Spacechem won't launch

[floyd_99]

I've just received SpaceChem as part of the HIB (thanks!) and installed it in Steam.

When I click 'play' in Steam, I just get a 'Preparing to Launch Spacechem' window that never goes away. I checked the Task Manager and I don't see a Spacechem process started.

I'm running Win7 64-bit, Core 2 Duo 3ghz, ATI 6870 and 4gb RAM. Any ideas?

[Ladicuis]

You might want to try verifying the game cache files

right click on spacechem then click on:
> properties
> Local files
> Verify integrity of game cache...

sometimes that works

[Gastello]

Well, i do have nearly same problem.
After "Preparing to Launch" I do receive "SpaceChem has stopped working" window.
Description:
Stopped working

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: CLR20r3
Problem Signature 01: spacechem.exe
Problem Signature 02: 0.0.0.0
Problem Signature 03: 4e40c8e0
Problem Signature 04: SpaceChem
Problem Signature 05: 0.0.0.0
Problem Signature 06: 4e40c8e0
Problem Signature 07: 418
Problem Signature 08: 13
Problem Signature 09: Exception
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1049

[sharktamer]

I'm having the same issue.

[floyd_99]

Just tried that but no luck I'm afraid. Validated successfully.
You might want to try verifying the game cache files

right click on spacechem then click on:
> properties
> Local files
> Verify integrity of game cache...

sometimes that works

[DanielsonSVK]

I have similar problem. The game dropped somehow after about 2 hours of playing and since then i cannot launch the game. Verify integrity of game cache also don't work.

/EDIT: Ah, the game finally works, but it took bout 3-4 mins of freeze till it started, after then there were no more freezes... and damn, this game is simply awesome!

[ultEmate]

I had the same issue. Don't know why, but downloading steam client installer and running repair option has fixed this problem for me.

[Zulu Smasher]

What the hell...? i tried it for 5 minutes last night and it worked fine, now it wont launch.

[Nimbulan]

I keep having a problem where I'll play it just fine for a while then come back later and it will instantly crash every time I try to launch it. The game just refuses to work until I restart Steam. I've never experienced this with any other game before, any ideas?

[farcry15]

i had this problem. fixed it by going into the games folder in steamapps\common and deleting 92800_install.vdf
it seems there is something wrong with steams installation script.

[floyd_99]

Confirmed fix. I have no clue how you figured that out, but it works :)
i had this problem. fixed it by going into the games folder in steamapps\common and deleting 92800_install.vdf
it seems there is something wrong with steams installation script.

[spazbomb]

Unfortunately that didn't work for me, neither did the fixes in the other threads involving editing the config file. My spacechem just pops up a white window that eventually gives a "not responding" error, using the config file fix I get a black screen before I get the white screen. No sounds at all. Very strange.(W7x64, Core2duo, Nvidia GT 335m)

[madmax0341]

I'm having the same immediate crash. None of the fixes have worked. Running it on Win7x64, i7 quad-core, Geforce GTX 580 (3gig version).

[slatez]

Same here, just got the game and it doesn't open (instant crash). Deleting the installation script did nothing. It could be trying to install .net framework libraries perhaps? Although trying to open the dotNetFx35setup fails, or extracting the exe and running setup leads to further problems.

Win7 x64
core2duo
nvidia 250gts

[Nimbulan]

I think deleting the installation script is a fix for Steam hanging with the "launching game" window open, not for the instant crashes. For that problem, the only thing that has worked for me is restarting Steam, but the problem just comes back later.

[kanthall]

I think deleting the installation script is a fix for Steam hanging with the "launching game" window open, not for the instant crashes. For that problem, the only thing that has worked for me is restarting Steam, but the problem just comes back later.

Exactly. I have the same issue even if I had reinstaled OS :(

[CascadeFury]

It could be trying to install .net framework libraries perhaps? Although trying to open the dotNetFx35setup fails

Check if .Net feature is enabled:
- 'Start->Control Panel->Programs and Features'
- Left sidebar: 'Turn Windows features on or off'
- Wait for the dialog to populate
- Search for 'Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.1' (or similar, I'm not sure about that one.\).
- Ensure the checkbox is on. (The two sub-items are irrelevant)

If that doesn't work ask zachtronics for help (and keep us posted).

GL

[Zeuserich]

Tried deleting files, tried changing settings - nothing helps. Very disappointed, since this issue has been present since the very beginning.

[udderjuice]

Is Steam ever going to address this? It seems like their problem. I have the white screen when I lunch the game. Have tried everything. Zach has even tried to help me. Can't get the game to run.

[waigamer]

I also cant get it launch on my pc.
Here's the crash report.

EventType : clr20r3 P1 : spacechem.exe P2 : 0.0.0.0 P3 : 4e40c8e0
P4 : system.configuration P5 : 2.0.0.0 P6 : 4889de74 P7 : 277
P8 : 14 P9 : exception

[spazbomb]

This is the only game to ever beat me, was never able to fix the white screen issue on my M11x without making it worse. Spacechem does work fine on my backup PC though which is running on an old 3D card that is half functioning due to it catching fire, outdated drivers, outdated everything, no extensive .NET install, but plays fine.

[Leark]

I also cant get it launch on my pc.
Here's the crash report.

