Stuck on Initializing on the launcher

Swornsword

I've complete the download of the game, the "Play" button lights up, I click it but the launcher doesn't change, aside from the "Play" button going grey. It says Initializing on one side of the downloader bar, and 100% on the other. Been like this for over an hour without change. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Ganksalot

Having same issue on my son's machine.

TheGodless1

Ganks, there is a maintenance right now...could be your issue...as for the OP I can only hope this is your problem as well. Good luck!

ZOS_Bill

Hi @Swornsword ,

We have some troubleshooting that may resolve this problem for you.

• Go to your "My Documents/The Elder Scrolls Online" folder and open the folder in there called "Live."
• Check to see if there is a file called "UserSettings.txt" in there.
• Open the file "UserSettings.txt" in Notepad, and delete all the content in it.
• Copy and paste the text quoted in spoilers at the bottom of this post.
• Save and close the file.
• Restart your launcher.

If there is NOT a file called "UserSettings.txt, do the following:

• Open the Notepad program and paste in the text quoted at the bottom of this post.
• Save the file as "UserSettings.txt" in your My Documents/The Elder Scrolls Online folder.
• Restart your launcher.

SET MouseRawInput "1"
SET MouseSensitivityFirstPerson "0.50000000"
SET MouseSensitivityThirdPerson "1.28999996"
SET MouseSmoothing "0"
SET InvertMouseWheel "1"
SET InvertMouseY "1"
SET InvertMouseX "1"
SET CachedRLREnabled "1"
SET CachedReflectionResolution "4"
SET CachedShadowFiltering "5"
SET ScreenshotFormat "BMP"
SET PregameGammaCheckEnabled "0"
SET HardwareCheckEnabled.2 "0"
SET SUB_SAMPLING "2"
SET REFLECTION_QUALITY_v3 "2"
SET PARTICLE_DENSITY "3"
SET HIGH_RESOLUTION_SHADOWS "1"
SET SHADOWS "4"
SET GAMMA_ADJUSTMENT "112"
SET VIEW_DISTANCE "1.69000006"
SET GPUSmoothingFrames "10"
SET MIP_LOAD_SKIP_LEVELS "0"
SET RAIN_WETNESS "1"
SET LENS_FLARE "1"
SET GOD_RAYS_v2 "1"
SET ANTI_ALIASING_v2 "1"
SET AMBIENT_OCCLUSION "1"
SET COLOR_GRADING_v1 "0"
SET BLOOM "1"
SET DEPTH_OF_FIELD "1"
SET COLOR_CORRECTION "1"
SET SOFT_ALPHA "1"
SET DISTORTION "1"
SET CHARACTER_LIGHTING "1"
SET DIFFUSE_2_MAPS "1"
SET DETAIL_MAPS "1"
SET NORMAL_MAPS "1"
SET SPECULAR_MAPS "1"
SET CLUTTER_2D "1"
SET SIMPLE_SHADERS "0"
SET WATER_FOAM "1"
SET VSYNC "0"
SET MAX_ANISOTROPY "3"
SET FULLSCREEN_v5 "2"
SET PreferMaximizedWindow "0"
SET FullscreenHeight "0"
SET FullscreenWidth "0"
SET WindowedHeight "768"
SET WindowedWidth "1024"
SET SOUND_ENABLED "1"
SET FOOTSTEPS_VOLUME "50.00000000"
SET FOOTSTEPS_ENABLED "1"
SET SPEAKER_SETUP "0"
SET BACKGROUND_AUDIO "0"
SET VO_VOLUME "70.00000000"
SET VO_ENABLED "1"
SET UI_VOLUME "70.00000000"
SET UI_ENABLED "1"
SET AMBIENT_VOLUME "70.00000000"
SET AMBIENT_ENABLED "1"
SET SFX_VOLUME "70.00000000"
SET SFX_ENABLED "1"
SET MUSIC_VOLUME "70.00000000"
SET MUSIC_ENABLED "1"
SET AUDIO_VOLUME "59.00000000"
SET AUDIO_ENABLED "1"
SET TooltipFilter "2"
SET TooltipNumOptions "2"
SET EffectsLookupViaBinarySearch "1"
SET Language.2 "en"
SET GraphicsDriver.7 "D3D11"
SET PatchDataPath "game:/GameData/"
SET CacheDataPath "machine:/Cache/"
SET GameCameraFirstPerson "0"
SET AcceptedEULAVersion "2"
SET DirectionalDamageIndictorVisibleInThirdPerson "0"
SET CameraFramingTransitionEnabled "1"
SET SkipPregameVideos "0"
SET HasPlayedPregameVideo "1"
SET RangedKillCamera "0"
SET PlayerKillCamera "1"
SET LastMonsterKillCamera "1"
SET MinFrameTime.2 "0.01000000"
SET ParticlesEnabled "1"
SET RequestedNumThreads "0"
SET FreeUnusedGrannyFileSections.2 "0"
SET IsTrustedMachine "1"
SET RememberAccountName "1"
SET AccountName ""
SET LastRealm "NA Megaserver"
SET CustomUIScale "1.00000000"
SET UseCustomUIScale.2 "0"
SET RollDodgeDoubleTapEnabled "1"
SET RollDodgeDoubleTapTimeWindow.2 "185"
SET CameraZoomDistancesSynced "1"
SET SiegeCameraZoomDistance "6.00000000"
SET WeaponsOutCameraZoomDistance "2.00000000"
SET WeaponsSheathedCameraZoomDistance "2.00000000"
SET MaxNetworkWriteBuffer "10485760"
SET MaxNetworkReadBuffer "10485760"

