Game not launching, Antimalware Service Executable

[cadusouza]

Any game I add on STEAM via UWPHook is not being playable.

On Steam the game says it's running, but it doesn't.

Also my windows Antimalware Service Executable goes into overdrive using high amounts of CPU and Memory

does anyone know how to fix this issue?

[bublz00]

I am having the same issue! Steam says it's running but the Antimalware executable goes haywire. I tried a few things to fix it but I can't get any other outcomes. I played around a bit with the Windows Defender settings, no luck. Tried running UWPHook as admin and then adding the app, no luck. I'm not exactly a "power user" so that's all I've tried so far. If I have any luck, I'll update.

I can open the games just fine through the Xbox app.

[AnthonMS]

Having the same issue. Let me know if there is anything I can assist with by handing over a log or some manual debugging or something.

[RyanPMcL]

Same issue. Nothing actually launches, it just appears as running in Steam.

[TheBingPlays]

ditto on this issue.

[ibrabeicker]

+1

[BrianLima]

Hi, i know that this has been reported for a while, but i couldn't yet find a cause, i had little to no time to work on this issue because of my personal life and job needing much more time than the expected in the last year, so i'm taking a vacation during August and will do my best once i'm back to understand and fix this issue. In the meantime if someone applies a patch that fix the issue, i could try to make a beta release and contact some of the people either here or on Reddit to test it.

[GianCarlosB]

Same thing here.

[shgaspardr]

Same here!

[RyanPMcL]

Today I was able to launch UWP games from steam. Not sure what I changed, but it works for me now.

[bublz00]

Today I was able to launch UWP games from steam. Not sure what I changed, but it works for me now.

I still can't open them. I checked Windows Update and saw an update for Windows Defender but even after installing that, I'm getting the same results.

[retribyte]

Having the same issue.

[Shiroe93]

@BrianLima Having the same issue, but i found that if you check the "run as admin" in the option it starts to work again so i think that's an authorization problem

[TheBingPlays]

@BrianLima Having the same issue, but i found that if you check the "run as admin" in the option it starts to work again so i think that's an authorization problem

Run what as admin? steam or UWPHook? ran both as admin and no luck

[Shiroe93]

you go in to uwphook shortcut proprieties --> compatibility tab and check ran as adimin and apply now when you start the game on steam a security pop-up from windows will appear click yes and the game should be starting normally WARNING: i spoke to the developer on twitter and he does't advise this solution (because is obviously a security risk) personally i totaly agree and my previous comment was intended to help him better understand the issue not to be used by a end user infact i disabled it myself as soon as i've finished testing

[nazsol]

Same problem here, the above fix does work but like said it is a security risk and also Steam does not show you are playing a game.

[BrianLima]

Hi people, we have a new release, could someone who has thiss problem currently give it a try and see if it works?

https://github.com/BrianLima/UWPHook/releases/tag/2.11.0

[nazsol]

Hi people, we have a new release, could someone who has thiss problem currently give it a try and see if it works?

https://github.com/BrianLima/UWPHook/releases/tag/2.11.0

Same problem as before for me unfortunately.

I added 14 games and only 4 launch.

The games that aren't launching are - Besiege Descenders Dragon Ball Fighters Golf With Your Friends Lemnis Gate Mortal Kombat 11 Sniper Elite 5 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge Turbo Golf Racing Worms W.M.D

On a plus note Antimalware isn't going off like it did before and Steamgrid images are working whereas previously they didn't.

[Potajito]

Same issue here, even with the latest version. I only tried Tinykin and Immortality, and both seem to "launch" for a couple of seconds, and then nothing. Doesn't seem to be related to the antivirus in my case.

[TheKerevas]

It also happens to me with Forza Horizon 5, I click on Play but nothing happens, I have no problems with antivirus

[stevealexandre]

Guys, look at #93 fix is coming before the end of the week. Working on it ✌ Just have a last issue to fix.

[alex-brunskill]

@stevealexandre - cheers for working on this, any news on when the fix will be merged and released?

[BrianLima]

I'm reviewing it still

[stevealexandre]

The fix is available right now. To all, download the last release and you will have to delete and create again all your games to enjoy the fix.

[alex-brunskill]

Thank you, unfortunately though I'm still having the same issue. I click play, an installing first time setup window comes up but nothing more. It's now also only finding 3 games and one's that were working such as Halo Wars aren't found. I'm on Windows 10, not sure if that makes any difference.

[stevealexandre]

Hum, let me take a look, I will install halo wars to check it. Do you confirm you have download the last release published today and import all your games again ?

[alex-brunskill]

I have re-installed the three games it found, the .exe doesn't seem to work for me either. Had to download the .zip and extract, then run which worked to add them in, although they won't launch.

Version 2.11.0 worked for me with some games, 2.12.0 didn't at all.

[TheKerevas]

Once installed the installer does not work, opening from the Zip yes. I noticed that UWPHook no longer finds all my Microsoft apps but only Forza Horizon 5 which is the only Microsoft Store game installed. Starting Forza Horizon 5 it tells me "Access to path 'C: \ Program Files (x86) \ Briano \ UWPHook \ debug.log' denied"

[stevealexandre]

@BrianLima I confirm on my side too the installer install a version which not working (process start and instant killed. Seems like an error somewhere. Maybe should be a good idea to put some error log on real error with the logger I've added to follow them easier).

@alex-brunskill can you confirm me which halo wars? 1 or 2 or both? Unfortunately, if microsoft does not create the right manifest, we will have some trouble to handle them at the moment. On the 3 games found, they are working ? If not, list them to take a look.

