[GUIDE] Launcher Troubleshooting

by EA_Nils
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[GUIDE] Launcher Troubleshooting

[ Edited ]
Community Manager

I. Identifying your launcher version
II. Launcher Cannot Patch Itself
III. Common Launcher Errors
IV. Administrator Settings
V. Other Issues
VI. Network Troubleshooting
VII. Contacting Customer Service
VIII. A note on Reorganising Data when using the streaming launcher

 

Hello all,

 

Included here are common troubleshooting steps for issues encountered with the Launcher that may prevent patching or launching of the game. We’ve updated this guide with tips for the latest release of the Launcher with streaming patching. If you are still experiencing difficulty after taking the suggested action(s), please create a post describing your issue in detail with your latest launcher log:

 
Spoiler
Launcher Logs. These logs are useful if you are having issues with the launcher/patcher. We can use these logs for analysis if your issue occurs after clicking on the Launcher shortcut, and before you click ‘Play’ on the Launcher to enter the game. In a default installation these files can be found here:
  • 64bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\BioWare\Star Wars - The Old Republic\logs
  • 32bit: C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\BioWare\Star Wars - The Old Republic\logs
Example file name: launcher_20111122.Log

Please use the spoiler tag (5th button in the editor above)  

I. Identifying your Launcher Version

You can determine the launcher version used on your system per https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/star-wars/star-wars-the-old-republic/swtor-launcher-troubleshooting-g...

 

II. Launcher Cannot Patch Itself

 

In order to resolve this issue, we ask that you follow the below steps exactly. If they are not followed in this order, the file may not execute correctly:

 

  1. Open your task manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and ensure all SWTOR and Launcher processes have been shut down.
  2. Go to [Repair utility has been temporarily removed due to the release of the new launcher] A window will open asking if you would like to save or run the file. Please select save.
  3. The Launcher Repair Utility places the directory it is initially run in in the Destination Folder field by default. You can either move the .exe to the appropriate Game Install folder (see default locations below), or change the information within the Utility after it is run. Default locations:
    • For 32 bit Operating Systems - C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\BioWare\Star Wars - The Old Republic\
    • For 64 bit Operating Systems - C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\BioWare\Star Wars - The Old Republic\
  4. Once you have placed the file in the appropriate location, run the application. If you have chosen to update the Directory Folder within the Utility, run the application and update the information.
  5. Choose Install, and let it complete.
  6. Once the installation is complete, please try launching the game again.

Note: This is simply a self-extracting archive that installs the latest versions of all the Launcher components to eliminate the need for the Launcher to patch itself. We’ve seen a number of users who consistently are unable to patch the Launcher successfully and this is a workaround for that issue specifically.

Some anti-virus software will cause the Launcher not to be able to update itself. If you’re unable to update the Launcher you’ll need to either use the LauncherRepairUtility or disable your anti-virus software while the Launcher updates itself and then immediately enable it thereafter.

 


III. Common Launcher Errors

“Error downloading patch data. Retrying…” (Non-Streaming Only)
This indicates that the Launcher is unable to download data from the patch servers. The Launcher will continue to retry until it connects successfully. This could indicate a network issue; see the Network Troubleshooting section.

“An error has occurred. Retrying…” (Streaming Only)
This is a more general error than above which may occur in streaming mode, but likely indicates a network issue; see the Network Troubleshooting section.

“Please run with Administrator Privileges.”
The Launcher must be run with Administrator privileges. See the Administrator Settings section for instructions on how to run as Administrator.

“An error has occurred. Please exit and restart the SWTOR Launcher.” (Streaming Only)
Restart the Launcher. If you receive the same error again, contact customer support.

“An error has occurred. Please contact customer support with this error number. [#]” (Streaming only)
This indicates a more serious error which requires customer support intervention. Run LauncherDiag.exe (in your SWTOR folder) and contact customer support. They’ll provide you with instructions on delivering the diagnostic information for review.

“Only a single instance of this application can run.”
This indicates that the Launcher is already running. Check your Windows taskbar for an instance of the Launcher; if a SWTOR icon is not in your taskbar, start the Task Manager, click on the Processes tab, and right-click on the process Launcher.exe to terminate it.
Note: If you receive this error in the midst of the Launcher patching itself, see the instructions in section II. above.

“Network Error. Check your internet connection.”
This indicates that the Launcher is unable to reach the SWTOR internet domain. Verify that you are connected to the internet and that your router/broadband modem are functioning correctly. See the Network Troubleshooting section for tips on firewall, VPN, and other settings which could affect the Launcher’s ability to connect to our servers.

