# VASSAL does not start on Windows PC **URL:** \ **Category:** Technical Support & Bugs\ **Created:** [November 19, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962 "2024-11-19T22:06:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TB1](https://forum.vassalengine.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@TB1](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/TB1)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/1 "2024-11-19T22:06:19Z")
All of a sudden my Vassal 3-7-15 software will not run anymore on my Windows PC, even though it worked fine for many weeks before. My PC uses Windows 10 Home, Version 22H2, OS build 19045.5011 The problem emerged yesterday. Initially I rolled back a Windows security update that had been installed on 16 Nov, and thereafter was able to start Vassal, but as of today I’m not able to run Vassal, no matter what I do. When I try to run Vassal, the main Vassal window (with all the game modules) shows up for a second and then closes down automatically by itself ---
**Author:** ![uckelman](https://forum.vassalengine.org/user_avatar/forum.vassalengine.org/uckelman/32/10020_2.png) [@uckelman](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/uckelman)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 11:25pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/2 "2024-11-19T23:25:21Z")
Please post the contents of Vassal’s [error log](https://vassalengine.org/wiki/Error_Logs) after a failed run. ---
**Author:** ![TB1](https://forum.vassalengine.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@TB1](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/TB1)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 1:32am UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/3 "2024-11-20T01:32:46Z")
024-11-20 11:28:27,431 [4388-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Starting 2024-11-20 11:28:27,448 [4388-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - OS Windows 10 10.0 amd64 2024-11-20 11:28:27,448 [4388-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Java version 23.0.1 2024-11-20 11:28:27,448 [4388-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Java home C:\Program Files\VASSAL-3.7.15\jre 2024-11-20 11:28:27,448 [4388-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - VASSAL version 3.7.15 2024-11-20 11:28:27,547 [4388-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.launch.ModuleManager - Manager 2024-11-20 11:28:56,647 [4388-SwingWorker-pool-2-thread-1] INFO VASSAL.launch.AbstractLaunchAction - Loading module file D:\Privat\VASSAL Games\GB-EatG-CB 2025 Master.vmod 2024-11-20 11:28:58,508 [4388-SwingWorker-pool-2-thread-1] INFO VASSAL.launch.TilingHandler - No images to tile. 2024-11-20 11:28:58,510 [4388-SwingWorker-pool-2-thread-1] INFO VASSAL.launch.AbstractLaunchAction - Loading module OCS - GB-EatG/CB 2025 2024-11-20 11:28:58,515 [4388-SwingWorker-pool-2-thread-1] INFO VASSAL.tools.io.ProcessLauncher - launching C:\Program Files\VASSAL-3.7.15\jre\bin\java -Xms1024M -Xmx1024M -Duser.home=C:\Users\Playtech -Duser.dir=C:\Program Files\VASSAL-3.7.15 -cp lib\Vengine.jar VASSAL.launch.Player --load – D:\Privat\VASSAL Games\GB-EatG-CB 2025 Master.vmod 2024-11-20 11:28:59,174 [4020-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Starting 2024-11-20 11:28:59,186 [4020-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - OS Windows 10 10.0 amd64 2024-11-20 11:28:59,186 [4020-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Java version 23.0.1 2024-11-20 11:28:59,186 [4020-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Java home C:\Program Files\VASSAL-3.7.15\jre 2024-11-20 11:28:59,186 [4020-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - VASSAL version 3.7.15 2024-11-20 11:28:59,186 [4020-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.Launcher - Player 2024-11-20 11:29:02,119 [4020-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.GameModule - OCS - GB-EatG/CB 2025 version Rev 7/28/2024 2024-11-20 11:29:17,991 [4020-Thread-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.GameState - Loading save game D:\Privat\VASSAL Games\GB-EatG-CB 2025 6-10-24\Typhoon - 1Oct Start - Roy Lane\Oct 12\0077 Oct 12 '41 Axis Exploit Combat.vlog, created with module version Rev 7/28/2024 2024-11-20 11:48:56,437 [4020-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.GameModule - Exiting 2024-11-20 14:15:33,641 [4388-SwingWorker-pool-2-thread-2] INFO VASSAL.launch.AbstractLaunchAction - Loading module file D:\Privat\VASSAL Games\GB-EatG-CB 2025 Master.vmod 2024-11-20 14:15:34,463 [4388-SwingWorker-pool-2-thread-2] INFO VASSAL.launch.TilingHandler - No images to tile. 2024-11-20 14:15:34,464 [4388-SwingWorker-pool-2-thread-2] INFO VASSAL.launch.AbstractLaunchAction - Loading module OCS - GB-EatG/CB 2025 2024-11-20 14:15:34,465 [4388-SwingWorker-pool-2-thread-2] INFO VASSAL.tools.io.ProcessLauncher - launching C:\Program Files\VASSAL-3.7.15\jre\bin\java -Xms1024M -Xmx1024M -Duser.home=C:\Users\Playtech -Duser.dir=C:\Program Files\VASSAL-3.7.15 -cp lib\Vengine.jar VASSAL.launch.Player --load – D:\Privat\VASSAL Games\GB-EatG-CB 2025 Master.vmod 2024-11-20 14:15:35,164 [2256-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Starting 2024-11-20 14:15:35,174 [2256-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - OS Windows 10 10.0 amd64 2024-11-20 14:15:35,174 [2256-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Java version 23.0.1 2024-11-20 14:15:35,174 [2256-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Java home C:\Program Files\VASSAL-3.7.15\jre 2024-11-20 14:15:35,174 [2256-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - VASSAL version 3.7.15 2024-11-20 14:15:35,175 [2256-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.Launcher - Player 2024-11-20 14:15:37,563 [2256-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.GameModule - OCS - GB-EatG/CB 2025 version Rev 7/28/2024 2024-11-20 14:15:53,299 [2256-Thread-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.GameState - Loading save game D:\Privat\VASSAL Games\GB-EatG-CB 2025 6-10-24\Typhoon - 1Oct Start - Roy Lane\Oct 12\0077 Oct 12 '41 Axis Exploit Combat save Rev.vsav, created with module version Rev 7/28/2024 ---
**Author:** ![TB1](https://forum.vassalengine.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@TB1](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/TB1)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 1:35am UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/4 "2024-11-20T01:35:16Z")
I think that was not an error log from a previously failed Vassal start. Meanwhile I rebooted my PC several times and then suddenly was able to start Vassal again. Additionally I had uninstalled a Windows (security) update dated November 16 and stopped automatic Windows updates for the moment ---
**Author:** ![cholmcc](https://forum.vassalengine.org/user_avatar/forum.vassalengine.org/cholmcc/32/8319_2.png) [@cholmcc](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/cholmcc)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 8:30am UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/5 "2024-11-20T08:30:58Z")
> [@TB1](#): > > Additionally I had uninstalled a Windows (security) update dated November 16 and stopped automatic Windows updates for the moment Not advisable. Perhaps check your computer clock - from the log above ```auto 2024-11-20 14:15:35,175 [2256-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.Launcher - Player ``` it seems like your computer has perhaps travelled to the future - your post was at 2024-11-20 02:32 (GMT+1). That can be a problem for Windoze security checks. Just a thought - might not be the problem. Oh, and when pasting a log, put ````` (3 back-ticks) before and after the paste to make it easier to read 😄 Yours, _Christian_ ---
**Author:** ![TB1](https://forum.vassalengine.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@TB1](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/TB1)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/6 "2024-11-20T22:37:30Z")
Hi Christian, thanks for your additional response. My computer clock is actually fine. I live in New Zealand, and that was indeed the local time when I submitted my post 🙂 Cheers Thomas ---
**Author:** ![mawddwy](https://forum.vassalengine.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@mawddwy](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/mawddwy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 4:43pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/7 "2024-11-23T16:43:13Z")
When I try to open a Vlog sent to me by my opponent by email, my vassal module library opens as usual, but the vlog will not open automatically, as it used to do. I am using vassal 3.7.10. This happened the day after a microsoft update. I tried re-booting my computer, but that didn’t seem to help… Here is the error log: 2024-11-23 11:31:36,480 [16028-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Starting 2024-11-23 11:31:37,471 [16028-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - OS Windows 11 10.0 amd64 2024-11-23 11:31:37,471 [16028-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Java version 22 2024-11-23 11:31:37,471 [16028-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Java home C:\Program Files\VASSAL-3.7.10\jre 2024-11-23 11:31:37,471 [16028-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - VASSAL version 3.7.10 2024-11-23 11:31:37,627 [16028-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.launch.ModuleManager - Manager Any ideas? Thanks Mawddwy ---
**Author:** ![mawddwy](https://forum.vassalengine.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@mawddwy](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/mawddwy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/8 "2024-11-23T17:06:36Z")
Further to my last, I (1) re-booted again, (2) switched to New Outlook and (3) saved the emailed vlog to my Vassal games folder and attempted to open it from there. But it still won’t open. Mawddwy ---
