"GFWL failed to initialize" - what worked for me

disfeld · 08-18-2011, 06:12 AM

Some background
Bought the game, launched it, and got the initialize error right away. Tried the GFWL uninstall/reinstall, and that didn't help either. At this point I noticed The Marketplace wouldn't launch either... until I uninstalled both GFWL and GFWM before reinstalling. Error persisted in Sector 8, but I had no problems launching The Market, and no problems playing other games like DOW2.

What got it working for me
It seems the issue lies with the way Sector 8 tries to load/instantiate GWFL, some AV/FW/HIPS protection systems see it as a "Buffer Overflow" and block it.

Many thanks to STG's posted fix on his blog, whose fix (for Comodo) was...

Quote:

Thought I'd share the following solution to the problem where you get the message Games for Windows live failed to initialize on Section 8 Prejudice, even before the main menu.

Open Comodo settings
Goto Defense+ Tab
Open Defense+ Settings
Goto "Execution Control Settings" Tab
Click on "Exclusions" for shellcode injections (Buffer overflow)
Add S9.exe
Add S9-Win32-F.exe from the Binaries directory
Click "Apply"

That worked for me.

This might work for other firewalls, just adjust the procedure to their setting screens.

I'm finally able to play the game!

Tumex · 08-18-2011, 06:20 AM

EDIT: This totally worked. Works like a dream now. I can't believe Defense+ did that. It seems even when I disabled it a year ago for causing problems, it STILL manages to mess my stuff up. ARGH!

I have Comodo, but I've ALWAYS kept Defense+ as Disabled.

So it's not my problem at least. What I did do when it was installing the game on the background (The basic Steam-stuff), I clicked cancel when I saw it installing GFWL.. Comodo still asked me (twice at least) to allow connection for GFWL (allowed of course), then I started it again and it skipped GFWL and went straight into DX-settings, same thing. Allowed DX to connect though... I have a hard time believing that did it though.

I mean, I already have GWFL and DX -_-

Deadly Insane · 08-18-2011, 08:57 AM

Wow, thank you a lot. I dont know why Comodo dont popup a message warning me about that so I can just click ignore like it usually do.

Again, thanks.

Sim47 · 08-18-2011, 11:46 AM

I figured I wasn't the only one who was having this problem. Good thing I found this thread.

My Comodo seemed to crash after trying to play it several times (or maybe it just didn't start when I restarted my laptop). /fail
Even after it being off, it still says GFLW failed to initialize (probably because cmdagent.exe is still running).
Anyways, thanks for the fix OP, +rep.

P.S. Just a side note, if, like me, you have everything unchecked and all of the settings under the "Execution Control Settings" tab turned off, it still might not work until you add the .exe's into the Exclusions (though I'm not 100% certain; haven't tested it). Regardless of my blabbering, the above fix works. So again, thank you.

detlik · 08-18-2011, 02:15 PM

* OS - Windows 7 64-bit
* CPU - Intel i7-930
* RAM - 6GB
* GPU - Ati Radeon HD5870 2GB Matrix
* Anti-Virus/Firewall software installed - Norton 360 + Spybot search and destroy

I can start the game, I can log into GFWL but after I am logged in some new window appears (probably to install DLC) and after few seconds it says : Games for Windows Live failed to Initialize 80070057. I tried to reinstall GFWL and Sector 8 Prejudice but it had no effect. . I live in Czech Republic. Please help me.

08-19-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by detlik

* OS - Windows 7 64-bit
* CPU - Intel i7-930
* RAM - 6GB
* GPU - Ati Radeon HD5870 2GB Matrix
* Anti-Virus/Firewall software installed - Norton 360 + Spybot search and destroy

I can start the game, I can log into GFWL but after I am logged in some new window appears (probably to install DLC) and after few seconds it says : Games for Windows Live failed to Initialize 80070057. I tried to reinstall GFWL and Sector 8 Prejudice but it had no effect. . I live in Czech Republic. Please help me.

