I swear almost every damned time Windows does an update it screws up at least one of my games. This time it's Eschalon I've been playing this without issue for a couple of weeks (probably my third or fourth play through... so sue me... I like this game). No issues whatsoever.

Windows update.

Now it won't launch. Tried both the the gog and Steam version (it's free there too). Same. Exact. Thing. Both used to work, now both won't work. Neither of them will launch.

I changed nothing. Touched nothing. Moved nothing. Only thing that changed was a Windows update.

Go to hell Microsoft. Go to hell and back and go again. I am so damned tired of this happening. Start a goddamned role playing game, get into it for a couple of weeks, and then can no longer play it because Microsoft can't be bothered to test their updated on legacy games.

Never. Another. Dime. Microsoft. If I have to switch to a console that's what I'll do if I can't figure out Linux for my next system. Never. Another. Dime. From. Me. FY Microsoft.

NOTE: Not looking for any help here. Just venting. Better to let it out than keep it inside churning. I'll either figure it out on my own or not. I'm so gaddamned fed up right now I really don't care.

I know you said you were venting, and were not looking for help. But if and when you calm down, and get the time, have a check to see if 'Direct Play' has been disabled during the update...

what is direct play?

nm, I found it.

No, it's still active.. it has the check box checked.

Ah!, ok, was worth a try...

I'm still on Win 8 (10 over my dead body!) so it still works for me, but here is one quick fix I found you could try.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/25600/discussions/0/3288067088129633799/

If that doesn't work, you might want to peruse this entire thread:

http://basiliskgames.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12971#p62925

AND ANOTHER ONE.

Syberia. Had a save game on there that I'd been playing off and on over the past several weeks. Never. An. Issue.

Now it won't launch. Pop up box says something about can't render or something.

Damn you Microsoft. Goddamn you to hell.

It really does make me sad.

The software industry is a train wreck, and that's why gamers & game developers are moving from universal, powerful, flexible computing devices to DRM-ridden region locked appliances...

Since it's software, i'm not going to bother trying to help you through this, as it's a headache alone doing it on my own PC.

However, why not get a decent firewall, and customise it to block all the Windows shit that connects out, viola no more updates, not even forced. good luck M$.

Update culture is not a positive thing for gaming or computing in general. This is another example. Hopefully there is a compatibility way to run these games.

So I did a system restore to a point before the Windows Update a few days ago (which royally screwed me up) but sure enough, I was able once again to play Eschelon.

But of course the updates were going to reappear at some point, and OF COURSE Microsolf makes it IMPOSSIBLE to stop them (sometimes it will let you uninstall an update, but not updates can be uninstalled) and today was the day. I noticed when I looked under the shut down options they said "Update and restart" or "Update and shut down" and so right at that moment I went in and played Eschalon some more... saved.. and quit.

Then I hit "Update and restart" and sure enough, after the update, Eschalon will not run. And to date I have not found a fix for it.

I hate you Microsoft. I really, truly, to despise you.

ADDED: Forgot to mention, no need to offer help as I've got bigger problems than figuring out how to play Eschalon. I just posted this to show proof positive once again that Windows Updates screws up games. It's happened to me I know it must be at least a dozen times. Every time I see an update ready to download I cross my fingers and hope. And it seems more times than it does no good as it messes up something.

fascinating

do you thihk youll be able to cope

It is possible to stop auto-updating in Win-10 (identify your network connection as not always connected) and also to remove the updater task from the OS (not simple, requires diving into the Registry).

You will then have to not use the machine for anything on the interwebs, though, since every woman and her dog will try to sleaze into it and steal anything on it.

But, if you have two machines, this is certainly possible (and desirable).

I have my internet connection set as mettered and it sometimes aplly smaller updates. Never seen a major update even months after the realease, have all the notifications disabled as well (concentration mode). I do update eventually though because I don't want to do it in the middle of something important.

But this don't solve most Win10 problems, as I've said before, the "rolling release" system is not good for backwards compatibility in my opinion. At least for now where everything is changing too fast. Developers can have a really hard time maintaining software and GOG with the huge game list will probably have a hard time, the broken game list is huge for those who use Galaxy and auto-update games.

IMHO, Win8.1 is the best Windows system to use at the moment if you don't want to babysit your computer.

https://www.sordum.org/9470/windows-update-blocker-v1-3/

Still using Windows 10 1703, I don't give a fock about upgrading to the latest version.

I'll install the patches IF and ONLY when I WANT it.

I know how u feel & i feel 4 u, i hv been thru similar fate & it really sucks. But such issues were common, in fact too common. They dun just apply 2 Windows update also, there was a game (which i shall not bother mentioning the name) which required an update & the old saved games simply dun work anymore after i updated the game version. I was like 'Wat The Hell, so i need start all over?!!'

I seriously dunno if is cos the developer lazy or cant b bothered 2 patch & test the update 2 make sure old save games can b played or watever, all i know is it truly sucks if not being able 2 use old saved games.

The only solution i know is 2 hv an old copy of the game w/o the update & NOT 2 update it but i guess unfortunately we cant do the same 4 Win 10, unless u can live with being prone 2 vulnerabilities on ur comp.

Anyway, let's just hope that GOG can cont fix the games 2 run smoothly on Win 10. I'm not placing too much hope on Steam doing the same thing though but i sure hope they do too.