PQ2 not launching? Try this!

[mayo]

Hello,

We've had a few support queries from players having trouble when trying to launch the game. Here are some solutions that we've found so far, if any of these help you out let us know!


Does your PC meet the minimum required specs?
People often make the mistake of buying a PC game before checking the minimum specs. Puzzle Quest 2's requirements are clearly listed on the game storepage (http://store.steampowered.com/app/47540). A common excuse for ignoring the requirements is "well x game works, why doesn't this?". Sorry, if your CPU is 10 years old it's probably a good idea to upgrade anyway. Puzzle Quest 2 requires your CPU be capable of SSE2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSE2), and a graphics card with Shader Model 2 support (amongst other things).


Do you have your graphics card's latest drivers?
It's usually a good idea to keep your graphics card drivers up to date. Visit your card manufacturer's website to download the latest drivers. Examples: NVIDIA drivers (http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us), ATI drivers (http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx).


Has the directx web setup correctly updated your directx?
On rare occasions during installation, dxwebsetup won't run correctly. Try downloading and running the latest dxwebsetup from Microsoft (June 2010 version here (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=2da43d38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3&displaylang=en)), or the latest direct x redistributable (June 2010 version here (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=3B170B25-ABAB-4BC3-AE91-50CEB6D8FA8D&displayLang=en)).


Did Steam correctly download all of the game files?
A quick way to check this is by using Steam's game cache integrity verification. Running this will automatically download any missing files. Instructions:
1. In Steam, navigate to your Library - Games list
2. Right click on Puzzle Quest 2, select properties
3. Click the LOCAL FILES tab, then click VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME CACHE
Steam will then take around 30 seconds to check your files. If everything is fine you'll get an "All files successfully validated." message. If Steam detects a problem with any of the files, it'll try to redownload and fix it for you.


Are you using a USB headset?
Unplug it and try launching the game again. We're not sure why yet, but certain headsets don't seem to like our game.


Are you using a 7.1 or 5/5.1 speaker setup?
Try lowering the number of channels used. Setting it to two (stereo) might help.


Have you recently updated your sound drivers?
Try reverting back to your previous sound drivers. This has fixed the problem for at least one person!


Have you tried running the special release build?
Instructions for this are here (http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1411545). The build available through this link is a special release build that seems to work for some users.


Are you running Anti-Spyware software?
Some anti-spyware software can block the very first launch of Puzzle Quest 2 (eg. Spybot Search & Destroy interrupts the registry key changes). Please disable your anti-spyware software before you launch Puzzle Quest 2 for the first time.


Do you own a legitimate copy purchased through Steam?
If you've pirated the game, we can't help you. Don't be stupid :p


If none of these solutions work for you...
Please get in contact with us. Use the support email guide (http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1403816), which will show you what we'll need.


If you've found solutions not mentioned in this thread...
Please let me know and I'll add it.

[Chris2746]

The primary issue appears to deal with the sound card. I was having issues getting puzzlequest to start up on my win7 64 bit system, even though there were no headphones attached. I tried setting the number of speakers that the system has down from 7.1 to plain stereo in the control panel and the game came right up. I think it has to do with surround sound on 64 bit systems

[SwobuzZ]

The primary issue appears to deal with the sound card. I was having issues getting puzzlequest to start up on my win7 64 bit system, even though there were no headphones attached. I tried setting the number of speakers that the system has down from 7.1 to plain stereo in the control panel and the game came right up. I think it has to do with surround sound on 64 bit systems

Agreed.

[lordstalker]

I agree with the 7.1 speaker setup. Changed it to 5.1 and the game boots up like normal. Odd the the game doesn't like 7.1

[mayo]

Updated, thanks!

[SabX]

When i first started to play pq2, i was using my g35 headset. Was working fine. Then i used my 5.1 system to see difference. Pq2 will not launch anymore using the g35, i need to set the default playback device to my sound card to get it to launch again.

Cheers!

X

[morphium]

I can confirm that the game doesn't launch if audio channels are set to 7.1. Changing to 5.1 "fixes" the problem.

Win7 x64, Xonar D2X

[mayo]

I can confirm that the game doesn't launch if audio channels are set to 7.1. Changing to 5.1 "fixes" the problem.