“An error occurred updating. Repair” (Non-Streaming Only)
Please click the “Repair” link. Repair can take upwards of 20 minutes to complete.
If Repair does not work and you consistently receive “corrupt source” or “unknown file” errors in your Launcher logs (these can be found in the “\logs” directory in your install directory), please try the following, in order:

  1. Run chkdsk
  2. Run Memtest86+
  3. Disable overclocking of CPU and/or memory
  4. Confirm the CAS Latency setting of your memory in BIOS is correct
  5. Confirm the voltage setting of your memory in BIOS is correct
  6. Update your Ethernet drivers
  7. Update your virus scanning software

While some applications are tolerant of minor file corruption, the SWTOR Launcher is not. The incremental patching process it uses is extremely bandwidth efficient but requires that the source and patch files be pristine to correctly apply the patch. Corrupt source and unknown file errors in the logs indicate that the Launcher has determined there are errors in the source or patch file which would prevent the patch from being cleanly applied without causing instability in the game. The only reproducible causes for these errors that we’ve found to date have been either file system issues or memory issues. This is why we urge users to run chkdsk and memtest86+, and check their BIOS settings. It is completely possible for a system to appear stable in normal daily use and still have memory or disk issues that prevent SWTOR from patching. That said, these errors can ultimately lead to general system or data corruption so getting them fixed is in your best interest if you are affected.

“Reliable source serving corrupt data” in Logs (Non-Streaming Only)
If you receive “Reliable source serving corrupt data” errors in your logs, this is also indicative of file corruption. After some bad data released to the Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) in late December 2011, we put additional systems in place to safeguard and monitor patch servers for corrupt data. All instances of this error since that time have been traced to in-memory corruption of the downloaded patch data. Please follow the steps above to test your memory and its settings.

To run chkdsk via the Windows Command Prompt:

  1. Open the Windows Start Menu
  2. Type ‘cmd’ in the ‘Search programs and files’ field and press Enter
  3. Type ‘chkdsk <drive >:’ where the drive is the letter of the drive you are installing to, e.g. ‘chkdsk c:’, and press enter

If errors are detected you can repair using the ‘/r’ option, e.g. ‘chkdsk c: /r’

To run chkdsk via the Windows GUI (Windows 7 & 8):

  1. Select ‘Computer’ from the Windows Start Menu
  2. Right-click on the drive you are installing to and select ‘Properties’
  3. Select the ‘Tools’ tab
  4. Under ‘Error Checking’ select ‘Check now…’

To run chkdsk via the Windows GUI (Windows 10):

  1. Select ‘This PC from the File Explorer
  2. Right-click on the drive you are installing to and select ‘Properties’
  3. Select the ‘Tools’ tab
  4. Under ‘Error Checking’ select ‘Check’

If errors are detected, you will be prompted if you wish to repair.

To run Memtest86+:

  1. Download Memtest86+ from http://www.memtest.org
  2. Run the tool according to the directions on the site; we suggest running at least 6 passes

If errors are detected, please remove/replace the affected memory. To disable CPU/memory overclocking, refer to the instructions for your motherboard or overclocking utility.

IV. Administrator Settings

Depending on your operating system configuration you may need to be the administrator of the PC that you are running the game from. Please check these settings by doing the following:

 

Windows 7 and 10 Administrator Settings

  1. Open up your desktop Start Menu then click on the ‘Control Panel’ option to open it.
  2. Click ‘User Accounts’ (you may need to click on the ‘User Accounts and Family Safety’ option first).
  3. Click on ‘Manage User Accounts’.

Windows 8 Administrator Settings 

  1. From the Start screen, click the Desktop tile
  2. Bring up the Charms bar by hovering over the top or bottom right
  3. Click on ‘Settings’
  4. Click on ‘Control Panel’
  5. Click ‘User Accounts and Family Safety’
  6. Click on ‘Manage Settings’

If you are set as the administrator of the PC you will see ‘Administrator’ by your username. If you are not the administrator, please try the following:

  • Edit your user account and set yourself up as the Administrator for it.
  • Contact the Administrator User of the PC (this may be the case with shared or office computers).

V. Other Issues

 

If you did not receive an error in the Launcher and/or were not given the option to Repair, please check the following as they are known to resolve a number of issues:

 

  • Restart the Launcher
  • Ensure that the date on your computer is correct (date, time and timezone)
  • Set the Launcher to run with Administrative privileges, following the instructions above.
  • Close down any unnecessary applications that may be running in the background. You can check the Applications Tab and Processes Tab in the Task Manager to see what programs are currently running and close them from there.
  • Set your computer’s sleep settings to ‘Never’
  • Disable any screensavers
  • Run the [Repair utility has been temporarily removed due to the release of the new launcher]  This will not affect any game client files.

