Xeshra: Windows 11 is dodgy by itself but many games may have issues after some hardware parts has been switched out or simply very "weird" configurations used. In such a case OS reinstall helps a lot, however... this is a big thing and the first thing is to check if a game is compatible with a certain OS at all.

timppu: Keep us posted if there is a solution.

I still try to think of something, but kinda shitty problem that it seems to appear only on certain systems, ie. I have the problem on one Windows laptop, but not on two others. Weird.

I am mainly trying to figure out if it is possible to run the game in e.g. a window, would that get me anywhere. Just a thought as the problem appears right after the log says it tries to enter a fullscreen mode.

RuberFF: So far no GOG team have answered me yet, I'm pretty disapointed I have to admit.

timppu: I haven't looked into this lately but then there is not much to look into...

It is quite an unpleasant problem since it appears only on some PCs/setups and is so far a total mystery why, besides that it most probably has something to do with the graphics card or its drivers because the log complains about not being able to initialize the screen.

I am unsure if you answered this already, but what graphics card/GPU do you have? The only big difference I can think of with the two laptops where this game works for me, and the one where it doesn't, is that the non-working laptop has a much newer and powerful GPU (with more VRAM etc.). Then again I am not convinced it is about that directly either because otherwise there would be lots of reports of the game not launching at all on any newer PCs with newer GPUs.

And of course the newer laptop also has more cores/logical CPUs etc, in case those matter... At least it shouldn't be about the amount of main RAM because one of the working older laptops also has 32GB RAM, as does the newer non-working laptop. The other older laptop (where the game also works) has only 8GB RAM at this point; apparently that is quite enough for this game though.

RuberFF: LogThread started. (LogThread|LogThread::Run|..\..\src\utils\logging.cpp|199) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.57)
DATE: Tue Dec 24 23:10:12 2024
(MainThread|logInit|..\..\src\utils\logging.cpp|385) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.57)
log system initialized (MainThread|logInit|..\..\src\utils\logging.cpp|387) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.57)
build type: MASTER (MainThread|logInit|..\..\src\utils\logging.cpp|393) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.57)
ApokalypsoPlugin:OnInitEnginePlugin() (MainThread|ApokalypsoPlugin::OnInitEnginePlugin|src\apokalypso_plugin.cpp|204) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.181)
Using loaded Engine Plugin: 'C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Demonicon\demonicon_engine_plugin.vPlugin'.
Loading Engine Plugin 'C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Demonicon\demonicon_engine_plugin.vPlugin'.
Plugin 'C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Demonicon\demonicon_engine_plugin.vPlugin' loaded
InitEnginePlugin:DemoniconEnginePlugin dynamically from 'C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Demonicon\demonicon_engine_plugin.vPlugin'
DemoniconEnginePlugin:OnInitEnginePlugin() (MainThread|DemoniconEnginePlugin_cl::OnInitEnginePlugin|src\DemoniconEnginePlugin.cpp|357) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.182)
Launcher good, return code: 128

