Launcher will not start, gets "Unable to load application configuration"

[RevZMan123]

Any time I try to run the launcher since Sept 25th, I only get the error referenced in the subject: "Unable to load application configuration." I have been though many steps of updating and checking and sending diags and procmons to EA Support but they have not found a solution for me. 

It really pains me to have to leave the game but this was not my choice. However, short of a reload or restore from early August, I can't seem to get a proper solution.

I've reset winsocks, I've reinstalled TCP/IP, I've tried the game in safe mode w/ networking, I've wiped it out from my PC entirely, but now I'm dead in the water.

Any one ever see this error? I've been running through things for over a week now, so it's not something from the 1st page or 2 of search results.

The last thing I did was to run some namehelp DNS optimizer ... even after uninstalling it, I am still having issues. I didn't seem to have a system restore point BEFORE the problem, just the one from my first uninstall. The developer for that software is MIA. The only thing I did notice that was odd, was that most of the net*.inf files in my c:\windows\inf folder are symbolic links rather than actual files but they are not that way on my laptop or a friend's Windows 7 PC as well.

Please, amazing SWTOR Community, you're my only hope!

[proxos666]

@RevZMan123

Has one of those steps been to run the repair utility ?

What Antivirus are you using ?

Edit - If the repair utility doesn't help, create a new windows administrator account and launch the game there and advise if the same.

ESET - disable protocol filtering  (this will exist in safe mode)

Kaspersky - disable scan secure/encrypted connections

[RevZMan123]

Yes, I ran the repair utility. Several times when it was 1.7.8 and now have been trying 1.8 version as well to no avail.

I'm running panda AV, but that was installed before this. Exclusions were added and nothing shows blocked. I also turned off Windows Firewall.

Tried a new admin profile previously, i will try again after all the updates I performed.

[proxos666]

@RevZMan123

One last thought before I go for the night (1120pm)

Do you use the chrome web browser and have browser extensions enabled ? if so disable them

the launcher is like a web browser and uses the chromium framework

Edit - I have few other things to try so if it persists will be back tommorow

[RevZMan123]

Thanks for your time. I did uninstall Chrome at some point, but have Opera (which runs on the Chromuim engine as well)

I tried a new admin profile, in Safe mode w/ networking, with the launcher in a new folder on a different drive and still no go.

I'll try to reinstall chrome and see if it helps.

Update: No change after Chrome Install

[proxos666]

@RevZMan123

Do a search for libcef.dll (part of the chromium framework) , if any exist in the common path cut them out and paste to the desktop.

In particular look at C:\Windows\SysWOW64

This dll should not be in a common path , and is usually installed into a particular program folder.

If another program installs a different version it causes problems

[proxos666]

@RevZMan123

You mention this occurred after a DNS optimiser was installed

in the command prompt as administrator type

netsh winhttp>import proxy source=ie

See if this has an affect

[DBWoodynz]

Question?.. I understand you turned off Windows Firewall... but turning it off does not open 'any' doors at all.. have you added the correct exclusions to Windows Firewall? assuming you did your Panda av; try having both..?

[RevZMan123]

Turning it off most certainly disables all the allow/block lists, so you might not understand firewall setups very well.

Regardless, I had set them to be excluded early on in the process before disabling anything fully.

I checked for Libcef.dll and only found copies in game folders, not in the path anywhere.

I will breakdown and try a system state restore and see if it helps because SWTOR seems to be the only game (and game devs, apparently) in the industry that doesn't know what it's own requirements are. Every other game out there I have tried has no issue. I've run the installers of several other bitraider-streamed games as well.

I do thank everyone who has tried to help me through this. 

[proxos666]

@RevZMan123

The netsh command had no affect either I gather