DoW2: Retribution crashes at start-up (always)

[Limoret]

Hello,

I've bought the game on Friday and installed it via Steam. However, it doesn't seem to work...
It crashes every time I start it. I've already sent an automated crash report.

I've tried:
1) Reinstalling the game
2) Changing Steam language to English
3) Verifying game local files.

Below are my dxdiag and warnings files. Did anyone have this problem before?

warnings.txt
DxDiag.txt
Thanks in advance!

[Pulse.r]

There is a problem with your operating system - I would suggest doing a system repair, system restore, and/or check windows update for any outstanding updates. Also are you running any anti-virus software?

[Limoret]

Thanks for your reply... I haven't had any problems with other games or programs on this laptop until DoW2: Retribution. It's a company laptop anyway, so I have limited administrator rights on it anyway (it's part of a domain). Where should I start looking?

I don't have any system restore points set, windows updates are downloaded automatically.

I have McAfee running, but it didn't cause me trouble with any programs so far.

Thanks!

[Pulse.r]

Try disabling McAfee temporarily while launching the game - also a hijack this log might help shed some light on this as well (see http://forums.relicnews.com/showthre...-YOU-WANT-HELP for how to make one)

[Limoret]

This is my HijackThis log. I'm not sure if I can disable McAfee.

hijackthis.log

Thanks for your help!

[Pulse.r]

Do you have the following file:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\dawn of war ii - retribution\content.cat ? If you right-click and click properties, is the size 5.72kb? You can also try deleting it, and then verifying your game cache.

Are you running Steam through any sort of 'compatibility mode'? Make sure you are not (right-click your Steam shortcut, click properties, click compatibility, make sure nothing is checked) You can also try running Steam as an administrator (if possible) and see if that makes any difference.

[Limoret]

I've tried the suggestions, but it didn't work. After further testing I've realised that the issue is related to "My Documents" folder.

Since it's a company laptop, "My Documents" is located on a network drive, when I'm connected to the company network and in "H:\Personal" when I'm offline. I cannot change the location of "My Documents" folder.

I've managed to start the game today while connected to company network. However, the issue is that Steam is blocked and remains in offline mode, so multiplayer gaming is not available for me.

There is some progress at least

So my question is: can I somehow force the game to look for "My Documents" in "H:\Personal" instead of a network location? During the installation an empty folder was created "My Documents\My Games\Dawn of War II - Retribution", so it found the correct path...

I've noticed that in DoW2 installation directory the subfolder for saved games is located in folders copying the location of "My Documents" on a network drive.

So what can be done to fix that? How can I force the game look in a different directory?

Thanks for you help!

[Pulse.r]

I don't think there is an easy fix for this :/ There is a bug in this game with re-mapped My Documents directories, like you mentioned. I did some Googling around and it might be possible to 'wrap' an application so when it asks for the my documents directory, it looks in a particular place. But so far I haven't found something that can do that - sandboxie might, but a quick check of the help settings doesn't seem like it supports it by default (you might have to make some custom rules) Otherwise, I don't think we're planning to make any fixes like this to Retribution, so an external solution is the only possibility.

[Limoret]

Heh, the game actually works now. After starting it once with the server with "My Documents" available it is launching ok for some reason. However, I haven't found any saved games on the local drive.

Thanks for all your help

[Pulse.r]

Save games are stored in the Steam/userdata directory (not within My Documents), which is synced with the Steam Cloud if you have that enabled.