Error 209 PatchManifestError Started After Mondays Update (4/6/15) Ticket: 150407-000417

Seravi

Saw some posts on TESO Facebook page as well of others having this issue since Monday. Still no reply on my ticket where I asked for it to be sent up the food chain. Maybe they will reply today. I am more than happy to supply any info they need but sorry this error is not on my side of the monitor. What frustrates me totally is getting replies to my ticket with "suggestions" of things to "try" that have nothing to do with this error.

Robbmrp

Hello @ZOS_GinaBruno, @ZOS_JessicaFolsom,

Would you email this post from @Seravi to Mr. Leeper please? This will help him resolve the erroneous 209 error that's easily by passed so this doesn't continue to be a daily annoyance for players.

Also, I'm not sure if @Seravi is looking for a new career with their programming skills but they could make a great addition to the @ZOS team!

Thank you @Seravi for your help with this, hopefully your work will be not be in vain and @ZOS can resolve this soon.

Seravi wrote: »

I am a programmer and have spent many years in CS for technical and program issues. Let's look at what error 209 is saying:

Error 209 - PatchManifestError_Version Fail
Unable to determine current version.

Is my game the correct version? Yes I have verified my game IS the correct version after Mondays update.

This could be from a recent update if your game patched before all our servers are done updating. If you recently updated, please wait a few minutes.

There was an update on Monday. I NEVER had this error until after I downloaded the patch.

If this error persists more than an hour, please contact customer support.

I did not contact CS immediately. I went to the Support Forum and searched for the error. This is the article I found anf followed every step.

https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/6486/kw/error 209 patch manifest

Now lets just go out on a limb here and think about this random error that happens with the launcher. I can open the launcher and see the error. I close the launcher and open it again with no issues and can play. I have removed files, reinstalled the launcher AND game and STILL get the error.

So COULD IT BE POSSIBLE that ONE or MORE of the game servers did NOT update properly and that is why this error is so random? When the player only sees this error randomly and can easily by pass the error by closing the launcher and opening it again, it would lead ANY programmer to believe that the problem is on the server side of things and there is a server OR servers that did not update properly.

Below are screen shots of the launcher network connections if it works properly and when it gives the 209 error. Maybe someone at ZOS CS can look at this and see where the issues are.

These are the network connections if the launcher operates properly:





These are the network connections if the launcher fails and gives the 209 error:

Thank you all!

glak

This is how I solved my problem:

1. Started Launcher
2. Removed the .version files except for the Launcher's .version file (4 - 1 = 3 files total)
3. Repaired, just a few MB actually downloaded

Starting the launcher after removing the .version files causes the Repair button to go away and forces a download of the entire game.

Seravi

glak wrote: »

This is how I solved my problem:

1. Started Launcher
2. Removed the .version files
3. Repaired, just a few MB actually downloaded

Starting the launcher after removing the .version files causes the Repair button to go away and forces a download of the entire game.

I did that then after opening the launcher a couple of times it failed again. I've also done a complete uninstall and reinstall of the launcher and game. Still having the same issues.

Seravi

Still no word since I asked for my ticket to be sent up the food chain.

Tashira

@ Seravi

Your current experience with ZO/ESO is why I cancelled my sub during the first 6 months. I have returned to the game and i am still experiencing the same issues you are right now

The email conversations I had and phone calls with support left me bewildered...

you might try and ask to have a supervisor call you

Seravi

Yeah I may try that. I did ask that they send my ticket to someone in upper support. I haven't heard one word since I asked for that to happen. I have tried everything in the KB articles and every trick others have tried including uninstall and reinstall.

I understand how you feel about the support experience....ugh.... I would get fired for sending replies like I received from CS.

SLy_Kyti

I had this error for the first time after the maintenance as well. Reaquired the version files. Only use the exe file to launch game NOT the launcher (its in the game files folder). Works.

Sad ZOS hasn't helped you.

Seravi

Yeah I know I can run from eso.exe but the launcher needs to work. Something broke after Mondays patch and it needs to be fixed. We shouldn't have to restart the launcher 10 times to get one good session that says "Play" or use the eso.exe because the launcher doesn't work.

If/when they fix it I would hope they would let me know what the problem was.

Richard_Ralh

This is what was suggested for me from the eso techs and it seems to work!


Greetings,

I'm Brian, a Technical Support Specialist here at The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited Support and thank you so much for replying with the results from your Game Consultant.

Normally, the Patch Manifest error is usually the result of a corrupt or otherwise invalid manifest file for the launcher. This can be fixed by deleting the manifest file manually which will force the launcher to re-generate the manifest. You can use the steps below to find and delete this file:
Navigate to the Patcher's install folder (by default located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online \Launcher)
(Personal note here; before deleteing the folder below make sure the launcher is closed!)
Locate and delete the ProgramData folder.
Restart the launcher
The launcher should now display "Creating Download." This is normal as the launcher begins the regeneration process. It can take anywhere between 21-30% before the launcher switches to "Downloading game files."
From there, restart the launcher. It should say "Creating Download" now which is completely normal. The Launcher will say that for anywhere between 21-30% after which it will switch to "Downloading game files."
If you still get an Error 209 after trying those steps, please try the following:
Open your Launcher
Look at the top right hand corner for your Launcher for your Settings Option(looks like a gear icon)
Change Megaserver from NA to EU (or vice versa depending on which server you are usually on) and close out of the Launcher
Open the Launcher back up and go back to Settings and change the Megaserver back to the original server you had it on.
Again, close the Launcher.
Now once you open your Launcher back up, your issues should be resolved and/or the game launcher should allow you to again update your game.

Hope this helps you out!

Seravi

Already tried those.

