Star Control Origins won't start

from Stardock Forums

Hi,

 

Just downloaded Origins, but it will not start.  Deleted it and redownloaded 3 times from Steam, but same issue.  I started downloading the free dlc before the game was completely installed, so I am wondering if that is the issue?  Is there a way to completely remove the expansions/  After I uninstall from Steam and verify the folder is completely gone, when reinstalling, it says something like "finding content already on the drive" before installing, almost as if there are files still out there.  I did try unchecking the dlc content boxes on my Steam page, but still will not start.  

13,735 views 20 replies
Reply #1 from StarControl Forums Top

Sorry to hear you are having trouble.

Look here for purge instructions and try installing again.

Thank you for your patience and patronage.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

I followed the instructions for the Steam purge and even reinstalled Steam, but it still will not start.  It seems to keep finding the Multiverse dlc when it is getting ready to install.  It is like that bit is hiding somewhere and I can't find it to delete it :(

 

Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Any ideas?  Is there an error log that gets written?  Is there a safe mode to run it in?

Reply #4 from StarControl Forums Top

There's a RunLog.txt file inside \Documents\My Games\Star Control that should help Stardock pinpoint the problem. People that have posted/sent theirs in the past have generally seen quick turnaround from the devs (barring it being the weekend or holidays of course).

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

I just checked, and I don't have a runlog.txt.  The four folders in the Star Control directory are empty :(

 

Reply #7 from StarControl Forums Top

How does one download the free DLC before the game itself? In Steam all that is handled automatically, it's not as if you have a separate install process to go through.

As far as the install location itself is concerned, as far as I'm aware of the game is installed inside of \Steam\SteamApps\common\Star Control - Origins. If when you attempt to purge the install there's something left over, try deleting the folder.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Yes, I have never had an issue like this.   Also, the star control folder was completely deleted.  It is not even running long enough to write any files to the NY games folder 😦

Reply #9 from StarControl Forums Top

I reinstalled the C++ redistrubtals  and even deleted one folder at a time in the Star Control directory (in Steam/Common) and then had it validate and redownload the files.  It will still not start.  I opened a case with Tech Support and they asked me to use the forum so here I am again :(

Reply #11 from StarControl Forums Top

Hello,

Sorry to hear you guys are having trouble.

Quoting BulletMagnetEd, reply 10

Not loading for me either, on Steam.

Quoting jjknap, reply 9

I reinstalled the C++ redistrubtals  and even deleted one folder at a time in the Star Control directory (in Steam/Common) and then had it validate and redownload the files.  It will still not start.  I opened a case with Tech Support and they asked me to use the forum so here I am again

Really want to make sure you both have had a chance to run through all the options here:

https://forums.starcontrol.com/491043/star-control-origins-support-faq

I know some seem basic, some are a bit of a pain, but it really helps to know that all those things have been tried.  

The most involved one is the 'Clean Boot' but it also helps a lot to eliminate any 3rd party app causing any issues or an issue with a Windows profile.  If its the latter, and it works under a different Windows profile, it has often fixed it as well on your main. 

If you ever get it to run to a point where there actually is a Runlog.txt in:

\Documents\My Games\Star Control

Please post it to to a cloud drive (Google Drive, DropBox, PasteBin, OneDrive) and a link here.

Let me know how it goes and I'll look over what you report on.

Thanks for the patience and support.

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

 

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi Sean,

 

I have tried everything in the post and more as I do troubleshooting for a living.  The fact that someone else has the issue makes me wonder  if the issue with Steam pulling the game off the site could have something to do with it?  Is there a way to run it without Steam?  Here is a link to my dxdiag:  https://1drv.ms/t/s!AqR2ahXsF_yIgoBt2sVTuCLpL6kSOA

 

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting jjknap, reply 12

The fact that someone else has the issue makes me wonder  if the issue with Steam pulling the game off the site could have something to do with it?

But they do not read the same - thus far, all I know from BulletMagnetEd is:

Quoting BulletMagnetEd, reply 10

Not loading for me either, on Steam.

