UT2004 won't start?

[Vasgo]

I installed the game before way back and now I want to play again. I had no problem installing it but once I clicked on the icon the UT2004 screen pops up and does nothing else. It doesn't even have a tab for me to close but instead I have to ctrl+alt+delete to end the process. There is no error either, it just won't start... any tips so I can play again?
I also downloaded the previous patch.

[GreatEmerald]

Well, that's bizarre. Check your UT2004.log file, although chances are that it might be cut off...

[Vasgo]

Where exactly is this file?

Well I found it if it's the ut2004/system
It's a notepad with nothing on it....

[GreatEmerald]

Yea, as I thought. It's one of those mysterious errors with no way of knowing what went wrong. It could be because of permission problems, because of file corruption, because of system corruption, because of damaged installation etc. You can start from the bottoma nd make your way to the top - first, try repatching the game to patch 3369. If that doesn't help, reinstall the game, and make sure things like UAC are turned off. If that doesn't help, reinstall the operating system. If that doesn't help, replace the disc.

[Vasgo]

I tried the first 3 suggestions but didn't work. But dang, I don't like how I have to reinstall my operating system. I don't think I'll do that.... and I'm not much of a computer person but replacing my disc? Doesn't that cost some money? All in all I don't think I'll be playing again.
Thanks for helping though. I really appreciate it!

[Baryonyx]

Have a look at the disc. Is it scratched perhaps? That would be the only thing left I can think of that could cause this. But buying a new game is not that expensive, nowadays UT2004 is really cheap.

[Vasgo]

It is an old disc... I don't know if it's worth buying another UT2004, is it still active?

[Private Tux]

We are still playing the game (either online or offline). I guess you can purchase another copy of UT2004 original or the UT2004 Editor's Choice Edition to have a chance (this is 'optional'). And which OS do you use (don't reinstall!)?

[Vasgo]

I use Windows 7 Home Premium

[Dr.Flay]

If you are not sure if you have the full ECE version, or need the 64bit update etc. I have just replicated all of Beyound Unreal's essentials list (plus extras).
Certain bonus packs such as the Mega pack will also update your copy of UT to it's fullest.
http://my.opera.com/Unreal-Tournamen...d-unreal-files
When running the initial install of older games (or even patches and addon "exe" packs), it is worth right-clicking and running the installer as Administrator.
I suggested to another user that they install the game on an XP machine, and copy that installation over the top of your failed Win7 one.
(This does work, but is just a bit of a pain).
There are a selection of other useful updates and mods on the main 2K4 page,that you will probably want if you get it working.

If it really comes down to needing a new copy, you can get the ECE edition on Steam, very cheaply (again I give a link to the correct page on my site)

[s7urm]

I think you are able to activate your retail edition on Steam at no charge. Enter the key and download some fresh files!
I haven't used game discs in 5+ years or so.

Windows errors (though I am on ultimate edition 64 bit):
Right click and run as administrator... but again I'd go with activation on steam as it installs all dependencies as well, etc.

Hope it helped. I'd do anything to play me some UT (in fact I just recently bent over backwards to get my demos running on UT3 lol) so yeah. Keep UT alive bros. :3

[arbee]

You can't activate your retail key on Steam. I tried.

Try to open UT2004.ini,

change this:

RenderDevice=D3DDrv.D3DRenderDevice
;RenderDevice=D3D9Drv.D3D9RenderDevice
;RenderDevice=Engine.NullRenderDevice
;RenderDevice=OpenGLDrv.OpenGLRenderDevice
;RenderDevice=PixoDrv.PixoRenderDevice

to this

;RenderDevice=D3DDrv.D3DRenderDevice
;RenderDevice=D3D9Drv.D3D9RenderDevice
;RenderDevice=Engine.NullRenderDevice
;RenderDevice=OpenGLDrv.OpenGLRenderDevice
RenderDevice=PixoDrv.PixoRenderDevice

See if it works.

