Every time I try to play elemental, the dragon splash screen appears, it hangs for a few seconds, then I get a message saying "Failed to download data file. Please make sure you are signed in to impulse, connected to the internet, and that no firewall is blocking access to the internet." When I press shift + tab, the login menu for impulse comes up, and I can log in with no problems at that point. But when I press "OK" after logging in, it closes the program. Pressing escape also closes the program. Even though I am logged into impulse, and start the game through impulse, the game always starts up and acts as if I am not logged in.

I use norton antivirus, but have all permissions for both impulse and elemental set to allow. I have also tried turning the firewall off. I have uninstalled and reinstalled elemental completely. I have made sure I am signed in to impulse, and tried starting the game from both the launcher within impulse, and directly via the elemental.exe file. I have tried the various "tricks" regarding this issue listed in other threads, such as pressing escape at the splash screen, and that just causes the game to close and for me to go back to the desktop.

This issue started after an update that was released about 6 months ago. I have not been able to play the game for the last 6 months. I didn't post about it then because I assumed several people were probably having this problem, and figured it would be fixed in the following patches. It wasn't.

Below are the relevent logs of the event occurring in spoiler.

Debug File

DebugMessage:  Version 1.2b[b].149 last updated on: 06-12-2011 01:30
DebugMessage:  Entering WinMain
DebugMessage:  ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message:  COMMAND LINE:
DebugMessage:  *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 6/12/2011, 12:25:52
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
Machine Name: MM-HOME-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.101014-0432)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: HP-Pavilion
System Model: RK573AA-ABA a1710n
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
Physical Memory: 3454MB RAM
Page File: 1890MB used, 6735MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce GTX 560 Ti
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_1200&SUBSYS_23821462&REV_A1
Display Memory: 2464 MB
Current Display Mode: 1152 x 864 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
Driver Version: 8.17.0012.7061
Driver Date: 4/8/2011 01:14:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
 


Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_103C2A34&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5322
Driver Date: 11/8/2006 15:09:24
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 
Sound device 1:
Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_103C2A34&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5322
Driver Date: 11/8/2006 15:09:24
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 