-->HashManager uses 0.000000 kb to store 0 strings. (MainThread|HashManager::printMemoryUsage|J:\build_server\projects\demonicon_compile_main\executable\include\u tils/hash_manager.h|89) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.215)
Setting Focus to :ea0cb1eb ('"ea0cb1eb" (Hashmanager inactive)') (MainThread|GameState::receiveFocus|..\..\demonicon_source\game_states\game_state.cpp|54) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.215)
DemoniconMusicManager::gameStateChange(unsigned int, bool) "ea0cb1eb" (Hashmanager inactive) false "0" (Hashmanager inactive) (MainThread|DemoniconMusicManager::gameStateChange|..\..\src\sound\demonicon_music.cpp|199) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.215)
Load ValueLibrary. (MainThread|ValueLibrary::ValueLibrary|..\..\src\roleplay\value_library.cpp|41) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.217)
Finished loading ValueLibrary. (MainThread|ValueLibrary::ValueLibrary|..\..\src\roleplay\value_library.cpp|47) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.231)
FX_ENABLE_LOGGING is 1. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
FX_ENABLE_LOGGING_AUTO_TABS is 1. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
FX_ENABLE_AUTO_DEBUG_LOGGING is 1. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
FX_MAX_LOGGING_LEVEL is Logging::Verbose. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
FX_LITTLE_ENDIAN is defined. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
Starting up FaceFX SDK... (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
Starting up memory manager... (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
FX_TRACK_MEMORY_STATS is 0. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
FX_ENABLE_SHORT_STRING_OPTIMIZATION is 1. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
The allocation type is set to MAT_Custom. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
userAllocate: 01394D00 (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
userAllocateDebug: 01394D70 (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
userFree: 01394DE0 (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
Memory pooling disabled. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
Memory manager startup complete. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.250)
version: 2012.1 (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
build_id: 2121101265 (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
licensee: Noumena Studios GmbH (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
project: Demonicon (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
licensee version: 1000 (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
file format version: 10 (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
Starting up class manager... (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
Class manager startup complete. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
Starting up name manager... (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
FX_ALLOW_SPACES_IN_NAMES is 1. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
FX_MAX_NAME_LENGTH is 512. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
Name manager startup complete. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
Starting up archive manager... (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
Archive manager startup complete. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
FaceFX SDK startup complete. (MainThread|FxLogAdapter::MessageLogged|..\..\src\components\facefx.cpp|96) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.251)
Vertical synchronization is enabled. (MainThread|VideoSettings::engineSetup|..\..\src\core\video_settings.cpp|292) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.323)
WARNING: can't set fmod volumes because VFmodManager isn't initialized yet (MainThread|AudioSettings::applySettings|..\..\src\core\game_settings.cpp|59) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.323)
WARNING: OptionsManager could not apply settings! (MainThread|OptionsManager::init|..\..\src\core\options_manager.cpp|87) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.323)
Language selection: found available language 'en' (MainThread|Languages::getAvailableLanguages|..\..\src\core\languages.cpp|160) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.324)
Language selection: GetUserDefaultUILanguage says 'it', but language isn't available. (MainThread|Languages::determineLanguage|..\..\src\core\languages.cpp|64) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.324)
Language selection: Steam says 'en' (MainThread|Languages::determineLanguage|..\..\src\core\languages.cpp|122) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.324)
Language selection: language is 'en' (MainThread|Languages::determineLanguage|..\..\src\core\languages.cpp|138) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.324)
Language selection: fallback language is 'en' (MainThread|Languages::determineLanguage|..\..\src\core\languages.cpp|139) time:0.000000 (23:10:12.324)
Initializing engine
Vision DLL path: C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Demonicon\Vision100.dll
Vision version WIN32 DIRECTX9 - 2012, 1, 2, 0
Using fast timer
Initializing Vision Graphics Engine
Detecting CPU type and features
Settings renderer configuration
PhysX initialized
Initializing remote debugger
FMOD: created FSB resource: sounds/combat (07FEF3F8)
FMOD: created FSB resource: sounds/all_for_debug (07FEF878)
WARNING: file sounds\pc\all_for_debug.fsb not found (MainThread|VfsManager::Open|..\..\src\core\vfs_manager.cpp|283) time:2.091347 (23:10:14.417)
FMOD: created FSB resource: sounds/global_effects (07FEF578)
FMOD: created FSB resource: sounds/footsteps (07FEF218)
FMOD: created FSB resource: sounds/ui (07FEF758)
Loading Event Manager 1a)
start tree building
finished tree building
start initilizing effect tamplates
stop adding effect templates
Initialising video driver: 0
Setting screen mode to x:1920 / y:1080 / frontbuffer bpp:32 / refresh:0
Screen Mode is fullscreen
WARNING: Could not set screen mode (error:-2).
WARNING: Unable to initialize video mode
Could not set screen mode (error:-2).
VisMain_cl::DeInit
DeInitializing Object Data...
DeInitializing Surface and Texture Data...
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : lua\gameplay_base.lua (Scripts), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : lua\init_lua.lua (Scripts), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : lua/effect_support/effect_definitions.lua (Scripts), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : lua\achievements.lua (Scripts), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/combat (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/all_for_debug (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/global_effects (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/footsteps (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/ui (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : <mysterious overhead> (FaceFX), #0
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds\pc\combat.fsb (MemoryStreams), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : texture_dummy_always_loaded.zct (MemoryStreams), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : lua\gameplay_base.lua (Scripts), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : lua\init_lua.lua (Scripts), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : lua/effect_support/effect_definitions.lua (Scripts), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : lua\achievements.lua (Scripts), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/combat (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/all_for_debug (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/global_effects (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/footsteps (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/ui (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : <mysterious overhead> (FaceFX), #0
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds\pc\combat.fsb (MemoryStreams), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : texture_dummy_always_loaded.zct (MemoryStreams), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/combat (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/all_for_debug (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/global_effects (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/footsteps (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds/ui (FSBResource), #1
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : <mysterious overhead> (FaceFX), #0
WARNING: Resource survived UnLoadWorld : sounds\pc\combat.fsb (MemoryStreams), #1
Dump resources...
name='sounds/combat' category='FSBResource' #ref=1, ptr=0x07FEF3F8
name='sounds/all_for_debug' category='FSBResource' #ref=1, ptr=0x07FEF878
name='sounds/global_effects' category='FSBResource' #ref=1, ptr=0x07FEF578
name='sounds/footsteps' category='FSBResource' #ref=1, ptr=0x07FEF218
name='sounds/ui' category='FSBResource' #ref=1, ptr=0x07FEF758
name='<mysterious overhead>' category='FaceFX' #ref=0, ptr=0x08169158
WARNING: 6 resource leaks! (see list above)

