Matrix Games Forums

My guesses:

+ something is preventing the mss32 dll from being correctly run. Likely AV.
+ Windows Folder Protection is enabled? It might be that the prior game EXE was given an exemption (and the editor EXE is likely unchanged).

Cheers

Pip

Please check for the file PRELOAD.DAT, which should be in the 'Core' folder under the game install folder. PRELOAD.DAT should be dated Feburary 18 2022 with a size of ~1KB.

Assuming the file is present (it should be) please temporarily rename the file to PRELOAD.DAT2 and then try running the game again. If this gives you an error message about missing critical files then we know the game startup is at least reaching this point.

Also, on the chance that the error is sound-system related, you may want to temporarily disable any sound or audio related software you may be running on the machine, such as Namihic.

Thanks for your continued assistance with troubleshooting this issue.

File is there although dates do not match. All dates show 8/12/2024, until I changed it today. No message regarding critical files missing. Same error as before.
I started in safe mode and same error again.
I stopped NVIDIA, Realtek and audio services. No sound in fact, but same error.

Following the idea of removing files to check what happens I managed to delete all files but mss32.dll (and exewcutable CC_TBF_STEAM.exe) and same error as before. Only when I delete mss32.dll a different message appears stating code execution cannot continue because mss32.dll was not found and suggesting to reinstall program to solve the problem.
But with previous patch 1.01.10.00 and Slitherine/Matrix version no problem occurs (just checked it again), so executable must be the problem, as I would say mss32.dll has not changed since release and later patches.

Please try renaming the mss32.dll in the game install folder to something else, then replace it with the attached. I think it's unlikely to resolve the issue but it would eliminate the possibility that a different version of the mss32.dll somehow made its way into the installer.

If you're willing to continue to help with troubleshooting this issue I can provide a temporary debug version of the game executable to see if that helps pinpoint the source of the problem.

Hi Steve, I used the new file, but same problem occurred.
Glad to keep trying to solve the issue. I can make further tests.
Thanks for the continuing support.

Thanks. I will create a test executable and then PM you with the download location. It will be a few days before I am able to do this though.

Hi Steve, I just installed the files but no log file was created nor generated. I tried deleting and also keeping My games folder but same error as before.
I guess it has nothing to do, but a non critical error message appeared when installing 1.01.11 patch:
Error: The specified file: 'G:\Masterinstall\_InstallerLicenceAgreement\Master Non Business EULA 2018.txt' could not be found.
Thanks.

Thank you. When you ran the new CC_TBF.EXE did you see any message windows pop up? This test executable should show you message boxes and does not print to the error log.

When you run it the first thing you see should be a message box saying 'App Entry Point.' If you're not seeing that then either you are still running the old game executable or the game is not even making it that far.

Program is the test one as it has a different size and was modified yesterday.
No other window or message appeared but the previous one:
0xc000007b

Ok, thank you. I will continue to look into the cause based on those results. Progress will be slow over the holidays with Slitherine closed until the new year.

When you can, please try replacing the files in your TBF install with the DLLs from the attached zip file. I would like to eliminate the possibility that there is some sort of DLL mismatch.

Thanks again.

I understand. It is holiday season. I replaced the dll files and same error, no change so far. Have nice holidays.

I am back from the holiday break. Here are a few more tests to try:

1) Try running CC_TBF.EXE 'As Administrator.' To do this, start Windows explorer and go to the game install folder, then right click the game EXE and select 'Run as Administrator.'

2) Try re-installing the Microsoft Visual C++ runtime (vcredist_x86) for the game. You can download the install file from here:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/w ... -supported

Thank you for the continued assistance.

Now it seems it is working.
I executed Matrix version as I had after tests as administrator and several messages appeared.Some error in the end until a message told it would send a report. And then I tried to execute again the game and it worked without running as administrator. Steam version also works.
I can do more tests if interested to know what was the problem. I would say I tried to run as administrator time ago and it did not work, but perhaps I am wrong.
I did not perform the second step (updating Visual C++ runtime).

To confirm, you ran CC_TBF.EXE 'As Administrator' and received some error messages. After you did this once, you are now able to run CC_TBF.EXE without error and without using 'As Administrator', is that correct?

If you are willing to do additonal testing, it would be helpful if you could confirm the solution by uninstalling the game (both Matrix and Steam versions,) deleting the CloseCombatTheBloodyFirst folder in your Windows Documents\My Games\ folder, and then re-installing the game. Are you able to run a clean installation of the game now, or does it crash again? If a clean install does crash, does running once 'As Administrator' fix it?

Yes, that is. I did not make any additional changes or tests to the to the game since last tests just before holidays.
Then I executed non Steam version CC_TBF.EXE with as administrator and several messages stating 'App Entry Point.' or something like that and several 'Init 1', 'Init 2'... or the like. These messages were not appearing in previous tests (without administrator).
In the end, an error message with same window format, but perhaps it was for another program I was running in the meantime regarding graphics crash. There was also another error in same window format but I cannot remember the contents.
Anyway, I re-executed to write down the messages and no error appeared and game launched successfully. Later on, all worked without administrator execution.

Finally, I have uninstalled and deleted all folders of Steam and non-Steam versions including My games folder.
I have installed non-Steam version with latest patch and it works.
I have uninstalled non-Steam version, deleted all folders, then installed Steam version and it worked.

I cannot be sure if I had some problem with permissions on installation or some updates to the system were done in the background lately. Although I had some permission problems on upgrading to Windows 11 this was not working either in Windows 10, so I guess Steam updates could have solved the problem.
Many thanks for your great support and patience.

Thank you for the information. I'm glad we were able to get the game working on your system. I will pass along the potential fix to others who may run into this issue.