"pa.exe is not responding" black screen launch error

Discussion in 'Support!' started by deathnote718, October 10, 2013.

  1. deathnote718

    deathnote718 New Member

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    I bought Planetary Annihilation a few days ago on steam, and I have been unable to play the game since.
    Originally I was unable to do anything, all that would happen after launching the game is a box containing the message "pa.exe has stopped working". This problem went was resolved after I upgraded my system from Windows Vista to Windows 7; however instead of an immediate crash on launch, now I get about a black screen that appears, pa.exe runs in my taskbar, but soon displays the error message "pa.exe is not responding" before closing.
    I have tried updating my graphics drivers, which came to no conclusion.
    I have tried re-installing DirectX completely, which also made no change.

    I would love for this problem to be resolved as quickly as possible as I would like to get on with playing the game.
    Thanks :)

    P.S I have also included my DirectX Diagnostic data as I have noticed in other threads that it is usually required.

    Attached Files:

  2. SXX

    SXX Post Master General

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    Few things:
    • What path to game currently, it's not contain some non-English characters?
    • Can you try to open directory where game installed, then try to run PA.exe directly (not though Steam)?
    • Can you try to open "bin_x86" directory and run game from here?
    Also please do that:
    1. Open directory where game installed
    2. Go into "media" directory
    3. Create "user" sub-directory here and open it.
    4. Now create "log" subdirectory and open it.
    5. In result you should have this file structure:
      /media/user/log
    6. Now run game normally and check "log" directory, there should appear file named like "PA-22-28-44.000.txt"
    If file appear upload it on forum.
  3. deathnote718

    deathnote718 New Member

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    I have tried these and nothing changed.

    I looked in here, and I have two files, one called "PA-19-32-33.000" and one named "PA-19-32-33.16"

    I'll upload them both to this reply.

    Thanks for replying so quickly ^^

    Attached Files:

  4. deathnote718

    deathnote718 New Member

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    Are there any fixes for this problem yet, as nothing I have tried and nothing that has been suggested has affected anything.
  5. SXX

    SXX Post Master General

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    Really don't sure if there might be some fix for that. Actually there is two persons who have same weird crash on GTX 460 (FS#2432).

    I have one suggestion which I'm never recommend, but it's only idea I have. Try to download and install older version of Nvidia drivers and try to run game with them:
    http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/63458/en-us
    http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/62791/en-us
    http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/59641/en-us
    http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/57096/en-us
    http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/55121/en-us
    Try to start from first link and then try older and older version, might be one of them will work.

    Please post here about any results.
    Last edited: October 11, 2013
  6. deathnote718

    deathnote718 New Member

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    Just checking, are there any updates on this problem yet?
  7. SXX

    SXX Post Master General

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    Is new versions affected too? Have you tried older drivers I linked?
  8. deathnote718

    deathnote718 New Member

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    I've tried the first couple, which didn't change anything.
  9. SXX

    SXX Post Master General

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    So current version of game still crash for you?
  10. deathnote718

    deathnote718 New Member

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    Yes.
  11. SXX

    SXX Post Master General

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    Okay then let's make proper bugreport.
    Run game and then (like you did already once, but directory changed) get log file here:
    C:\Users\ YOUR_WINDOWS_USERNAME \AppData\Local\Uber Entertainment\Planetary Annihilation\log\
    Then open this log (you can edit it using Notepad++) and find there string which looks like that (it's from your old log):
    Code:
    [19:32:35.186]INFO Dump written to C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Local\Temp\c3311be6-3c7d-4f43-87a9-3180e6435a02.dmp
    Find this .dmp file.

    Then go to bugtracker and create new task, attach your log file and *.dmp:
    http://pa.lennardf1989.com/Tracker/index.php?do=newtask&project=1

    PS: You can check this report as example FS#2432
    But I still think you need create own one because this might be different problems.
  12. SXX

    SXX Post Master General

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    First want say thanks for reporting properly. (FS#2533)

    Also I'm find new workaround you can try, probably it's might fix your crash too. Go here:
    C:\Users\ YOUR_WINDOWS_USERNAME \AppData\Local\
    And rename "Uber Entertainment"directory (one which contain "Planetary Annihilation" sub directory) to something like "Uber Entertainment-RENAMED".
    Then try to run PA again.
  13. deathnote718

    deathnote718 New Member

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    Tried this workaround, still no change in the problem.
  14. SXX

    SXX Post Master General

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    Thanks for testing though. :(

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