Crashing before even loading the game AGAIN! Started with latest update!

I HATE NEW PATCHES! -tears- I had the same issue when we switched over from the CoH launcher to the NCsoft launcher where right after I ran the NCsoft launcher and it would launch CoH it would cause my computer to just hang. Sometimes it would just show a black screen and lock up or it would just turn both my screens black (I run dual screens) and even hitting my reset button wouldn't work. I'd have to hold down my power switch to get my computer to reboot. I ended up turning off my account for a few months because tech help didn't even work.

When CoH freedom started, about a month afterwards I tried again, and it started working again. So I started up my VIP (I've been on CoH since I3) and have been thrilled since. Yesterday when I had to do the most recent update, I can no longer get even the game to begin to load. Yes I have an older computer, but it has worked fine. Can't really afford a new PC, and I think it's CoH and an issue with my older ATI Graphic Card.

CoH Helper:

---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.2.0.2---

DxDiag gathered at January 15, 2012 12:59 (-05:00)
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.101209-1647)
System Manufacturer: MSI
System Model: MS-7280
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Central Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4600+, MMX, 3DNow (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 2048MB
.Net Memory Report: 1235MB out of 2047MB available
Page File: 3072MB (867MB currently in use)
C Drive: (WDC WD5000AACS-00ZUB0) 402699MB out of 460001MB (87%) free
D Drive: (BENQ DVD DD DW1620) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DirectX Diag version: 5.03.2600.5512 (32-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.

No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor's Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Video Device Name: Radeon X1900 GT
Manufacturer / Chip: ATI Technologies Inc. / ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x724B)
Video Memory: 256.0 MB
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6925
Driver Date: 2/10/2010 11:45:14 PM
Driver Language: English

Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor's Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Video Device Name: Radeon X1900 GT Secondary
Manufacturer / Chip: ATI Technologies Inc. / ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x726B)
Video Memory: 256.0 MB
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6925
Driver Date: 2/10/2010 11:45:14 PM
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: Realtek HD Audio output
Driver File: RtkHDAud.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.6316
Driver Date: 2/24/2011 5:21:10 PM


WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: MSI
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: MS-7280
Motherboard Version: 1.0
BIOS Manufacturer: American Megatrends Inc.
BIOS Name: Default System BIOS
BIOS Version: M M I - 11000702
BIOS Release: 20071102000000.000000+000


Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1920x1080
3D Resolution: 1920x1080 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: Yes
Maximized: No
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: No


Physics Quality: None
Maximum Particles: 100
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No


Anti-aliasing: Off
Anisotropic Filtering: None
Texture LOD Bias: Crisp
Water Effects: None
Bloom: 1.000 (turned off)
Depth of Field Enabled: No
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: No
Shader Detail: Unknown (4)


World Texture Level: Unknown (3)
Character Texture Level: Low
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 0.500
Entity Detail Level: 0.300
Shadows Enabled: No
Shadow Mode: Disabled
Shadow Map Shader: Unknown (0)
Environmental Reflections: Disabled
Advanced Occlusion Settings: No
Ambient Occlusion: Off
Occlusion Strength: Off
Blur: Bilateral
Ambient Resolution: Performance


Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: Yes
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: Yes
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes

Audio Mode: Compatiblity
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 0.009
Music Sound Volume: 0.009

Show Advanced Graphics Options: No
Overall Graphics Quality: 0.000
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: 353215 bytes/second
Current Game Version: 2050.201107131807.1
Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\City of Heroes

Mod files in the Data directory
No modifications found
------------------------------

Hijack This:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 1:01:02 PM, on 1/15/2012
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG2012\avgrsx.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\avgcsrvx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 6.0\PhotoshopElementsFileAgent.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\avgwdsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\SearchIndexer.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\AVGIDSAgent.exe
C:\Program Files\Canon\CAL\CALMAIN.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\avgnsx.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\avgemcx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\MOM.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\avgtray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\ccc.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\cin\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\cin\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\cin\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\cin\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\cin\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\cin\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\cin\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\cin\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\cin\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\cin\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\cin\My Documents\Downloads\CohHelper.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\cin\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\SearchProtocolHost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\msiexec.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HiJackThis\HiJackThis.exe

