Windows 11 KB 5100998 - Game Fails to Launch

[KarlHemmings]

I have run into an issue with both X3TC and X3AP in Windows 11 directly after KB5100998 installed. I have spent a bit of time with an AI agent running through some checks and the conclusion is that this is a MS created issue with Windows 11 and that it may or may not be resolved in a later update. This is an abridged copy and paste from the conversation;

KB5100998 – a Windows 11 cumulative update.

Albion Prelude:
Exception: c0000005
Offset: 000FB14C

Terran Conflict:
Exception: c0000005
Offset: 000F97DC

The offsets differ slightly because they're different executables, but they're both failing at almost the same stage of engine startup.
The timeline is:
1. Steam launches normally.
2. Steam Cloud sync completes.
3. The X3 launcher opens.
4. The launcher reads and displays your graphics settings correctly.
5. You click Start.
6. A borderless black game window appears.
7. The process exits almost immediately with 0xC0000005.

This tells us that:
• Steam is working.
• The launcher is working.
• The configuration file is readable.
• The graphics device is at least being created (otherwise you wouldn't see the game window at all).
• The crash occurs after the engine starts, but before the first frame is rendered.

There have been cases where Windows updates have changed how Control Flow Guard (CFG) or other exploit mitigations behave with older DirectX 9-era executables. X3 predates many of these protections.

There was a long list of things to try out, but to be honest I have limited time amongst family commitments and so I decided to fire up my Linux laptop (Mint) and see how things go on that for now
(Maybe I will even get around to x4 - maybe)

[Alan Phipps]

Things that you maybe could try or check if you have the time:

1. Uninstall and reinstall KB5100998 in case there was a NET Framework 3.5 update corruption.
2. Check the Windows Error Reporting at the end of a freshly run DxDiag text save to see if any reports relate to X4 or perhaps associated services such as your graphics driver or Vulkan (or Windows Update).

Good luck.

[KarlHemmings]

Hi Alan
During the trouble shooting I did uninstall and reinstall KB5100998 but had no change by that time I was running out of "play" time so called it a day.
I have uninstalled the games from my Windows 11 machine.
I really need to set aside time to x4....

[KarlHemmings]

An update from my experience.
I had the same MS KB file update on my MSI laptop and had no issues with the game.
So back to my Lenovo desktop, reinstall the games.
I have added -skipintro into the steam game launch properties and I have reset graphics to default in the launcher.
I have a 2560x1440 screen but had the ingame set to 1920x1080 (the text is very small with 2560x1440 and I have poor eye sight even with glasses).
BUT if I reset graphics to default (2560x1440) with -skipinto the game launches and I can play; although sometimes I am squinting at the text.

Meanwhile I am in the timelines part of x4 and learning more about how to play that game.