Seravi

Not sure if this will help anyone. I received an email from support after mine started working and this is what they said to do:

There is another way we can try to solve the issue. Please follow the steps:


Open the Launcher as Administrator
Do another repair please ( that will create a new host fresh host file we need for the upcomming steps)
Locate the file "D:"\games\ zenimaxonline\launcher (My game is installed on D)
Find in here all host developer files and delete the ones with a number as hostdeveloper 1, hostdeveloper 2 and so on
There should only be the one left without a number (that's the one you just created with the repair)
Close the file
Open the Launcher again as Administrator


It should work fine now.

Mine started working with no errors. I didn't do anything or try the steps I posted above.

Seravi

So on 4/14/15 my 209 error just stopped without doing anything. Just downloaded the update and it's back. I've repaired and still have the error. Not going to repair 20 more times like last time.

Seravi

Did another repair and tried removing the host files. Didn't work same 209 error.

Seravi

Not sure if this matters but both times I started receiving the 209 error, I had left my launcher open to get the patch while I was away. Today my launcher was open, received the patch and as soon as the servers went live I started receiving the 209 error and it won't stop.


Posting new logs of activity.

These are the network connections if the launcher operates properly:




These are the network connections if the launcher fails and gives the 209 error:



This error REALLY needs to be fixed!

Ytterin

Leaving the launcher open really doesn't matter. I got the same error today after patching for the new update.

For me, I guess I got lucky, because a little open and close with one repair run and it worked. Still, you get this error even without leaving the patcher open.

It is rather annoying, and it should be something that would be a priority. Not having players able to access your game is a not a good thing.

Seravi

Yeah I didn't feel that it would matter but since I had left it open both times I threw it out there in case it "might" help fix the problem. It obviously isn't on the client side when you can open and close the launcher and get a good launcher at some point. Also when I got this the first time in early April I did a fresh install on another system AND lugged the system to another location and different ISP and still got it so how is this problem on my side?

LarsS

You may have an interference with your virus protection.

Seravi

I've verified my virus software isn't the issue as well as firewall.

Bones

Add two more users that are getting the same error. My wife and myself both get this error randomly on two different pc's (her computer is less than a week old).

Neither of us got this error before Monday's patch. We can get into game by restarting the client until the repair button becomes a Play button. Although I have started getting random disconnects now. One moment walking along, next moment staring at the launcher again. This never happened before the latest patch and it is only on one of our computers.
Also seeing network issues where everything seems to freeze around me (although I can still move around). It's like a HUGE lag spike. Only effects one pc though, same PC plays many other online games with not even as much as a hitch on a 100Mb connection.

Hears_Bright_Colors

Bones wrote: »

We can get into game by restarting the client until the repair button becomes a Play button. Although I have started getting random disconnects now. One moment walking along, next moment staring at the launcher again. This never happened before the latest patch and it is only on one of our computers.

Getting this same issue. Prompted to repair constantly, paired with CTD's. Every 5 mins or so this last play session.

Will attempt this fix next and see if it fixes anything.

There is another way we can try to solve the issue. Please follow the steps:


Open the Launcher as Administrator
Do another repair please ( that will create a new host fresh host file we need for the upcomming steps)
Locate the file "D:"\games\ zenimaxonline\launcher (My game is installed on D)
Find in here all host developer files and delete the ones with a number as hostdeveloper 1, hostdeveloper 2 and so on
There should only be the one left without a number (that's the one you just created with the repair)
Close the file
Open the Launcher again as Administrator


It should work fine now.

Seravi

Yeah I've tried everything from A-Z mentioned from CS and the forums. Nothing helps. Some are lucky and get a fix right away while others have this error constantly.

To me this is like buying a car and noticing the car door only works one out of 10 times. Then have the dealer tell me it really isn't an important issue because it does work eventually....

Srithla

FWIW, this isn't just a Windows issue. I've seen the same problems on my Mac. Something is wrong at their end, not ours.

Seravi

Just received a reply to my CS ticket from someone I have been working with non stop on another issue. Stated they are looking into it and to just use the eso.exe to launch the game. This CS person knows how much I have tested, repaired and reinstalled so thank goodness they didn't want me to jump through those hoops again. So no fix as of right now and our options are to start the launcher until we don't see "Repair" or just use "eso.exe" and bypass the launcher.

Thanks to the CS person that replied to my ticket. I know if there was any other option available to me he would have told me because we have been through alot on another issue.

Robbmrp

I didn't leave my computer on Monday and downloaded the patch when I got home. I was also getting this erroneous error. Every time I've gotten it, I close the error and the launcher and reopen. Last night when I logged on I don't recall if I got it or not. I didn't receive it at all this morning so the issue could have been resolved with yesterdays "Hotfix".

I didn't uninstall
I didn't repair
I didn't launch as Admin
I didn't launch from eso.exe

Don't waste your time when you get these errors with doing the above.

Just close it and reopen until you get "Play". Even if you have to do this 20 times to get it to go away, it's still a lot shorter time than a repair and or uninstall/re-install.

Seravi

Yeah when I got it the first time in early April around the 12th it just started working with no error until Mondays patch and it came back. Just something to live with until they fix it or it just starts working again magically.

Like CS said just use the eso.exe or you can open and close the launcher until you get one that says play. No need for the repair as that is just wasted time.

Seravi

A HUGE THANK YOU to Matthew, Kathy and the Devs! All is well in Tamriel!

Seravi

Esh getting this stupid error again and yes I have repaired!!!!

Seravi

Error 209 launcher connections:



Working launcher with no errors:

Sephirajo

I'd say it's nice to see I'm not the only one getting this error, but it isn't. I hope whatever borked on their end gets fixed soon.