Can't start the game

[poerk55]

Nothing happens when I click "play" in the Distant Worlds game menu. The game doesn't start, I don't get any error messages or anything. What should I do?

[RockKahn]

This happened to me a few months ago. It may not be your problem, though.

My Avast antivirus quarantined my distantworlds.exe file out of the blue. I found it in the quarantined files list. I had run it for months prior to this with no problem. I ran the avast UI and unquarantined it, then stopped the antivirus and started the game then restarted the antivirus protection.

There was a link I could click on in the Avast UI to inform Avast that the distantworlds.exe file was legit. I clicked the link and filled the form and after the next virus file update the next day it has started fine.

That's just the experience I had with this problem.

Good luck getting your problem resolved.

Edit: BTW I got no warning of any kind either. Like you, I clicked on Play and got nothing. I just guessed and checked my antivirus quarantine list and saw it there. I think if you do a search on your hard drive you may find it in some subfold of your antivirus main folder. I did.

[poerk55]

ORIGINAL: RockKahn

This happened to me a few months ago. It may not be your problem, though.

My Avast antivirus quarantined my distantworlds.exe file out of the blue. I found it in the quarantined files list. I had run it for months prior to this with no problem. I ran the avast UI and unquarantined it, then stopped the antivirus and started the game then restarted the antivirus protection.

There was a link I could click on in the Avast UI to inform Avast that the distantworlds.exe file was legit. I clicked the link and filled the form and after the next virus file update the next day it has started fine.

That's just the experience I had with this problem.

Good luck getting your problem resolved.

Edit: BTW I got no warning of any kind either. Like you, I clicked on Play and got nothing. I just guessed and checked my antivirus quarantine list and saw it there. I think if you do a search on your hard drive you may find it in some subfold of your antivirus main folder. I did.

Mhh. I can't find Distant Worlds in the quarantine list (AVG). The updater is in the exceptions list though and it seems to work, even though it keeps asking me to update to 7.20a but it never updates :S

The game worked fine two days ago and now just doesn't start.

[Rakird]

I've exactly the same problem, i click on play, but nothing happens :S

[RoqueNE]

think it would be helpful if you post your error log here.
the file is normaly in C:\Users\<your username>\AppData\Roaming\Code Force Limited\Distant Worlds\<version>(1.9.0.11 for Shadows)\DW_Crashdump.txt

Post it here with the quote function.

[Rakird]

Ty for the quick reply,

Error log:

"Distant Worlds - Crash Dump - 1.7.0.20

20:20:50 sexta-feira, 8 de Novembro de 2013


System.ApplicationException: Error at line 33 reading file C:\Matrix Games\Distant Worlds\biases.txt
at DistantWorlds.Types.Galaxy.LoadRaceBiases(String applicationStartupPath, String customizationSetName, RaceList races)
at DistantWorlds.Types.Galaxy.LoadRaces(String applicationStartupPath, String customizationSetName)
at DistantWorlds.Controls.StartingEmpiresListView..ctor()
at DistantWorlds.Start.yctmf59PfV()
at DistantWorlds.Start..ctor()
at zwVYKHHxfgR06MG5IR.J57L6W9f0wDbcepfO2.ojU6ysPIc()


Application info follows:

Error at line 33 reading file C:\Matrix Games\Distant Worlds\biases.txt


--- COMPLETE ---"

hope it helps, ty in advance

EDIT:

Opening the biases.txt i get:

'Distant Worlds Racial Biases - version 1.5.0.0

'determines natural bias of each race towards other races
'this bias can be either positive or negative
'maximum value is 50, minimum value is -50
'each row determines the natural bias feelings of the race named at left to all races
' each bias value (column) in the row is how the named race feels towards the race matching the index number for the column
' e.g. Ketarov has natural +10 bias towards other Ketarovs (race index 0), +10 bias towards Atuuk (race index 1), 0 bias towards Gizurean (race index 2), etc