Win7 x64, Xonar D2X

We hope to have this issue fixed soon. If anyone would like to volunteer to test our fixes, feel free to get in contact with me :)

[greatpenguin1]

Hello,

Has the directx web setup correctly updated your directx?
On rare occasions during installation, dxwebsetup won't run correctly. Try downloading and running the latest dxwebsetup from Microsoft (June 2010 version here (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=2da43d38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3&displaylang=en)), or the latest direct x redistributable (June 2010 version here (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=3B170B25-ABAB-4BC3-AE91-50CEB6D8FA8D&displayLang=en)).



This was my issue. When trying to install via the web install link it still threw an error. After installing via the Redist pack it worked successfully.

[Arionyx]

Not to sure about the sound issues, as mine was directx related. For some reason dxwebsetup wouldn't run, even after trying the latest versions. Luckily I found a workaround, download d3dx9_42.dll (http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?d3dx9_42) and place it in your Puzzle Quest 2 folder. Steam will still try to run dxwebsetup, but once the installer fails Steam realizes nothing is really wrong and continues anyway.

[mayo]

Not to sure about the sound issues, as mine was directx related. For some reason dxwebsetup wouldn't run, even after trying the latest versions. Luckily I found a workaround, download d3dx9_42.dll (http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?d3dx9_42) and place it in your Puzzle Quest 2 folder. Steam will still try to run dxwebsetup, but once the installer fails Steam realizes nothing is really wrong and continues anyway.

I'm glad this worked for you, but I normally wouldn't recommend anyone download and install individual dll files from the internet. It can be a very bad idea...

[bwh]

I have encountered a "This game is currently unavailable, please try again at another time" error and after a few minutes found the reason. Somehow the game setting in Steam was "do not update" and once I changed it back to "update automatically", the game downloaded and applied a small patch, after which I could play.

[mayo]

I have encountered a "This game is currently unavailable, please try again at another time" error and after a few minutes found the reason. Somehow the game setting in Steam was "do not update" and once I changed it back to "update automatically", the game downloaded and applied a small patch, after which I could play.

Thanks for the information. Normally the game should be set to auto-update for most people, if anyone else has this problem please let us know.

The "This game is currently unavailable, please try again at another time" error can also occur during Steam downtime, which unfortunately we have no control over.

[Adez]

Puzzle Quest 2 currently will not launch for me. I've tried everything suggested in this thread, and then some. When I hit the Play button, Steam will display a new window saying "Preparing to Launch Puzzle Quest 2." After that, my profile picture on the bottom right of my main Steam window will go green, as if I were in game, and displays that I am in Puzzle Quest 2. After a moment, that goes back to "Online." The game never actually launches, even if Steam thinks it does.

The game did work initially and for a long time. The only change to my system was that I had installed Avast anti-virus. I don't know if that is what did it, but I have since removed it and the game still doesn't work. I'm not sure what steps to take now, but I've done everything that I can think of.

Windows Professional N 64-bit
AMD Phenom 9950 Quad-Core 2.60ghz
NVIDIA Gforce GTX 460SE
6.0 Gigs of DDR3

All drivers, the game and DirectX have been updated.

[michael2666]

Puzzle Quest 2 currently will not launch for me. I've tried everything suggested in this thread, and then some. When I hit the Play button, Steam will display a new window saying "Preparing to Launch Puzzle Quest 2." After that, my profile picture on the bottom right of my main Steam window will go green, as if I were in game, and displays that I am in Puzzle Quest 2. After a moment, that goes back to "Online." The game never actually launches, even if Steam thinks it does.

The game did work initially and for a long time. The only change to my system was that I had installed Avast anti-virus. I don't know if that is what did it, but I have since removed it and the game still doesn't work. I'm not sure what steps to take now, but I've done everything that I can think of.

Windows Professional N 64-bit
AMD Phenom 9950 Quad-Core 2.60ghz
NVIDIA Gforce GTX 460SE
6.0 Gigs of DDR3

All drivers, the game and DirectX have been updated.

Me as well, I usually get this kinda luck..

I've got an AMD Phenom II x4 3.20ghz