Matrix Games Forums

Very bummed, stupid game is not even apparently trying to start.
Running windows 10, x64
I have tried disabling the intro video - no difference.

I click start, nothing at all happens. No crash, no dialog, just ... ... nothing.

Are you clicking start in Steam or from desktop shortcut.

If you have the steam version you may need to take the option to validate files to make sure the install was successful.

I have windows 10 64 and never had issues with DW

No dice, one file was off - but even after, same result
Starting from Steam

in the path Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Distant Worlds Universe

assuming this is where you installed DW double click DistantWorlds.exe and see what it does

Also look at the logfiles in Program Files (x86)\Steam\Logs and see if any errors are shown

Same thing - nothing on running it by itself.
Nothing in the logs folder to indicate any type of an issue
Tried updating / repairing DirectX, etc...

Not getting any error of any sort, or even a pop up, won't be a Direct X issue. If you find the .exe file, try right clicking it, and run as administrator. You should at the very least get a box that pops up, and then goes away. It may be fast, so watch your screen closely. If that fails then your install failed, and you will have to delete, and re-install the program.

I'm having the same error: though running the .exe gives me the splash screen and then it crashes. I can't seem to post the crash dump due to a forum error: phone number or web page.


FIXT: Be sure to install DX9 on newer installs/systems!

I am having a somewhat similar problem with a steam version. I have this game on two different computers on steam. One works just fine and the second seems to be a problem child. I have checked the specs and on the surface it should play on the older laptop.

Computer Information:
Manufacturer: TOSHIBA
Model: Satellite S70-A
Form Factor: Laptop
No Touch Input Detected

Processor Information:
CPU Vendor: GenuineIntel
CPU Brand: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-4000M CPU @ 2.40GHz
CPU Family: 0x6
CPU Model: 0x3c
CPU Stepping: 0x3
CPU Type: 0x0
Speed: 2394 Mhz
4 logical processors
2 physical processors
HyperThreading: Supported
FCMOV: Supported
SSE2: Supported
SSE3: Supported
SSSE3: Supported
SSE4a: Unsupported
SSE41: Supported
SSE42: Supported
AES: Unsupported
AVX: Supported
CMPXCHG16B: Supported
LAHF/SAHF: Supported
PrefetchW: Supported

Network Information:
Network Speed:

Operating System Version:
Windows 10 (64 bit)
NTFS: Supported
Crypto Provider Codes: Supported 311 0x0 0x0 0x0

Video Card:
Driver: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600

DirectX Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll
Driver Version: 20.19.15.4474
DirectX Driver Version: 21.21.13.7306
Driver Date: 13 June 2016
OpenGL Version: 4.5
Desktop Color Depth: 32 bits per pixel
Monitor Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
DirectX Card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M
VendorID: 0x10de
DeviceID: 0x1292
Revision: 0xa1
Number of Monitors: 1
Number of Logical Video Cards: 1
No SLI or Crossfire Detected
Primary Display Resolution: 1600 x 900
Desktop Resolution: 1600 x 900
Primary Display Size: 15.04" x 8.46" (17.24" diag)
38.2cm x 21.5cm (43.8cm diag)
Primary Bus: PCI Express 8x
Primary VRAM: 1024 MB
Supported MSAA Modes: 2x 4x 8x

Sound card:
Audio device: Speakers (Conexant SmartAudio H

Memory:
RAM: 16308 Mb

Miscellaneous:
UI Language: English
Microphone: Not set
Steam Controller Cable and Base: Not set
Media Type: DVD
Total Hard Disk Space Available: 1897069 Mb
Largest Free Hard Disk Block: 919256 Mb
OS Install Date: Dec 31 1969
Game Controller: None detected
VR Headset: None detected




I get the splash screen and watch the ships being refueled, etc... as the game is loaded and when this is done I have a black screen and nothing else. I should be seeing the introduction to DWU.

Any suggestions?

Disable intro movie?