[s7urm]

Oh, please excuse me. I should have informed myself better.
Indeed you cannot activate UT2004 on Steam with your retail key.

I am putting this up for a reference:
A list of games that you can use your retail key on Steam

Unreal Tournament 3 is part of them, though.
Anyway, OP, please review the suggestion and let us know if it worked. We are trying to save every last UT player. =)

[GreatEmerald]

If the disc is old, then it could very well be your problem, then. You can also get a replacement download over at GOG.com for $10, if you don't want to install Steam's DRM.

[Vasgo]

The change to UT2004.ini didn't work.... and I bought the Unreal Anthology around 2007-2008, so I don't know if it's that old.

I also uninstalled and tried to download the demo. It has the same problem....

[GreatEmerald]

Oh, well, my Anthology works just fine so far, too, and if the demo doesn't work, either, then my bet is on your OS being corrupted. How long have you used it since you last reinstalled it, anyway?

[Vasgo]

I last played in 2010 and I sometimes do have files that are corrupted....

[Dr.Flay]

Like I said in my earlier post.
Install on an XP PC, and copy the folder over your existing one (make sure you use the 64bit update).
If you copy a working version of UT on to your PC, and it still does not work, then you need to look at windows, or possibly some other software you have is stopping it.
Check your drivers are up to date (including MoBo chipset) and temporarily disable your security software.

If it still does not work, you will need a priest to come and exorcise the demons living in your PC.

[GreatEmerald]

Well, another thing to do is to run CHKDSK. But it's not very likely to help, unfortunately.

[VendorX]

I last played in 2010 and I sometimes do have files that are corrupted....

1. Check your system for viruses...
2. Make backup of System folder - i.e. you can compress it...
3. delete UT2004.ini, User.ini, unrealed.ini - they will be recreated and do this each time after each unsuccessful execution.
3.1 Run the game...
4. If you don't have Administrator rights, go to UT2004.exe -> Properties -> Compatibility and select Run this program as an administrator.
4.1 Run the game...
5. Open UT2004.ini go to [URL] and find LocalMap=NvidiaLogo.ut2 - change that to LocalMap=NoIntro.ut2
5.1 Run the game...
6. If all above will fail, you need to reinstall the game or at last fresh copy of System folder...
6.1 Run the game...

BTW. PixoRenderDevice is a software driver - I don't see relation with the problem.

[GreatEmerald]

6. If all above will fail, you need to reinstall the game or at last fresh copy of System folder...

It was already said that even the demo doesn't run on that system, so even that wouldn't work.

[VendorX]

All above in my post not this thread...

[GreatEmerald]

I'm not speaking about what "all above" is, I'm saying that reinstalling the game won't work, as evidenced by the inability to launch the demo of the game.

[VendorX]

Q: Before launch the demo he check the system for viruses..? Cause activate on Steam or purchasing a new copy will change nothing. Problem is in OS or corrupted files...

BTW. Checking graphic card driver, DirectX, VB runtime can be useful too...

[100GPing100]

The Visual Basic Runtime is not used by any game from the series.

[GreatEmerald]

Except for UnrealEd 1.0, if anyone still remembers that.

[_Lynx]

Let's go from the very beginning. What are the computer specs? Where UT2004 is installed? Also from a bit of googling I see that this problem might be caused by certain software, like some hotkey managers or by certain antivirus programs.

I suggest disabling all start-up items through msconfig (Start -> Run... -> "msconfig" -> Startup tab -> Disable All), then disabling any antivirus software, restarting and trying to run the game again.

Except for UnrealEd 1.0, if anyone still remembers that.

That was one crashy editor )

[GreatEmerald]

That was one crashy editor )

Tell me about it... I'm stuck with it in my current project that is exporting Wheel of Time maps to Unreal, and it's quite hellish. Had a nice user interface, though (nobody likes floating windows).