Game Won't Start Up

cozzie111 · 04-11-2009, 04:36 PM

It isn't a problem with Spore not being read in the CD drive.

Basically, when I boot up the game ( I'm using Vista, and I select "Run as administrator") nothing happens, the screen stays the same and the little progress ring beside the mouse that indicates that the computer is doing something appears

But then I get an error message saying that Spore encountered a problem and had to close.

I've checked the CD, and there doesn't appear to be any scrathes, at least no major ones that would affect how the game worked.

Any suggestions and fixes?

Ashtaroph · 04-11-2009, 06:19 PM

are you saying you cant play the game or you cant install the game ?

cozzie111 · 04-11-2009, 06:46 PM

Sorry, it's Installed, but it just won't run

cozzie111 · 04-11-2009, 11:45 PM

Bump.

Also, I've tried running the game in safe mode and that hasn't worked.

I also applied a "fix" where you deleted a file in the sporebin and replaced it with a more recent version of this file, but that did not work either.

Ashtaroph · 05-11-2009, 05:17 PM

it sounds like the install could be corrupt, 1st suggestion is uninstall, do a full pc clean including a check for and a removal of any spyware/malware, then a pc defrag. when you reinstall go offline, turn off all security systems including Vista'a UAC, shut down any un needed processes, then reset pc and security systems and try to play, let us know if any result :-)

cozzie111 · 05-11-2009, 06:05 PM

So to check for the spy/malware i should run a virus scan?

Also a defrag is a pain in the lalala, but what the hell :P, just do it at night.

Could you tell me how to turn of the UAC? Also what do you mean by go offline? as in just terminate my web connection 'til i've installed it?

Ashtaroph · 05-11-2009, 06:25 PM

a virus scan and a malware/spyware scan are 2 differant things but many security suites do both via there virus scanner, howether it is recommended to have an independant spyware scanner and removal prog as well as your security suite, if you need suggestions for a goodun let me know.
To turn UAC of goto Control Panel/User Accounts and Family Safety/User Accounts, on the next screen your see 6 options, the 6th 1 is Turn User Account Control on or off.
Am assuming the defrag is a pain because it takes so long, if so then i'd suggest that that could be a major part of your problem, am again assuming that you've never or have rarely done a full defrag lol.
Yes to temporarilly terminating your connection, just turning off the router will do the job.

cozzie111 · 05-11-2009, 10:59 PM

Ok, thanks for the suggestions mate.

It's a pain but I'm willing to do it, I'll just leave it overnight or something.

Will try all this and see what happens

cozzie111 · 06-11-2009, 07:35 PM

I've tried all your suggestions and the game still won't run.

Please bear in mind that when the message saying "Spore has stopped working" appears, I'm still in my desktop. I do not get a black screen like others with a similar problem to mine.

Because Spore worked fine on my old PC which ran on XP, and because as far as I can see there are no problems with the CD, I think it could be a problem with Vista that's preventing Spore from running.

Any more ideas?

cozzie111 · 07-11-2009, 10:01 PM

Just a small update, I gave the disc a proper cleaning and it still won't work.

I also checked processes, and SporeApp.exe does appear there for a while, but then the "stopped working" message came up as usual

EDIT: I've also managed to patch the game manually by downloading a patcher, and that hasn't worked either.

deadhitter1 · 07-11-2009, 11:43 PM

Since when does your Spore copy stopped working normal?

cozzie111 · 07-11-2009, 11:50 PM

Ok everyone.

I updated my graphics drivers. Previously i thought this wasn't the problem, because I hadn't done this before and Spore ran fine.

But, turns out that was the problem, or at the very least has gotten the game to work.

Thanks for the help anyway

04-11-2009, 04:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
cozzie111 Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	Game Won't Start Up It isn't a problem with Spore not being read in the CD drive. Basically, when I boot up the game ( I'm using Vista, and I select "Run as administrator") nothing happens, the screen stays the same and the little progress ring beside the mouse that indicates that the computer is doing something appears But then I get an error message saying that Spore encountered a problem and had to close. I've checked the CD, and there doesn't appear to be any scrathes, at least no major ones that would affect how the game worked. Any suggestions and fixes?

05-11-2009, 06:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
cozzie111 Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	So to check for the spy/malware i should run a virus scan? Also a defrag is a pain in the lalala, but what the hell :P, just do it at night. Could you tell me how to turn of the UAC? Also what do you mean by go offline? as in just terminate my web connection 'til i've installed it? Last edited by cozzie111; 05-11-2009 at 06:12 PM..

07-11-2009, 10:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
cozzie111 Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	Just a small update, I gave the disc a proper cleaning and it still won't work. I also checked processes, and SporeApp.exe does appear there for a while, but then the "stopped working" message came up as usual EDIT: I've also managed to patch the game manually by downloading a patcher, and that hasn't worked either. Last edited by cozzie111; 07-11-2009 at 11:04 PM..

04-11-2009, 06:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ashtaroph Rookie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Gloucestershire Age: 48 Gender: Male Posts: 195	are you saying you cant play the game or you cant install the game ?

04-11-2009, 06:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
cozzie111 Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	Sorry, it's Installed, but it just won't run

04-11-2009, 11:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
cozzie111 Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	Bump. Also, I've tried running the game in safe mode and that hasn't worked. I also applied a "fix" where you deleted a file in the sporebin and replaced it with a more recent version of this file, but that did not work either.

05-11-2009, 05:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ashtaroph Rookie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Gloucestershire Age: 48 Gender: Male Posts: 195	it sounds like the install could be corrupt, 1st suggestion is uninstall, do a full pc clean including a check for and a removal of any spyware/malware, then a pc defrag. when you reinstall go offline, turn off all security systems including Vista'a UAC, shut down any un needed processes, then reset pc and security systems and try to play, let us know if any result :-)

05-11-2009, 06:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ashtaroph Rookie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Gloucestershire Age: 48 Gender: Male Posts: 195	a virus scan and a malware/spyware scan are 2 differant things but many security suites do both via there virus scanner, howether it is recommended to have an independant spyware scanner and removal prog as well as your security suite, if you need suggestions for a goodun let me know. To turn UAC of goto Control Panel/User Accounts and Family Safety/User Accounts, on the next screen your see 6 options, the 6th 1 is Turn User Account Control on or off. Am assuming the defrag is a pain because it takes so long, if so then i'd suggest that that could be a major part of your problem, am again assuming that you've never or have rarely done a full defrag lol. Yes to temporarilly terminating your connection, just turning off the router will do the job.

05-11-2009, 10:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
cozzie111 Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	Ok, thanks for the suggestions mate. It's a pain but I'm willing to do it, I'll just leave it overnight or something. Will try all this and see what happens

06-11-2009, 07:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
cozzie111 Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	I've tried all your suggestions and the game still won't run. Please bear in mind that when the message saying "Spore has stopped working" appears, I'm still in my desktop. I do not get a black screen like others with a similar problem to mine. Because Spore worked fine on my old PC which ran on XP, and because as far as I can see there are no problems with the CD, I think it could be a problem with Vista that's preventing Spore from running. Any more ideas?

07-11-2009, 11:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
deadhitter1 Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 5	Since when does your Spore copy stopped working normal?

07-11-2009, 11:50 PM	#12 (permalink)
cozzie111 Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	Ok everyone. I updated my graphics drivers. Previously i thought this wasn't the problem, because I hadn't done this before and Spore ran fine. But, turns out that was the problem, or at the very least has gotten the game to work. Thanks for the help anyway