cannot run GCIII after latest update

I'm also having the same issue.

Re-installed the game... twice, changed screen resolution etc. and followed most of the instructions for issues such as deleting certain ini files etc..

Steam login works, can play other games, issue appears to be that you launch from steam, steam indicates game is "running" in green. Steam has the usual blue  "X Stop" button displayed.

Click "Play" game...Steam then returns to green "> Play" icon.

You can repeat this ad naseum.

Have had similar nonload issues in the past with updates following the instructions on the support thread sorts the issue...sometimes this resolves the following day. This thread alas has not resolved the issue.

Any pointers would be greatly received.

Hey guys -

So sorry that this is happening! I sent this post along to the team and asked them about it; we'll get back to you with information and troubleshooting as soon as we can. We may ask for additional info on your computer specs, etc. Please sit tight!

Are you even getting to the launcher?

You should see something like this:

Quoting DerekPaxton, reply 3

Are you even getting to the launcher?

You should see something like this:

Reduced 57%

Original 1099 x 730

DerekPaxton,

Thank you for your reply, it's greatly appreciated.

Can confirm I am getting to the GalCivIII launcher as per your image, clicking play causes it to disappear...then nothing. Note: In the steam screen, after the failed launch the blue button "X Stop" returns to green "> Play" button. So this suggests to me the launcher is failing.

Note: Steam is recording the failed launch as the game having been played...perhaps Steam records a success opening the GalCivIII launcher?

Using the settings button in the GalCivIII launcher works fine. Doing a validate files shows " 1 file failed to validate and will be recaptured" which it has failed to do with repeated attempts since before Christmas.

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having trouble.

I assume you mean the instructions to go to:

\Documents\My Games\GC3Crusade

And delete the prefs.ini, correct?

If that is all you did, I would like you to rename the entire folder:

GC3Crusade

to:

GC3Crusade.OLD

And try to run the game again.  If it still fails, is a new GC3Crusade folder created in MyGames?  If not, follow the instructions here for turning off Windows Controlled folder access. 

To turn off Windows Controlled Folder Access in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu and type "Windows Defender Security Center"
2. Click on "Windows Defender Security Center" to open the app
3. Click on "Virus & threat protection"
4. Under "Virus & threat protection settings", click on "Manage settings"
5. Scroll down to the "Controlled folder access" section
6. Toggle the switch to "Off"

If that fails, and with the Stardock Launcher open, are you able to run the GalCiv3.exe directly from the install directory (wherever you have it installed)?

If that all fails, zip up your debug.err located here:

\Documents\My Games\GC3Crusade

Upload it to a cloud drive service of your choice and past a shared link here. 

Thanks.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Hello Sean,

Thank you for your reply.

As a heads up I am running Windows 7. I refused to upgrade to the MS Malware aka Windows 10. I could write a book on how much damage this so called upgrade did to businesses I deal with and how insecure it was on networks running Win98 computers...

To answer your quieries:

"And delete the prefs.ini, correct?" - This was deleted and still does not exist.

"If that is all you did, I would like you to rename the entire folder:"

"GC3Crusade.OLD" - This was also done, no new folder now exists after further installs.

Running GCiv3.exe directly from the "steamapps" folder the error message "the programme can't start because VCRruntime140_1.dll is not installed...." etc..

Deleted the game and re-installed, interestingly this time the VCRruntime140_1.dll has been placed on my desktop.

Windows defender does not appear to be blocking installation.

In "My Games" folder, a new GC3Crusade folder has not been made, however a new GalCiv3 folder has been created and contains one file named "steam_autocloud.vdf"

The Debug *.err file that exists is in the GC3CrusadeOLD folder so I have my doubts it will be relevant to the issue experienced.

Again your help and everyone else who has replied, is greatly appreciated.

It will only ever be recreated when the game is run.  If you have run the game and its still not being created, then the game has not made it far enough to do so. 

I do hope you did that under:

\Documents\My Games\

And not the game install folder.

I am afraid, none of that makes any sense to me... Placed on your desktop?

In the following directory:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_CommonRedist\DirectX\Jun2010

Please run: DXSETUP.exe

For the latest redistributable:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170

Reboot and try to run the game again.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Hello Sean,

Thank you for your reply, apologies if my posts are causing confusion.

Regards your questions:

"GC3Crusade.OLD" I do hope you did that under:  \Documents\My Games\ " : Can confirm this was the folder where OLD was added to the GC3Crusade file.

"It will only ever be recreated when the game is run.  If you have run the game and its still not being created, then the game has not made it far enough to do so." This information was included to aid you and to confirm the game is not running.

"I am afraid, none of that makes any sense to me... Placed on your desktop?" I have a folder on my desktop for day to day downloads, the last installation for some reason placed the VCRruntime140_1.dll there. For clarification I do not change the installation folders for games.

Have carried out your requests, including the MS site and downlaoded the X86 file and ran. Unfortunately the game still appears to be thwarting our best efforts.

Error still appearing regards running GCiv3.exe directly from the "steamapps" folder the error message "the programme can't start because VCRruntime140_1.dll is not installed...." etc..

Same issue when running from the Steam browser.

Just as a side note, the game ran perfectly until the last update, something with that has done the breaking.

Again thank you for your reply.

Yes

when clicking the green play, nothing happens on my screen and 

the steam screen running disappears

That just does not read like a GC3 problem, but rather, a redist one - one that many others have reported for a variety of other apps and games:

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=can%27t+start+because+VCRruntime140_1.dll+is+not+installed&ia=web

Do any of those help you?