Please let us know whether this helps the launcher initialize properly.

Kcjordan18

This does not work for me, its the only answer I can get from ESO support even through my support tickets ive submitted. I know you all don't have the answer but a little help troubleshooting would be great, instead I just get redirected to this same "fix" every time.

Swornsword

Yeah I able to find the answer and fix it, but it was the same thing you suggested, I just did not have the UserSettings, txt file at all for reason. Thanks for taking the time to respond!

ezzma

I deleted UserSettings.txt file and copy and pasted spoiler and it still wont let me log in. Any other solutions?

Vinnie1970

Thanx! it worked for me also but i had to copy the created UserSettings txt file in the directory : My Documents/The Elder Scrolls Online/Liveeu then it worked!

ZOS_Bill

Hi folks,

For everyone who updated the UserSettings.txt file and are still having this issue, we have a possible workaround which may get the game to launch.

• Navigate to Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client
• In this folder should be a file called eso.exe, which is the game executable.
• Right click eso.exe and choose run as administrator.

Please let us know if this workaround helps getting you into the game.

pamm.jasoncub18_ESO

I tried all of these and it's *still* giving me the eso encountered a fatal error. (Error 6)

Stamination

I have just done all this and when I press run as admin the eso.exe does run but it gets brought up in my background processes and never does anything afterwords. I left it alone for 2 days.

Stamination

and still nothing I haven't got to the play the game since early access was available and im losing all my precious free game days

Thamuz001

This is BS I have been stuck at initializing for the past 2 days. I have checked the fire wall, and even tried turning it off for a few hours, I have ran it under administrator, and I have ran the internet speed test.

ZOS_Bill

@Thamuz001‌

Have you tried making the changes to the UserSettings.txt file? If so, there may be something on your PC stopping the launcher from making its connection with our server.

Try running the system configuration utility to disable start-up items and services, as that will eliminate any background programs causing the issue.

• Click Start, and type msconfig on the search box
• Right click on the msconfig.exe program and choose Run as administrator
• To place your computer into selective start up:
• On the General Tab at the top, click on the Selective startup radio button
• Uncheck "Load startup items"
• Click on the Services tab at the top
• On the Services tab check the Hide all Microsoft services check box at the bottom
• Click the Disable all button at the bottom
• Click Apply, then click OK
• Restart your computer

Make sure to right click the launcher and choose "run as administrator" in order to open the launcher.

Bluecarrot

msconfig hasn't worked for me. My computer patched just fine but my wifes computer gets stuck. Is there a way I can copy the patch data from my computer to hers?

Ketobbey

Since new patch works everytime. Not stuck for me anymore

waazup

Same here, I have to keep shutting the launcher down and restarting it.
I did notice, just as it shuts down, it appears to come right, with the play option etc.
Of course then its too late.
I have tried all the fixes I can find, including the above.
NO GO

waazup

Hi BillE,
I did the "UserSettings.txt" fix April 2, didn't make any difference, I assume we can leave the new/altered UserSettings file with your version? I saved my old one just in case I have to revert.
Next April 4, nup made no difference at all
And lucky last April 12 no go as well.
Windows task manager says Launcher, Not Responding, then Running, it flicks between these 2 states like a pulse.
CPU Usage also pulses, from 11 to 32%, and Mem Usage is only 31%
Any of this help?
Soz

I just have to keep opening and closing, eventually it works, may take 2 or 3 shots, may take 10, if I do nothing it will NOT fix itself, just sits.

waazup

OK, found something, maybe.
I was looking for more headroom and decided to try turning off Win7 "Aero" schemes.
The loader performed correctly (looking ugly) 4/6 times, had to shut down the other 2 and try again.