Unable to load skin

montiquilla · April 2014

When I click on the client it says "unable to load skin". So I go into the game folder and load the game directly from there. When I log in it says "login timeout". I assume this means I need to update my launcher, but I cant because i am "unable to load skin". So I try to re-download the client (or get it started at least) and I cannot find the download link anywhere on the site. Help?

ZOS_RobertM · April 2014

Hey, could you try these steps and see if they help?

Close both the game and the launcher
Open the game installation directory
Open the folder named "Launcher"
Inside the "Launcher" folder, there is a folder named "ProgramData"
Rename the "ProgramData" folder to "ProgramDataBackup"
Open the launcher and download update
Click "Play"

montiquilla · April 2014

Thank you for your prompt response, I know you must be swamped. I did as you suggested but I am still receiving the "unable to load skin" error. I will restart my comp and try again, in the meantime, further assistance would be appreciated!

montiquilla · April 2014

Ignore. Working after restart? Thanks so much!

Khrys · April 2014

I have this error, and not even the restart solves it. Any other ideas?

Khrys · April 2014

You know, i still have the problem, and still waiting for the solution. And please dont tell me to uninstall and reinstall the game, i would really want to play now, and this process would take 2 days with my internet.

Khrys · April 2014

I decided to reinstall the game since i don't get any help. I ll alert you if it is okay, further assistance would be appreciated!

stimab14_ESO · April 2014

Khrys,
Did you get anywhere with reinstall? The fact that you have to download 27g every time you want to re-install is just ***. That is why I always buy physical copies. Of course, I wanted early access, so I didn't for EOS. Now I am paying for it. I have literally downloaded the same 27gb 7-8 times since Wednesday due to launcher errors.

Hell, I just spent all day re-formatting my entire PC and now have this new "Unable to load skin" error.

I am about 10 seconds from deleting the game and writing of the 50$ spent. It's one thing to have in-game server errors...but I can't even GET IN the friggn' game. =/

Valkesh · April 2014

I just had this error. Solution for me was to replace the entire launcher folder with one I had backed up (I downloaded the game elsewhere and copied the files over because it would have taken days otherwise, and kept the backup just in case). The launcher folder is about 48megs if you can find someone who happens to have the game who can send you theirs. Attempting to rename or otherwise remove the ProgramData folder did not do anything as if the launcher can't start, it can't repair itself.

Edit: fair warning, theres likely other things broken even after verifying. Spent about 30min verifying all the files again after getting the patcher up, and the game still crashed on launch. Fun times.

bathynomusESO · June 2014

Getting this error today. Roberts steps did not work for me.

Edit: reinstalling, will post back if reinstall does not work

esoStorm · July 2014

I've completed a fresh install of win 7 and got the same error 'unable to load skin' after trying to install a new copy of ESO.
Used installer to create folders etc. then after getting the error I replaced the entire install with a backup. It seems to run fine now. I'm sure I would be stuck if I hadn't got that backup!!