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SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
I had this happen before and I reinstalled. I'm not sure if that solved it or just time so I wanted to put an inquiry out there related to it.

When I go to run the game (C:\Program Files\Cryptic Studios\Star Trek Online.exe) it shows in my service tray but nothing appears on the screen. There is no news, no option to log in, no patching and therefore no playing. I've checked my firewall and shut it down as well as some other security controls thinking that maybe they were holding it up. I've rebooted and still nothing.

Is this isolated to just me? Do I need to install again?
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  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Fidgiter wrote: »
    I had this happen before and I reinstalled. I'm not sure if that solved it or just time so I wanted to put an inquiry out there related to it.

    When I go to run the game (C:\Program Files\Cryptic Studios\Star Trek Online.exe) it shows in my service tray but nothing appears on the screen. There is no news, no option to log in, no patching and therefore no playing. I've checked my firewall and shut it down as well as some other security controls thinking that maybe they were holding it up. I've rebooted and still nothing.

    Is this isolated to just me? Do I need to install again?

    nah, you just need the show launcher program thats floating around these forums.

    Load up the launcher as usual, the run http://files.champions-online.com/ShowLauncherWindows.exe while the launcher is "running"
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    This message deleted due to my stupidity! :)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    It installs wherever you tell it to. Some systems for reasons known only to MS, like to hide the launcher. That program forces it to show.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    That worked. Thank you =>)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    One of these days I will figure out why this happens >_<
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    What I have had happen before for another appplication, Vitural PC 2007, is that it was placing the application somewhere off screen >.< based on registery key info about the location it was last loaded to. Any chance it could be related?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Its either that or the initial showwindow is failing. The little tool would fix either, so its hard to tell.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    coderanger wrote:
    One of these days I will figure out why this happens >_<

    If it is the launcher window being located "off screen", I've had problems with that in any number of programs running on Windows since at least Win 3.1 (maybe 3.0... been a while).

    Steps to create the problem on demand:
    - Take desktop resolution to max.
    - Open STO Launcher and locate the window in lower right corner of desktop so it's barely visible.
    - Close STO Launcher. (This is important since it saves it's last location.)
    - Reduce desktop resolution a little bit so that both axis are reduced. This should put the Launcher window "off screen".
    - Open STO Launcher. It will no longer appear on the desktop therefore the player can't log in.

    Note: This is a way to create the problem on demand. A computer user doesn't have to do these steps for it to occur. Some problem causes the last window position to be saved incorrectly which puts the program window way off screen (and I mean waaaay off screen). Again, I've experienced this issue for over a decade in Windows of various flavors.

    Starting with Win95 and through Vista, when I've had this happen with program windows I do the following:
    - Right click program's task bar icon and choose "Maximize" to get the window to appear on screeen.
    - With the program window maximized, right click the task bar itself and choose Cascade or one of the Tile Windows options. This resets the program window keeping it "on screen" but no longer maximized.
    - Close the program window which saves it's new location.

    Note: Unfortunately, the option to Maximize a window via the right click menu seems to have disappeared with Win 7 making it impossible for the user to fix on that platform (as far as I've found so far). Also, I note that the STO Launcher itself doesn't have the ability to Maximize anyway so these steps won't work.

    I think the solution is to have the Launcher do a check on launch that compares it's position to the current screen resolution and resetting that position if it's "off screen".

    Why this problem still exists after so many iterations of Windows is one of the mysteries of the universe I guess.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Hey Coderanger...

    When are they fixing Impulse Engines? 1/3 (or more) of all of them are bugged.

    Ever since the Ramming Speed 'fix' Full Impulse bonuses on engines no longer applies.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    wrote:
    Hey Coderanger...

    When are they fixing Impulse Engines? 1/3 (or more) of all of them are bugged.

    Ever since the Ramming Speed 'fix' Full Impulse bonuses on engines no longer applies.
    /me points at the title of this forum.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    this is more of a issue with windows especially with windows 7 both the 32 and 64 bit versions. as this issue happens with other pc games too.

    even ms own flight simulator X occasionally when you click the icon to start . it draws or starts the game some where off screen too. and ms own devs on their own tech net forums for windows have yet to figure out whats causes this to happen with flight sim x and other games and it seems to be random. as this doesn't occur with these apps all the time. it it happens rarely on xp , but more so on vista and windows 7 it seems.

    so this thing with the launcher disappearing or not showing up isn't unique to this game at all. which mean it it could be a lot harder to fix. if part of the issue is windows itself until ms can patch it..
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    one thing that's helped for me in the past with this issue at times is just playing with the compatability mode for the program, Doesn't work 100% of the time but sometimes is all it needs to fix it. Definitely annoying little bugger that seems pretty random to things
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Ok so this is a SUPER old thread but...

    I had this happen to me as I was setting up a new monitor and for a short time running two and the primary display was goofed up. So when I launched the launcher it was on the wrong screen.

    If your on windows seven here is what I did.

    Hover your mouse over the icon so it shows the preview pane then move your mouse onto the launcher in the preview pane. Once there right click then pick move and just drag your mouse left or right and it should pop back on the screen :)
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