Game times out after character is selected. Can't play the game anymore

weights44 · July 13

I am just reaching out to see if anyone else is experiencing this. After this last update my game has been timing out at first when I would change characters. And I was having to log out, close the launcher, restart launcher, and then I was able to actually load a new character in. Then today it started just kicking me off the server every time I hit a load screen going into a different zone, a dungeon, a bg, etc etc. And now finally the game won't even allow me to select any character outside of the one at the top. It is the only toon I can play and even that one has super high ping and gets kicked during a load screen. But I am unable to use any other character at all.

I have tried to repair the game several times and I keep getting a message stating "launcher failed....trying a repair may fix these issues". I repair it and it just keeps saying the same thing over and over and over. I have now deleted the game, deleted all add-ons, and completely wiped my pc clean of any and all eso data...twice. And I have downloaded a new launcher back to the pc. And when I try to log into any character the load screen pauses for just under 1 minutes and then kicks me back to the log in screen saying there was in internal error and I need to contact customer service. Which I already did and it doesn't seem my escalated ticket has gone anywhere just yet which is frustrating since I am missing the event now.

Is anyone else experiencing these issues since this last update?

Sarannah · July 13

No issues for me, but you may want to try updating your GPU drivers. And check for any possible software conflicts, as it seems weird to not be able to select another character. This leaves me to believe something is wrong with your GPU or it's drivers.

Hope you get this resolved fast!

Note: May also want to check for virusses and any unusual high cpu usage from any other programs than eso.

PS: There isn't any real event live right now, except for chaos ball weekend.

Edit: The launcher does have an issue where it states the game needs to be repaired, even though it is not true. So don't repair the game, unless you are really sure you have to.

Tandor · July 13

You could also try bypassing any launcher-related issue by running the game direct from the .exe file in the game folder and only using the launcher to download patches. This may not be possible if you're playing through Steam in which case could you please confirm that as it may produce different suggestions.

You may also want to give us your PC specs, be sure that your machine meets the game's requirements which were increased not so long ago.

weights44 · July 13

My launcher is saying it has an issue and needs to be repaired. It’s been saying that also since this last patch. It seems all of these issues along with the launcher needing repair issue all started with this last update for me. I tried running the game direct just now as you suggested but I can still only use one character. All the other characters I try end up timing out the game trying to load them in. Sometimes it’s telling me to contact customer service. Other times it gives me a 303 error code.

I’m running a i512th Gen, msi z690 motherboard, 32gb ram ddr5, asus 3070ti gpu, 2tb sd drive on windows 11 pro. I also run eso on a separate 1tb sd as well. I’ve made sure all drivers are up to date and I don’t have any other programs running either. I don’t think a gpu issue would allow me to only use one character though would it?

Pretty lost here I also have an alt account my wife uses too and she can’t access any of the characters on her account. It gives the same error codes and does the same exact thing. Which is strange.

Edit: I also removed all add-ons completely from my pc as well.

Grizzbeorn · July 13

If the launcher is telling you it has an issue and needs to be repaired, then you need to run the 'Repair' option.

Open the Launcher, click on the gear next to the 'Game Options' menu label, above the news feed,

and choose 'Repair.'

The launcher will go through the repair process (repairing/replacing possibly corrupted game files), which looks similar to the patching process.

That should fix any issues launching the game, most times. (but not always.)

weights44 · July 13

Grizzbeorn wrote: »

If the launcher is telling you it has an issue and needs to be repaired, then you need to run the 'Repair' option.

Open the Launcher, click on the gear next to the 'Game Options' menu label, above the news feed,

and choose 'Repair.'

The launcher will go through the repair process (repairing/replacing possibly corrupted game files), which looks similar to the patching process.

That should fix any issues launching the game, most times. (but not always.)