I am looking forward to getting more / any information on what his symptoms are and his efforts with the support FAQ.

Quoting jjknap, reply 12

Is there a way to run it without Steam?

No.

Just downloaded Origins, but it will not start. 

Does it do anything at all when you run from Steam (open Steam as admin btw) or from the actual install dir:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Star Control - Origins\Game\

StarControl_DX11.exe

What I am wondering is if it's getting hung up on the redist installs.  Something I had seen here:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/271260/discussions/12/1742227264207043824/

After I uninstall from Steam and verify the folder is completely gone, when reinstalling, it says something like "finding content already on the drive" before installing, almost as if there are files still out there. 

Can you send me a video of the actual error - the process of starting the game?  Also, do you ever get any messages that it updated any files with a verify:

I would also like to make sure (and please forgive me here as you did say you tried everything) that you did create a new Windows Administrator account and try under it as well.  Again, I understand why some skip that as it can be a pain but I does tend to do wonders.

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

 

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

I can make a video when I get home tonight, but there is not much to see.  I. The steam library page, it says running next to the name of the program for about 10 seconds and then just disappears.  Nothing is written to any other the folders in my documents.  I have alao ran it as admin with the same result.   I tried running the dx11exe and I get the same result   If I run the Stardock launcher, that screen appears, but nothing happens when I choose to run the actual program.  Thanks! 

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting jjknap, reply 14

I can make a video when I get home tonight, but there is not much to see. 

Understood.

A RestoreHealth / SFC scan might be worth a shot as well, jjknap:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4026529/windows-10-using-system-file-checker

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

Again, no issues with any other games.  I still think the issue was me trying to also obtain dlc while the main program was still installing   When i purge all of the folders and files per the forum post at top and the go to reinstall, it still finds something first before the rest of the files are downloaded and shows one of the two dlcs as installed.  It is like the dlc data is somewhere else.  I will try to capture that in a video. 

Reply #17 from StarControl Forums Top

In my case, when trying to run SC:O in Steam, it opens the “first run” dialog, then hangs at 0% progress. All my other Steam games run perfectly. While I haven’t played the game since before the DMCA takedown, it ran perfectly fine before it.

Reply #18 from StarControl Forums Top

Okay, never mind. I tried starting the game to get screenshots for diagnostic purposes, and it just decided to run properly again. Thank you anyway! 😁👍🏻

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

OK , deleted the My Games folder (again, the install created the folders and ini file but the folders were empty and ini was 0 bytes) and deleted the local files by uninstalling and verifying,  Actually did it twice because the video capture didn't work the first time.   Watch the beginning to see the dlc "instantly" say installed and go to the very end to see me choose play.

 

https://1drv.ms/v/s!AqR2ahXsF_yIgoExS_fVxQhLBPU80w

 

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

'finding content already on the drive'

Ok, but this error never showed up in your video - that I could see.  If I missed it, can you tell me the time index?

Watch the beginning to see the dlc "instantly" say installed and go to the very end to see me choose play.

Again, I don't think that is where the issue lies - I think it is a redist issue as when it quits on your video, time:  17:34, that is where it would start the redist installs.

REALLY want to know if you have tried this, jj:

A RestoreHealth / SFC scan might be worth a shot as well, jjknap:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4026529/windows-10-using-system-file-checker

If an attempt to run the game after it repairs anything it finds, I would want to go back to what I asked this guy:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/271260/discussions/12/1742227264207043824/

I would want to know the same for you.

Torian,

If you are comfortable with this, I am going to have you look at your registry....

search / open regedit.exe

The top is actually a search bar:

https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/2018-12-04_12-47-02.png

Past this in it:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Valve\Steam\Apps\CommonRedist\vcredist\2017

Is your 'x64 14.10.25008.0' like mine, a 1 or is yours a zero?

What is the state of 2015, DirectX, and .NET?

https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/2018-12-04_12-48-57.png

https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/2018-12-04_12-50-13.png

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager