"Failed to download data file" error

from Stardock Forums

Ever since the last two updates to Elemental I have been unable to load the game.  Thirty seconds or so after the dragon/loading screen pops up I get this message:

"Failed to download data file. Please make sure that you are connected to the internet, have signed into Impulse, and that no firewall or anti-virus program is blocking elemental."

The only thing that has changed about my system is that Elemental was updated.  I just installed another update, hoping it would fix it but it did not.  Obviously my internet connection is fine and I am logged into Impluse (hence this post).  I tried turning off my anti-virus program (Norton) even though it never caused a problem before, and I still get the same error message.

Any idea what is wrong?

elemental
6,316 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I've had it just once, about 15 minutes ago.  Retried in a couple minutes and it worked.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Same problem here.  

 

Thought I'd give elemental another try, and did a clean install.  I get the same error message as the OP on launching the game:

"Failed to download data file. Please make sure that you are connected to the internet, have signed into Impulse, and that no firewall or anti-virus program is blocking elemental."

 

No anti-virus is running, impulse is up and running.  I've tried multiple times, with the same result.  Any ideas on what to try?

 

EDIT:  When I shift-tab to the impulse side-bar, it shows me as not logged in even though I'm logged in under the impulse client.  When I attempt to log-in through the side-bar, the message "An error occurred trying to process your request" appears.   Some problem with the impulse login it seems.

 

EDIT2:  The game loaded up while I was typing the original edit.  Still not showing as logged in on impulse, but meh, it's working now.

 

EDIT3:  Crash, "Out of Memory", then same error when I try to get back into the game - i.e., unable to play at the moment.  Guess Elemental goes back into the "wait and see" bin - I thought these kinds of technical errors would be fixed by now.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

You may have to reset your firewall to allow elemental. Everytime you update it it counts as a diff program and usually you have to set a new rule for it since its a totally diff exe . Normally elemental doesn't require internet .. however the beta patches do.

Or if you want you can just revert to the latest release version instead of using a beta patch by unchecking "show  pre-release versions" in impulse.. and then verifying your files.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

when u get the error just hit ESC then u can play make sure ur logged in to impulse out of game first hope this helps works for me

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting huntingrain, reply 4
when u get the error just hit ESC then u can play make sure ur logged in to impulse out of game first hope this helps works for me

 

Works!

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting huntingrain, reply 4
when u get the error just hit ESC then u can play make sure ur logged in to impulse out of game first hope this helps works for me

Thanks, this worked for me as well!

 

Now, if only the game would stop crashing every hour or two when memory runs out.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

For me, the ESC trick doesn't work, Elemental just exits/chrashes to desktop :-(

I re-activated the game several times through Impulse (which told be to delete the \ProgramData\...\Elemental\sig.bin manually, so I did), connected via a VPN and started Elemental.exe directly, instead of via the launcher.

Sometimes, the notification 'press SHIFT+TAB to switch to Impulse menu' appears and that works. But trying to log in via that results in a 'this handle is invalid' message. I changed my password and nickname while installing Elemental, could that be the source of the problem?

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

that could be! try this go to stardocks website once there click on support then download regfix with internet explorer only as firefox wont work once u get it shut down impulse and then run that fix after u do that fire up impulse and log in then launch game hope this helps u if not ill see what i can find.if u use the beta patches u have to be logged in for the betas to work for some reason

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks for the advice, but deleting these registry keys didn't work.