I have done this several times following the latest patch update that seems to have caused all this. it repairs the files and still has the same issues from before. And at the same time it also tells me the launcher failed to launch and to try and repair the game. I spent several days trying this before I just deleted the game and all files from eso and downloaded the game itself as a fresh install.

weights44 · July 13

I am also noticing that when I try to close out of the game I have to go through the task manager for some reason as if the actual eso game isn’t showing up and can’t be closed out any other way than force closing the launcher itself. I created a ticket and it’s been waiting for an agent to be assigned to it. This is day two now and it still isn’t assigned which is frustrating. The game file is basically just taking up hard drive space at this point.

SeaGtGruff · July 13

One thing you can try is to go to the launcher settings, enable the setting that removes obsolete files the next time the launcher is started, save the settings, close the launcher, then start the launcher again. If there are any obsolete files in your installation then removing them might help. That setting will be cleared afterward.

What I do when I get long loading screens that time out is to press Alt-Tab to bring some other process (usually the launcher) to the fore, which seems to help the characters and zones load more quickly for some reason.

weights44 · July 13

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

One thing you can try is to go to the launcher settings, enable the setting that removes obsolete files the next time the launcher is started, save the settings, close the launcher, then start the launcher again. If there are any obsolete files in your installation then removing them might help. That setting will be cleared afterward.

What I do when I get long loading screens that time out is to press Alt-Tab to bring some other process (usually the launcher) to the fore, which seems to help the characters and zones load more quickly for some reason.

Thanks for this. I’ve been trying this already. A buddy of mine suggested it when this first began but it doesn’t help. I’ve pulled up the task manager to see if there are any programs or even if eso itself is causing a massive spike anywhere but nothing out of the usual. It just causes everything to time out. I still either get the 303 error code or it says there was an internal issue.

What really has me confused is I can only access 1 or 12 characters. And the one I can access happens to be the last character I was using before the last update on the launcher at the top of my character select screen. It’s odd.

weights44 · July 13

Tandor wrote: »

You could also try bypassing any launcher-related issue by running the game direct from the .exe file in the game folder and only using the launcher to download patches. This may not be possible if you're playing through Steam in which case could you please confirm that as it may produce different suggestions.

You may also want to give us your PC specs, be sure that your machine meets the game's requirements which were increased not so long ago.

This may sound weird but there is literally no “.exe” file for the game. It’s just the launcher in all the folders that I go through that will actually launch the game or the launcher icon. I’m new to pc gaming so maybe these are both the same thing. But I opened up all the folders under Zenimax on my drive and there’s nothing marked .exe

Sarannah · July 13

Hmm, maybe some other things to try:
-Run ESO as administrator.
-Check your harddrive for errors/install ESO on the other hardrive.
-Switch launcher, either from beta to normal or from normal to beta. Depending on which you are using. Maybe this helps.
-If using a router, try it without the router, or try another router. Maybe it is broken, and it keeps losing connection.
-Check to see if you have a stable internet connection. Not a working internet connection, but a stable working internet connection. (Maybe try replacing the internet cable/if using wireless, check connection stability)
-Make sure the game is not using OneDrive to store it's files.
-Make an exception for ESO in the windows firewall/security and any anti-virus. Maybe turn those off temporarily to check if they are the issue.
-Turn off Geforce Experience when you run the game. Maybe there is a software conflict here.

Some questions: Do you ever DC while in-game with that one character? Do other assets like other player's outfits and NPC's load in at all/quickly? Does your wife play on the same computer? Are you using the normal launcher or the beta launcher? What resolution do you play the game in?

PS: As I have stated before, do NOT repair the game if it asks you to. The current launcher version is bugged, and displays it needs a repair, which it doesn't. I get this error as well, and just ignore it.
PPS: Nice computer! Should be able to run ESO just fine.

TaSheen · July 13

My .exe is in C:\Program Files (x86)\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client

It's in a steam folder because that's what a friend used (my download speed was SO bad 7 years ago I didn't have a real way to download the game myself, so he sent me his entire folder on stick) and I just never changed it. I don't use steam myself, but the game has been resident there for the whole time I've played, and I've always played from the .exe file.

