Telltale Games Forums - View Single Post - The Walking Dead won't run at ALL (exe "stopped working" error)

Banjo · 05/04/2012, 05:52 am

I just bought the game yesterday ('Telltale build' for PC, nothing to do with "Steam", which I don't even have installed) and it refuses to run with the error "WalkingDead101.exe has stopped working".

I'm using Windows 7 64-bit, Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB RAM, ATI 3870 with 512MB memory. Video drivers up-to-date.

In response to another thread asking for troubleshooting information:

1) Windows Firewall never asks to allow/block the program. I manually allowed it. Didn't make a difference (same error). I manually BLOCKED it... no change, same error.

2) Avast Antivirus on or off made no difference.

3) Physically unplugging the internet made no difference.

Furthermore, I've so far tried:

Running the shortcut on desktop created.
Running the .exe directly.
Running the .exe as admin.
Running the .exe in Win98 and/or WinXP compatibility modes (as suggested in another thread).
Running the .exe with "disable desktop composition" checked (as suggested in another site).
Restarting the computer, then trying all the above again.

Every single time, the same result: black screen for a few seconds, then crash to desktop with error ".

When installing, I let it check DirectX... it said I was "up-to-date". Rebooted even though it didn't ask me to, just in case.

Key point here (to those who have 'fixed' this error): this is the Telltale PC version of the game, not the "Steam" one. Most folks here seem to be talking about the game as if it was on Steam (and thus I assume their "fixes" like disconnecting the internet, are related to that). Was I - buying from Telltale - supposed to get a Steam version as well when I bought this? Would that version at least WORK (providing the internet is disconnected)?

Is this related to some kind of DRM? Is it a problem of connecting to Telltale's servers (if so, that's a worry 'cos it means you can't play the game offline?!?!). Why not a "serial code" like Telltale's old games, which was a much better and fairer way to protect games and avoid problems like this? Heck, this is just a guess, but if it is the cause... ridiculous DRM is the reason I rarely buy PC games anymore.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask for a refund if this isn't patched/fixed soon, which is a shame because I'm not only a big Walking Dead fan (since the start of the comic), but a long-time fan of Telltale since the first episode of their first Sam & Max game. I've never had a problem like this with a Telltale game before; I can understand a game gets released with the occasional graphic glitch or bug that needs patching, but this game - for me - is not even loadable, let alone playable.

Do *any* owners of the Telltale (non-Steam) PC version of this game have the game actually working? Has anyone managed to fix this error for the non-Steam Telltale release?

Heck, I would have just bought this for my Xbox 360, but I'm in Australia, so we don't get that option sadly.

I hate to say, but I'm feeling majorly disappointed and angry here.

05/04/2012, 05:52 am	#1
Banjo Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 26	The Walking Dead won't run at ALL (exe "stopped working" error) I just bought the game yesterday ('Telltale build' for PC, nothing to do with "Steam", which I don't even have installed) and it refuses to run with the error "WalkingDead101.exe has stopped working". I'm using Windows 7 64-bit, Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB RAM, ATI 3870 with 512MB memory. Video drivers up-to-date. In response to another thread asking for troubleshooting information: 1) Windows Firewall never asks to allow/block the program. I manually allowed it. Didn't make a difference (same error). I manually BLOCKED it... no change, same error. 2) Avast Antivirus on or off made no difference. 3) Physically unplugging the internet made no difference. Furthermore, I've so far tried: Running the shortcut on desktop created. Running the .exe directly. Running the .exe as admin. Running the .exe in Win98 and/or WinXP compatibility modes (as suggested in another thread). Running the .exe with "disable desktop composition" checked (as suggested in another site). Restarting the computer, then trying all the above again. Every single time, the same result: black screen for a few seconds, then crash to desktop with error ". When installing, I let it check DirectX... it said I was "up-to-date". Rebooted even though it didn't ask me to, just in case. Key point here (to those who have 'fixed' this error): this is the Telltale PC version of the game, not the "Steam" one. Most folks here seem to be talking about the game as if it was on Steam (and thus I assume their "fixes" like disconnecting the internet, are related to that). Was I - buying from Telltale - supposed to get a Steam version as well when I bought this? Would that version at least WORK (providing the internet is disconnected)? Is this related to some kind of DRM? Is it a problem of connecting to Telltale's servers (if so, that's a worry 'cos it means you can't play the game offline?!?!). Why not a "serial code" like Telltale's old games, which was a much better and fairer way to protect games and avoid problems like this? Heck, this is just a guess, but if it is the cause... ridiculous DRM is the reason I rarely buy PC games anymore. I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask for a refund if this isn't patched/fixed soon, which is a shame because I'm not only a big Walking Dead fan (since the start of the comic), but a long-time fan of Telltale since the first episode of their first Sam & Max game. I've never had a problem like this with a Telltale game before; I can understand a game gets released with the occasional graphic glitch or bug that needs patching, but this game - for me - is not even loadable, let alone playable. Do any owners of the Telltale (non-Steam) PC version of this game have the game actually working? Has anyone managed to fix this error for the non-Steam Telltale release? Heck, I would have just bought this for my Xbox 360, but I'm in Australia, so we don't get that option sadly. I hate to say, but I'm feeling majorly disappointed and angry here. Last edited by Banjo; 05/04/2012 at 08:51 pm.