DayZ Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC: In 2018, Bohemia Interactive successfully launched DayZ, a multiplayer survival game set in a zombie-infested post-apocalyptic environment.
This title serves as the standalone successor to the ARMA 2 series and has garnered favorable reviews from both players and critics alike over time.
However, if you are a DayZ enthusiast, you may have experienced difficulties with the game not launching or loading properly on your Windows PC through Steam.
If this issue sounds familiar, this troubleshooting guide is here to help you resolve it. It’s important to note that many PC games encounter a variety of issues, bugs, and errors, and DayZ is no exception.
Numerous players have reported problems such as startup crashes and failure to launch. Therefore, identifying the underlying cause of these problems is essential for a complete fix.
Why Won’t DayZ Launch?
The launch of DayZ was met with significant challenges, primarily due to numerous bugs and connectivity issues affecting players across all gaming platforms.
While it’s undeniable that DayZ has its share of problems, it’s also important to consider that some issues may stem from the player’s setup, including their PC.
Several factors can prevent DayZ from launching properly. These may include an outdated game patch, an outdated graphics driver, an unsupported Windows build, or missing and corrupted game files.
Additionally, problems with the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable or unnecessary background processes can contribute to these launch failures. In some cases, players may also face issues due to incompatible hardware or interference from overlay applications. Let’s delve deeper into these potential causes.
Fix: DayZ Not Loading on PC
If you’re experiencing difficulties launching DayZ on your Windows PC or if the game crashes shortly after starting, don’t worry. You can try the following troubleshooting steps one by one to see if they resolve your issue.
1. Check System Requirements
To begin with, it’s essential to verify if your computer’s specifications align with the game’s system requirements. Incompatible hardware can often lead to various problems when attempting to launch the game.
Minimum System Requirements:
- OS: Windows 7 64-bit or newer
- Processor: Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or Athlon X2 2.7 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT
- Storage: 30 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible sound card
Recommended System Requirements:
- OS: Windows 8/10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)
- Processor: Intel Core i5-750, 2.67 GHz / AMD Phenom II X4 965, 3.4 GHz
- Memory: 6 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 or ATI Radeon HD 7950
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 30 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible sound card
2. Run the game as an Administrator
Running your video game without administrator privileges can lead to various issues, such as difficulties launching the game, unexpected crashes at startup, or even failure to load altogether. To potentially resolve these problems, it’s advisable to execute the game’s executable file with administrative rights on your Windows computer. Here’s how to do this:
- 1. Locate the DayZ executable shortcut on your desktop or in your file directory and right-click on it.
- 2. From the context menu, choose Properties.
- 3. Navigate to the Compatibility tab in the Properties window.
- 4. Check the box next to “Run this program as an administrator.”
- 5. Click Apply, then hit OK to confirm the changes.
This simple adjustment may help improve your gaming experience.
3. Verify Integrity of Game Files
In the event that your game files become corrupted or are inadvertently deleted, utilizing the game launcher to verify and repair these files can be quite beneficial. Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Open Steam and navigate to your Library.
- 2. Locate DayZ in your list of installed games and right-click on it.
- 3. Select ‘Properties’ from the context menu, then proceed to the ‘Local Files’ tab.
- 4. Click on ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files’ to initiate the process.
- 5. Allow some time for the verification to complete.
- 6. Once the process is finished, it’s a good idea to restart your computer.
Following these steps should help restore your game files to their proper state.
4. Update Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable
- Head over to the following path on your PC:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_CommonRedist\vcredist
- You should see the following folders:
- 2012\vc_redist.x64.exe
- 2013\vc_redist.x64.exe
- 2019\vc_redist.x64.exe
- Ensure that you execute all the available executable files found in the directories.
- If you have multiple folders, be sure to run the vc_redist.x64.exe file located in each of those folders. To complete the process, restart your computer to resolve the issue.
5. Update DirectX
Navigate to the directory located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_CommonRedist\DirectX.
After reaching this folder, execute the DXSETUP.exe application to either reinstall or update DirectX.
After the process is complete, ensure you restart your computer to implement the changes effectively.
6. Update GPU Drivers
Numerous players experiencing issues have indicated that their graphics drivers may be outdated. If you’ve been using an older graphics driver, it’s important to check for updates. Here’s how you can do that:
- 1. Press the Windows + X keys simultaneously to access the Quick Link Menu.
- 2. Select Device Manager from the options provided.
- 3. Find and double-click on Display adapters to expand the section.