Set up a search in your computer for eso64.exe and see what you find.

weights44 · July 13

TaSheen wrote: »

My .exe is in C:\Program Files (x86)\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client

It's in a steam folder because that's what a friend used (my download speed was SO bad 7 years ago I didn't have a real way to download the game myself, so he sent me his entire folder on stick) and I just never changed it. I don't use steam myself, but the game has been resident there for the whole time I've played, and I've always played from the .exe file.

Set up a search in your computer for eso64.exe and see what you find.

Yeah I looked and there’s no .exe client in the game folders anywhere now. I completely removed every single program on my pc including disabling anti virus (even though there was an exemption for eso) and then downloaded the game again this morning. And there’s still no .exe file anywhere. I can only assume that the last patch that downloaded removed it or the launcher “repair” bug is actually removing the .exe file from the game. Any idea where I can download just the .exe file from?

weights44 · July 13

Sarannah wrote: »

Hmm, maybe some other things to try:
-Run ESO as administrator.
-Check your harddrive for errors/install ESO on the other hardrive.
-Switch launcher, either from beta to normal or from normal to beta. Depending on which you are using. Maybe this helps.
-If using a router, try it without the router, or try another router. Maybe it is broken, and it keeps losing connection.
-Check to see if you have a stable internet connection. Not a working internet connection, but a stable working internet connection. (Maybe try replacing the internet cable/if using wireless, check connection stability)
-Make sure the game is not using OneDrive to store it's files.
-Make an exception for ESO in the windows firewall/security and any anti-virus. Maybe turn those off temporarily to check if they are the issue.
-Turn off Geforce Experience when you run the game. Maybe there is a software conflict here.

Some questions: Do you ever DC while in-game with that one character? Do other assets like other player's outfits and NPC's load in at all/quickly? Does your wife play on the same computer? Are you using the normal launcher or the beta launcher? What resolution do you play the game in?

PS: As I have stated before, do NOT repair the game if it asks you to. The current launcher version is bugged, and displays it needs a repair, which it doesn't. I get this error as well, and just ignore it.
PPS: Nice computer! Should be able to run ESO just fine.

I think the “repair bug” is removing the .exe file from the game. I’ve removed all programming not essential to running my pc from the game. I already don’t run geforce because of how buggy it already is. I turned off anti virus and downloaded the game from scratch this morning and the .exe file is still missing.

Grizzbeorn · July 13

Look in:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client

The exe file should be in there.

(I ran a search on my machine, and the .exe file was not found. I had to go looking manually, and found it at the end of that path.
So don't rely on the Search function.)

TaSheen · July 13

Grizzbeorn wrote: »

Look in:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client

The exe file should be in there.

(I ran a search on my machine, and the .exe file was not found. I had to go looking manually, and found it at the end of that path.
So don't rely on the Search function.)

Huh. That's odd. I used the Search function and it popped almost immediately. Windows, as always, is infinitely variable!

belial5221_ESO · July 13

If you're using addons,try turning them OFF from addons in the char menu when you login.It could be after update an addon you use is not working right,or trying to build a new database.Make sure to use minion to check for updates and get all libs needed.Ususally if something missing from addon,looking at addons when you press esc ingame will mark them as red.Also running launcher as admin helped when the latest main patch wasn't updating right.Searching in windows is different speed for all,depends if you have drives indexed or not,using ssd or hdd,etc.

weights44 · July 13

belial5221_ESO wrote: »

If you're using addons,try turning them OFF from addons in the char menu when you login.It could be after update an addon you use is not working right,or trying to build a new database.Make sure to use minion to check for updates and get all libs needed.Ususally if something missing from addon,looking at addons when you press esc ingame will mark them as red.Also running launcher as admin helped when the latest main patch wasn't updating right.Searching in windows is different speed for all,depends if you have drives indexed or not,using ssd or hdd,etc.

