almost 2 years ago - AndrewT - Direct link
That's actually an error launching the game, nothing to do with the launcher as such.


In the game launcher please set Display mode to Borderless. THEN go here:
support.microsoft.com

Latest supported Visual C++ Redistributable downloads

This article lists the download links for the latest versions of Visual C++ Redistributable packages. support.microsoft.com And run the x86 and x64 installers there.

IF that doesn't help, Has the game ever run OK on this computer? Or never?

IF NEVER:
Install ALL these Microsoft modules:

Download Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update from Official Microsoft Download Center

www.microsoft.com www.microsoft.com

Download Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable Update 3 RC from Official Microsoft Download Center

www.microsoft.com www.microsoft.com

Download DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010) from Official Microsoft Download Center

www.microsoft.com www.microsoft.com (run dxsetup.exe after extracting this download to its own folder anywhere on your computer)

Add EU4.exe to the exceptions list of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.

Also if you have installed RivaTuner, RadeonPro, or a gaming VPN app called Evolve, or the MSI Gaming App, or Duet, disable it as it clashes with this game.


IF IT USED TO WORK:
Please do a full **clean** re-install:

- move any valued save games elsewhere
- "uninstall" in Steam-EU4
- manually delete both the Steam/SteamApps/common/EU4 AND Documents/Paradox Interactive/EU4 folders
- re-install game in Steam, run a Steam Verify when done.
- add EU4.exe to the exceptions list of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.
- start the game with no mods active and test

In particular make sure there are no files or folders left under either the Steam EU4 or Documents EU4 locations, before installing again.

Also if you have installed RivaTuner, RadeonPro, or a gaming VPN app called Evolve, or the MSI Gaming App, or Duet, disable it as it clashes with this game.


IF that doesn't help:
DXDIAG is a program you run from the Windows search box on the task bar. After running it will open a window and start collecting info with a progress bar in the lower-left corner. When it completes click the 'save all information' button and save it to a file then attach that file here.

Please attach here your Documents/Paradox Interactive/EU4/settings.txt and pdx_settings.txt .
From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/EU4/logs/ folder, attach here system.log , error.log .  
almost 2 years ago - AndrewT - Direct link
From that error log I guess you were using some mods? As otherwise the clean reinstall did not seem to be as clean as we'd like!

Please update the nVidia driver to April 2022 https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

If that doesn't help, run eu4.exe directly from file explorer. Is there any Windows error when it fails now?  
almost 2 years ago - AndrewT - Direct link
Ah, that is usually an antivirus app getting in the way. What antivirus app do you use? You need to make sure all these apps are in its exceptions lists:

eu4.exe and dowser.exe (in the Steam EU4 folder)
C:/users//AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2022.6/paradox launcher.exe
C:/users//AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/bootstrapper-v2.exe

IF that doesn't help, also set each of those .exe files (EXCEPT eu4.exe !) to run as the Windows Admin user.

Then the game should run from Steam/our launcher, and enable all the DLCs.  
over 1 year ago - AndrewT - Direct link
VIdrengr said: Just bought two additional DLCs, and maybe thats why I was forced to update the launcher?
Everyone gets new launcher versions when they are released (every 6-8 weeks usually) regardless of what game or DLCs they have.

When you say "this problem": you can run eu4.exe okay but the launcher cannot, and fails to start the game, is that your situation?  
over 1 year ago - AndrewT - Direct link
VIdrengr said: If I try to launch the game via eu4.exe, the opening screen of the game EUROPA UNIVERSALIS is showing for like a second and then shuts down back to desktop. No error messages. If I try to launch by Steam I get the same message that was shown earlier in this tread. It's basically the same issue here, the opening screen is showing for a second before it shuts down to desktop and the error message is showing
Then in fact your problem has nothing to do with the launcher at all. In the game launcher please set Display mode to Borderless. THEN go here:
support.microsoft.com

Latest supported Visual C++ Redistributable downloads

This article lists the download links for the latest versions of Visual C++ Redistributable packages. support.microsoft.com And run the x86 and x64 installers there.

IF that doesn't help, Has the game ever run OK on this computer? Or never?

IF NEVER:
Install ALL these Microsoft modules:

Download Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update from Official Microsoft Download Center

www.microsoft.com www.microsoft.com

Download Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable Update 3 RC from Official Microsoft Download Center

www.microsoft.com www.microsoft.com

Download DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010) from Official Microsoft Download Center

www.microsoft.com www.microsoft.com (run dxsetup.exe after extracting this download to its own folder anywhere on your computer)

Add EU4.exe to the exceptions list of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.

Also if you have installed RivaTuner, RadeonPro, or a gaming VPN app called Evolve, or the MSI Gaming App, or Duet, disable it as it clashes with this game.


IF IT USED TO WORK:
Please do a full **clean** re-install:

- move any valued save games elsewhere
- "uninstall" in Steam-EU4
- manually delete both the Steam/SteamApps/common/EU4 AND Documents/Paradox Interactive/EU4 folders
- re-install game in Steam, run a Steam Verify when done.
- add EU4.exe to the exceptions list of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.
- start the game with no mods active and test

In particular make sure there are no files or folders left under either the Steam EU4 or Documents EU4 locations, before installing again.

Also if you have installed RivaTuner, RadeonPro, or a gaming VPN app called Evolve, or the MSI Gaming App, or Duet, disable it as it clashes with this game.

IF that doesn't help:
DXDIAG is a program you run from the Windows search box on the task bar. After running it will open a window and start collecting info with a progress bar in the lower-left corner. When it completes click the 'save all information' button and save it to a file then attach that file here.

Please attach here your Documents/Paradox Interactive/EU4/settings.txt and pdx_settings.txt .
From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/EU4/logs/ folder, attach here system.log , error.log .  
about 1 year ago - AndrewT - Direct link
rumpunh said: none of this worked and i use steam but the eu4.exe does work but the steam thing does not but when i do the eu4.exe i cant use multiplayer
In future please start your own thread instead of re-opening someone else's, thanks.

Does your launcher start but cannot launch the game? Or it does not start?  
9 months ago - AndrewT - Direct link
Atahan009 said: Hi there can someone help me. None of my games of paradox is working. Eu4 and hoi4 got the same error same day. I literally did everything possible but no chance. Both of their exe doesnt work as well. Eu4.exe and hoi4.exe gives an error code from file explorer. (0xc000007b) error. Help
In future please start your own thread instead of re-opening someone else's, thanks.

That error is usually a missing or bad Microsoft module.


Install ALL these Microsoft modules:

Download Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update from Official Microsoft Download Center

www.microsoft.com www.microsoft.com And run the x86 and x64 installers there.

Download Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable Update 3 RC from Official Microsoft Download Center

www.microsoft.com www.microsoft.com And run the x86 and x64 installers there.

support.microsoft.com

Latest supported Visual C++ Redistributable downloads

This article lists the download links for the latest versions of Visual C++ Redistributable packages. support.microsoft.com And run the x86 and x64 installers there.


Download DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010) from Official Microsoft Download Center

www.microsoft.com www.microsoft.com (run dxsetup.exe after extracting this download to its own folder anywhere on your computer)

THEN this windows repair tool:

Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files - Microsoft Support

Describes how to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files in Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows Vista. support.microsoft.com support.microsoft.com