'#, Name, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

0, Ketarov, 10, 10, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5, 5, 0, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0, 0, 10, 0, 0
1, Atuuk, 10, 10, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5, 5, 0, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0, 0, 10, 0, 0
2, Gizurean, 0, 0, 10, 10,-10,-10, 5,-10, 5, 5,-10,-10,-10, 10, 5, 0,-10, 10,-10, 0, 10,-10
3, Dhayut, 0, 0, 10, 10,-10,-10, 5,-10, 5, 5,-10,-10,-10, 10, 5, 0,-10, 10,-10, 0, 10,-10
4, Human, 0, 0,-10,-10, 10, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,-10, 0, 0, 10,-10, 10, 0,-10, 0
5, Quameno, 0, 0,-10,-10, 0, 10, 0, 10, 0, 0, 0, 0, 10,-10, 0, 0, 0,-10, 0, 0,-10, 0
6, Mortalen, 0, 0, 5, 5, 0, 5, 10, 5, 10, 10, 0, 0, 5, 5, 10, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0, 5, 0
7, Ackdarian, 0, 0,-10,-10, 0, 10, 0, 10, 0, 0, 0, 0, 10,-10, 0, 0, 0,-10, 0, 0,-10, 0
8, Haakonish, 0, 0, 5, 5, 0, 5, 10, 5, 10, 10, 0, 0, 5, 5, 10, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0, 5, 0
9, Naxxilian, 0, 0, 5, 5, 0, 5, 10, 5, 10, 10, 0, 0, 5, 5, 10, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0, 5, 0
10, Zenox, 0, 0,-15,-10, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 10, 10, 0,-15, 0, 10, 0,-15, 0, 0,-15, 0
11, Teekan, 0, 0,-10,-10, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 10, 10, 0,-10, 0, 10, 0,-10, 0, 0,-10, 0
12, Wekkarus, 0, 0,-10,-10, 0, 10, 0, 10, 0, 0, 0, 0, 10,-10, 0, 0, 0,-10, 0, 0,-10, 0
13, Boskara, 0, 0, 10, 10,-10,-10, 5,-10, 5, 5,-10,-10,-10, 10, 5, 0,-10, 10,-10, 0, 10,-10
14, Shandar, 0, 0, 5, 5, 0, 5, 10, 5, 10, 10, 0, 0, 5, 5, 10, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0, 5, 0
15, Ugnari, 0, 0,-10,-10, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 10, 10, 0,-10, 0, 10, 0,-10, 0, 0,-10, 0
16, Kiadian, 0, 0,-10,-10, 10, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,-10, 0, 0, 10,-10, 10, 0,-10, 0
17, Sluken, 0, 0, 10, 10,-10,-10, 5,-10, 5, 5,-10,-10,-10, 10, 5, 0,-10, 10,-10, 0, 10,-10
18, Securan, 0, 0,-10,-10, 10, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,-10, 0, 0, 10,-10, 10, 0,-10, 0
19, Ikkuro, 10, 10, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5, 5, 0, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0, 0, 10, 0, 0
20, Shakturi, 0, 0, 10, 10,-10,-10, 5,-10, 5, 5,-10,-10,-10, 10, 5, 0,-10, 10,-10, 0, 10,-10
21, Mechanoid, 0, 0,-10,-10, 10, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,-10, 0, 0, 10,-10, 10, 0,-10, 0

[Colin_slith]

Same thing here..... Error log:

Distant Worlds - Crash Dump - 1.9.0.11

2:16:21 PM Saturday, 9 November 2013


System.ApplicationException: Could not find required image: F:\Matrix Games\Distant Worlds\images\units\ships\other\majorsets\PhantomPirates\escort.png
at DistantWorlds.Types.BuiltObjectImageCache.CheckLoadSmallImage(Int32& index, String fullPathWithoutSuffix, String fullPathWithoutSuffixCustom)
at DistantWorlds.Types.BuiltObjectImageCache.GenerateBuiltObjectImageFilepaths()
at DistantWorlds.Main.jf4Wu4Dme0()
at DistantWorlds.Main.xZDW3ICRtw(Int32 , Int32 , Boolean )
at DistantWorlds.Main..ctor(Int32 width, Int32 height, Boolean windowedMode, Splash splashForm)
at DistantWorlds.Start.a7q9v95qmS(Object , EventArgs )
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnLoad(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.SetVisibleCore(Boolean value)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.set_Visible(Boolean value)
at System.Windows.Forms.Application.ThreadContext.RunMessageLoopInner(Int32 reason, ApplicationContext context)
at System.Windows.Forms.Application.ThreadContext.RunMessageLoop(Int32 reason, ApplicationContext context)
at System.Windows.Forms.Application.Run(Form mainForm)
at LbTFFfDAihP5IFANW3.nlO0xCaLEhHl5Y3f3v.ymPRCtgcUFYrveFCQlY(Object )
at LbTFFfDAihP5IFANW3.nlO0xCaLEhHl5Y3f3v.pW3PcSFK40r()


Application info follows:

Could not find required image: F:\Matrix Games\Distant Worlds\images\units\ships\other\majorsets\PhantomPirates\escort.png


--- COMPLETE ---

[Rakird]

I did a fresh install of all the games, uninstalled all versions of .NET framework, reinstalled .NET 4.0 and still get that same error.

EDIT

I've bought Shadows and i hope that will fix the problem

Brb with news.

EDIT 2

After installing Shadows and updating to latest version still have the exact same error:

Distant Worlds - Crash Dump - 1.9.0.11

13:07:27 sábado, 9 de Novembro de 2013


System.ApplicationException: Error at line 33 reading file C:\Matrix Games\Distant Worlds\biases.txt
at DistantWorlds.Types.Galaxy.LoadRaceBiases(String applicationStartupPath, String customizationSetName, RaceList races)
at DistantWorlds.Types.Galaxy.LoadRaces(String applicationStartupPath, String customizationSetName)
at DistantWorlds.Controls.StartingEmpiresListView..ctor()
at DistantWorlds.Start.WZb5q1Z7Xb()
at DistantWorlds.Start..ctor()
at LbTFFfDAihP5IFANW3.nlO0xCaLEhHl5Y3f3v.pW3PcSFK40r()


Application info follows:

Error at line 33 reading file C:\Matrix Games\Distant Worlds\biases.txt


--- COMPLETE ---

I really need help on this one

EDIT 3

Well i was able to make the game run, i opened the biases.txt and deleted all content there, and the game ran well.

