**bleep** it, I've fixed it myself.
I've spinned up procmon and looked at the files that would get replaced by the Steam files cache check.
These are the files:
All located in "SteamApps/common/Battlefield 1". Or in the root directory of the BF1 game files of the EA app, if you don't use Steam.
- preloader_l.dll
- EAAntiCheat.GameServiceLauncher.dll
- EAAntiCheat.GameServiceLauncher.exe
How to bypass this sht:
1) Do a full Steam files cache of the game.
2) At this point, BF1 is in a state that will start without issues. DO NOT start the game.
3) Backup the 3 files listed above: make a copy in a folder of your choice.
4) Start the game, play it, and close it...
5) Now, if you try to start the game a 2nd time, it will give you the error that "AuToHoTkEy Is RuNnInG".
Instead, copy the 3 files you backed up back into the BF1 game directory.
6) Start the game, it should work without issues.
You need to repeat step 5 everytime you want to play the game.
It is not a fix yeah, but it's faaar faster than checking the game files cache every time, or reinstall the anticheat every time.
This can be further speeded up by simply creating a .bat script that copies the files when runned, shortening the whole process in just a double click.
