Windows 10 - DWU not starting

[Arcturi]

This is the steam crash log:

at DistantWorlds.Types.SteamAPI.Initialize(String crashLogPath)11:18:26 AM Initialize: System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at DWSteamAPI.GetAppID()
at DistantWorlds.Types.SteamAPI.Initialize(String crashLogPath)

It was working on the 19th, and on the 20th there was a W10 update, and then DWU stopped working the next day. Doesn't start at all now.

Please help.

[zakblood]

Verify Integrity of Game Cache
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_art ... -QEUH-3335

[Arcturi]

Running as admin and then verifying the game cache doesn't change anything; I can click play on Steam, and it pops up, and I can click play in the launcher, but then it flashes up and then off (the screen that normally goes into 'Loading nebula's etc'.)

[zakblood]

That usually means a 3rd party program, like an Internet security programs or Anti Virus program, is interfering with the game installation.

add the exe of the game to your Anti Virus and firewall program, to make sure to check the logs of these to see if it was one of them which was to blame.

[Arcturi]

Distant Worlds is allowed on both the antivirus (Defender) and through the firewall. Its been installed for a week and didn't have a problem until yesterday, after these two updates Microsoft sent:

Security Update (Kilo Beta Three One One Nine One Four Seven)
Cumulative Update (Kilo Beta Three One Two Four Two Zero Zero)

Note: because I'm not allowed to post numbers....

[Arcturi]

Found the crash dump:

System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Graphics.dll' or one of its dependencies. The specified module could not be found.
File name: 'Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Graphics.dll'

there was more, but the forum won't let me upload numbers.

[zakblood]

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/f ... 7e8bc&f=13

no new steam related errors posted as yet on the newest updates crashing games, can you please check your antivirus (Defender) and firewall logs, just in case.

only option i can suggest then it to uninstall everything game related that doesn't work, so for you Distant Worlds Series, making sure steam game folder and save folder also removed, so in other words anything from the game removed from your system, i use ccleaner as it's a free program found with a google search, got a win 10 cert and is 100% safe to use, after games been uninstalled and you manual check steam folder for game folder, to do this before you remove, right click on the game in steam and look for where it is placed and write it down, once all gone install ccleaner and run both the cleaner and the registry cleaner.

then reinstall the game and patch to latest version, then try again, good luck

[Arcturi]

Problem is (hopefully) solved: for some reason one of the above Microsoft windows 10 updates messed with the XNA framework. Reinstalling the XNA framework fixed it and I've been able to load into the game and load a save file.

Thanks for the help

[zakblood]

glad it's sorted, now back to exploring and conquering the universe then