**Author:** ![cholmcc](https://forum.vassalengine.org/user_avatar/forum.vassalengine.org/cholmcc/32/8319_2.png) [@cholmcc](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/cholmcc)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 5:43pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/9 "2024-11-23T17:43:31Z")
This is really a different topic from the original topic. Consider to make a new thread. > [@mawddwy](#): > > … but the vlog will not open automatically, as it used to do. As for your problem - perhaps the file association between ending `.vlog` and VASSAL got lost in the Windoze upgrade(?). You can check with `regedit` if that is the case. Alternatively, right-click (`Mouse-2`) a `.vlog` file and check the file association. If it does not say “VASSAL”, see if you can make that file-ending association. Assuming that VASSAL makes the file-association on install, you can try to re-install VASSAL, if the above fails. Make sure to un-install VASSAL first. My 2¢ Yours, _Christian_ ---
**Author:** ![JoelCFC25](https://forum.vassalengine.org/user_avatar/forum.vassalengine.org/joelcfc25/32/2687_2.png) [@JoelCFC25](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/JoelCFC25)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 6:33pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/10 "2024-11-23T18:33:48Z")
While the file associations are nice to have and it would be worthwhile to restore them if that’s what you’re used to, a 100% reliable way of opening logs is to launch VASSAL first, then open the module you need, and then load the `.vlog` you were sent. ---
**Author:** ![mawddwy](https://forum.vassalengine.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@mawddwy](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/mawddwy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 6:52pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/11 "2024-11-23T18:52:35Z")
Thanks Joel and Christian. Christian, I’m afraid didn’t understand your first answer (sorry!) and uninstalling and then reinstalling didn’t seem to help. Joel, your suggestion of a manual download worked, but it is more cumbersome than the automatic downloads I used to enjoy. What actually ended up working best, was to re-download an earlier version of the game module (TiTE1A), that I had earlier removed once the updated TiTE2 came out. Once the earlier module was downloaded once again, automatic downloads resumed. I now wonder if my opponent is still using the older module and microsoft suddenly took a finicky dislike to the difference between our two modules after the latest update las night and thereupon prevented automatic downloading. I’ll ask my opponent and find out. As Christian says, my two cents worth. Mawddwy. ---
**Author:** ![JoelCFC25](https://forum.vassalengine.org/user_avatar/forum.vassalengine.org/joelcfc25/32/2687_2.png) [@JoelCFC25](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/JoelCFC25)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 7:33pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/12 "2024-11-23T19:33:00Z")
> [@mawddwy](#): > > What actually ended up working best, was to re-download an earlier version of the game module (TiTE1A), that I had earlier removed once the updated TiTE2 came out. Once the earlier module was downloaded once again, automatic downloads resumed. I now wonder if my opponent is still using the older module and microsoft suddenly took a finicky dislike to the difference between our two modules Two things–if you are playing with an opponent, you should _always_ be using identical modules–anything else is asking for trouble. Corollary: don’t ever switch the version of a module you are using in an ongoing game. You definitely should not expect things to continue working correctly if you do this–if they do, it’s only by luck, not by design. ---
**Author:** ![mawddwy](https://forum.vassalengine.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@mawddwy](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/mawddwy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/13 "2024-11-23T19:49:27Z")
> [@JoelCFC25](#): > > Two things–if you are playing with an opponent, you should _always_ be using identical modules–anything else is asking for trouble. Corollary: don’t ever switch the version of a module you are using in an ongoing game. You definitely should not expect things to continue working correctly if you do this–if they do, it’s only by luck, not by design. Hi Joel If my suspicion is correct, we have Not been using identical modules for several months. This seemed to work fine, perhaps, as you say, by pure luck. The recent Windows update ended our run of luck and exposed the issue. Mawddwy ---