Again, that is just bizarre.  If you remove it, and reinstall it, does it again appear there?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Original complaint

I could not run Galactic Civilization III after the latest update

The game run well before the update

The other 2 games run well (Civilization V and Offworld trading company)

1)      Start Steam

Run well and show I have 3 games

2)      Selected Galactic Civilization III and clicked the green play

Stardock screen appears

The steam screen shows Galactic Civilization III – running and the green play button change to stop

3)      Clicked the green play button on the Stardock screen

Stardock screen disappear

The steam screen shows Galactic Civilization III (running disappear) and the stop button change back to green play

The game did not run.

It happened just as kj3292 described

1^st follow-up action

1)      Uninstall both steam and Galactic Civilization III

2)      Deleted folder   this pc > documents > my games

3)      Deleted folder   this pc > C drive > program files (x86) > steam

4)      Reinstall both steam and Galactic Civilization III

The same thing happened again as (I) Original complaint

2^nd follow-up action

C:\program files (x86)\steam\steamapps\common steamworks shared\_commonredist\directX\jun2010

Run dxsetup.exe

Restart

Game start loading but I do not have opportunity to play it yet

THANKS

Opportunity = Time to play \ test?

or...

Opportunity = same loading problem?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Hello sdRohan,

Thank you for following up.

The game loaded.

I also loaded a saved game.

It seems to be running well.

Unfortunately, I do not have the time to play the game until the not vacation.

Conclusion

DirectX seems to be the problem for my game not running.

Thanks

Very pleased to read that and thanks for the update.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Hello Sean,

Unfortunately doing all the above see's me with the same issue. Have uninstalled and re-installed the game numerous times and have followed the process chengseow1938 posted which sorted the issue for him/her, has not worked for moi.

I had visited the MS forums regards the VCRruntime140_1.dll issue. I feel this maybe a red herring as it only displays this if the CG3.exe file is clicked on in the apps.

As chengseow1938 mentions, we both had the issue after the update. To my way of thinking chengseow1938 having to delete both Steam and CG3 points to this being an update issue.

Any more pointers would be helpful.

If it were systemic for the game, all would be seeing it - only a very few did (as seen here). 

Try

• Create a new Windows Administrator (<-- Important) account:
  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-a-local-user-or-administrator-account-in-windows-20de74e0-ac7f-3502-a866-32915af2a34d
  
  
• Under that new admin account, clean boot Windows
  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

Does it run then?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Hello Sean,

Once again thank you for your reply.

Note I am using Windows 7, links are for Windows 8 and beyond. However it does state that it is the same as safe mode. Have booted into safe mode with networking, unfortunately same symptoms, GC3 still will not run.

Hope the above information is of help.

I have a large sledgehammer which may be of use for "fine" tuning my system.

Keep well.

While Win7 could be a possible (unknown) source of an issue itself, see if this helps for the cleanboot on Win7:

https://www.microcenter.com/tech_center/article/5507/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-7

As well as the ability to create new admin accounts:

https://www.4winkey.com/create-an-administrator-account-on-windows-7.html

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

I had visited the MS forums regards the VCRruntime140_1.dll issue. I feel this maybe a red herring as it only displays this if the CG3.exe file is clicked on in the apps.

Hello Sean,

I have undertaken your advice and to no avail.

I have subsequently running as admin gone through the labourisous process of:

Run steam as an Admin and uninstalled GALCiv3, shutd down my PC.

Run Steam as admin, uninstalled steam, shut down my PC.

Ensured both Steam and GalCiv£ were absent from their respective folders. Shut down my PC.

As Admin, Installed Steam shut down my PC.

Run Steam as Admin, installed GalCiv3, shutdown.

Run VC_redist.x86 install as Admin, shutdown.

Run as Admin DXSETUP shutdown.

Run Steam as and Amin, verified files, one not validated and will be reaquired (This has always happened since the update)

Run GalCiv3, game fails to run as per my earlier messages. Steam logs the game as running but it isn't.

Note: Pref.ini file is not being created.

stademock in his post above re-iterates my own thoughts and findings.

Any further ideas what was broken with the update back in December?

Edit: Note on Pref.ini file not being created.

That is not exactly the instructions, its to create a 'new admin account' and do all that you did under it:

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Hello Sean,

Thank you for your reply.

I obviously did not make it clear what I had done. I stated in my response:

To elaborate, it was done using the "new account" it didn't work.

I subsequently tried what I typed, it too didn't work.

On both efforts no Pref.ini file was created.

There has been something that has changed with the update that prevents the game running. To me this is not an account login issue, but something that was altered with the update.

The fact that Steam is registering the game as running but it isn't, is to me, a clue.

As I asked "Any further ideas what was broken with the update back in December?"

Is it possible to download a version before the 4.5 update before Christmas was implemented? This would at least prove that something does or does not prevent the game from loading.

Any number of things could have changed but very few have resulted in Win7 PCs not being able to run the game - that is why we have to look at what is unique to yours.  The OP seemingly had the same issue (likely the same OS) and was able to resolve it.

What makes this even more challenging is how old the OS is and that Microsoft itself no longer supports it. 

We do not have Windows 7 PCs readily available in the office but I will see what I can do to resource something in an effort to see if I can even reproduce it.

That said, do you have any plans to migrate to a current version of Windows?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

I have the same exact problem, that began the moment I did the latest update. 4.51

I have Windows 11. I have tried every single step in this thread, and none of it worked.

Oops I mistyped. I’m on windows 10