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Can't Launch PCM 11
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 06-01-2012 15:24
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3440
Joined: 09-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Having read through the forums here and the PCM forums I have tried all of the following steps with completely updated drivers and a reinstall of PCM too but still can't get the game to start. It has never successfully started for me.
"black or white screen at the start, or crash
For many reasons, Pro cycling Manager may not start properly. Here are some tricks to try to solve the problem :
-launch the game in admin mode;
-shut down the antivirus : some antivirus simply cut the applications with no warning;
-launch the game from Program files instead of autorun.
-skip the start videos : A codec problem may prevent the game from starting. You can rename the 'videos' folder in your installation folder.
-Change the 'my documents' folder : rename your 'Pro Cycling Manager 2011' folder in 'my documents', but don't delete it ! if the game starts, a new Pro Cycling Manager 2011 folder will be built. You can then try to add the files from the former folder and identify which file is corrupted. Most of the time, the murderer is 'local.cdb'."
I try to start the game and it just locks up. I can't even stop the process using Task Manager and have to resort to manually holding down the power button to reboot as shuting down doesn't even work.
I am running:
Windows: Vista Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002)
Display: ATI Radeon HD4800 with the latest drivers (10/11/2011)
Sound: Realtek High Definition Audio with the latest drivers (13/12/2011)
Motherboard: P5K
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 @ 2.33GHz
Memory: 4GB
A little gutted to not even be able to start the game. I have also posted on the official tech support forums already but as yet haven't received a reply so any help greatly appreciated, thanks. |
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| Lachi |
Posted on 06-01-2012 15:49
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8516
Joined: 29-06-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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If you need tech support, you have to contact the hotline.
This forum and the official forum are mainly user forums, so we cannot give support beyond the general problems.
On a side note, did you ever play any of the other PCM games? If yes, would they still run?
I really doubt that you cannot stop the process in the task manager, are you talking about the task or the process? But that should not be your main problem.
How do you start the game? If you first delete that video folder, then right click the pcm.exe and run it as admin, then it should start the game including the starforce copy protection.
Did you ever enter the key of the copy protection? If not, then use the starforce tool (can be found in the same folder but I forgot the name) and try to fix the starforce drivers.
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 06-01-2012 16:33
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3440
Joined: 09-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Firstly, many thanks for the help 
I have played PCM 2008 (via Steam) and it still works now.
When I say I can't stop the process I mean the PCM.exe process in task manager. The game starts to launch then hangs with the process running. This subsequently locks up the operating system whereby I can barely do anything else including ctrl-alt-del and end process, it's very unresponsive. I click end process after waiting indeifinately for the game to launch and nothing happens 
Just tried deleting the video folder again and running as admin but no joy. I activated the game using the code on the rear of the manual as I installed it - is the "starforce copy protection" in addition to this when you first launch the game? Take it that's what the other code on the rear of the manual is for?
Think the tool you are referring to is "PCM-Protection.exe"? Will give that a bash next, thanks.
*Edit* Driver check said it was fine but tried unistalling and reinstalling it with no joy. When I tried to update the driver from the net it failed though.
Edited by ianrussell on 06-01-2012 16:52
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| Lachi |
Posted on 06-01-2012 17:00
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8516
Joined: 29-06-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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The first code you enter is the starforce copy protection. So the copy protection should not be the problem then.
Stupid question, how long did you wait until you decided that the game will not start?
And could you check if the game did create a folder in "my documents". If you somehow messed up your windows and the game cannot find the my documents folder, of it it is locked or has not enough space, this could be a problem.
Same goes for the pcm folder in %APPDATA%, is it there yet? |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 15:30
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 06-01-2012 17:11
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3440
Joined: 09-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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I've left it a good 15-20 minutes before just on the off chance it was taking a very long time 
The folders have been created in my documents and the roaming folder in appdata, if that's what you mean. I have a reported 80GB of spare space on the hard disk.
All very strange but reading around I'm clearly not alone with this issue, it seems a fair few people can't get it to work. PC's being the way they are (and tech support the way it is!) I'm thinking my chances of finding a solution are fairly slim.
Anyway thanks again for the help. |
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 06-01-2012 19:32
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 29989
Joined: 20-10-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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I suppose a Pro Cycling Manager 2011 folder is created in your My Docs-folder, right?
If so, let's try this: Open the folder, go to Config, right click GraphicConfiguration and open it with Notepad.
The first two lines are your screen resolution. Try to write 600 in the first line, 800 in the second.
I doubt it will work, but it's worth a shot.
You can also try deleting your PCM-folder in AppData. Click the Windows button in the lower left and type in %AppData% in the search bar and enter. A folder will open, and in it there's a folder called Pro Cycling Manager 2011. Delete it, and run the game again.
As said, I doubt it will work, but you never know.
You can also try to contact valverde321 on this site. He bought the game on the release day and only just got it working a week ago. Not sure what he did, but he may have a tip for you. |
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 06-01-2012 21:50
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3440
Joined: 09-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Thanks for those tips.
I do have the PCM 11 folder in my docs but it just has empty config and user folders in it as the game hasn't ever launched. Is that what you'd expect? So nothing to edit with Notepad.
