Can't even load CoX up!

I just finished downloading the game (after like 15 hours--UGH!) to try it out again for the reactivation weekend. I'm very excited to try it, you see. Yet the game doesn't seem to want me to! When I run the game, it freezes at the initial "Loading..." screen when the game first pops up after the updater/launcher is done.

I run the launcher, verify my files, and click "I Agree" to begin the game, right? Well, I get the little "Loading..." message and then the game itself begins to load. I get to the screen with CoX and all the heroes before you reach your login screen. It essentially freezes immediately at that point. I have to CTRL+ALT+DEL it out. I've restarted my computer, I deleted the checksum file and let it re-checksum.. what's going on? I've even tried loading the game in Safe Mode (via that checkbox next to the "I Agree" button on the updater. Nothing!

Is anyone else experiencing this problem? HAS anyone else experienced this problem? I really don't want to have to re-download the whole game again, in hopes of it working that time!! If it helps, I've got a Pentium D, 3.4GHz processor, a gig of RAM, Nvidia GeForce7600GT, and a pretty stable OS (XP Pro, SP3). I should be able to run this; I can run all my other MMOs (LotRO having a reactivation weekend, and I subscribe to WoW at the moment) perfectly fine. It's just City of Heroes.

Help!!!

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I just finished downloading the game (after like 15 hours--UGH!) to try it out again for the reactivation weekend. I'm very excited to try it, you see. Yet the game doesn't seem to want me to! When I run the game, it freezes at the initial "Loading..." screen when the game first pops up after the updater/launcher is done.

I run the launcher, verify my files, and click "I Agree" to begin the game, right? Well, I get the little "Loading..." message and then the game itself begins to load. I get to the screen with CoX and all the heroes before you reach your login screen. It essentially freezes immediately at that point. I have to CTRL+ALT+DEL it out. I've restarted my computer, I deleted the checksum file and let it re-checksum.. what's going on? I've even tried loading the game in Safe Mode (via that checkbox next to the "I Agree" button on the updater. Nothing!

Is anyone else experiencing this problem? HAS anyone else experienced this problem? I really don't want to have to re-download the whole game again, in hopes of it working that time!! If it helps, I've got a Pentium D, 3.4GHz processor, a gig of RAM, Nvidia GeForce7600GT, and a pretty stable OS (XP Pro, SP3). I should be able to run this; I can run all my other MMOs (LotRO having a reactivation weekend, and I subscribe to WoW at the moment) perfectly fine. It's just City of Heroes.

Help!!!

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Do you have a windows skinning program? That is the most common cause. Here is the Common Solutions: Game Doesn't Start thread.

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Do you have a windows skinning program? That is the most common cause. Here is the Common Solutions: Game Doesn't Start thread.

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Thanks for the link, but unfortunately I do not use any Windows Skinning programs. I broke down and bought the Architect version at the store today (just too good a deal to pass up!!!) and it's doing the same thing.

I used a clean install, and downloaded the official updates through the CoH updater. It still freezes upon entering that first loading screen with the heroes. This is quite frustrating!!!

Have you chexked your graphics driver? That could be the problem. J ust make sure your drivers are up to date.

My graphics drivers are in fact up to date, but thank you korn!!

Now it's my time to be embarrassed. I figured out the problem, and I feel like an absolute dolt for not seeing it sooner. I went into my Windows Firewall and manually added CoH and the updater into my allowed exceptions list. For some reason, I didn't get the normal popup box from Windows when a new program tries to access the internet.. and (for some unknown reason) CoH apparently freezes if it's blocked from the 'net.

After adding those in, it worked wonderfully! I thank you two for your input, and I'm sorry for making such an idiot out of myself! *facepalm*