start.exe error after patch

[thpapak]

I have bought Achtung Panzer Operation Star pack a of year ago from Strategy First, together with 1942 and 1943 DLC. The installed version of the game is 5.75(1379).

After the installation of the core game (not the DLCs) I tried to update the game following the guide in here: http://gravitac.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Installing_updates_and_modifications
1) Installed the latest core update: gtos_cu_581c1_eng.exe
2) Installed the latest patch: gtos_patch_dec14_eng.gt2extension   

Then,when I start the game I get "start.exe" error and the only option is to close the program.

Is there anything I can to to update properly?

MY specs are: Windows 7 32bit, i3 530, 4GB RAM,  AMD 7790

[Krabb]

Have you tried installing microsoft c++ redist?

[thpapak]

Yes, I have Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Package and the latest DirectX 9.0 installed.

A small correction: the error is on "starter.exe"

Here are the problem details:
Problem signature:
  Problem Event Name:   APPCRASH
  Application Name:   starter.exe
  Application Version:   0.0.0.0
  Application Timestamp:   4e9fab6e
  Fault Module Name:   ntdll.dll
  Fault Module Version:   6.1.7601.18247
  Fault Module Timestamp:   521ea91c
  Exception Code:   c00000fd
  Exception Offset:   00005bc1
  OS Version:   6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
  Locale ID:   1032
  Additional Information 1:   c1b4
  Additional Information 2:   c1b4024421765ed55cf059004ae397ef
  Additional Information 3:   a720
  Additional Information 4:   a7209b02c6d354bc7a4a6e15541a6e34

Read our privacy statement online:
  http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=104288&clcid=0x0409

If the online privacy statement is not available, please read our privacy statement offline:
  C:\Windows\system32\en-US\erofflps.txt

[Krabb]

I'm not sure. Try reinstalling the game. Also, check the install path of gtos_cu_581c1_eng.exe.

[thpapak]

I have already reinstalled 3 times, I get the same error. Also, I have checked the correct installation path of the update. The update gives no error during the installation.

How do I check if the update has been correctly installed?

[Krabb]

Does the unpatched game work?

[thpapak]

Yes, the unpatched game runs fine.

[Krabb]

Try replacing starter.exe with this one: http://www.mediafire.com/download/4z9o4mxadtxbyed/orig_starter.zip

[thpapak]

No luck, I get the same error 

(I have also installed the game at an older PC running Win7 and applied the patch. The game will not start at all, without showing any errors)

[Krabb]

I'm sorry, but looks like you will have to play without the patch. Neither me, nor Andrey (the developer) don't know what's wrong here. Maybe the Strategy First version of the game has some kind of protection, or other kind of incompatibility.

[Krabb]

Oh, one other thing, does your windows have a service pack installed?

[thpapak]

I redownloaded the pack from Strategy First, installed again, patched it, same error.

I am running windows 7 with SP1 and have the latest VGA drivers.

As a final solution, is it possible to provide a link to download the binaries of the game? I can give you (in private message) the receipt of my purchase from Strategy First.

[Krabb]

I'm afraid this is not possible.

Could you prepare a list of files with their sizes and dates from the bin/rel/x86 subfolder? For example after running "dir" command in the command prompt from there.

Edit: Also you could try the demo. It's only slightly older than the last patch. If it runs, then something is wrong with the Strategy First pack I guess.

[thpapak]

Code:

Volume in drive E has no label.
 Volume Serial Number is CCD1-1B20

 Directory of E:\Achtung Panzer Operation Star\bin\rel\x86

26/01/2015  08:24 ££    <DIR>          .
26/01/2015  08:24 ££    <DIR>          ..
20/10/2011  02:04 §£         1.069.056 adv_game.codelib
20/10/2011  02:04 §£           528.384 adv_opgame.codelib
20/10/2011  02:04 §£           163.840 adv_qbattle.codelib
20/10/2011  02:04 §£           299.008 adv_render.codelib
20/10/2011  02:04 §£           643.072 base_editors.codelib
20/10/2011  02:04 §£           114.688 base_encycl.codelib
20/10/2011  02:04 §£           163.840 base_main.codelib
20/10/2011  02:04 §£           282.624 base_modtools.codelib
07/05/2013  11:27 §£           266.240 base_shell.codelib
07/05/2013  11:27 §£           163.840 base_updater.codelib
20/10/2011  02:04 §£           704.512 basic_game.codelib
20/10/2011  02:04 §£           155.648 basic_input.codelib
20/10/2011  02:04 §£           819.200 basic_physic.codelib
20/10/2011  02:04 §£           278.528 basic_render.codelib
20/10/2011  02:04 §£           237.568 basic_sound.codelib
20/10/2011  02:04 §£           274.432 basic_video.codelib
26/01/2015  08:24 ££                 0 print.txt
07/05/2013  11:27 §£           151.552 res_base.reslib
07/05/2013  11:27 §£            12.288 res_game_tools.reslib
              19 File(s)      6.328.320 bytes
               2 Dir(s)  159.872.593.920 bytes free

The demo runs fine!!!!! There must be something wrong with Strategy First pack.

I must say "Thank you"  for trying to solve my problematic pack. Do you have any final suggestion from now on?

[Krabb]

This looks like you have only the core update installed. Did you launch the updater after installing the core update? Does it start via updater.cmd in the game folder? Is December patch listed there?

[thpapak]

The game updater starts after I installed the core update.

There is nothing listed in Game updater, so I choose "Install" the "gtos_patch_dec14_eng.gt2extension" file which I have downloaded. I see a clock counting to 100% and then I have #1 | Game update | 4.18 | Enabled |. I choose "Save and Play" and magic happens: Game starts!!!

Althought I have done the above two times before, now I have success. Probably the Demo modified something? I don't know for sure, but now I am very happy 

Thank you for your help, much appreciated 

[Krabb]

You are welcome!