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Int ernet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: Canon Easy-WebPrint EX BHO - {3785D0AD-BFFF-47F6-BF5B-A587C162FED9} - C:\Program Files\Canon\Easy-WebPrint EX\ewpexbho.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\avgssie.dll
O2 - BHO: SkypeIEPluginBHO - {AE805869-2E5C-4ED4-8F7B-F1F7851A4497} - C:\Program Files\Skype\Toolbars\Internet Explorer\skypeieplugin.dll
O2 - BHO: URLRedirectionBHO - {B4F3A835-0E21-4959-BA22-42B3008E02FF} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\Office14\URLREDIR.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: Canon Easy-WebPrint EX - {759D9886-0C6F-4498-BAB6-4A5F47C6C72F} - C:\Program Files\Canon\Easy-WebPrint EX\ewpexhlp.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StartCCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG_TRAY] "C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\avgtray.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KernelFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -k
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\Office14\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Se&nd to OneNote - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\Office14\ONBttnIE.dll/105
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Se&nd to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: OneNote Lin&ked Notes - {789FE86F-6FC4-46A1-9849-EDE0DB0C95CA} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\ONBttnIELinkedNotes.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: OneNote Lin&ked Notes - {789FE86F-6FC4-46A1-9849-EDE0DB0C95CA} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\ONBttnIELinkedNotes.dll
O9 - Extra button: Skype Click to Call - {898EA8C8-E7FF-479B-8935-AEC46303B9E5} - C:\Program Files\Skype\Toolbars\Internet Explorer\skypeieplugin.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Skype Click to Call - {898EA8C8-E7FF-479B-8935-AEC46303B9E5} - C:\Program Files\Skype\Toolbars\Internet Explorer\skypeieplugin.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu...?1303080464765
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\avgpp.dll
O18 - Protocol: skype-ie-addon-data - {91774881-D725-4E58-B298-07617B9B86A8} - C:\Program Files\Skype\Toolbars\Internet Explorer\skypeieplugin.dll
O18 - Filter hijack: text/xml - {807573E5-5146-11D5-A672-00B0D022E945} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\OFFICE14\MSOXMLMF.DLL
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: Adobe Active File Monitor V6 (AdobeActiveFileMonitor6.0) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 6.0\PhotoshopElementsFileAgent.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: AVGIDSAgent - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\AVGIDSAgent.exe
O23 - Service: AVG WatchDog (avgwd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: Canon Camera Access Library 8 (CCALib8) - Canon Inc. - C:\Program Files\Canon\CAL\CALMAIN.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Macrovision Europe Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: SiSoftware Deployment Agent Service (SandraAgentSrv) - SiSoftware - C:\Program Files\SiSoftware\SiSoftware Sandra Lite 2011.SP1x\RpcAgentSrv.exe

--
End of file - 8063 bytes

You could also try the game's safe-mode which can be enabled by right-clicking on the game in the Launcher and selecting Properties and checking the "Launch in Safe Mode" box.

Also, having the Launcher exit after launching the game may help. In the Launcher, go to File->Settings and in the General Tab, set "After launching a game:" to "Exit Launcher".

Well, I just tried to boot it in safe mode (thanks I didn't know that is how you choose safe mode now) and same result. Before I tired safe mode I loaded the game normally and it got further today then the past few days. It loaded the game right to the point where the long in screen pops up and locked up my computer (I was able to hit my reset button and reboot). Then I tried to boot the game in safe mode and it hung in the same place, just before the log in menu (where you enter your screen name and pass) but this time, both of my monitors went black and went into standby mode and I had to hold down the power button to get it to reset.

I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the NCsoft launcher and my Graphics card. Is there a way to bypass the whole NCsoft launcher?

I learned from experience that after a patch the game's pigg files, etc. get really fragged and borked. So this is what I do every time: I update the game and let the patch download, then before I hit 'play now' I run Defraggler, then flush the dns file. (I made a shortcut for it but you can just open the 'run' prompt and enter ipconfig /flushdns.) Then I hit 'play now' and let the check/repair run its course. Since doing this, I haven't experienced any probs starting the launcher. I have an old putersaurus that still uses an agp card, and my game runs great. Hope this helps!