[0.803][Crash]Cannot start game, immediate crash to desktop

from Elemental Forums

Just downloaded it today after getting the Beta key. But sad I was, when I found out that I could not even start up the game. When I do launch it from Impulse, it just switches to the black screen as if it's loading, but a few seconds later quit out with the generic "Elemental: War of Magic has stopped working" crash message. Tried updating my display drivers, even reinstalling it, but it simply refuses to launch successfully.

System Specs:

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Processor

GPU: ATI Radeon 5770

RAM: 4 GB DDR3

OS: Windows 7 Pro x64

Sound: Creative X-FI Elite Pro, M-Audio Audiophile 192 (tried both to see if that might be the problem)

 

Edit: Still not working as of 0.803.

 

2,119 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Damnit, I've been popping in and out of the forums for hours now, hoping someone else might have an answer or at least experience it. Am I the only one thus far to be so unlucky as to not even able to run the game at all?!

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

If you're running a firewall app, try disabling it or setting it to game mode. Failing that, try setting windowed mode in My Documents\My Games\Elemental\prefs.ini.

WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

I have the same issue Zed, setting the game to window mode works for me.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Tried all the suggested options, still crashes on the new patch. At least it generates a crash log properly now:

http://pastebin.com/TjJzS0MC

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

It's not reporting any errors creating the device, although the debug.err said that you're still launching in fullscreen mode.

Is it making a zip or .dmp file at C:\ProgramData\Stardock\Elemental - War of Magic ? (It's a hidden folder, but you should be able to go to it by pasting the folder name in explorer).

If so, please post it at dropbox.

 

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Actually, your post help me finally figure it out! If it wasn't giving an error, that meant it was probably due to some external software conflict. Which got me thinking about what that could be. And lo' and behold, ATI Tray Tools turned out to be the problem; I pretty much forgot it's there since it autolaunches and is hidden in the systray. I think it prevent me from playing another game before too, though this is the second instance that it came into conflict with something.

Edit: Now it's giving me the "failed to download data files" error, but still I guess it's progress

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Check out this thread

He had the same (or similar) problem.  One possibility is server problems, so keep trying.  Other things to consider are any malware programs, AV, firewalls (you probably already tried all these tho).