12 replies to this topic

[Millni6]

Hey there I just installed RA3 on my computer went to go start it and it took me into the game. Decided to force close and install CnC Online Tacitus version 1.0.0.0 walked through it and now RA3 wont run (it comes up with the screen but doesn't launch, no errors just kicks me back). Just reformatted my computer a week ago clean copy of Windows 11. Wondering if the the CnC Online thing is the cause, but I can't seem to find where it installed itself to do troubleshooting. Need help!

[astra1993]

Tacitus installs itself by putting a `dsound.dll` file into the game's directory (for RA3, it's inside the `Data` directory in the game's installation directory). Also make sure to install the Visual C++ Runtime, when installing Tacitus, or just download them from here:
https://aka.ms/vs/17..._redist.x86.exe
https://aka.ms/vs/17..._redist.x64.exe
If the game still wasn't launching after the installation of Tacitus, please try setting the game's compatibility option to run at Windows 7 or Windows 10 and set run as administrator.
 

[Millni6]

Thank you, nothing seems to be working. I tried Windows 7 and Admin, screen pops up (red alert splash screen) but doesn't launch the game and goes right back to steam. I also tried uninstalling and installing C++ as well as deleting the file in question. Also now Kanes Wrath doesn't work (I just played it on Saturday) same thing. Splash screen and then back to the screen. Please help, beyond frustrated. 

[astra1993]

If RA3 refused to launch, even when Tacitus was deleted from its folder, then the problem is unlikely to be with Tacitus. Two things come to my mind. First of all download the DirectX runtime from here and make sure to install all of its components (this game requires DX9 which is considered legacy in Windows 11). Second is that I'd like to know whether you're using an antivirus software besides the standard Windows Defender, and if yes, which product are you using?

[Millni6]

All great questions, will try to do the DX thing when I get home. The issue is though that this is a fresh install and Kanes was working just fine two days before I installed Tacitus. Not using anything other than Windows Defender. 

[Millni6]

Also I should ask, other than just deleting the files how can I complete remove this as this would be a step to issolate the issue. I'm guessing there was some sort of registry edit that happened? I am a big fan of the work that your team does. You have taken a game that had no online and allowed it to keep going! All that said though, this begs the question where is the uninstall option, and if there is not one, why not? Thank you so much. 

[astra1993]

Tacitus only puts that one `dsound.dll` file inside each of the supported games' installation directories. Removing that file is equal to uninstalling Tacitus. The registry keys were added by the old C&C Online launcher which is now deprecated and doesn't work correctly. Tacitus itself does not add any registry keys. Actually Tacitus uninstalls the old launcher, if it is detected upon installation.
Please uninstall Tacitus from all those games by finding and removing that file in each game's directory. Then install the DirectX runtime and the Visual C++ redistributable that i linked previously. Then try launching both games. They should work fine without Tacitus. If they don't, the game's files are corrupted, which would require a clean re-install of the game. If they launched successfully, then install Tacitus and test again. Please tell me the results so we can continue troubleshooting this.

Edited by astra1993, 23 April 2025 - 09:22 PM.

[Millni6]

Thank you good sir, will try this soon. 

[Millni6]

Downloaded DX
Uninstalled Kanes/RA3
Re-downloaded CnC 3/Kanes only 
Booted up Kanes - went right in
Installed Tacitus - Splash screen, right back to steam, did not start the game. 
Searched for "dsound.dll" in Kanes, found 3 instances, deleted all of them. 
Went back to Steam - started Kanes - Fired right up. 
 

[astra1993]

Inside the same directory of the game's folder, where Tacitus was installed, you should be able to find a file called `Tacitus.log`. Please send that file.

[Millni6]

Thanks again for your help, hoping this is working some bugs out!

I did locate the file however it had nothing in it (0 bytes)
I reinstalled your program and tried to launch again, took me back to steam (so not working)
Checked back to see if the file got any data, it did not (still 0 bytes)
I tried one more time to run as admin, no dice. 
Found the Exe, moved to Windows 7 and running as Admin got the below error. 
https://imgur.com/a/417YqZ5
Located the dll file and removed it from each folder one by one each time trying to launch
Example removed world builder dll file tried to run, nothing. 1.2 file removed, nothing, 1.3 removed (program completely removed) - went right in. 

Back to working fine but no Tacitus. 
 

[Millni6]

I can send you the logg if youd like but its still zero bytes even after all that. 

Again, I just reformatted 2 weeks ago, I made sure these programs are on the C: drive and once I reformatted it prompted me to go from Win 10 to Win 11. Everything worked fine with CnC before Tacitus, now I can at least play (don't know the deal with RA3 at first - trying to DL it again to troubleshoot). 

[astra1993]

If the log file is empty, that means Tacitus could not even be loaded correctly. The error message in the image you provided means that the Visual C++ redistributables that I linked earlier are not installed. And please do not remove any of the game's files as that can corrupt your game completely. Tacitus only adds the `dsound.dll` file and nothing else.

By the way, you can join the C&C Online Discord (the link can be found on the web site near the server status bar) and open a ticket in the tech-support forum there, for a more real-time support.