Gold won't start

ibafoo · Post by **ibafoo** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:52 am

I had CEAW Gold. It was running fine.

Now when I try to start it I get the black box and then that disappears and I can't start the game.

I even bought a new copy and downloaded that, with extended download for another 6 bucks and it still won't run.

It was starting yesterday.

WTF?

thanks

kramster · Post by **kramster** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:21 am

I have the same problem. I updated my security suite to Agnitum Outpost Pro on Friday, but I doubt that this is the problem as the firewall logs claim to be allowing the game. Besides, it makes no difference if I temporarily disable the firewall. CEAW worked fine two days ago but today I get the black window, no text, and then it closes. I'm running Vista (aargh). The only Windows update since CAEW last worked was WIndows Defender Update KB915597. Can you help?

Post by **pipfromslitherine** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:35 pm

The firewall might not be the issue - in fact it wouldn't affect the game starting. The virus checker itself is more likely the issue - if it thinks a file is bad it won't allow access to it.

Can you both try disabling the virus checkers entirely? That will at least let us know if that is the issue.

Are you both using the same virus checker?

Cheers

Pip

kramster · Post by **kramster** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 11:34 pm

I'm using Agnitum's Outpost Security Suite Pro. I disabled the suite, the firewall, AdAware and MalWareBytes. It made no difference.

kramster · Post by **kramster** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:36 am

I have now progressively deleted from my system the Agnitum Outpost Pro Security Suite, AdAware, Malwarebytes, SpyBot, and System Mechanic. I have also turned off Windows Defender. There is no firewall or anti-virus software running on the system, no anti-anything on the system at all. Still CEAW will not get past the black screen which remains empty (no text at all). I then deleted the only Windows Update that had been installed since CEAW last worked. It still will not start.

I will now start rebuilding my system security and will then attempt to instal CEAW last of all to see what happens.

Remember this is Vista.

Post by **pipfromslitherine** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 4:39 pm

That is very odd. If it previously worked then obviously something has changed in the system, but the issue is determining what. Has their been a Java update in that time period - CEAW should use its own distribution, but one never knows.

Are you guys both running the latest patch for the game?

Cheers

Pip

kramster · Post by **kramster** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:44 am

I was running CEAW Gold with the 1.12.1 patch.

I have it working now but it was painful. As stated in an earlier post I removed all security programs that I could and disabled the others (Windows) amd also removed System Mechanic. I then installed Agnitum Outlook Pro Suite and System Mechanic, reinstalled CEAW and now it works. What a saga!

Thanks for your advice.

ibafoo · Post by **ibafoo** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:27 pm

I am running Vista and I have McAfee Anti Virus.

I uninstalled CEAW. I bought and entirely new copy and extra download. I am not happy about having to do this by the way.

I then uninstalled McAfee.

I then downloaded and installed a new copy of CEAW.

It still does not run. I get the black window and no launch.

So I reinstalled McAfee and it still does not run.

I had this problem a couple of years ago.

Norton thought my CEAW launch file was a trojan and quarantined it and Norton would not help me without charging me more money.

I just want to run this game, why is this so damn hard?

thanks

Post by **pipfromslitherine** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 4:08 pm

You did not need to download and buy a new version - that would not be the issue, and even if it was we could have helped you out on that.

Virus checkers use 'guesses' based on the sturture of files, and Java apps are especially vulnerable to this.

Having said that, if you could not run on an install without any virus checker, then I can only think that a Vista update is the culprit? I think we may need to dig down into this a little more - is there any log file created in your Documents\CEAW directory?

Cheers

Pip

kramster · Post by **kramster** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:28 pm

Hi Pip,

No logfiles in Documents/CEAW directory structure.

Cheers, Mark

Post by **pipfromslitherine** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:47 pm

Can you check to see what, if any, updates Vista has applied recently which might have stopped the game from working.

I assume you have tried all the tricks suggested in the stickies at the top of the Tech Support forum to see whether they help?

Cheers

Pip

kramster · Post by **kramster** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:57 pm

The only update applied between when CEAW was working and when it no longer worked was WIndows Defender Update KB915597.

Yes, I did try the all the tricks in the Stickies - none had any effect at all.

Cheers,

Mark

Post by **pipfromslitherine** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:19 am

OK - confusing with two posters in the thread. I guess I can apply both questions to both of you

Kramster - you mention you had issues with virus checker in the past - am I correct in thinking you have tried with NO virus checker at all installed - nothing like Norton etc?

The fact is that if it was working and stopped it must be an update to some part of the system, we need to work out what is common to both of you I guess.

Cheers

Pip

kramster · Post by **kramster** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:48 am

We were running CA Vet until, about a month ago, 3 different machines would not boot. One was W2K. one XP, the third Vista. Removing CA Vet fixed the problem. These problems happened over a space of about 2 weeks.

I then went to Agnitum Security Suite which is when CEAW stopped working. When it and all other security programs were removed from the laptop, I tried CEAW again. It did not work so I deleted it. I then rebuilt, the Agnitum first, then System Mechanic and ran an analysis, then CEAW. Currently all is well.

Post by **IainMcNeil** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:23 am

Great - glad you got it up and running/ The problem is these updates are totally out of our control and there is nothign we can really do to prevent them breaking the game which is very annoying for you guys. I've spent days over the last few weeks with Norton trying to get them to stop blocking our games. This is just one program and there are hundreds of virus checkers and it simply is is not possible for us to get them all to work with our software. They just don't seem to care and it's been a real struggle to get anywhere. It took about 3 attempts for them even to talk to me as I was not the one with their software.

kramster · Post by **kramster** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:07 pm

That's the problem with this modern technology - everyone in their own box doing their thing, not caring whether they are having an impact on other boxes. True for the biggest box of all too. Sadly it's unavoidable.

Wmcp · Post by **Wmcp** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 3:51 am

I had this exact same issue, when looking around, I found that the settings file in my documents folder had been made blank... Went to the program files folder and C & P'd the settings into the blank one and the game worked.

Post by **pipfromslitherine** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:56 am

If that's not a virus checker being over-zealous then I don't know what else it could be...

Cheers

Pip

kramster · Post by **kramster** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:22 pm

Would you believe this is starting all over again. CAEW Gold 1.12 has been working fine. I added the BJW mod and it worked fine. Today I installed the Gold Expansion but it would not start up, just the brief appearance of the black DOS box. I reasoned that the BJW mod might be a problem so uninstalled the lot and reinstalled 1.12. It would not start - the DOS box again! From previous experience I deleted Agnitum Outlook Pro Security Suite and System Mechanic, uninstalled and reinstalled v1.12. No go - DOS box!

Current plan is what I did before. Reinstal Agnitum, the System Mechanic, the try for 1.12 again.

What fun, as if I had nothing else to do. That's Vista!

Post by **IainMcNeil** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:33 pm

This is ridiculous but unfortunately I dont know what we can do to help....

Have you complained to Agnitum?