DebugMessage:  *********END dxdiag info.*********
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\Elemental\Fonts\*.ttf
DebugMessage:  Using 0 samples for multisampling.
DebugMessage:  Game Resolution: 1152 x 864 (full screen mode)
DebugMessage:  HAL (hardware vertex processing)NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti
DebugMessage:  Presentation Interval: Immediate.
DebugMessage:  Refresh Rate: 0hz.
DebugMessage:  Back Buffer Bit Depth: X8R8G8B8.
DebugMessage:  32-bit z-buffer using 24-bits for the depth channel and 8-bits for the stencil channel.
DebugMessage:  ** Checking Direct3D 9 Device Capabilities ************************************
DebugMessage:  A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
DebugMessage:  Bump mapping is supported.
Debug Message:  Device is now ready
Debug Message:  GFX-THREAD: DISABLED
DebugMessage:  Shell initialization complete
DebugMessage:  Elemental: War of Magic is activated.
DebugMessage:  ***** Initializing Game *****
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Arial-13
DebugMessage:  Timer Frequency is 0 17d7840
DebugMessage:  Initializing sound card.
DebugMessage:  initailizing bink
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Screens\*.dxpack
DebugMessage:  No string tables in C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods/Data/*.str
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Movies\*.bik
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Screens\*.dxpack
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\sfx\*.wav
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Music\*.mp3
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Event Music\*.mp3
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Layered Music\*.mp3
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Ambient SFX\*.mp3
DebugMessage:  Create anchor mwin
DebugMessage:  Load texture atlas.
DebugMessage:  InitializeWorld
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Trajan Pro-13Bold
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Trajan Pro-16Bold
DebugMessage:  Create popup manager.
DebugMessage:  InitializeMWinStripEngine
DebugMessage:  InitializeMWinDeferredTextRenderer
DebugMessage:  Initialize effect system.
DebugMessage:  InitializeSpellRepository
DebugMessage:  InitializeTriggerManager
DebugMessage:  InitializeMusicLayerGroupManager
DebugMessage:  InitializeMultiplayerClient
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Trajan Pro-19Bold
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Tahoma-13Bold
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Tahoma-19
Debug Message:  Attempting to allocate memory of size: 52428800 bytes
Debug Message:  Allocation successful
Debug Message:  WARNING: MemBuffer::GetString is allocating a string size larger than 1024 characters.  Requested size: 7921   If this is happening while the game is loaded, you may need a new datazip.exe file.
Debug Message:  WARNING: MemBuffer::GetString is allocating a string size larger than 1024 characters.  Requested size: 1650   If this is happening while the game is loaded, you may need a new datazip.exe file.
Debug Message:  WARNING: MemBuffer::GetString is allocating a string size larger than 1024 characters.  Requested size: 1071   If this is happening while the game is loaded, you may need a new datazip.exe file.
Debug Message:  WARNING: MemBuffer::GetString is allocating a string size larger than 1024 characters.  Requested size: 3759   If this is happening while the game is loaded, you may need a new datazip.exe file.
Debug Message:  WARNING: MemBuffer::GetString is allocating a string size larger than 1024 characters.  Requested size: 1154   If this is happening while the game is loaded, you may need a new datazip.exe file.
Debug Message:  WARNING: MemBuffer::GetString is allocating a string size larger than 1024 characters.  Requested size: 1907   If this is happening while the game is loaded, you may need a new datazip.exe file.
Debug Message:  WARNING: MemBuffer::GetString is allocating a string size larger than 1024 characters.  Requested size: 1432   If this is happening while the game is loaded, you may need a new datazip.exe file.
Debug Message:  WARNING: MemBuffer::GetString is allocating a string size larger than 1024 characters.  Requested size: 1069   If this is happening while the game is loaded, you may need a new datazip.exe file.
DebugMessage:  Begin LoadCoreXMLData3
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Items\*.xml
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Stamps\*.xml
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Tiles\*.xml
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Tiles\Shadows\*.xml
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\RaceTypes\*.xml
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Effects\*.xml
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Quests\*.xml
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\*.xml
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Data\Maps\*.xml
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Data\Maps\Tactical\*.xml
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Gfx\*.xml
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Gfx\Q_RelicOfArgynn\*.xml
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Gfx\Q_TitansBlacksmith\*.xml
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Movies\*.xml
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Screens\*.xml
DebugMessage:  LoadCoreXMLData finished 3
Debug Message:  MapManager registered 10 files in the data zip
Debug Message:  MapManager registered 51 files on disk
Debug Message:  MapManager registered 67 files on disk
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Maps\*.xml
Debug Message:  MapManager registered 0 files on disk
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Maps\TacticalMaps\*.xml
Debug Message:  MapManager registered 0 files on disk
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Data\Maps\*.xml
Debug Message:  MapManager registered 0 files on disk
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Data\Maps\Tactical\*.xml
Debug Message:  MapManager registered 0 files on disk
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction The Karlon Empire has an invalid shopkeeper unit type , will default to human shopkeeper
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction The Karlon Empire has an invalid unlockable unit type Krax_Pioneer
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction The Karlon Empire has an invalid unlockable unit type Krax_Soldier
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction The Karlon Empire has an invalid unlockable unit type Krax_Assassin
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction The Karlon Empire has an invalid unlockable unit type Krax_Adventure
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction The Karlon Empire has an invalid unlockable unit type Krax_thief
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction The Karlon Empire has an invalid unlockable unit type Krax_Knight
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction The Karlon Empire has an invalid unlockable unit type Krax_Guardians
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction The Karlon Empire has an invalid unlockable unit type Krax_Enforcers
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction The Karlon Empire has an invalid unlockable unit type Krax_Sions
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Shayden has an invalid shopkeeper unit type , will default to human shopkeeper
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Shayden has an invalid unlockable unit type Wraith_Pioneer
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Shayden has an invalid unlockable unit type Wraith_Soldier
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Shayden has an invalid unlockable unit type Wraith_Assassin
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Shayden has an invalid unlockable unit type Wraith_Adventure