ORIGINAL: Bingeling

Disable intro movie?

How?

tm.asp?m=2414049

How do you disable the movie? Can't find it anywhere.

Open the game installation folder and edit a file named startup.ini with a txt editor like Windows Notepad:

find:
playmovie 1

and replace it with:
'playmovie 1

Save the file when exiting Notepad.

I have this issue as well.

Windows 10 Home 64-bit. It seems to crash on launch after briefly displaying a partial full screen. There is no crash log present.

I've tried updating all the software listed on some of the other threads, windows media player, direct x 9, etc. And tried to disable to startup video.

Did you manage to find a resolution?

ORIGINAL: oxygen1234
I have this issue as well.

Windows 10 Home 64-bit. It seems to crash on launch after briefly displaying a partial full screen. There is no crash log present.

I've tried updating all the software listed on some of the other threads, windows media player, direct x 9, etc. And tried to disable to startup video.

Did you manage to find a resolution?

Check the path "C:\Users\[USERNAME]\Documents\My Games\Distant Worlds Universe\" for a file named DW_CrashDump.txt. If present, post the contents here.

Otherwise you could check the application event log for any error messages related to Distant Worlds (Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer > open Windows Logs node in tree at far-left > click Application node > check messages in panel at right).

Ensure that Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer are both installed and enabled.

Thanks
Elliot

There was nothing in the file folder, I did however find something in the event viewer.

A (dot)NET Runtime Error, an Application Error, and a Windows Error Reporting event.

When I try to post them here, I get a message that says: "You are not allowed to post links, emails or phone numbers for 7 days from the date of your tenth post."

Is there another way I can get the logs to you?

I can use windows media player and Internet Explorer, does that mean they are both active?

I'm trying to post the logs and see what the forums will accept

Event 1026 (dot)Net Runtime
Application: DistantWorlds.exe
Framework Version: xxremovedxx
Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception.
Exception Info: exception code cxx(zeros)xx5, exception address 6C01D608

Event 1000, Application Error
Faulting application name: DistantWorlds.exe, version: xxremovedxx, time stamp: 0x5000a574
Faulting module name: d3d9.dll, version: xxremovedxx, time stamp: 0x5819bf79
Exception code: xxremovedxx
Fault offset: xxremovedxx
Faulting process id: 0x2018
Faulting application start time: xxremovedxx
Faulting application path: D:\Program Files\GOG Galaxy\Games\Distant Worlds Universe\DistantWorlds.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\d3d9.dll
Report Id: xxremovedxx
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:

Event 1001, Application Error
Faulting application name: DistantWorlds.exe, version: xxremovedxx, time stamp: xxremovedxx
Faulting module name: d3d9.dll, version: xxremovedxx, time stamp: xxremovedxx
Exception code: 0xcxx(zeros)xx5
Fault offset: xxremovedxx
Faulting process id: xxremovedxx
Faulting application start time: xxremovedxx
Faulting application path: D:\Program Files\GOG Galaxy\Games\Distant Worlds Universe\DistantWorlds.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\d3d9.dll
xxremovedxx

Event xxremovedxx, Windows Error Reporting:
Fault bucket xxremovedxx, type 1
Event Name: APPCRASH
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: DistantWorlds.exe
XXremovedXX


Attached files:
\\?\D:\Program Files\GOG Galaxy\Games\Distant Worlds Universe\movies\distantworldsintro.wmv
\\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER88B7.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml

These files may be available here:


xxremovedxx

Does that help?

Thanks!

Thanks for that report.

It looks like you don't have DirectX 9 properly installed.

You'll need to install this properly and then possibly reinstall DW, though you should try running the existing DW installation first (after installing DirectX 9)

Thanks
Elliot

Is there a way to verify directx 9 is installed properly? I have tried running installers (the forums will not let me post the links) that were recommended to me from GOG support, but they didn't change the outcome.

After running them I reinstalled DW and still have the issue.