paladin181: Try not installing it into Program Files. That is always a terrible place to install games, and was never intended for such.
Also, try running with elevated privileges (run as administrator).

RuberFF: I just re-installed the game on a different driver and put Compatibilty on Windows 7 with Admin privilidges, nothing worked

RuberFF: I'm using a 4070,I've tried asking on Reddit now, I'll see how it goes but I'm not getting my hopes up

timppu: It may be that discussion is on the right track because now I noticed that the Windows 11 Home laptop where the game does not launch has been updated to 24H2, while the Windows 11 Pro laptop where it works, is still at 23H2. They suggested that the 24H2 update has broken lots of games.

And the other laptop where it works too is still running Windows 10 Pro...

I thought they would be on the same level as I ran Windows updates for both, but apparently not. I try to upgrade the 11 Pro laptop to 24H2 and see if the same problem occurs there.

EDIT: Hmm, odd, the 11 Pro laptop doesn't even offer the 24H2 update even when I have enabled the option of "Get the latest updates as soon as they are available"... For some reason it was offered to my other Windows 11 laptop, but not to this one. Does it arrive first to 11 Home laptops and only later to 11 Pro, or has MS put the update on hold for now, due to compatibility problems?

RuberFF: I guess now we just need GOG to fix things or Windows to fix them...

timppu: Most probably MS needs to fix the update, it seems to affect so many games now.
And as I suspected, I am not getting the 24H2 update to my other Windows 11 PC because apparently MS has stopped sharing the update for the time being, and they are suggesting even themselves to downgrade to 23H2 if you can't wait for a fix.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows11/comments/1hhbyil/microsoft_confirms_windows_11_24h2_issue_is/

https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/windows-11-24h2-is-in-danger-of-becoming-hated-by-gamers

Oh well, shit happens... It would be nice to know at some point, what went wrong with the update, why problems with so many games, even DRM-free ones (like back when MS prevented many copy protections from working at some point because the copy protections were now considered malware).

With some games disabling Auto-HDR apparently helps (I don't even have HDR enabled at all though), while with some games disabling multithreading may make a game more stable with 24H2.

RuberFF: Almost a month and still no update from the support of GOG