HELP - WIA and AACW won't start!

[GustFire]

I need help, my BoA2: WiA won't start up.
And now my Ageod American Civil War won't start up either.

The best I get is the green bar at the bottom, moving only part of the way across, showing that the game is trying to load up, but it just stays there, and never loads up.

What's going on, why can't I get these programs to start up?

[GustFire]

Sorry, forgot to mention:

WiA 1.01f and AACW 1.11a

thanks in advance for any help......

[arsan]

Hi!

Not sure if it will help, but you you could try using the most recent patches for both games and check if it solves the problems
WIA: 1.02b
http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?t=10956
AACW: 1.11d
http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?t=10892

Before patching uninstall the games, delete manually all the game folders that will remain on the hard disk and do a reinstall and patch directly with those two new patches.

Hope it works!

[Rafiki]

I've found on my own computer that background programs have been intereferring with AACW (same will probably go for WIA, being the same engine and all); my advice is to make sure that no unnecessary programs are running in the background.

[Primasprit]

I need help, my BoA2: WiA won't start up.
And now my Ageod American Civil War won't start up either.

The best I get is the green bar at the bottom, moving only part of the way across, showing that the game is trying to load up, but it just stays there, and never loads up.

What's going on, why can't I get these programs to start up?

But you have been able to run the games before?

[GustFire]

Thanks to Primasprit, Rafiki and Arsan for the responses.
Will give the suggestions a try, hope it works.
Prima - yes, I have been running both programs, played any number of games, without any problems until now.

[GustFire]

Okay, I uninstalled both programs, however....

When I used the AACW disk to reinstall the program, I got a technical glitch.

It goes thru the install process, and gets to the very end, but then STOPS.
It's seems to be almost ready to bring up the window that asks for the Activation Code, but that window never comes up.
The install process just comes to a halt, so I can't use the program.

Any suggestions about would I should do next?
I've tried uninstalling the program, then rebooting the computer, and starting the process all over again, but I get the same result.

[Gray_Lensman]

deleted

[Primasprit]

Okay, I uninstalled both programs, however....

When I used the AACW disk to reinstall the program, I got a technical glitch.

It goes thru the install process, and gets to the very end, but then STOPS.
It's seems to be almost ready to bring up the window that asks for the Activation Code, but that window never comes up.
The install process just comes to a halt, so I can't use the program.

Any suggestions about would I should do next?
I've tried uninstalling the program, then rebooting the computer, and starting the process all over again, but I get the same result.

Hi!

The installer finished it's work and launched the registration utility, but for some reason it does not appear on the screen.

Please check first that the installer window don't mask the utility. Try to reduce the installer window, or do Alt-Tab to check if a program named 'AGESettings' is waiting in memory. It can also happen that Vista does not allow the AGESettings program to start but ask you for the permission. Sometimes the window asking for this permission is hidden in the background. Please check the task bar if you can find it.

If this does not work, please terminate the installer by clicking on the close button. Important: Do not hit the setup CANCEL button. Doing so will result in an incomplete installation. Alternatively you can close it by going to the task manager to terminate it. (Launch the Windows Task Manager by hitting CTRL-ALT-DEL and clicking on task manager. Then, go to the applications tab and terminate the installer (setup program). The name of the installer should be Setup_AACW.exe or something close. Right click on it and terminate it.)

At this point, you will need to launch the AGESettings application manually.You should have a program group created (in the Start Menu) with the game registered. There is a link to the AGESettings utility (If you don't find it: The utility is installed in the game directory. The name is "AGESettings.exe"). Please start it and enter your serial.
It it doesn't work make sure you run the game with administrator rights. (Under Vista: Right-click --> Run as administrator.)

If this still doesn't work:
For a reason unknown the utility to register your key is not allowed by Windows to run. Sometime it is because of a protection program like a firewall, antivirus and such.
Know though that the utility don't access internet and don't perform any special operation on your computer. It is a plain and simple Windows utility to write your key in a text file and that's all!

What can be done is that you write the key yourself. Please open the file <game path>\AACW\Settings\general.opt (this is a text file, open it with notepad for example). At the end, you should see something like

serial =

Enter your serial after equals sign, save and exit. Now launch the game.

Cheers
Norbert

[Carnium]

If you are on XP I suggest you check your computer for spyware with Spybot - Search & Destroy (free program)
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html

Also please check your your DirectX settings :
start -- run -- type dxdiag - check if there are any errors reported

If everything is ok then I suggest you re-check your graphic drivers and hard drive.
Do other games work for you ?

[GustFire]

Gray, Prima and Carnium, thanks for the responses.

I'm running XP, I use both SpyBot and SuperAnti-Spyware, just did another a new check with both, HD clean as a whistle.
Other games I have on the HD are working fine, no problems.

I'm working on the other suggestions, and will get back to you ASAP.
Thanks again......

[GustFire]

Okay, still working on some of the suggestions, but I have an update on Prima's.....

1. Try to reduce the installer window. NO RESPONSE
2. do Alt-Tab to check if 'AGESettings' is in memory. NO RESPONSE

3. Launch the Windows Task Manager by hitting CTRL-ALT-DEL and clicking on task manager. Then, go to the applications tab and terminate the installer [setup program]. SUCCESSFUL


4. At this point, you will need to launch the AGESettings application manually.
File found, but repeated launch attempts unsuccessful.


5. What can be done is that you write the key yourself. Please open the file <game path>\AACW\Settings\general.opt (this is a text file, open it with notepad for example). At the end, you should see something like
serial =
Enter your serial after equals sign, save and exit. Now launch the game.