- 4. Right-click on your active dedicated graphics card.
- 5. Choose the option to Update driver, then select Search automatically for drivers.
- 6. If an update is available, your system will download and install it automatically.
- 7. After the installation is complete, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
Following this process may help resolve the issue of DayZ not launching on your PC. If the problem persists, you can proceed to explore additional solutions.
7. Disable Overlay Apps
Several players who experienced issues with their games not launching have reported that turning off overlay applications like Xbox, Discord, or similar programs on their Windows computers has resolved the problem.
These overlay apps operate in the background whenever the game client is initiated, which can potentially lead to conflicts with system processes or resource allocation. Disabling them could streamline game performance and eliminate the launching difficulties.
8. Install All Pending Windows Updates
It’s possible that certain bugs or system files in Windows could interfere with the proper functioning of the game. Additionally, failing to update your software for an extended period can lead to compatibility issues.
Therefore, it’s important to ensure that all pending Windows updates are installed and that your operating system is up-to-date. Here’s how to do that:
- 1. Press the Windows + I keys to open the Windows Settings menu.
- 2. Navigate to Update & Security and click on Windows Update.
- 3. Select the “Check for updates” option to see if there are any available updates.
- 4. If a feature update is found, click on “Download and install” to begin the process.
- 5. Allow some time for the update to complete.
- 6. Finally, restart your computer to implement the changes immediately.
9. Disable Antivirus and Firewall Program
To begin, access the Start menu and enter “Control Panel” into the search bar, selecting it from the results. Next, search for “firewall” within the Control Panel and select “Windows Firewall.”
- In the left-hand menu, choose the option to “Turn Windows Firewall on or off.” Ensure that you disable the Windows Firewall for Private, Domain, and Public Network Settings.
- After making these adjustments, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect and to investigate if the issue persists.
- Additionally, it’s important to disable your antivirus protection (specifically Windows Defender) by following these steps:
- Navigate to the Windows Settings menu and select “Privacy and Security.” From there, go to “Windows Security” and then click on “Virus & threat protection.”
- Here, you’ll find the option to “Manage settings”; click on it and turn off the “Real-time Protection” feature. Once you have completed this step, reboot your computer to apply the changes.
If you are using any third-party antivirus software, be sure to disable it manually as well.
11. Perform a Clean Boot
To initiate the troubleshooting process, press the Windows key alongside the R key to bring up the Run dialog. In the input field, enter “msconfig” and hit Enter to access the System Configuration window.
Once there, navigate to the Services tab and check the box labeled “Hide all Microsoft services.”
After that, select the “Disable all” option to turn off non-Microsoft services. Remember to click “Apply,” followed by “OK,” to ensure your changes are saved.
Next, proceed to the Startup tab and click on “Open Task Manager.” Within the Task Manager, switch to the Startup tab, where you’ll find a list of programs set to launch at startup.
Identify the programs that have been enabled and click on each one to disable them individually, paying particular attention to those with a high impact on startup time.
After completing these steps, restart your computer to implement the changes. Finally, verify if the issue with DayZ not launching on your PC has been resolved.
12. Close Background Processes
- To access the Task Manager, press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys simultaneously.
- Navigate to the Processes tab and identify the specific task you wish to terminate.
- After selecting it, click on the “End Task” button.
Remember to repeat this process for each individual task you want to close. After completing these steps, restart your computer to apply the changes right away.
13. Reset DayZ
To access the Quick Link Menu, simultaneously press the Windows (Start) key and the X key.
Next, navigate to Apps and Features, where you will find a list of installed applications.
Locate DayZ in this list and select it. Then, proceed to click on Advanced options and choose the Reset option.
After completing this step, restart your computer and attempt to launch the game once more.
14. Reinstall DayZ
If you’ve tried all the previous solutions without success, consider reinstalling DayZ to address the game launch issue. Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Start by opening the Steam client on your computer.
- 2. Navigate to your Library and locate DayZ. Right-click on the game’s title.
- 3. Select “Manage” from the dropdown menu, then click on “Uninstall.”
- 4. If a confirmation prompt appears, click “Uninstall” again and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
- 5. After the uninstallation is finished, restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect.
- 6. Once your computer has rebooted, relaunch the Steam client and reinstall DayZ using your existing account.
That’s all there is to it! This method may help resolve the issue of DayZ not launching on your PC. We hope you found this guide useful. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please feel free to leave a comment below.
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