From what I've read on other posts in here GFWL doesn't work in other countries. I don't know if that is being fixed or if they have plans to expand but from what everyone else has been saying on here it doesn't work.

Nathan1el · 08-18-2011, 03:49 PM

Thanks, man. It really works.

nijuu · 08-18-2011, 05:38 PM

Thanks bro. I use comodo as well and your fix fixed it for me

. Strange, that defense+ had given me issues with certain steam games in the past (had to manually add them), but never like this. Now for the multiplayer...

Sgt_V3n0m · 08-18-2011, 07:30 PM

FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUU-

Didn't work for me. T-T

Now Section 8 isn't even popping up. This is what happens:

I press "Play"
the little thing around my profile pic turns green
after 5 seconds it goes away
game not up

T-T

I hate GFWL.

*EDIT*
Forgot to mention that I reinstalled the bloody game once. I also reinstalled GFWL so idk wtf is going on. If anyone can help i would be greatly appreciative.

stgbr · 08-18-2011, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disfeld

Many thanks to STG's posted fix on his blog, whose fix (for Comodo) was...

You are welcome! Thanks for mentioning my blog.

It is sad to see how high the hits on the post got again after the new DLC.

The game release was months ago - couldn't Comodo just add an exception? It makes them look bad and I'm sure many people ended up uninstalling Comodo because of this...

L33 · 08-18-2011, 08:34 PM

I was having this problem today.
Check your AntiSpyware/Malware scanners as well.

The new spybot beta was running hidden in the background, which was blocking this from connecting.
I opened the start centre and closed all the services and boom it worked.
Hope that helps some of you.

I'm just guessing but TeaTimer in old spybot and similar will prob have the same effect.

Sgt_V3n0m · 08-19-2011, 08:08 AM

OK, after attempting to fix it for a few more hours, I FINALLY got the damn game to run! Apparently when I reinstalled GFWL something must have happened during installation. So reinstalling it again fixed it.

GFWL should still die in a fire IMHO.

*EDIT*
forgot to mention that doing the fix the OP stated works. At least I now know what to do when a GFWL game won't run for me.

08-19-2011, 12:02 PM

Has anyone heard of a fix for Zone alarm for this problem? The only thing i've found on section 8 page is uninstall my firewall or disable it's main security feature which is the same thing in my opinion. I keep hearing what a great game it is but can't check it out as it won't work. I even preordered this game and still can't play. Another possibility is if it works on MAC or Linux? Anyone try it on there yet?

westenra · 08-19-2011, 04:58 PM

What the hell is Comodo?

08-19-2011, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westenra

What the hell is Comodo?

It's a free software firewall

08-18-2011, 06:20 AM	#2
Tumex Join Date: Nov 2008 Reputation: 5 Posts: 61	*EDIT: This totally worked. Works like a dream now. I can't believe Defense+ did that. It seems even when I disabled it a year ago for causing problems, it STILL manages to mess my stuff up. ARGH!* I have Comodo, but I've ALWAYS kept Defense+ as Disabled. So it's not my problem at least. What I did do when it was installing the game on the background (The basic Steam-stuff), I clicked cancel when I saw it installing GFWL.. Comodo still asked me (twice at least) to allow connection for GFWL (allowed of course), then I started it again and it skipped GFWL and went straight into DX-settings, same thing. Allowed DX to connect though... I have a hard time believing that did it though. I mean, I already have GWFL and DX -_- Last edited by Tumex: 08-18-2011 at 11:00 AM.

08-18-2011, 05:38 PM	#8
nijuu Join Date: Apr 2010 Reputation: 65 Posts: 179	Thanks bro. I use comodo as well and your fix fixed it for me. Strange, that defense+ had given me issues with certain steam games in the past (had to manually add them), but never like this. Now for the multiplayer...

