Occasional Problem: No sound on startup

[drivertime61]

My first post, although I've been reading on the site extensively for several weeks.

Bought TS14 a couple weeks ago during the sale. The very first time I loaded the sim there was no sound at all - including the intro video, background music and all routes and DLC. Quit the game, restarted and sound was fine. Since then, I have the same no sound on start-up problem randomly. Exiting the sim and re-starting restores the sound every time.

I have verified the cache and also cleared the cache. The sim runs very well on a new high-end Dell XPS 8700 PC. Will provide specs if needed.

Couldn't find a prior post citing this specific problem. Any thoughts? Thank you in advance.

[HankySpanky]

I get the same thing every now and then too. I just restart the game like you do. I am running Win 8.1, if that matters any.

[Chacal]

I have the same problem.
If I don't hear the background music in the main menu, I exit and reload the game.

[ChrisOnline]

Same here (Windows 7), it also applied to TS2013 (but not before as far as I can remember). I also wondered why no one else posted about it, but assumed it was my setup somehow!

As with others, restarting usually works, occasionally it takes two or three restarts.

Chris

[CARex]

Happens once in a blue moon... sort of. I usually write it off to my being a bit to quick on the keyboard or mouse.
Which probably isn't even the cause... just seems that way.

Well, at least I'm not alone.

[drivertime61]

Thank you very much for the replies everyone. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one. FYI, it is Windows 8.1, with which I have nearly no complaints since the last couple of updates to Win 8.

Guess it's just one more quirk to live with for now - like the terrible Acela Express external sounds or total absence thereof in certain camera positions, and the lack of a passenger view when on the NEC. Sorry, just more complaining. On the upside, I'm located in the Philly area and must say they did a very nice job with the graphics detail, given the current game engine limitations.

Appreciate the responses.

[HankySpanky]

Its really no big deal. Its not like I'm rushing to catch a train or anything...
Bwahahahahaha!!!

[drivertime61]

This problem had been occurring regularly as previously described, approx. once every three-four sim launches.

I use some of CCleaner's functionality (not all) after every computer session to clean out Temp files, Temporary Internet Files, cookies, etc. A few days after my original posts I happened to notice that CCleaner was removing 14-15 Steam application files when I used it. I hated to do it, but I stopped CCleaner from removing those files. Since then I have not had a single problem with the sound on start-up.

Guessing the absence of one or more of those files somehow prevented the sound from launching with the sim and re-starting the sim with the files restored from the first launch restored the sound. Perhaps someone here with more knowledge of Steam/TS14 can spot something in the list. I don't see it.

Files that were being deleted:

Multimedia - Steam 2,431 KB 14 files
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\debug.log 26 KB
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\GameOverlayRenderer.log 7 KB
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\GameOverlayUI.exe.log 1 KB
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Dumps\assert_steam.exe_20140717155739_1.dmp 388 KB
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Dumps\assert_steam.exe_20140721134758_1.dmp 374 KB
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Logs\appinfo_log.txt 66 KB
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Logs\bootstrap_log.txt 17 KB
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Logs\cloud_log.txt 43 KB
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Logs\connection_log.txt 10 KB
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Logs\content_log.txt 35 KB
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Logs\parental_log.txt 5 KB
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Logs\remote_connections.txt 3 KB
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Logs\stats_log.previous.txt 898 KB
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Logs\stats_log.txt 564 KB

Just posting FYI, in case it may help someone else. I'll toss this theory and post again if the problem re-occurs.

[Chacal]

I'd look more into STeam cache files.
None of the files you posted above could possibly have anything to do with this problem: they are diagnostic files or logs.

[drivertime61]

Yes that's what I thought too - none of those files would seem likely suspects to cause a sound problem. Oh well, it's working fine for now. Hoping things stay that way.

Thanks for your response.

[drivertime61]

As Chacal suggested above, the files being deleted by CCleaner were not the problem. The day after my last post I again began having the problem of no sound on start-up and the same 107-111 files having to be restored by a Verify Cache every time I launched the game.

The solution, for me at least:

I am using Windows 8.1. When I installed Steam and the game it of course placed an icon on the Desktop. I then also sent this Icon to the Task Bar and it’s from there that I have been launching the game with a left click.
After much reading, and several exchanges with DTG who could only suggest doing a VC or re-installing the game, a few days ago I happened to notice that when I right-click on the original Desktop icon (not the one I put on the Task Bar) there is an option to Run As Administrator, an option not present on the Task Bar icon. I tried launching the game with that option and success! Now the game launches with the sound every time if I Run As Administrator. And no more lost files.

Now, I’ve read that it is not necessary to use Run As Administrator to launch TS14, but apparently it is, at least for my installation. Perhaps someone here more knowledgeable than I can explain.

I do know that Win 8.1 has security “features” that can raise issues regarding files located in the Program Files and X86 directories and of course that’s where Steam and Railworks reside. But why that would affect only files that result in lost game sound while the rest of the game functioned properly is a mystery to me.

Hope this may help someone else.

[Chacal]

Good find.
I don't know about Windows 8.1, but with Windows 7 installing games in C:\Program Files can bring problems and sometimes make it necessary to run them as administrator.
I never install games on the C: drive, I use a separate logical or physical drive for my games, which takes care of the problem.

[peterhayes]

Chacal
It's the same in Windows 8.1 Upd1 64-bit. Any program that is installed in the Program Files or Program Files (x86) folder(s) or needs to ACCESS any file in these two folders will need to run "as administrator" to avoid security issues. Like you I use a separate drive for any install such as a game and that stops these issues occurring. The UAC setting may also interfere too.
pH

[drivertime61]

Yep, Win 7 and Win 8.1 handle the Program Files and X86 directories similarly as I understand it too.

Had I gone ahead and installed my old M$ Train Simulator on this new machine for sure I would not have installed it in Program Files. But I hadn’t heard of any Win 8.1 problems with TS14 like this, so I assumed all would go smoothly. You know what they say about a-s-s-uming something.

Thanks again for your interest and help.

[peterhayes]

DT
I have not seen any sound issues with TS2014 with Win 8.1 Upd1 64-bit. I did have an issue like yours in Win 7 and I "cured" it by installing the latest Realtek driver (if you are using on-board sound with an Intel mobo) and not using the alternative high definition audio drivers. My win 8.1 install updates the realtek driver as soon as a new one is published. There are settings in the Control Panel\Sound option too, that can help, like disabling all sound effects and allowing a program to take exclusive control of the sound driver.

In the early days of TS2013 I fixed the issue by downloading a SB version of openal32.dll (Google) and substituted that for the one that came with TS2013 - haven't tried it for TS2014.
Regards
pH