Re: PvZ GW2 Stopped Working on launch

Here is my DxDiag.

Thanks. You certainly have the hardware for running the game. One thing I'd like to check for first is whether your slightly unusual resolution is a factor. You can check for this by launching in Windowed mode. 

To do this you can go to My Documents\Plants vs Zombies GW2\settings and open PROF_SAVE_profile with notepad. 

It's fairly big, but towards the start of the document you should see GstRender.FullscreenEnabled 1.

If you change the one to a zero, then the game should try to launch in Windowed mode. There are 

If the issue persists, a crash report -if it exists-may be very helpful. 

I do not see the Plants vs Zombies GW2 file in My Documents.

Perhaps is there a way that I can change the screen to be windowed through Settings/Game Properties/Advanced Launch Options/Command Line Arguments on Origin?

My computer was wiped last weekend and only downloaded GW2 yesterday.

@xavo100 Just do double-check that we're in the right place, can you see the relevant settings folders for your other games here? For example there should be an Overwatch folder with Settings and Logs folders.

The command line to launch in Windowed mode changes on each game, and sometimes isn't an option. I've tested some of the standard commands and they haven't worked.

That said, I don't think this is a factor if it's crashing before it writes the settings file. Can you try a repair, just in case the game install didn't work properly? Right-click the game panel to get this option.

Can I also check if you have other Origin games, do these run without issue? If you don't have it already you can grab Mass Effect 2 for free as a test. If you don't have the Data/bandwidth for a large download you don't need to try this bit. 

I'd also be interested if there's a report for the game in the Reliability monitor. I suspect not, but it's worth checking. 

I think I am in the right place. I do see my Overwatch folders in there.

I tried the repair several times and it still hasn't worked.

PvZ GW1 works fine and created a folder in My Documents.

I do not have any other game other than Overwatch and GW1 in My documents. Probably because all the others are on Steam.

I have quite a bit of disk space, so I guess I'll try Mass Effect.

I really don't know how to use Reliability Monitor, even after looking at Microsoft's website, but I got this problem signature from my most recent crash if it helps.

Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: GW2.Main_Win64_Retail.exe
Application Version: 1.0.7.0
Application Timestamp: 581be994
Fault Module Name: MSVCR120.dll
Fault Module Version: 12.0.21005.1
Fault Module Timestamp: 524f83ff
Exception Code: c000001d
Exception Offset: 0000000000099070
OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.48
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 7e15
Additional Information 2: 7e15e807e3fe157317beccf49a014477
Additional Information 3: fd5c
Additional Information 4: fd5cb72140298e2a6be43a0e53c02db3

Thanks for the extra info. It's worth grabbing Mass Effect 2 because it's great, but you might not need to grab it for testing. 

Back on your issue, can you go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2\__Installer\vc\vc2012Update3\redist and run the vcredist_x64.exe. 

Please also make sure your Windows is up to date. 

Thanks for replying so quickly 🙂

I ran the program you told me to (vcredist) but clicking repair doesn't seem to do anything.

There were 2 "important" updates for my computer so I'm downloading those right now.

I have an idea. Could I duplicate my PvZ GW1 folders, name them the GW2 folder, and then try running the game?

Hopefully the Windows updates help, missing updates can certainly be a factor for this sort of thing and frequently pop up with new builds/fresh rebuilds. 

And no, duplicating those folders likely wouldn't help. If they're not getting created it suggests that the issue isn't resolution related, it's failing before it gets to that point. I seems my initial guess was incorrect, sorry for not being clearer.

The windows updates do not seem to help. The same thing happens: I click play and a few seconds later: PvZ GW2 has Stopped Working.

Is there anything else I can do within the Origin Games/PvZ GW2 files? I at least have those.

I have not tried Mass Effect yet, however. Probably will in a few minutes.

Here is another problem signature I got after I installed updates.

Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: GW2.Main_Win64_Retail.exe
Application Version: 1.0.7.0
Application Timestamp: 581be994
Fault Module Name: MSVCR120.dll
Fault Module Version: 12.0.21005.1
Fault Module Timestamp: 524f83ff
Exception Code: c000001d
Exception Offset: 0000000000099070
OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.48
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 7e15
Additional Information 2: 7e15e807e3fe157317beccf49a014477
Additional Information 3: fd5c
Additional Information 4: fd5cb72140298e2a6be43a0e53c02db3

Mass Effect 2 does work very good. Just wanted to say that.

Thanks again.  Can you download and run this redist package?

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40784

Okay, I downloaded and ran that package. GW2 still cannot run, it stops working on launch as usual, and I don't see it in my documents. What should I do now?

Thanks. Just to check something that I don't think is a factor, in some cases on new builds audio driver issues can have an effect, can you make sure these are up to date. I doubt it'll have an effect. 

Back on the main issue, is your PVZ installed to the C or E drives? If you move the install does that have any effect?

https://help.ea.com/en-au/help/origin/origin/backing-up-and-restoring-your-origin-games/

For the next step I'd like to try restarting your system with a Clean Boot: https://help.ea.com/en/help/faq/how-to-clean-boot-your-pc/

These steps should discount a fair few possible sources for a problem. 

It was installed on the C drive, so I reinstalled it on E, and the effect didn't change.

Clean boot did not work either.

I think we're approaching the point where you may need to give a detailed system breakdown (called an MSINFO) to support. This is highly detailed and contains identifying information, so we can't ask for them through AHQ. Support can use this to zone in on the source of the issue. 

http://help.ea.com/en/article/contact-ea-help/

However before this I'd like to try the System File Checker. Perhaps something went wrong with the install of some relatively minor part of the windows VC libraries. 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-ie/help/929833/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system-files

I ran the System File Checker and it says I have no corrupt files. Can I send my MSINFO to you (or another support person) by email without giving you my personal info somehow? Or is there something else you can try?

Hi again, you can find how to add the MSINFO to your case here: https://help.ea.com/en-tr/help/pc/how-to-find-and-attach-your-msinfo/

As for further steps, in some cases, even with a fresh install, there can be minor corruption of graphics card drivers. You can try to update them again, and this time choose a custom clean install of them. This should remove the old drivers and install fresh, which should help if this is where the issue lies. 

@LisekNick Hi, if you're having issues, it's probably best to create a new thread with the following info:

• our system and your dxdiag if you're on PC: https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/
• How it's failing exactly. 
• When the issue started for you, or if you've ever been able to play on this system. 

Thanks. 

@LisekNick Hi, if you're having issues, it's probably best to create a new thread with the following info:

• our system and your dxdiag if you're on PC: https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/
• How it's failing exactly. 
• When the issue started for you, or if you've ever been able to play on this system. 

Thanks.