I believe has something to do with more that the file point to more races than vanilla verison has, and that may cause it to crash.

If you add just one race to biases.txt the game won't launch, any known fix for this?

[RoqueNE]

That looks like a problem i had with another version.
are you using a non-english envirovement?

i have the german Version of Windows 7.
Try to change the Time/Date Format to the US-Style (MM/DD/YYYY)
and add the US Keyboard Layout.
that did the trick for me.

[Rakird]

Im using win 7, 64bit english version, tried your suggestion and crashes anyway.

I'ts related to biases.txt content, somehow when reading the file the game crashes at launch.

No idea how to fix that.

[poerk55]

ORIGINAL: RoqueNE

think it would be helpful if you post your error log here.
the file is normaly in C:\Users\<your username>\AppData\Roaming\Code Force Limited\Distant Worlds\<version>(1.9.0.11 for Shadows)\DW_Crashdump.txt

Post it here with the quote function.

I can't find a file called DW_crashdump.txt

[Rakird]

After some research i've found the the Races .txt files on /races folder has to be the same has the .txt files in /policy folder

After opening biases.txt i saw that it has 22 race entries.

So i checked on the /races folder and /policy and i've noticed that on /races the default install adds 38 .txt races files, and in /policy it hads 40 .txt races files.

So i deleted all the .txt files that biases.txt didn't refer to in both /races and /policy, tried to launch the game and it worked!

So it seems that legends and shadows do a install that will add more races on /races and on /policy than the biases.txt refers to causing a crash on start up.

It seems that upgrading the game to the following version isn't deleting the races that are in those folders, but adding more and more races, then the conflict is created with the biases.txt file that just has instructions to 22.

Hope it helps.

Regards.

PS: If u have the same problem i'm uploading the correct races files to put in the /races folder and the policy files to put in the /policy folder aswell.

1 - Delete all the files in the /races, and unzip the file races.zip to /races
2 - Delete all the files in the /policy, and unzip the file policy.zip to /policy

[Rakird]

ORIGINAL: Rakird

2 - Delete all the files in the /policy, and unrar the file policy.zip to /policy

I can only upload a file per message, so here is the policy.zip

enjoy!

[poerk55]

ORIGINAL: Rakird

After some research i've found the the Races .txt files on /races folder has to be the same has the .txt files in /policy folder

After opening biases.txt i saw that it has 22 race entries.

So i checked on the /races folder and /policy and i've noticed that on /races the default install adds 38 .txt races files, and in /policy it hads 40 .txt races files.

So i deleted all the .txt files that biases.txt didn't refer to in both /races and /policy, tried to launch the game and it worked!

So it seems that legends and shadows do a install that will add more races on /races and on /policy than the biases.txt refers to causing a crash on start up.

It seems that upgrading the game to the following version isn't deleting the races that are in those folders, but adding more and more races, then the conflict is created with the biases.txt file that just has instructions to 22.

Hope it helps.

Regards.

PS: If u have the same problem i'm uploading the correct races files to put in the /races folder and the policy files to put in the /policy folder aswell.

1 - Delete all the files in the /races, and unzip the file races.zip to /races
2 - Delete all the files in the /policy, and unzip the file policy.zip to /policy

That doesn't seem to be the problem I have.

[Colin_slith]

Well boys, I have given yup trying to start on my main games rig, Win 8, three months old, very powerful box. Went back to a three year old Vista laptop.

I installed DW 1.00 no problems, the updated with Return of Shakhturi...still startedK. After Legend it would not start. Never bothered with Shadows.

I don't know what the problem is, the dump file was as shown above in my previous post.

[Nanosplic]

Could not find required image: F:\Matrix Games\Distant Worlds\images\units\ships\other\majorsets\PhantomPirates\escort.png



Why not try putting a random image into this location and see what happens? Provided its a .png file of the same resolution as the other ship files in this folder, it might just work?

[poerk55]

Help anyone?

[soilwork595]

Same thing here. I uninstalled the game, but I'm having trouble trying to reinstall it. I'm not quite sure what files I need to Dl, and in what order. I tried the base DW game, i clicked Downloads and downloaded the last update file but it was only about 30mb or so. I can't seem to find the full base game. Can anyone inform me on what file to DL?

[poerk55]

Mmh. So no one knows how to fix this? I only have Legends, not shadows. Don't know if that is relevant.

[soilwork595]

I'm currently going back and forth with Matrix to resolve the issue, but so far nothing is working. I can't even run the base game. I did a clean uninstall/install, made sure drivers were updated, made sure firewall was not blocking it, started as admin, but still nothing. As mentioned above, I looked in my race/policy folders and both had 22 races as well as the biases.txt, so that doesnt seem to be the issue. I've never had an issue with this game until I updated shadows, now it doesn't even run the base game. Any help would be appreciated.