Unable to start game, no error message

[Trident_UK]

As title really, was getting error messages when trying to install .net framework, then updated registry entry to turn assembly binding logging on (that was error originally), it threw a couple more errors, I tried manually installing .net 3.5 (having run a .net install cleanup tool first) and now I get no error message at all. (it runs through first time install stuff seemingly ok, then nothing happens)

my hardware:
AMD 5000+, 3 gig RAM, Asus GTX275 (most recent drivers installed)
windows XP
tried posting in current known issues thread but didnt get a reply.
Hope you can help :)

[ColdEquation]

If you ran a .NET cleaner, you may have to reinstall .NET 1.1 as well, found here. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=262D25E3-F589-4842-8157-034D1E7CF3A3&displaylang=en)

It's always good to validate a troublesome Steam game, which can be done quickly for Sol Survivor with this link. (steam://validate/45000)

Are the installers running every time? If so, they might be silently failing. You could try manually running the game exe in the Steam folder (with Steam open), and it might give you a better error. The installers themselves are in the game's Redistributablea folder, if you want to run them directly. They would be more likely to show the error they are hitting that way.

[Trident_UK]

Got it working, thanks for the clues on where to look :)
For the benefit of future people with the same problem here's what I ended up having to do:
Cold equation was right about the .net installer silently failing, at first I thought it was because of previous versions but the .net cleaner ruled that out, I ended up having to look through the microsoft error log for the reason (not from the .tmp files that it will tell you the error log contains but actually off the error log link in the original messagebox).
In my case (and apparantly this is quite common for anyone with windows XP SP3) windows already had windows interface component installed (file name is: wic_x86_enu.exe) in order to remove it and let the .net installer work you need to remove the following files from your windows.0 directory (that 0's important :P)
wmphoto.dll
windowscodecs.dll
windowscodecsExt.dll
photometadatahandler.dll

then startmenu > run > regsvr32 /u wmphoto.dll <--- this removes the dll from windows memory freeing up the way for your fresh install of the .net framework, I used a standalone install of .net version 4.
Once thats installed you will need to restart your computer otherwise the poor beast will get confused when sol surv tries to fiddle with .net on its first install.
Game now starts for me and Im off to play it rather than posting techincal manuals here :D