08-18-2011, 07:30 PM	#9
Sgt_V3n0m Join Date: Jul 2011 Reputation: 24 Posts: 246	FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUU- Didn't work for me. T-T Now Section 8 isn't even popping up. This is what happens: I press "Play" the little thing around my profile pic turns green after 5 seconds it goes away game not up T-T I hate GFWL. EDIT Forgot to mention that I reinstalled the bloody game once. I also reinstalled GFWL so idk wtf is going on. If anyone can help i would be greatly appreciative. Last edited by Sgt_V3n0m: 08-18-2011 at 07:35 PM.

08-19-2011, 08:08 AM	#12
Sgt_V3n0m Join Date: Jul 2011 Reputation: 24 Posts: 246	OK, after attempting to fix it for a few more hours, I FINALLY got the damn game to run! Apparently when I reinstalled GFWL something must have happened during installation. So reinstalling it again fixed it. GFWL should still die in a fire IMHO. EDIT forgot to mention that doing the fix the OP stated works. At least I now know what to do when a GFWL game won't run for me. Last edited by Sgt_V3n0m: 08-19-2011 at 08:19 AM.

08-19-2011, 12:02 PM	#13
etswawnate Guest Posts: n/a	Zonealarm fix Has anyone heard of a fix for Zone alarm for this problem? The only thing i've found on section 8 page is uninstall my firewall or disable it's main security feature which is the same thing in my opinion. I keep hearing what a great game it is but can't check it out as it won't work. I even preordered this game and still can't play. Another possibility is if it works on MAC or Linux? Anyone try it on there yet?

08-18-2011, 08:57 AM	#3
Deadly Insane Join Date: Aug 2011 Reputation: 0 Posts: 27	Wow, thank you a lot. I dont know why Comodo dont popup a message warning me about that so I can just click ignore like it usually do. Again, thanks.

08-18-2011, 11:46 AM	#4
Sim47 Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Reputation: 4 Posts: 69	I figured I wasn't the only one who was having this problem. Good thing I found this thread. My Comodo seemed to crash after trying to play it several times (or maybe it just didn't start when I restarted my laptop). /fail Even after it being off, it still says GFLW failed to initialize (probably because cmdagent.exe is still running). Anyways, thanks for the fix OP, +rep. P.S. Just a side note, if, like me, you have everything unchecked and all of the settings under the "Execution Control Settings" tab turned off, it still might not work until you add the .exe's into the Exclusions (though I'm not 100% certain; haven't tested it). Regardless of my blabbering, the above fix works. So again, thank you.

08-18-2011, 02:15 PM	#5
detlik Join Date: Jan 2009 Reputation: 26 Posts: 279	* OS - Windows 7 64-bit * CPU - Intel i7-930 * RAM - 6GB * GPU - Ati Radeon HD5870 2GB Matrix * Anti-Virus/Firewall software installed - Norton 360 + Spybot search and destroy I can start the game, I can log into GFWL but after I am logged in some new window appears (probably to install DLC) and after few seconds it says : Games for Windows Live failed to Initialize 80070057. I tried to reinstall GFWL and Sector 8 Prejudice but it had no effect. . I live in Czech Republic. Please help me.

08-18-2011, 03:49 PM	#7
Nathan1el Join Date: Aug 2011 Reputation: 0 Posts: 1	Thanks, man. It really works.

08-18-2011, 08:34 PM	#11
L33 Join Date: Aug 2011 Reputation: 0 Posts: 4	I was having this problem today. Check your AntiSpyware/Malware scanners as well. The new spybot beta was running hidden in the background, which was blocking this from connecting. I opened the start centre and closed all the services and boom it worked. Hope that helps some of you. I'm just guessing but TeaTimer in old spybot and similar will prob have the same effect.

08-19-2011, 04:58 PM	#14
westenra Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Reputation: 38 Posts: 140	What the hell is Comodo?

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