account
    - It doesn't matter anymore what option you choose as a fresh new player - you can later link your Steam created TERA account to the TERA website
    
  • 8:05 How to avoid re-downloading the whole game (for existing players)
    
  • 8:59 Steam not found
    
  • 9:28 Can't unlink my new account
    
  • 9:35 Can't enter a code/CD key
    
  • 9:44 Can't log with another account
• 10:01 Thank you for watching guys!

Links in the description box under the video.

Please watch the video and post your comments on YouTube or here if you have questions or would simply like to say 'good (or bad? :-) ) job.' Feel free to share your experiences about resolved issues as well. Suggestions and ideas for improvements are more than welcome.
Hope you found the video informational and it helped you or a mate of yours. Please leave a 'Like' and do 'Subscribe' for more videos.

Have a great day,
Sun
(Sunflare/Sunflares/Sunflair/Sunflarin/Sunflarine, of Mystel, TERA EU)

Related:
How to Install TERA Online (a free to play MMORPG) and First Steps

Key words in FR/DE:
Une erreur s'est produite. Veuillez réessayer plus tard.
Ein Fehler ist aufgetreten. Bitte versuch es später noch einmal.

Fichier Source Corrompu
Quelldatei beschädigt

Source fiable fournit des fichiers endommagés
Zuverlässige Quelle kann nicht kontaktiert werden

TERA Launcher issues guide on YouTube

In case the video isn't showing, here's the link:
TERA launcher issues made simple - error messages explained, plus Steam players notes

Repair function for Steam users

Regarding Source file corrupt or similar download issues for Steam players

The presence of corrupted or missing files could lead to stuck characters, game crashes or character creation issues. Since there's no "repair" function within the TERA via Steam launcher, repairs can be done using the Steam launcher's "file integrity verification" function.

Here's how to do it:
1. Open the Steam launcher, find TERA, right click on it and select Properties.


2. Go to Local Files and click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.


3. Wait a couple of minutes until the verification is complete.


4. Once done, you will see the results.


The number of issues found might include corrupted, missing or renamed files. These files will be downloaded right away.

Hopefully, this will resolve your installation related issue. If not, consult the Launcher Issues Guide again and feel free to leave a comment, create a thread or send a ticket to Support via Steam.[tera.support.gameforge.com]

Comments, questions, your experience

Have your say. You can share your experiences dealing with launcher issues here.



Feel free to make comments about the guide - both the content and video. If you have questions about anything in the guide, ask away. I've tried making it comprehensive but didn't want to have a 20-minute video.

Ideas or requests for new videos will be appreciated.

Please 'Thumbs up' this guide if you found it helpful. o/

Support me

To support my YouTube channel with a donation, please click here.[www.paypal.com]

Thank you!

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'The best way to predict the future is to invent it!'

~My YouTube channel~
~My Practical TERA UI Mods~[forums.essentialmana.com]
~My BuddyUp system guide | My BuddyUp codes~

[Sunflare]

@Violet_Shock
Just because there are no longer error messages (blame Gameforge for removing them), it doesn't mean the same solutions can't be employed. You just gotta identify the source of the problem which now happens by checking everything mentioned in my guide. Sometimes it's the Firewall blocking the game, sometimes it's your Windows version, sometimes it's your GPU driver, sometimes it's a built-in VPN, sometimes it's a corrupted file, sometimes you didn't know that moving the game would cause it to stop working etc. Feel free to message me on Discord if you like - Sun#0314. Alternatively, you're welcome to contact TERA Support. Good luck! o/

[Lady Violet]

The issue with your solutions, is you correct error messages. I don't get any error messages. I don't get anything. I click play, then nothing happens. Steam says it's running for a couple seconds, then stops.

[Sunflare]

@Rio
Should've messaged me on Discord. I don't check Steam daily.
Low level quests and stuff are irrelevant. You should've just typed "/reset" (+ Enter) while inside to reset the instance, then done whatever you needed to do.

@Lucifer
It's too late now to reply, I guess. Sorry about that. I don't get email notifications about replies here - only on YouTube. Alternatively, Discord as a real-time way of communicating.

[Pak.Soerjadi]

im stuck at freeing kaidun quest, accidentaly kill mutated kaidun before destroying all necromancer stone, now i cant progress, been trying kill the non solo dungeon one but still doest count, any suggestion?

[PEARAJA]

My main character is stuck, i cant even click play button to play but in my 2nd account i able to do that. Can u help me? thanks before.

[Sunflare]

Hey Juhasz,
I'll write in your thread because I'm not sure you'll see my reply here. Just gimme a few minutes.

[Juhasz]

Hy, i need a litle help, early i downloaded Tera, want to play with via steam.. but i get a message that say my account is blocked.. and need to contact with support.. i did it 4 times.. but they dont respond.. maybe some other way to fix this problem?

[Sunflare]

No, you didn't. :D

It's enough for me to get the idea though... and google it. haha
Didn't quite get where to '/set' it.

I don't have this problem though, although I have just 8 GB of RAM. I do get a crash like once a day for sure, depending on how long I play - sometimes I don't crash at all. It also depends on what activities one does. Some people prophylactically relog before important fights.

I'll surely suggest it to people I hear about having this issue. Thanks... jerk! ^_^

[Breeder Brock]

@sunflare it's a command that allows 32-bit users to use more of their RAM.
As windows splits the ram for it's system and only leaves out a max of 2gb for other applications.
Using the /set IncreaseUserVa 3072 allows you to use max RAM.

Hope I explainedi t well enough :P

Now I'm back in the game and lvl 41 atm.

[Sunflare]

And what might that be? :-)

I'm not surprised they kept repeating the same thing again and again.