Launcher Error: Generic error in GDI+ after clean install

[Ashbinder]

Built a new PC and installed a fresh copy of DDO High Res. Downloaded through Pando and installed no problem, but when I try to load the launcher I get the following error:



I've sent a ticket through the official support line but anyone in the community have any insights?

[My2Cents]

Did you make sure you installed a fresh copy of Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1 and the 1.1 Service Pack? I don't recall if the DDO installation checks for them. I know missing or faulty service pack can cause errors that look eerily similar to the one above...

If I recall correctly, not all windows OS's come with them off the CD.

Here are some links I looked up but haven't tried myself:

.Net Framework V1.1 : http://www.microsoft.com/download/en...ylang=en&id=26
.Net V1.1 Service Pack : http://www.microsoft.com/download/en...ylang=en&id=33

[Marcus-Hawkeye]

I agree with 2cent, it's most likely a .NET issue. I've found soemtimes you have to uninstall and reinstall the frameworks in order for them to work properly. Is this a legit copy of windows? I've also had to deal with this kind of thing in the past where... less than paid for... copies of windows did not work properly.

[Ashbinder]

I have .NET 1.0, 1.1, 1.1 SP 1, 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 installed. It's a genuine copy of Windows 7 64 bit, fresh out of the box.

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling .NET 1.1 twice. No change.

[My2Cents]

You need both .Net 1.1 and the 1.1 Service Pack, be sure you have both.

I have read that installing them on Win 7 64-bit is a little tricky, although I haven't done so myself.

I googled up a link that explains the process, there are probably easier descriptions.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...3-17660e25e43d

My apologies if this is already obvious to you.

This is a generic error which appears to be related to simple graphics display and I'd say a vast majority of this type of errors are due to .Net missing or faulty. If you just built a new PC, you may have display adapter and driver issues. That's beyond my expertise but there are very knowledgeable graphics folks rambling through this forum from time to time...

Which version of Directx did you install - I wonder if trying DX9 just for debugging purposes is worth it.

[Ashbinder]

Thanks for the links My2Cents, I already used that slipstreamed installation method to install 1.1 and 1.1 SP1 as described at http://saranspot.blogspot.com.au/200...ork-11-on.html which is where the user on Microsoft Answers copy-pasted their solution from. Still, +1 for your time and research.

As for video drivers, I'm currently running the "latest" version for my card (AMD Radeon HD 7970 driver 12.2 pre-cert, not quite ready to jump on the 12.3 preview just yet).

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling .NET 1.1 and SP1, tried uninstalling and reinstalling DDO, and no dice. I'll uninstall DDO and Pando, grab the low-res files and see if they work. Doubt it, but would rule out a corrupted install file for DDO.

[Ashbinder]

Downloaded and installed low-res files, still getting the same error message.

Have installed .NET 1.1 and Service Pack 1, tried two versions of the installation package and still not loading the launcher. Insights are appreciated.

Edit: Similar problem reported here: http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=292540. No fix was mentioned.

[Dulcimerist]

So you have .NET 1.1, 2.0, 3.5, and their service packs. You uninstalled the 1.1 stuff, left the other versions on, and reinstalled the 1.1 stuff? To do a clean install, I believe you needed to uninstall every single version of .NET before reinstalling any of them.

When I had to do a .NET reinstall, I took everything off and only installed .NET 4.0 and then automatically patched it through Windows Update. Then I launched DDO, it installed and configured 1.1 onto my system, and then I did Windows Update to patch that version. Perhaps you could try this method, and see if it works in your case?

EDIT: The above paragraph is what Mirthgar pretty much advised to do in his post later in the thread. Bottom line: Let DDO put 1.1 onto your system.

[AZgreentea]

Apparently "A generic error occurred in GDI+" is truly a generic error. I have found answers ranging from problems with .NET to insufficient permissions to run an application. You are running DDO as an administrator, right?

[Ashbinder]

Yes, the launcher was run as Administrator. unfortunately GDI+ errors are notoriously unhelpful, and the fact Microsoft has ceased support for the platform on Windows 7 only makes the issue more complex.

I'm starting to feel the simplest solution will be to do a disc format, reinstall a clean copy of Windows 7, install the required .NET files before downloading any updates and attempt to launch DDO. If a pure vanilla, fresh out of the box Windows 7 install can't run it, I know it's either impossible or a hardware problem with my system.

[Ashbinder]

Alright, I killed the bug using a tactical nuke.

1. Formatted hard drive and did vanilla install of Windows 7 64 bit Service Pack 1.
2. Installed DDO High Res from copy of setup loaded from external drive, installation automatically installs DirectX9, .NET 1.1 Service Pack 1 and C++ 2005/C++ 2010 x64.
3. Installed drivers from BIOS disc.
4. Installed antivirus.
5. Installed video card drivers.

I've yet to update the system with any Microsoft Essential Updates, but tested and confirmed DDO loads and runs without issue. Marking as resolved, if any automatic updates break this I'll mention it here and try to identify which are responsible.

[Mirthgar]

Alright, I killed the bug using a tactical nuke.

1. Formatted hard drive and did vanilla install of Windows 7 64 bit Service Pack 1.
2. Installed DDO High Res from copy of setup loaded from external drive, installation automatically installs DirectX9, .NET 1.1 Service Pack 1 and C++ 2005/C++ 2010 x64.
3. Installed drivers from BIOS disc.
4. Installed antivirus.
5. Installed video card drivers.

I've yet to update the system with any Microsoft Essential Updates, but tested and confirmed DDO loads and runs without issue. Marking as resolved, if any automatic updates break this I'll mention it here and try to identify which are responsible.

At home I just recently did something similar except I patched Windows via Win Update first, e.g. I did a new (to me) system build > installed 7 64bit, updated via Windows Update to 7 Sp1 and related patches > installed Lotro (they're functionally the same at the launcher as well as having the same pre-requisites) which installed .Net 1.1sp1.

Doing it that way I didn't run into any issues getting 1.1SP1 to install via Lotro doing it as a pre-req, and Lotro launcher ran fine afterward and since. (I'll be trying DDO as well soon and update if I find any issues there.)

So that situation might help you narrow it down to updates specifically relating to 1.1Sp1 or .net in general that came in after the fact, but also there might be a third party issue going on too.

For an example the security apps on the system not letting launcher access the registry to interact with 1.1sp1 or the .net files on the disk themselves etc, also some paranoid mode a/v's and security suites disable the Windows installer and related services to prevent unauthorized installs so reinstalls or .Net related updates might not have gone through correctly etc. (in other words could be a number of things).

If you do find anything and this helps pin it down definitely post a reply.

[Ashbinder]

The initial install that caused issues was virtually on a vanilla Win7 except for a few key differences. Primarily the fact I downloaded and installed both essential and non-essential updates to Windows before installing the DDO client. I'd also installed a copy of Skyrim, but doubt that had any effect on what was essentially a .NET compatibility error. The antivirus software I used for both faulty and working install is Microsoft Security Essentials and didn't trigger any warnings during the denied install.

I've completed installing all current Windows essential updates and can still run DDO. I can only credit the issue either to a corrupted install of an essential update or a non-essential update. Notably during the first install I simply used "select all" for the essential updates, whereas for the successful one I selectively installed updates (eg. upgrade to IE9 and restart, patch .NET and restart, etc) and tested DDO each install to try to identify the update causing problems. I was unfortunately unsuccessful.