DDO tech Problem

I really like this game. The nostalgia value is there, but it really seems to play well too. Especially considering so much is free to play. Only problem is getting it to play.

I’ve installed and run this game with zero problems . . four times! The thing is, after it installs and the splash screen shows up with the option to “view readme.txt, create an account, launch DDO”, I leave “launch” checked and everything is peachy. Until I have to shut down the client.

Once I leave the game, the only way to get back in is to remove/reinstall it. There is an icon for the game in the “games” folder, but no desktop shortcut icon. I also can’t find it in “all programs”. The icon in “games” is non-functional. Double-clicking doesn’t do anything. I can right-click and place it in the start menu or create a quick-start button with it (why do I get the feeling those aren’t the right terms?). But, those icons in those positions are also non-functional. It states upon installation that it will be installed in the “Turbine” folder. But, it’s not there. LOTRO is there and launches fine.

I’m running a decent (though not Uber) laptop. I play LOTRO, Starcraft II and the like w/ low graphics settings but no problems. Running windows Vista. I’ve never encountered something like this before. Graphics glitches, insufficient resources, errors of all types. But, this program just looks like it dissappears after running one time, leaving a useless facade of icons that don’t do anything when clicked.

Help us teeming millions, you’re our only hope.

Have you closed the game, shutdown/restarted the computer, then found the game unable to start? Or is your machine always running?

My initial guess is that the executable doesn’t close properly, so it’s still running and preventing new instances from opening.

It’s been a while since I played but if I recall correctly DDO uses a silly launcher program to load the actual game that doesn’t actually close when you tell it to, just minimizes to the notification area, unless you change that option. Is it possible that the reason clicking the program icon isn’t doing anything is because it is already running in the notification area?