File found, serial number inputted successfully.
However, error message says serial number not inputted correctly.
Rechecked, and reconfirmed number inputted correctly.
Error message still says it is incorrect.
Nope, checked and rechecked, it is correct.
Impasse.

[GustFire]

Just reinstalled WiA, utility window for the Serial Number came up fine, no problems, reinstall successful, WiA now back up and running.

Still having problems with AACW......

[GustFire]

forgot to mention......

I've installed the latest patches for both WiA and AACW.....

[Hok]

Hello Gustfire,

I'm happy if WiA works now ... we still searching why AACW don't work !

[GustFire]

Thanks Hok....... you'd think with WiA working, AACW should work too.
Actually, both programs DID work in the beginning with no problems.
One day they were working, the next day suddenly they weren't.
I have no explanation as to why.

I"m still working on some of the other suggestions.
Now AACW doesn't even give me any error messages anymore.
It just never loads up. Running out of ideas.

[Pocus]

if you fill general.opt with your key, there is no reason it should not work for AACW. I can do that for you if you are unsure, just send your key to pmalacher@age-studio.com

[GustFire]

Okay, guess I'll try that Pocus, thanks.
I am sure it was the correct Serial Number.

I also checked the DirectX settings, no problems found there either.

[Pocus]

I copy pasted the key into this utility (put it in the same directory as AACW.exe) and it worked like a charm!

[GustFire]

Thanks for your help, Pocus.
I put that file in the same directory as AACW.exe, and fired up AACW again.
But no luck, it still doesn't start.

Something else must be going on here, I just don't know what.
I am open to add'l suggestions.

I should mention that the rar file was NOT in the directory to begin with.
When I copied it to the same directory as AACW.exe, I expected to get a utility window asking if I wanted to overwrite the file, but I didn't.
Don't know if that is important.

[GustFire]

Well, okay.......

nothing else to do but return it for a refund, don't know what else to do.....

leure:

[lodilefty]

Thanks for your help, Pocus.
I put that file in the same directory as AACW.exe, and fired up AACW again.
But no luck, it still doesn't start.

Something else must be going on here, I just don't know what.
I am open to add'l suggestions.

I should mention that the rar file was NOT in the directory to begin with.
When I copied it to the same directory as AACW.exe, I expected to get a utility window asking if I wanted to overwrite the file, but I didn't.
Don't know if that is important.

This may sound dumb on my part: did you extract the file from the .rar archive?

[dooya]

Thanks for your help, Pocus.
I put that file in the same directory as AACW.exe, and fired up AACW again.
But no luck, it still doesn't start.

Something else must be going on here, I just don't know what.
I am open to add'l suggestions.

I should mention that the rar file was NOT in the directory to begin with.
When I copied it to the same directory as AACW.exe, I expected to get a utility window asking if I wanted to overwrite the file, but I didn't.
Don't know if that is important.

Yes that is important. The rar-file is an zipped archive and needs to be unpacked. Tool to do so is winrar (http://www.rarlab.com/). Inside the archive is a file called settings.exe and when you copy this file in the same directory as AACW.exe you will get the utility window asking if you want to overwrite.

[Pocus]

Thanks for your help, Pocus.
I put that file in the same directory as AACW.exe, and fired up AACW again.
But no luck, it still doesn't start.

Something else must be going on here, I just don't know what.
I am open to add'l suggestions.

I should mention that the rar file was NOT in the directory to begin with.
When I copied it to the same directory as AACW.exe, I expected to get a utility window asking if I wanted to overwrite the file, but I didn't.
Don't know if that is important.

Sorry I missed your post. You did not the right file manipulation here. You have to extract what is in the RAR archive and put it in the same directory as AACW.EXE. The file created will be called AACW_AGESETTINGS and will indeed exists at the same time as the regular AGESETTINGS.

And then, you launch AACW_AGESETTINGS to enter your serial key, and not directly AACW.EXE

This is what I did, the key was accepted and then I could play the game.

[GustFire]

Nope, not dumb, lodilefty, I didn't do that.

I'll give it another try, and let you all know what happened.
Thanks again.

[GustFire]

Okay, I did all that, but AACW still won't load up.
I was able to enter my serial key [I got that far at least], and it was accepted and saved, but the game still won't launch.
Something is blocking the game from loading up, but I just don't know what it is.
From what you tell me, the game should load, but it isn't.
I'm really stumped.


"Sorry I missed your post. You did not the right file manipulation here. You have to extract what is in the RAR archive and put it in the same directory as AACW.EXE. The file created will be called AACW_AGESETTINGS and will indeed exists at the same time as the regular AGESETTINGS.
And then, you launch AACW_AGESETTINGS to enter your serial key, and not directly AACW.EXE"

"This is what I did, the key was accepted and then I could play the game.
Yes that is important. The rar-file is an zipped archive and needs to be unpacked. Tool to do so is winrar (http://www.rarlab.com/). Inside the archive is a file called settings.exe and when you copy this file in the same directory as AACW.exe you will get the utility window asking if you want to overwrite."

[Pocus]

where is the game blocked? You see a progress bar halted at one third?

[GustFire]

Yes, Pocus, that's exactly right.
The progress bar is halted at about one third.

Okay, I assume you asked the question for a reason.
Do you have any follow up response for me?

[GustFire]

<throwing in the towel>

[arsan]

Hi GustFire

Have you checked this thread
http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?t=10643
check from post 13 and up. T
hey guy there (ctd) reported a similar problem than yours and just yesterday reported that he solved the problem by stoping an antispyware program (Spybot Search&Destroy) than was interfering wth AACW (god knows why :confused

Could this maybe be your problem??
Hope it helps!