EverQuest2.exe refuses to run

[Rhak]

<p>I just reinstalled EQ2 onto a fresh install of Vista 64, and while the game patched just fine, EverQuest2.exe refuses to do, well, anything once the launcher tries to access it.</p><p>In short - I hit Play, the launcher closes down, the little blue circle thingy of a cursor appears for a few seconds, and then absolutely nothing happens. If I pull up the Task Manager, I can see that Everquest2.exe is running in the Processes tab, but not the Applications one. So it never fully launches.</p><p>I'm running as an Administrator with full rights, UAC is completetly turned off, Windows Firewall is completely turned off, and I've tried disabling my virus scanner (Avast). Running Everquest2.exe does nothing but add another instance under the Process tab, but doesn't actually run anything.</p><p>I've tried the other suggestions listed in other threads (removing the Cache folder, all the .ini files for the game and my characters, and the everquest2.exe file, moving the entire folder out of the Program Files directory, tried running the game both in Program Files and Program Files x86, Run as Administrator and Run in XP Service Pack 2 mode, etc etc) without any luck.</p><p>Vista 64 is fully updated, I have the newest NVidia graphic drivers, Direct X is fully updated, and yes, my PC is turned on. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p><p>And yes, I've played quite a few other games on this PC already without any problems at all, including other MMOs.</p><p>What's odd is that I have a Vista 64 laptop that runs the game just fine. It just won't run on my gaming rig. Anybody have any tips at all at this point?</p><p>Thanks in advance.</p>

[TSR-DanielH]

<p>Greetings,</p><p>Usually when we see this error it means that either an anti-virus or system firewall is blocking the game.  What motherboard are you using on that computer?  Some motherboards, specifically ones from Nvidia, have a built in firewall that could be blocking the game.  You might want to try disabling that as well if you have it.</p><p>Besides that, I would suggest moving the Everquest 2 file out of the 'program files' folder if that's where you have it installed.  Moving it somewhere like C:games should work fine.  To do so you can simply cut and paste the Everquest 2 folder.  Windows Vista will automatically place additional protection on files in the program files folder, and that might be the source of the problem.</p>

[Rhak]

<p>Both are good ideas, but unfortunately before I 'upgraded' to Vista 64, I was running Vista 32 on the EXACT same system setup (short of a smaller HD). I grabbed a bigger HD and decided it was time for a reformat - at that time, I figured I'd also install Vista 64. EQ2 worked without a hitch beforehand under Vista 32.</p><p>Additionally, when I dig into Windows Event Viewer, I find that when Vista 64 is running Everquest2.exe, it sometimes trips an error that shows up in the Windows Logs. It doesn't state anything useful, nor can I figure out how to actually look at the full detailed error report (I can only get the basics), but it's definitely there.</p><p>I did a total uninstall of my virus scanner (Avast!), and it didn't help. Additionally, I have a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX motherboard (thanks to Newegg for the exact name), and I found no options in the BIOS as far as a built-in firewall goes. But once again, I had this board when I was playing EQ2 under Vista 32 without problems.</p><p>Finally, I already had EQ2 outside of any Program Files folders. For the heck of it, I even copied a fully working install (tested it a few minutes beforehand) of it from my Vista 64 based laptop and tried that - it doesn't help any.</p><p>Any other suggestions you can think of? Thanks for your continued support.</p>

[Rhak]

<p>After thinking for a bit more, I realized what it is - I added a secondary sound card to my PC verses what I had beforehand.</p><p>It was an HT Omega Striker 7.1 (htomega.com), and if I had that and the motherboard built-in sound available under Device Manager (so there were two listings), Everquest2.exe absoultely, positively would NOT run at all.</p><p>I yanked the card, fully uninstalled the drivers from my new (nice) sound card, and ran Everquest2.exe - the game booted up just fine.</p><p>Either the game is utterly incompatible with that line of cards, or it goes absolutely beserk when it detects more than one sound card installed in the system. I'll fiddle with it another day (try to fully disable the motherboard sound) and see if that allows me to use my purchased sound card.</p><p>Every other game I've tried under Vista 64 (City of Heroes, Crysis, Dead Space, Drakensang, Unreal Tournment 3, WoW, Champions Online) have worked just fine with a dual sound card installed (although I always used my HT Omega card). Why not EQ2?</p><p>Thanks for your help. Hopefully my experiences will help others with your game.</p>

[TSR-DanielH]

<p>It's interesting that your sound card would cause such a serious crashing issue.  Does that sound card have drivers specific to Vista 64?  Most hardware companies have neglected Vista 64 drivers to a certain extent and that could be leading to this type of issue.</p>