I've already tried deleting the PCM folder in app data as one of the many different solutions attempted. I'll try and PM Valverde, thanks for the help |
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| Lachi |
Posted on 06-01-2012 23:47
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8516
Joined: 29-06-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I think we both are only guessing, so I do not expect anything.
But you could try this:
Go to the folder where you installed the game into. There should be a folder called UserHome, open it and then open the folder called MyDoc. Now copy the two folders "Config" and "Database" and put them into the PCM folder in My documents.
Now try to start the game, one more time.
If that does not work, then you could do what CrueTrue suggested. But instead of 600 800 I would put the native resolution of your monitor. (The resolution of the desktop).
Save the config file, then start the game. |
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 07-01-2012 20:50
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3440
Joined: 09-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Ok, found userhome and copied the 2 folders you mentioned to my docs then tried to start the game again with no success.
The bit about editing the graphic config file using notepad is confusing me as there is no such filename in the config folder which seems very odd?
The config folder contains 4 files:
lang
Options
OriginalOptions
Processes
When I open them I don't see anything obvious that would refer to screen resolution.
Thanks for the ongoing efforts.
Edited by ianrussell on 07-01-2012 21:02
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 08-01-2012 20:59
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World Champion
Posts: 12986
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
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Okay I cant go into detail since I'm on vacation but I'd be glad to try and explain how I fixed it I full when I return home in a few days.
Basically my antivirus was stopping the game from working because a certain file was corrupt (possibly) so I found that file and I have to manually remove it from the antivirus folder before I start the game. Once the game has loaded up I can put it back in the folder but it doesn't appear I can play online (a small price to pay IMO) the file was fsps.dll or something like that.
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 08-01-2012 21:09
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 29989
Joined: 20-10-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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Let's try the config thing again:
1. Delete your Pro Cycling Manager 2011 folder in My Documents.
2. Download the file that's attached to this post and extract the folder to My Documents.
3. Launch the game.
Not working?
Then try changing the settings as I explained in my previous post. It should be possible now with the file that I sent you.
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 08-01-2012 22:17
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3440
Joined: 09-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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valverde321 wrote:
Okay I cant go into detail since I'm on vacation but I'd be glad to try and explain how I fixed it I full when I return home in a few days.
Basically my antivirus was stopping the game from working because a certain file was corrupt (possibly) so I found that file and I have to manually remove it from the antivirus folder before I start the game. Once the game has loaded up I can put it back in the folder but it doesn't appear I can play online (a small price to pay IMO) the file was fsps.dll or something like that.
Ok, many thanks. Hopefully it's the same issue. Enjoy the holiday. |
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 08-01-2012 22:40
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3440
Joined: 09-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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CrueTrue wrote:
Let's try the config thing again:
1. Delete your Pro Cycling Manager 2011 folder in My Documents.
2. Download the file that's attached to this post and extract the folder to My Documents.
3. Launch the game.
Not working?
Then try changing the settings as I explained in my previous post. It should be possible now with the file that I sent you.
Thanks for providing the files, tried it all with the same unsuccessful result.
Edited by ianrussell on 08-01-2012 23:07
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 19-01-2012 21:32
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3440
Joined: 09-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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valverde321 wrote:
Okay I cant go into detail since I'm on vacation but I'd be glad to try and explain how I fixed it I full when I return home in a few days.
Basically my antivirus was stopping the game from working because a certain file was corrupt (possibly) so I found that file and I have to manually remove it from the antivirus folder before I start the game. Once the game has loaded up I can put it back in the folder but it doesn't appear I can play online (a small price to pay IMO) the file was fsps.dll or something like that.
Wondered if you are back from your holidays yet? If so hope you had a great time and any help greatly appreciated when you get a minute. If not hope you are still having a great time! |
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 24-01-2012 02:10
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3440
Joined: 09-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Had a chance to revisit this and finally got it to work \o/
Seems turning off the anti virus wasn't enough I had to totally uninstall Avast to get it to launch for some reason :/
Then was met with a white screen crash after the opening vid which was resolved by deleting the PCM folder in appdata.
Thanks for all the help, got there in the end. |
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 24-01-2012 14:18
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3440
Joined: 09-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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The only down side is now having to look for another free antivirus that can compete with the excellent Avast.
Before I look, does anyone run a free antivirus that they know works with PCM 11 ok? |
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| Lachi |
Posted on 24-01-2012 15:26
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8516
Joined: 29-06-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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You could also ask the Avast people if the know a solution for your problem. |
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| baia |
Posted on 24-01-2012 16:58
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5398
Joined: 04-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I have Avira and its free...no issues here but i turn it off anyway in every game i play.
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| JuanMotr |
Posted on 24-01-2012 17:19
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Domestique
Posts: 701
Joined: 29-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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maybe you should try to change your priority to highest in task manager.. |
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 24-01-2012 20:25
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3440
Joined: 09-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Thanks folks. I was considering Avira already and if you have no issues will go with that. I could consider trying to find a work around for Avast but disabling all the shields doesn't work and I haven't got the energy left to figure out another more complicated solution |
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