Crash on Startup

[Visorak168x]

I bought the game on Steam a few years ago, and I never had this problem until now. As soon as I press play, it starts up, and then a popup says, "X4 encountered a problem," and then crashes back to the desktop. It doesn't say any exit codes or anything. I am using the latest game version and I do not run any mods.
My computer specs: https://easyupload.io/zt8sqw

[Alan Phipps]

Hi. From your DxDiag, first make sure that X4 is forced to use your Nvidia card and not the Intel onboard graphics chipset.

It might be that both your Intel and Nvidia graphics drivers (and hence their Vulkan) can be updated. I would definitely update or do a clean reinstall of your Nvidia driver as that is showing a lot of unknowns in the DxDiag that should have data - such as its display mode and WHQL status, etc. With 4GB dedicated VRAM on your card you might not have the greatest performance with all the DLCs even if the start up issues are resolved as the game has become more system-demanding than at launch.

Your Realtek sound driver can perhaps be updated depending upon your system manufacturer's advice.

All of the Windows Error Reports listed in your DxDiag are for update issues, whether for update identification or installation. No X4 crashes are listed.

I hope something here helps.

[CBJ]

Have you changed your system at all since you last played? If so then may be try deleting the config.xml out of the Documents\Egosoft\X4 folder. Also update the drivers for your integrated Intel graphics chip; even though you're (hopefully!) not using it, Vulkan still requires the drivers for it to be up to date. While you're at it, update your Realtek sound drivers which are currently 5 years old. Do this from the Realtek website rather than using Windows Update.

Edit: Alan got there first this time!

[Visorak168x]

Hi. From your DxDiag, first make sure that X4 is forced to use your Nvidia card and not the Intel onboard graphics chipset.

It might be that both your Intel and Nvidia graphics drivers (and hence their Vulkan) can be updated. I would definitely update or do a clean reinstall of your Nvidia driver as that is showing a lot of unknowns in the DxDiag that should have data - such as its display mode and WHQL status, etc. With 4GB dedicated VRAM on your card you might not have the greatest performance with all the DLCs even if the start up issues are resolved as the game has become more system-demanding than at launch.

Your Realtek sound driver can perhaps be updated depending upon your system manufacturer's advice.

All of the Windows Error Reports listed in your DxDiag are for update issues, whether for update identification or installation. No X4 crashes are listed.

I hope something here helps.

I think it is because my computer cannot run anymore because last time I played, the latest DLC had not come out yet at the time and the game was hammering my drivers.I think it is time for me to get a new computer anyway. How do you do a reinstall of the Nvidia Driver? Thanks for the response, however!

[Visorak168x]

Have you changed your system at all since you last played? If so then may be try deleting the config.xml out of the Documents\Egosoft\X4 folder. Also update the drivers for your integrated Intel graphics chip; even though you're (hopefully!) not using it, Vulkan still requires the drivers for it to be up to date. While you're at it, update your Realtek sound drivers which are currently 5 years old. Do this from the Realtek website rather than using Windows Update.

Edit: Alan got there first this time!

What do you mean, "Changing my system"? I do not think so. I deleted the config.xml in the documents folder. I deleted everything in the folder. Thank you for the response, but I think my computer can no longer run this game anymore.

[CBJ]

It's a little close to the minimum requirements as far as the graphics card is concerned, certainly, but it should at least be able to start the game. You can reinstall the NVidia graphics drivers from the NVidia website, but please note that what I actually recommended was to update the Intel graphics drivers for your integrated graphics chipset. You'd do that on the Intel website.

Also, if you can find a crashdump file, we might be able to get a bit closer to working out what the problem is.

[Alan Phipps]

"How do you do a reinstall of the Nvidia Driver? "

If you use the Nvidia App to manage your Nvidia device and driver, on the relevant driver page (as well as the latest WHQL (Game Ready) driver recommendation), you will see top right of page a driver reinstall button.

[Visorak168x]

It's a little close to the minimum requirements as far as the graphics card is concerned, certainly, but it should at least be able to start the game. You can reinstall the NVidia graphics drivers from the NVidia website, but please note that what I actually recommended was to update the Intel graphics drivers for your integrated graphics chipset. You'd do that on the Intel website.

Also, if you can find a crashdump file, we might be able to get a bit closer to working out what the problem is.

I cannot reinstall Nvidia because the app is not working for me for some reason. It just won't update the lastest update and Nvidia is infuriating! My Intel graphics driver is up to date and still does not work and I do have dump files.
Here are my dump files: https://easyupload.io/m/qzv6kb

[Visorak168x]

"How do you do a reinstall of the Nvidia Driver? "

If you use the Nvidia App to manage your Nvidia device and driver, on the relevant driver page (as well as the latest WHQL (Game Ready) driver recommendation), you will see top right of page a driver reinstall button.

I believe the Navdia app and the website is a no-go because the installation just will not work for me for some reason.

