Failing to start: Could not initialize STEAM manager or invalid serial key
Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2026 8:07 pm
I tried to install SCWW1 twice today, from Matrix (not steam), on a new Windows 10 (virtual) computer. It has worked fine in the past. Installer does not complain, but when I try to start the game it says "Could not initialize STEAM manager or invalid serial key".
Setup version 1.15.0.
Possibly or possibly not related: Trying to run the latest Update 1.17.01, it says I do not have the game installed, so can't update.
(The installer did not complain about my serial keys. Pretty sure it would not have allowed me to continue otherwise?)
Oh, and a third issue: When opening the Setup program when the game is already installed, there is an Uninstall button, but it doesn't do anything. Had to Close it and then go to the Windows control panel to Uninstall when trying to reinstall.
Anyway, after uninstalling I started Setup again and could confirm that it is not allowing me to install with an incorrect serial, so I must have installed it using a correct serial. Yet I still get that error message.
Setup version 1.15.0.
Possibly or possibly not related: Trying to run the latest Update 1.17.01, it says I do not have the game installed, so can't update.
(The installer did not complain about my serial keys. Pretty sure it would not have allowed me to continue otherwise?)
Oh, and a third issue: When opening the Setup program when the game is already installed, there is an Uninstall button, but it doesn't do anything. Had to Close it and then go to the Windows control panel to Uninstall when trying to reinstall.
Anyway, after uninstalling I started Setup again and could confirm that it is not allowing me to install with an incorrect serial, so I must have installed it using a correct serial. Yet I still get that error message.