Connected to lauchpad, play doesn't start the game: black screen with the mouse cursor only.

[sargonnath]

<p>Hello,</p><p>I run EQ 2 on a Windows 7 (32) version.</p><p>Since the last update, I can't reach the character selection page.</p><p>I launch the game from the lauchpad, but I only see the mouse cursor arrow over a black screen.The Everquest splash screen doesn't even appear.</p><p>No trace of errors among logs, except in LaunchPad.log, this error:</p><p>**** Starting at Thu Apr 28 23:28:31 2011 with version 3.0.0.223  *****Error: WebApp: log( "Network Security Error: Error #2048 > LOAD_CHARACTERS" )</p><p>What shall I do?</p><p>Regards,</p><p>Sargonnath.</p>

[Pusska]

<p>Ok, I am having much the same problem. Logged off last night, unable to log in today. I start EQ2 as normal (using the launcher). The news/launch screen comes up no problem, I hit PLAY and then I just get a black screen.</p><p>Sometimes I get the start of the SOE logo appear (big white box), and then it goes black</p><p>I have left it on the black screen for some time in case it was taking awhile to load new stuff in the GU ... but nothing happens and the only way to get out of it is to close the window, or ctrl alt delete the program. Then I get a windows error that the program was not responding.</p><p>I am also using Windows 7 - perhaps a common issue?</p><p>Please help</p><p>I am fiddling all options that I can think of, I have totally disabled anti virus and firewall, updated my video drivers, I cant think what else to do <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Pusska]

<p>And I thought I might try launching from EverQuest2.exe instead of the launcher and I got the following error</p><p>Fatal Error</p><p>EverQuest II has detected an unrecoverable error and must shutdown.</p><p><verify> E:liveeq2frameworkrendersrcVeShader.cpp (9837):m_shaderParams.m_pPixelShader00963e76 0096cf0c</p>

[Pusska]

<p>Woot! I just tried for about the 10th time, got cranky with it and clicked the black screen lots which turned it grey :o I let it sit open for a bit ... then windows popped up with a message about it not responding and I was JUST about to close it when suddenly the Everquest music began to play ... so I waited another 15 seconds and the game began to load! Or rather, download. It is on the caching appearances screen and tells me it needs to download 70 odd meg.</p><p>I will report back if it continues to work ... or not. No idea what I did that finally got it going sorry (sigh)</p>

[Zarkan]

<p>Same problem here, black screen and if you click on it, windows says, it's not responding...</p>

[TSR-JoshuaM]

<p>Its been a while since the last post was made here, are these particular issues persisting?</p>

[Khonji]

<p>Since the update on the 28th, I'm having the same problem. Hit the "play" button on the launch pad and then I get a black screen and the EQ2 mouse pointer - but then nothing -- it'll just freeze there and I have to ctrl /alt /del to close it. Ugh.</p>

[Pusska]

<p>Still persisting, since the update yes. I only returned to the game a few weeks ago, which is why I decided to go with the fresh install ... and so far I am not impressed!</p><p>I can't log in again today, not sure if is because of the new download last night, or the same problem from the original GU.</p><p>Launcher runs fine, play button comes up, hit play and I get black screen ...</p>

[Pusska]

<p>After a REALLY long time of looking at a black screen, which turns to grey if I click on it I am finally getting into the game. Not sure if it is just waiting for ages, or all the random clicking which makes it work.</p><p>And then it begins to download, it is downloading around 70 meg now. So for some reason is the launcher not scanning correctly? And because the download is not complete it is not letting us into the game? No idea, but I would really like ideas on a fix. While the problem doesnt seem common, there are obviously some others with the same or similar issue.</p>

[sargonnath]

<p>I succeeed by cleaning all my cache and by reloading the whole 19 (?) GB of the game.</p><p>The assets were corrupted I think.</p><p>But there is no kind of checksum to detect this (lazy work), and the launcher has no way to correct faults in these parts by replacing the damaged part in these big files.You can only remove them all and forces the launcher reload them.</p><p>Regards,</p><p>Sargonnath.</p>

[connivingsumo]

<p>I'm having the same issue.  Hit the EQ2 button, screen comes up, black, with SOE in the middle... then it just sits there.  No amount of "clicking" makes the music start or the screen to go grey, etc.  It just sits there... 5 minutes, an hour, etc.</p>

[TSR-JoshuaM]

<p>Could you post your DXDIAG information?  I only need the top 3 sections, system/display/sound devices.  </p><p>Also to be thorough, I did include a DX9 update below that I would like you to run even if you believe you might already have it.  Once downloaded and executed, it will ask you which folder to extract to.  Select any folder you know how to find then open that folder and run the DXSETUP file to start the actual installation.</p><p><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=3b170b25-abab-4bc3-ae91-50ceb6d8fa8d" target="_blank">[DX9] June 2010</a></p><p><p><a href="https://help.station.sony.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12321" target="_blank">[EQII] Basic Troubleshooting: Creating dxdiag and updating drivers</a></p></p>

[krizani]

<p>I'm on Vista 64 bit (don't know if that makes a difference or not) and I'm having the exact same problem: I hit play, the in-game cursor appears, fades out and all is black. I've not clicked all over, but I may try that.</p><p>Which cache did you clear? I'd like to try that too.</p><p>I'll check out the DX9 suggestion as well.</p><p>Edit: well, the DX9 link given is for 32 bit, so no go there. However, I left click a bunch as it is going through all the splash screens and voila, I'm in.</p><p>TIA!</p>