Character Select Unavailable

[aedavis54]

I play EQ2 on my laptop but it runs too slow so I just loaded it onto my desktop at home and when it finished loading the character select option is unavailable so I cannot play. I tried turning off my Windows Firewall then loading it and it didn't change anything. I also added EQ2 to the exceptions list for the firewall so it won't get blocked. I have McAfee virus protection but it never said that it was blocking the program so I don't know how to fix this. Any suggestions would be great. I WANT TO PLAYYY!!!!!

[TSR-DanT]

You may want to try and disable the firewall, and antivirus software if they are installed. You may also want to that try running a clean boot, by making sure all unnecessary background programs are disabled. Please follow the directions below on how to accomplish this.To disable background programs. 1. Select the START button.2. Select RUN.3. Type in "msconfig" (without the &quot<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />4. Press OK5. Select the STARTUP tab.6. For Windows 98/ME, uncheck all boxes EXCEPT for SCANREGISTRY and SYSTEM TRAY. If you use Windows XP, click on the disable all button.7.Hit apply and then OK. Restart the computer when prompted, then try the game again. 

[aedavis54]

yea i tried doing that because that was the response i got when i did email help, but it didn't change anything. I changed those settings, restarted my computer, and then when i went to play and load up the game, it still said character select unavailable. I'm not sure what else to do.

[TSR-DanT]

It only says that because you havn't logged in in a while.  Once you log in it will let you select characters...Is it still updating or does it say download canceled?

[aedavis54]

it is finished downloading and the screen comes up, lets me hit i agree,  im able to log in, and then it updates, and the PLAY button lights up. But where i would select a character it still says "character select unavailable" and when i hit the play button anyway, it loads, then its just a black screen and then it closes.

[TSR-DanT]

Ok, so you are having a crashing issue, don't worry about the character select message, once you log in with out a problem you'll be fine.You may want to delete the cache folder,  eq2_recent.ini, eq2_default.ini, EverQuest2.exe and all files named after the character with which you're having this issue.The character specific files will appear as such:Servername_CharacterName_EQ2_uisettings.iniSt ationname_characters.iniTo do this please follow these directions:1. First look for your EverQuest II directory. You can find the directory in the default directory:2. Click on MY COMPUTERC<img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />RIVEPROGRAM FILESSONYEVERQUEST II3. Next look for any files explained above and delete them. 4. Afterwards, please start EverQuest II to have these files re-downloaded by the patcher.

[aedavis54]

actually it doesn't even show my characters on the launchpad screen. I have two, which show up when I play on my laptop, but here is shows i have none, and doesn't drop down the character menu either. im not sure why it would say i don't have characters though...since ive have two and have used them for a while. does that change anything?

[TSR-DanT]

What server are they on?

[aedavis54]

one is on mistmoore and one is on nagafen.

[TSR-DanT]

Did you delete the ini and other files that I suggested above?  Try that again and let me know if you're able to get in to character select.  If you can get to character select and there are no characters then we might have a problem, but at this point I'm not worried yet and you shouldn't be either.  Lets try to get you to character select, please let me know what happens when you try the above.

[TSR-DanT]

Just to confirm, I put EQ2 on a machine that did not have it, and logged into my account the characters were not shown in either the big red list, or the drop down list.  So we just need to get you in the character select screen.

[aedavis54]

ok im about to delete those files that you mentioned. ill see if that works.

[aedavis54]

i didn't see any of those files in the area where everything was listed.

[TSR-DanT]

Are you on vista? 1. Right click on the program launch icon2. Left click on "Properties".3. In the new window that pops up click on the "Compatibility" tab.4. In the "Compatibility Mode" area check the box next to "Run this program in compatibility mode for:"5. In the drop down list make certain that "Windows XP (Service Pack 2)" is selected.6. Under "Privilege Level" make certain that the box next to "Run this program as administrator" is checked.7. Click on "Apply" then click on "Ok".8. Double click on the program launch icon.

[aedavis54]

ok well that may very well be the problem. Although my computer is Windows XP, that is not an option on the compatibility drop down tab. Do you happen to know how to make it an option? or would that require me going somewhere else??

[TSR-DanT]

It is not an option for xp, I was taking a stab in the dark because I have no idea what's going on in your system..  Try adding our software to your Security software's exception list, and then turning it off.. Again, you have something blocking the full and proper download of the game.

[aedavis54]

yea i'm completely lost with it. i added it to the safe list yesterday and it still didn't change anything. thanks for your help though. i just think i might stop playing until i can figure out whats wrong. cause the game runs so slow on my laptop that its really impossible to do anything.

[TSR-DanT]

Post up your system specs so we can take a look, there is a sticky at the top of the forum that shows you how.

[atx]

im having the same sort of problem, only i had a fresh install and i am a new customer. i activated my account but when i start up eq2 it goes though the file verification, but when it gets to 100% it hangs and there is no option to start the game. i tried downloading the station launcher but thats a whole other mess. i tried the steps you mentioned but there was no change. i would really like to try this game out, but at this point its almost seeming like more trouble than its worth.

[Kololoco]

<p>I just reinstalled EQ2 after a complete harddrive wipe due to vid card issues.  I am having the exact same issue with the game loading, patching, and the red "Play" button activating but under the Play button where my character name(s) should be, it says.."Character Select Unavailable" and this "Fatal Error" message pops up in a box:</p><p> "Everquest II has detected an unrecoverable error and must shutdown.</p><p><verify></p><p>E:testeq2frameworkcoredevicessrcDirectX9RenderDevi ce.cpp</p><p>(1019):</p><p>DirectX Error. (D3DERR_NOT AVAILABLE)"</p><p>And then the game launcher shuts down.  I have DL'd Direct X 9 from the Microsoft website, and I still get the following error message.  Please please help.  I went to my Sony/EQ2 folder to delete some of the files suggested, but I had none of those files.  I have no files in the EQ2 folder with either my server name or my characters names.  That may the reason I keep getting the message Character Select Unavailable, because my EQ2 folder has NO files containing any of my characters' names.</p><p> I have no idea what to do to fix this problem so I can play the game.  Please please please help quickly. Thanks!!</p>

[aedavis54]

ok your problem is the exact same as mine. everything loads, and my characters and listed on the right side of the screen, and the play button lights up, but the drop down menu under that says the same thing - That my charactesrs are unavailable. and even if i hit play the screen pops up black and then shuts down. this desktop's hard drive was recently cleaned out also. and i don't have any of those files he mentioned as well. so we have to figure out something we can do to make it work.