**Author:** ![cholmcc](https://forum.vassalengine.org/user_avatar/forum.vassalengine.org/cholmcc/32/8319_2.png) [@cholmcc](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/cholmcc)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 8:30pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/14 "2024-11-23T20:30:57Z")
> [@mawddwy](#): > > I’m afraid didn’t understand your first answer (sorry!) Not to worry. - _File associations_ is what Windoze use to tie specific file endings - for example `.vlog` - to a specific application - for example VASSAL. - These associations are stored in the _Windows registry_ - which is a dumping ground for all sorts of things on Windows (MacOS has a `plist` database). - File associations are _typically_ made when an application is installed. E.g., VASSAL says to Windows "I want to be the application to handle all `.vmod`, `.vlog`, and `.vsav` files. - When you double-click a file with an ending - say `.vlog` - then Windows consults it’s registry to see which application should handle the file - say VASSAL. If there’s no file association, then Windoze will flash a dialog saying it does not know how to handle that file type. See [this](https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-to-reset-a-file-association/d14948a2-1a55-4d08-ae86-2a6cf115c2a0) and [this](https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-change-file-associations-in-windows-2624477) for how to manipulate file associations on Windows. Note, opening an attachment to an email via a file association is an _inherent_ security vulnerability, and one reason that may not work for you anymore is because Micro$\*\*t has finally realised that. It may work for “trusted” applications such as Worse, or unExcel - which are arguably larger security risks than VASSAL - but not for “untrusted” - read, paid Micro$\*\*t a ton of money to get on the “good side” - applications such as VASSAL. Perhaps, just try to download the `.vlog` file and then double-click that file in the exploder. If that works, then it’s because Micro$\*\*t has changed it’s secuirty settings - perhaps simply by removing exceptions you previously made. If it doesn’t, then most likely the file association has disappeared. You can try to follow the guides cited above, or do as Joel says and - Open the module in VASSAL, - then, when prompted, select the downloaded `.vlog` file > [@mawddwy](#): > > I now wonder if my opponent is still using the older module and microsoft suddenly took a finicky dislike to the difference between our two modules after the latest update las night and thereupon prevented automatic downloading. > [@mawddwy](#): > > The recent Windows update ended our run of luck and exposed the issue. Very unlikely. Windoze has no idea about VASSAL modules, logs, saves, or the like - not to mention that it has no idea about the versioning of modules. It is far more likely that your Windows installation has started to treat `.vlog` files as hostile after your “upgrade”. > [@JoelCFC25](#): > > Two things–if you are playing with an opponent, you should _always_ be using identical modules–anything else is asking for trouble. I concur. You and your opponent should use the same _exact_ version of the module. That it has worked OK for you so far is mainly luck Just how reasonable that luck was, depend very much on the differences between the two module version. - If the definitions of pieces has not changed, then your chance of luck increases - If no new definitions was added, your chance of luck increases - If the module does not do a lot - i.e., you have pieces you move around on a board, with no initial positioning, no piece actions, and so on, then your chance of luck increases even more. Ideally, we would have an agreed-upon versioning scheme of modules - e.g., modules are versioned as _major_._minor_._release_, and - _major_ is incremented every time _major_ changes has been made - e.g., new graphics, more actions, rules checks, and so on. - _minor_ is incremented when ever a non-backward compatible change is made - e.g., - traits added or removed from pieces or prototypes, - pieces added or removed, - starting positions of pieces are change, - Board coordinates are changed by for example a higher resolution picture, changes to the grid, and similar. - _release_ is incremented for backward-compatible changes which can be - Change of piece graphics - New/removed global hot keys - Added tutorial (`vlog`), set-up (`vsav`), help, etc. - and similar Then, as long as players are using the same _major_._minor_ version of a module, they should be good. _Rant_ As you may have gathered, I have very little patience for Windows. Associating files to applications by the name of a file - e.g., `.pdf` is to be opened by Acrobat Reader - is inherently a bad design _and_ a security flaw. Other OSs - read GNU/Linux - actually looks at the _content_ of a file to determine what to do with it, and the file names are treated as contingent - as they truly are. For example, Windows will only “run” files named something like `.exe`, `.com`, or `.application`, while Un_x-like systems truly doesn’t care what you call your application. On Un_x-like systems, the file content - via so called _file magick_ is what determines the file _mime-type_ and the mime-type is then mapped to applications. _End rant_ Again, my 2¢ worth Yours, _Christian_ ---
**Author:** ![uckelman](https://forum.vassalengine.org/user_avatar/forum.vassalengine.org/uckelman/32/10020_2.png) [@uckelman](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/uckelman)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 11:43pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/vassal-does-not-start-on-windows-pc/83962/15 "2024-11-23T23:43:59Z")
> [@mawddwy](#): > > Once the earlier module was downloaded once again, automatic downloads resumed. What automatic downloads are you referring to?