[Alan Phipps]

If the Nvidia App/website is not detecting your Nvidia device (assuming it still supports that card model) then that might indicate some problem with the device, it's installation, its initialisation and set-up, or the App's access to updates and data etc (eg perhaps too restrictive anti-virus or protection settings). I'm unsure what to advise about that but it might be worth a quick query about compatibility and settings for the App and your card to Nvidia support.

[CBJ]

The dump files confirm that this appears to be a graphics driver problem. As Alan says, the NVidia app not working suggests you have a wider issue. In addition to the steps he mentioned, maybe try running downloading and running DDU to clean up your drivers so you can start again from scratch.

[alt3rn1ty]

Maybe a bit of the confusion here is the old Geforce Experience App, has now been changed to the NVidia App, and the former is not updated by the latter? (I dont know for sure, I never allow the thing to install).

If you dont use the App you can grab the latest driver installer from here ..

US - https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/
UK - https://www.nvidia.com/en-uk/drivers/

Bookmark these links to occasionally check for updates.

And un-install the old Geforce Experience app first.

Then run the downloaded installer ..
.. And I recommend choosing just the driver and custom installation, so that you can deselect the NVidia App from installing. Its rubbish at giving you game specific settings, they dont match your system perfectly because they are crowd sourced recommendations, and the rest of the app is just something else running in your system tray at startup you do not need.

[Visorak168x]

Maybe a bit of the confusion here is the old Geforce Experience App, has now been changed to the NVidia App, and the former is not updated by the latter? (I dont know for sure, I never allow the thing to install).

If you dont use the App you can grab the latest driver installer from here ..

US - https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/
UK - https://www.nvidia.com/en-uk/drivers/

Bookmark these links to occasionally check for updates.

And un-install the old Geforce Experience app first.

Then run the downloaded installer ..
.. And I recommend choosing just the driver and custom installation, so that you can deselect the NVidia App from installing. Its rubbish at giving you game specific settings, they dont match your system perfectly because they are crowd sourced recommendations, and the rest of the app is just something else running in your system tray at startup you do not need.

That's the thing, though, I have always used the Nvidia App, and it never gave me trouble until now. For some reason, it says, "Install fail," and none of my drivers are "selected to be updated". I did go to the website, and when I download the update, it did the samething.

[alt3rn1ty]

And un-install the old Geforce Experience app first.

Then run the downloaded installer ..

That's the thing, though, I have always used the Nvidia App, and it never gave me trouble until now. For some reason, it says, "Install fail," and none of my drivers are "selected to be updated". I did go to the website, and when I download the update, it did the samething.

You havent "always" used the NVidia App, because that is quite recent. You maybe used the Geforce Experience App first, and it has since changed to the NVidia App. I may be wrong if "always" to you means the last couple of months only. NVidia App replaced Geforce Experience in November. Or maybe you participated in the NVidia App beta testing?, anyway ..

Have you tried completely uninstalling the previous setup first? (ie not just updating through the App, uninstall the App - Go to Windows Start, Apps, find it and uninstall it, then install the drivers from the link I gave)

If the NVidia App is important for you, the drivers installation I pointed out does give you the option to re-install the new NVidia App as the drivers are installed (NVidia App is part of the driver installation if you select it), so you will not lose it.

If you still have problems after trying the above :
Use DDU ( https://www.wagnardsoft.com/display-dri ... aller-DDU- ) to completely get rid of NVidia Drivers setup (but note you may have to also manually Uninstall NVidia App aswell from the Windows Start - Apps menu as previously mentioned).
Then after using DDU and a restart of the machine, use the NVidia Driver Installation, which as previously mentioned will also re-install NVidia App if you need it.

Fingers crossed for you

[Visorak168x]

And un-install the old Geforce Experience app first.

Then run the downloaded installer ..

That's the thing, though, I have always used the Nvidia App, and it never gave me trouble until now. For some reason, it says, "Install fail," and none of my drivers are "selected to be updated". I did go to the website, and when I download the update, it did the samething.

You havent "always" used the NVidia App, because that is quite recent. You maybe used the Geforce Experience App first, and it has since changed to the NVidia App. I may be wrong if "always" to you means the last couple of months only. NVidia App replaced Geforce Experience in November. Or maybe you participated in the NVidia App beta testing?, anyway ..

Have you tried completely uninstalling the previous setup first? (ie not just updating through the App, uninstall the App - Go to Windows Start, Apps, find it and uninstall it, then install the drivers from the link I gave)

If the NVidia App is important for you, the drivers installation I pointed out does give you the option to re-install the new NVidia App as the drivers are installed (NVidia App is part of the driver installation if you select it), so you will not lose it.