I actually deleted all add-ons from my pc completely to see if that would fix the issue and is hasn’t.

weights44 · July 13

Yeah I had to manually search for the .exe file because windows search wouldn’t locate it which is really weird. But no luck. Same issues as before. I drove over to my friends house 2 mins away and downloaded ESO to one of his pc’s. The one I used is running an i7 13gen, ddr5 msi board with 64gb ram, 6tb ssd, a 4080 asus gpu etc etc. And even on his pc I’m having the exact same issues. At least I now know this isn’t from my pc. It’s something coming from ZOS end which sucks bc who knows if/when they are going to reply to this ticket that’s submitted.

TaSheen · July 13

Post your ticket number here - maybe @ZOS_Kevin can check to make sure it's been received. And don't submit more tickets - that just moves you to the back of the queue.

weights44 · July 13

Ticket Number is: 240712-002855 hopefully they can just mention it’s being looked at.

weights44 · July 13

I’m also noticing that once I select my character and it’s going into the load screen to bring that character up in whatever zone I left it in, it shows ESO spikes my cpu usage up to 100% instantly. Does anyone know why that is happening?

TaSheen · July 13

Have you checked to make sure the new launcher isn't downloading the PTS? There are some threads about this around; if it's doing that, it's not letting you update play the real game until it's done.

You can open the launcher and get into the settings options at top right; check to see if PTS is disabled. If not, disable it. Let me see if I can find one of the threads with more specific info.

Here - take a look at this thread:

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/662210/pts-update-is-prioritised-over-live-update-preventing-live-update#latest

madman65 · July 13

Delete the user settings to start the game over, it will be like a fresh install but the files are there not to download. C:\Users\Computer Name\Documents\Elder Scrolls Online\live

weights44 · July 13

TaSheen wrote: »

Have you checked to make sure the new launcher isn't downloading the PTS? There are some threads about this around; if it's doing that, it's not letting you update play the real game until it's done.

You can open the launcher and get into the settings options at top right; check to see if PTS is disabled. If not, disable it. Let me see if I can find one of the threads with more specific info.

Here - take a look at this thread:

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/662210/pts-update-is-prioritised-over-live-update-preventing-live-update#latest

Yeah I’ve done this already. Thank you for the thought though I appreciate it. I disabled it after I downloaded the game several times to see why this had been happening. I’ve literally done all I can do at this point.

weights44 · July 13

madman65 wrote: »

Delete the user settings to start the game over, it will be like a fresh install but the files are there not to download. C:\Users\Computer Name\Documents\Elder Scrolls Online\live

Doesn’t it do this when I uninstall and delete the game and what not before re-downloading it again?

weights44 · July 13

So I’ve done all of the suggestions. Even uninstalled the game and downloaded it again. And nada. No change. I’ve removed everything non essential to running the pc short of drivers and what not for all the components. There’s an issue with eso spiking cpu usage to 100% the exact moment I select a character regardless of what character in trying to use. Then it gives error code 334 (3:1:1152:0) saying lobby lost connection but my connection is solid going to the pc. I’ve swapped routers, cables, have active speed tests running while logging into characters as well as checking the router at the time of character section. Speed and connectivity are good. At this point eso is just wasting space on the pc.

weights44 · July 13

Just adding an update to this. I’ve stripped all user data and started from scratch. Deleted all add-ons. Turned multi thread rendering off. Switched from game pad mode to mouse and keyboard. And swapped from full screen to windowed view for now. And I can now log in to each character. I’m going to keep testing it to see what May/may not work.

So far any add on I download causes the game to crash. Multi-thread rendering causes game to crash. Game pad mode causes game to crash,

This is where I’m at in trying to figure this out. I have no idea why any of these specific issues are causing this either. I swapped my gpu out as well and it seems regardless of what gpu I use it’s the same either way. Hopefully someone at Zos can use this data to try and figure out what’s going on and how to prevent it from happening down the road.

TaSheen · July 13

Did you recently have a windows update? That's about the last thing I can think of.... If you did, roll it back and see what happens?

weights44 · July 13

No windows update hasn’t gone through yet. I’ve been trying to figure this out first but it’s sitting there waiting for me to let it update.

TaSheen · July 13

Well.... in that case, let it update, see if it makes it better or worse - if better, great; if worse roll that one back.