VI. Network Troubleshooting Steps

 

Firewall software
You may need to allow the launcher (launcher.exe) and game client (swtor.exe) to communicate through your firewall. For the Windows firewall you can check the following guide:

 

For other third-party firewalls, please refer to the software manufacturer for specific instructions on adding exceptions to those firewalls.

Anti-virus software
Anti-Virus software can also cause issues launching the game. There are a number of different anti-virus software variations out there, so we’ve included some general steps below that might help:

  1. Open your anti-virus software menu and check that ‘swtor.exe’ and ‘launcher.exe’ are NOT in a quarantine list or deletion list.
  2. Add swtor.exe and launcher.exe to your anti-virus ‘safelist’.

If you are unsure on how to do either of the above steps then you should contact the manufacturer of your anti-virus software. In addition, we recommend use of Microsoft Security Essentials for virus protection. It has been tested for compatibility with the SWTOR launcher. If using other anti-virus software, please make sure you’re running the latest version of it.

Router Settings
Are you using a wired or a wireless connection on your computer? If it’s the latter, you could try connecting your computer directly to your router using a wired connection to see if it fixes downloading errors with the launcher. Wireless network connections can be prone to reduced signal quality when compared to a wired connection on the same network. The reasons for this could be related to:

  • The quality of your wireless device and/or router
  • Interference from other wireless signals
  • Physical obstructions between your devices which reduce the wireless signal quality

Occasionally you might find that your router configuration is affecting your ability to access the game. You may need to open specific ports needed by SWTOR which can be found here. If you are unsure how to do this, then please refer to the guide/manual of your specific brand of router.

Host File Settings
Have you altered your hosts file to point cdn-patch.swtor.com to a specific IP address? If so, please remove this line from your hosts file.
This undermines the load balancing done by the Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and results in individual download servers being overloaded. Also CDNs may change the IP addresses of their servers at any time, causing the Launcher to not be able to fetch patch data.

VPN
If you utilize a VPN for your connection, you need to ensure that the game is allowed to communicate through the VPN. If you are using a proxy server, please ensure that it is configured correctly in Internet Options.

Proxy Settings
If you are working from a LAN (Local Area Network) – for example on a college campus – please check with the network administrator to make sure the connection will allow communication to the SWTOR servers.

If you have recently been connected to a LAN using a proxy server which you are no longer using, you will need to disable the proxy settings:

  1. Open the Control Panel
  2. Click on Network and Internet
  3. Select Internet Options
  4. Select the Connections Tab
  5. Click the LAN settings button
  6. Tick the box to Automatically detect settings
  7. Click OK to accept your changes

VII. Contacting Customer Service

Hopefully the above troubleshooting information has helped to resolve your issue. If there is still an issue with your Launcher that is preventing patching or launching the game, please create a ticket if you can get in-game, or call our phone support. You can also run LauncherDiag.exe. It will generate a compressed archive to send to Customer Service which contains your Launcher logs and both dxdiag and systeminfo reports for your PC. Under NO circumstances post this file to the message boards as your systeminfo includes information about your PC.

VIII. A note on Reorganising Data when using the streaming launcher.

“Reorganizing Data” is a normal step in every game patch using the streaming (BitRaider) technology.

Here's the process of a streaming patch, in order:

  1. Initializing: The Launcher retrieves a manifest which tells it what the current state of the game data is and then looks at the data on disk to determine what changes need to be made to the game files.
  2. Reorganizing Data: The Launcher then moves and/or deletes data from the game files to make room for new or updated data. This is typically the longest step in the streaming patch process and is essentially the same thing the non-streaming (SSN) patch process does in its Installing step. (Note: We're aware that currently the progress reporting on this step is very uneven. It is very slow to 25% or so, then gets to 98% very quickly, and then slows down again. We are working with the vendor to improve that.)
  3. Verifying: The Launcher now checks all the data on disk again to determine all the data which must be added or updated (whether part of the patch or corrupted).
  4. Installing: Finally, the Launcher downloads and inserts the new or updated data into the game files. 

Following the Installing step you're ready to play. If you had not yet completed your download for the first time, you'll be able to play after the “Minimum Download” is finished, but Installing will continue via the Launcher and in the background while you play.

Thank you.

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