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Shayden has an invalid unlockable unit type Wraith_thief
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Shayden has an invalid unlockable unit type Wraith_Knight
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Shayden has an invalid unlockable unit type Wraith_Guardians
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Shayden has an invalid unlockable unit type Wraith_Enforcers
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Shayden has an invalid unlockable unit type Wraith_Sions
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Sutek has an invalid shopkeeper unit type , will default to human shopkeeper
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Sutek has an invalid unlockable unit type Men_Pioneer
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Sutek has an invalid unlockable unit type Men_Soldier
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Sutek has an invalid unlockable unit type Men_Assassin
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Sutek has an invalid unlockable unit type Men_Adventure
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Sutek has an invalid unlockable unit type Men_thief
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Sutek has an invalid unlockable unit type Men_Knight
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Sutek has an invalid unlockable unit type Men_Guardians
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Sutek has an invalid unlockable unit type Men_Enforcers
Debug Message:  WARNING: Faction Kingdom of Sutek has an invalid unlockable unit type Men_Sions
DebugMessage:  LoadCoreXMLData finished
DebugMessage:  Create setup screens.
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Trajan Pro-27Bold
Debug Message:  MapManager registered 10 files in the data zip
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Tahoma-13
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Trajan Pro-21Bold
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Tahoma-16
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Trajan Pro-13
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Trajan Pro-24Bold
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Trajan Pro-16
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Times New Roman-16
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Tahoma-21
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Trajan Pro-15Bold
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Arial-11
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Trajan Pro-32Bold
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Times New Roman-24Bold
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Tahoma-16Bold
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Trajan Pro-24
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Trajan Pro-19
DebugMessage:  Loaded font BankGothic Md BT-12
DebugMessage:  No string tables in C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\Elemental\Data\English\*.tips
DebugMessage:  Set mouse.
DebugMessage:  Set update timer.
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Tahoma-19Bold
DebugMessage:  Loaded font Tahoma-18
DebugMessage:  Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
DebugMessage:  WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: Land is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=0  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: Rugged_Land is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=0  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: DesertTerrain is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=0  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: HillsTerrain is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=0  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: SwampTerrain is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=0  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: City is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=6  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: Submerged is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=1  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: MountainRange is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=2  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: Forest is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=3  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: Beach is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=4  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: Cliff is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=5  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: Tactical_Land is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=0  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: Tactical_Rugged_Land is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=0  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: Tactical_DesertTerrain is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=0  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: Tactical_HillsTerrain is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=0  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: Tactical_SwampTerrain is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=0  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: Tactical_Forest is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=0  Mod=0
Debug Message:  WARNING: Terrain Type: CobblestoneGround is being deleted at an unsafe time.  Cat=0  Mod=0
DebugMessage:  Shutting down sound system.
DebugMessage:  Clearing sound and music handles.
Debug Message:  MWin Strip Engine: Max used verts was 53 verts
Debug Message:  MWin Strip Engine: Max used verts was 53 verts
DebugMessage:  GameUninitialize end
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7ED0 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7E48 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7DC0 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7D38 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7CB0 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7C28 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7BA0 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7B18 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7A90 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7A08 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7980 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C78F8 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7870 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C77E8 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7760 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C76D8 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7650 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C75C8 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7540 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C74B8 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7430 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C73A8 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7320 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7298 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7210 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7188 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7100 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C7078 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C6FF0 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  WARNING: CoreRefCount Object 036C6F68 is being destroyed but it still has 1 references
Debug Message:  IDirect3D9 object not cleared; 4 ref counts still remaining.
Debug Message:  Effect 0596FDA0 leaked technique: Bloom   Refs: 2
Debug Message:  Effect 059BEA70 leaked technique: HDRLighting   Refs: 2
DebugMessage:  Main Shell terminating normally

 EDIT: Sorry for the superlong post. Apparently spoilers don't work on this forum. Someone should fix that.