Error Message

[Kirstin Thornhill]

When I try to start Everquest, it begins to run the [ everquest.exe_delta ] patch window.

Once this window timer is completed, I get an Error Message popup that tells me;
"The _VERQUEST.EXE file is linked to missing export SHELL32.DLL:SHGetFolderPathA."
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I have run ScanDisk on my computer, and have found no errors.

I have rebooted my machine.

I have neither recently installed nor deleted any software.

I have current Virus definition files, and I do a complete virus check once a day.

ARRRRRRRRRRGH!

[Verdandi]

I find attacking my monitor with my plastic Sharkjaw Cutlass from Kunark helps. It doesn't make anything work, of course, but it makes me feel just a bit better.

It might help tide you over till someone helpful turns up, at least....

[Kirstin Thornhill]

At the suggestion of a guildmate, I reinstalled DX 3.0c and my video drivers. Didn't make a difference.

This morning, when I got home from work, it loads up, no problem. I am hoping it was a bug on the client end, and not anything that is randomly going to continue to trouble me.

FRUSTRATION! ARRRRRGH! BAD TECHNOLOGY! BAD! BEHAVE YOURSELF!
::whaps computer with a plastic sharkjaw cutlass::

[Itek]

You run a complete virus scan every day? Wow, even I'm not that paranoid. (Unless you have reason to believe you are being directly attacked. In which case... woot.)

Going backwards on DirectX isn't gonna help much, as 9.0c is required now. (That was gonna be my solution, "update to 9.0c" so I guess that isn't it.)

Most likely EQ just broke itself. Happens a lot. I'll save you some time in the Tech Support queue.

Save your .ini files and options from the EQ directory. Plus any maps, story files (I use them nearly every day) etc etc. Outside the EQ directory.

Make a CD/DVD of any expansions you DO NOT have the disks for. (The default files should be listed somewhere. Which reminds me, I should back up Gates, Omens and Dragons since I did the digital download for them.)

Uninstall.
Delete the EQ directory.
(At this point I'd suggest a defragment of the hard drive, just as a precaution.)
Install from disks. (The more disks the less patching.)
Patch. (This might take A-WHILE so go out for pizza.)
Reset your .ini, options, etc.

This resolves about 99 percent of "EQ won't start" problems. It's rough, slow and no fun. But hopefully it will get you up and running.

Failing that, or skipping it, you're probably gonna need EQ Tech Support help in wading thru the registry to find the problem. While I can do regedit and have in the past I avoid it whenever I can, as the very small chance of error multiplied by the magnitude of disaster possible makes it somewhat higher risk than I like. (And doing a virus scan once a day makes you sound somewhat risk averse.)

Best of luck.

[Therac]

I had the same thing happen the other night with a bad patch the devs loaded to test. Apparently it downloads the main exes using that delta patcher smaller window. It also appears to save off previous versions as "_"whatever.exe. I tried going back and forth between test and regular as that causes a bunch of new files to download but problem only went away when they fixed the broken exe they had loaded.

Not sure its the same issue but one possible explanation.

[Aphreal]

When I try to start Everquest, it begins to run the [ everquest.exe_delta ] patch window.

Once this window timer is completed, I get an Error Message popup that tells me;
"The _VERQUEST.EXE file is linked to missing export SHELL32.DLL:SHGetFolderPathA."
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A couple of my guildies were having this problem, too. It seems to be a Win98 issue, from what everyone can tell. There's a thread on the SOE Tech Support boards about it. Here's the answer provided there that worked for my guildies:

Quoting Nolrog on SOE boards:
Bypass the patcher. Create a shortcut to EQGAME.EXE on your desktop. Right click, properties. After the path to the file (which is in quotes) add the word patchme outside of the quotes. Looks something like this:

"C:\program files\sony\everquest trilogy\eqgame.exe" patchme
End quoting.

This seems to be something of a workaround rather than an actual fix, but it got my guildies back in the game, so hopefully it'll help you, too. You may want to follow the thread on the SOE Tech Support Boards in case a real fix comes up there.
Good luck!
Aph

[Neebat]

"The _VERQUEST.EXE file is linked to missing export SHELL32.DLL:SHGetFolderPathA."

Try the official forums. http://eqforums.station.sony.com/eq/...cending&page=1

This is a known issue right now and there's a work around that seems to fix it.
1. The issue seems to apply almost exclusively to Win98.
2. The work-around doesn't seem to be working for everyone.