If you still have problems after trying the above :
Use DDU ( https://www.wagnardsoft.com/display-dri ... aller-DDU- ) to completely get rid of NVidia Drivers setup (but note you may have to also manually Uninstall NVidia App aswell from the Windows Start - Apps menu as previously mentioned).
Then after using DDU and a restart of the machine, use the NVidia Driver Installation, which as previously mentioned will also re-install NVidia App if you need it.

Fingers crossed for you

Ok, so it was the Geforce Experience App first. I remember when the App came out that day; I thought it was just another update (I'm still new at PC gaming stuff). I have been updating the drivers up to this point. I cannot even uninstall it the App. It just says, "uninstallation failed" with a code "0x8007005". I will do the DDU you mentioned and thanks for your responses and help!

[alt3rn1ty]

~ I will do the DDU you mentioned and thanks for your responses and help!

NP , I think what should have been an easy update transition from Geforce Experience, to the new NVidia app, has somehow gone wrong.
Some bit of uninstalling and re-installing that NVidia in your case has not anticipated.

Fingers crossed you get it sorted, as I am out of ideas beyond what has been said already.

[Visorak168x]

~ I will do the DDU you mentioned and thanks for your responses and help!

NP , I think what should have been an easy update transition from Geforce Experience, to the new NVidia app, has somehow gone wrong.
Some bit of uninstalling and re-installing that NVidia in your case has not anticipated.

Fingers crossed you get it sorted, as I am out of ideas beyond what has been said already.

It worked... but it didn't. It uninstalled the Nvidia App, but it will not download or update the driver for some reason. I cannot even install the Nvidia App. I think it is time to get a new computer because this unforeseen circumstance is completely botched. Thank you for all your help, though! I really appreciate it. On the barely light-bright side, the game works now!!

[alt3rn1ty]

t worked... but it didn't. It uninstalled the Nvidia App, but it will not download or update the driver for some reason. I cannot even install the Nvidia App. I think it is time to get a new computer because this unforeseen circumstance is completely botched. Thank you for all your help, though! I really appreciate it. On the barely light-bright side, the game works now!!

But you need to download the NVidia drivers from the link I gave earlier ..
https://www.nvidia.com/en-gb/drivers/

DDU just cleans out the old driver cleanly. I dont think it is supposed to download new drivers aswell (might be wrong, its been a while, but did you read DDU instructions?).

I think whats happened now is after DDU uninstalled the driver, Windows has automatically installed the Generic NVidia driver, soo ..

1. go here https://www.nvidia.com/en-gb/drivers/
2. Use the Manual driver search ..

Heres a screenshot of me selecting the right choices for my NVidia 3060, on my Laptop https://i.imgur.com/VCHZqeS.png
You need to make the right choices for your machine, is it a Desktop or Laptop/Notebook, what model Graphics card are you using.

3. After selecting the correct driver for your graphics card, click "Find"
4. dont choose the Studio one, choose the Game Ready one, download it.
5. Run the driver installer you just downloaded (wherever it saved on your hard drive)

The NVidia Installer will now clean out the generic driver, install the much newer driver, and also install NVidia App if you choose to.

[Visorak168x]

t worked... but it didn't. It uninstalled the Nvidia App, but it will not download or update the driver for some reason. I cannot even install the Nvidia App. I think it is time to get a new computer because this unforeseen circumstance is completely botched. Thank you for all your help, though! I really appreciate it. On the barely light-bright side, the game works now!!

But you need to download the NVidia drivers from the link I gave earlier ..
https://www.nvidia.com/en-gb/drivers/

DDU just cleans out the old driver cleanly. I dont think it is supposed to download new drivers aswell (might be wrong, its been a while, but did you read DDU instructions?).

I think whats happened now is after DDU uninstalled the driver, Windows has automatically installed the Generic NVidia driver, soo ..

1. go here https://www.nvidia.com/en-gb/drivers/
2. Use the Manual driver search ..

Heres a screenshot of me selecting the right choices for my NVidia 3060, on my Laptop https://i.imgur.com/VCHZqeS.png
You need to make the right choices for your machine, is it a Desktop or Laptop/Notebook, what model Graphics card are you using.

3. After selecting the correct driver for your graphics card, click "Find"
4. dont choose the Studio one, choose the Game Ready one, download it.
5. Run the driver installer you just downloaded (wherever it saved on your hard drive)

The NVidia Installer will now clean out the generic driver, install the much newer driver, and also install NVidia App if you choose to.

That is what I did because that was the instructions. I manually found my driver updates. I downloaded the latest one, and that did not work. Then, I tried to download the one before the latest update, and that did not work.

[alt3rn1ty]

Hmmm, then I have no clue .. Maybe your machine needs to be looked at by a professional, because the manual driver installation should work just fine. Some things for a repair man to look at, maybe your hard drive / SSD is dodgy (actually if you do have an SSD, and this is just a personal opinion, I dont think they are as reliable as old spinning disks used to be). Maybe a complete re-install of windows is needed .. But if you are considering a new machine anyway, maybe its time. Good luck.