EventType : clr20r3 P1 : spacechem.exe P2 : 0.0.0.0 P3 : 4e40c8e0
P4 : system.configuration P5 : 2.0.0.0 P6 : 4889de74 P7 : 277
P8 : 14 P9 : exception
I had almost similar crash report and every time I tried to start game it would just say "not responding" (or similar as I have non-english Windows). I accidently found a way to fix it so here is what worked for me in case it helps others out there. For what it is worth I have Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

Short summary:
Game save files seemed to be corrupted(?) somehow and I fixed the issue by getting an older backup/restore point of the save folder.

Background:
Space Chem crashed and froze my windows totally, had to reset it in order to get back. After this the game didn't work. I tried all these instructions here and even downloaded game again. Nothing helped. I actually downloaded non-Steam version of the game since I have access to it because I bought the game from humble bundle but it didn't work either. Exactly the same results. BUT non-steam version did work if I ran it as an admin. The reason probably being that it recreated new save/config files in a different place. After this I started looking what is wrong in save files and found a feature in Windows I didn't knew existed.

The fix (for my case anyway):
EDIT: Changed save file folder to "C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Zachtronics Industries\SpaceChem" in my instructions (was missing \SpaceChem originally) to avoid inconveniences for those who own other games from Zachtronics and follow next steps to the letter...

Save files are located at "C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Zachtronics Industries\SpaceChem" (if you happen to have Windows at C and your username is USERNAME). The folder AppData is hidden so you need to be able to see hidden folders in order to access it. You probably need admin rights too to do following, don't know/remember exactly.

PLEASE NOTE that following is at own risk and it will revert some files back to older version so it WILL LOSE progress in the game. I had to do one level again but this is no guarantee. Taking a backup copy of this folder now is probably a good idea. I sure did.

Again, sorry for inconveniences on some terms since I use non-English Windows and it's localized of course. I'm only guessing what some of the terms might be in english version.

You actually might want to close Steam before proceeding. I'm pretty sure I didn't do that myself but better safe than sorry. On (file) Explorer you locate this save/config folder, right click on "SpaceChem" and choose "properties". From there you take tab "earlier versions" and select one of them. Preferably the most recent(!). (If the date is weeks old, then you're getting back weeks worth of puzzles...) Select "Restore/Return" and then confirm it. After this the game worked like it should.

Like I said, I didn't know there is such a feature in Win7 and I'm pretty sure I never turned it on so I'm only guessing it is on by default. If you don't have earlier versions/restore points then you're out of luck what comes to this "fix".

Challenge:
I think players of Space Chem like challenges. :-) So if anyone with a bit more knowledge of how windows works would want to find a way that doesn't need to revert to a older version of a file that would be tons better than this solution.

Hope this helps someone!

[Cpl Hawkins]

i had this problem. fixed it by going into the games folder in steamapps\common and deleting 92800_install.vdf
it seems there is something wrong with steams installation script.


OMG Thank you so much! I installed this game a little awhile ago and everytime I go to start it up, it was doing the first-time set-up thing with dotnet and etc. every single time I would launch the game to play it, it do would this.

I had all the latest dotnet, VC redistribs, DX etc. from manually checking and installing that stuff if needed from the MS windows download site itself.

After cancelling out of it, the game works just fine but it would always do the first time start-up until I read your post and deleted this install vdf file.

Now, no more first time startup nonsense and it just loads straight to the title screen no prob whatsoever.

This nonsense was driving me crazy, as this is only second time I have ever had an issue in any games I have on my steam acct. (close to 100).

[Earththing]

I am having the white screen at launch problem and even after trying several things on this thread and my own troubleshooting it does not work. Did some one find a fix for this?

[rawfysh]

I had to install the Mono framework separately to get it to start up for the first time. I'm on OS X Lion.

http://www.spacechemthegame.com/mono
I actually downloaded mono from the mono-project site just to be safe (and to get the latest) and it works fine now.

Valve should definitely make a note of those very prominent. It was pretty frustrating to buy the game and not be able to play it.

[lordcabrito]

Im having the "Prograp stop work" problem. Some ide to fix it?? I Really want to play the game!!

[Earththing]

I am having the white screen at launch problem and even after trying several things on this thread and my own troubleshooting it does not work. Did some one find a fix for this?
Ah Fixed on my computer! I had to change the comparability settings on the SpaceChem.exe (running on Win7) to Disable the Visual, desktop composition, and high DPI.

Loved the game, so bought a copy for my son. Now it does not work on his computer and so far none of these seem to help. Gets past the intro and then nothing but some sounds. *SIGH* did anyone get this working first time? Any more ideas?

[pulse&sphere]

I have the same issue.

Spacechem is getting stuck on the "Preparing to launch Spacechem" window.

Tried all of the above solutions, but none of them worked.

Spacechem was working out just normal, until today...

[dustzone]

Here's another victim. Stuck on "Preparing to launch...".

removing file, checking cache, reinstalling... nothing helped so far.

Has ran perfectly untill today.


Edit: Restarting Steam in offline mode did help! I got the idea when I noticed the cloud-synching going very slow.

[General Tor]

Necro thread. I'm having the same problem. There is no install file to delete, repairing and verifying integrity did nothing.

EDIT: Fixed it. As previously mentioned, going to the WIndows functions and switching the NET folder changed it. Thanks much.