[stevealexandre]

Once installed the installer does not work, opening from the Zip yes. I noticed that UWPHook no longer finds all my Microsoft apps but only Forza Horizon 5 which is the only Microsoft Store game installed. Starting Forza Horizon 5 it tells me "Access to path 'C: \ Program Files (x86) \ Briano \ UWPHook \ debug.log' denied"

Interesting issue. Will create a fix for the logger to create them in the appdata because program files needs always admin permissions. About other microsoft apps, it's a normal behavior, we are looking for manifest and executable right now and integrated apps does not have the same structure. Since it was design I think to handle game, it will be difficult to handle all cases.

[alex-brunskill]

@stevealexandre it was both Halo Wars 1 & 2. When I rerun the hook, via the zip it doesn't find those games at all now. Only Gears Tactics, Mutant Year Zero and Just Cause 4. These have never launched for me.

[TheKerevas]

Interesting issue. Will create a fix for the logger to create them in the appdata because program files needs always admin permissions. About other microsoft apps, it's a normal behavior, we are looking for manifest and executable right now and integrated apps does not have the same structure. Since it was design I think to handle game, it will be difficult to handle all cases.

It goes what it finds only the games, it is more "clean" than it shows from the list. Anyway I was hoping to be able to play Forza Horizon 5 from Steam today, but I still see not xD

[stevealexandre]

Interesting issue. Will create a fix for the logger to create them in the appdata because program files needs always admin permissions. About other microsoft apps, it's a normal behavior, we are looking for manifest and executable right now and integrated apps does not have the same structure. Since it was design I think to handle game, it will be difficult to handle all cases.

It goes what it finds only the games, it is more "clean" than it shows from the list. Anyway I was hoping to be able to play Forza Horizon 5 from Steam today, but I still see not xD

Install the app in other directory which does not need admin permissions like an other drive or at the root of C. @BrianLima Maybe a good idea to configure the installer on the default path to C:\Users\\AppData\Local like some apps to avoid admin permissions issues needed.

@stevealexandre it was both Halo Wars 1 & 2. When I rerun the hook, via the zip it doesn't find those games at all now. Only Gears Tactics, Mutant Year Zero and Just Cause 4. These have never launched for me.

Thanks for the infos, will take a look. I have installed both.

[BrianLima]

Hey, i've removed the installer version from the current release, i will be doing a new release once i figure out a fix and probably a proper logger, it was on my to do list for a while, maybe in the end the best would be to handle the child process in the 2.11 way for apps without executables and 2.12 for newer apps and not exclude apps from the powershell result if they do not have an executable.

[stevealexandre]

Hey, i've removed the installer version from the current release, i will be doing a new release once i figure out a fix and probably a proper logger, it was on my to do list for a while, maybe in the end the best would be to handle the child process in the 2.11 way for apps without executables and 2.12 for newer apps and not exclude apps from the powershell result if they do not have an executable.

I'm close to push a PR with user configuration for level log & log creation to AppData\Roaming\Briano\UWPHook

[stevealexandre]

@BrianLima PR created for fixing log issue. I'm looking right now about Halo wars issue.

[stevealexandre]

Found a possible fix but take back a lot of "basic apps". I'm testing it right now with this list of games : [✔] - MFS2020 [✔] - Forza 5 [✔] - Halo master chief edition [✔] - Myst [✔] - Farming Simulator 22 [✔] - Train Sim World 3 [✔] - Halo Wars 1 & 2 [✔] - Frostpunk

List status will be updated after tests on this response

Update 7:45PM Some issues with icon of halo wars and frostpunk. Currently looking on it to fix it and it should be fine at the end.

Update 8:50PM Issue is solved and being able to run all games without any issues. Will create the PR in a few minutes and @BrianLima will have to take a look on it.

[stevealexandre]

PR #98 + #99 are created. Waiting action from @BrianLima right now to review, merge and generate all the needed to fix issues.

[borg100]

PR #98 + #99 are created. Waiting action from @BrianLima right now to review, merge and generate all the needed to fix issues.

Any chance you can share a build with your fixes?

[stevealexandre]

PR #98 + #99 are created. Waiting action from @BrianLima right now to review, merge and generate all the needed to fix issues.

Any chance you can share a build with your fixes?

Brian is currently reviewing them and merging. I'm waiting for it since on my side, I have an issue which doesn't allow me anymore to run game through steam without launching UWPHook with run as admin option. He has merged one of two a few minutes and I think he will merge the second before the end of the day with the release.

[BrianLima]

Hey, i've reviewed both PR's and did the tests, everything, is ok, i'll do the release later today.

For it, i will be changing the path for the installation to try to avoid the admin rights issue.

[BrianLima]

Hey, the new release is pushed: https://github.com/BrianLima/UWPHook/releases/tag/2.13.0 Could you guys report if the newer fixes and the new install location improve this behavior?

[borg100]

Thanks for the update.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be working for these games:

• Yakuza: Like a Dragon
• PowerWash Simulator

But the games do run if I execute the command directly in a command prompt window.

[stevealexandre]

Thanks for the update.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be working for these games:

• Yakuza: Like a Dragon
• PowerWash Simulator

But the games do run if I execute the command directly in a command prompt window.

Only for these two games ? Are you able to run other games?

[BrianLima]

Both PowerWash and Yakuza LAD work fine on my end, have you removed the games from your library and re-imported them in the new version @borg100?

[TheKerevas]

Forza Horizon 5 doesn't work. I reinstalled UWPHook and re-added the game but nothing. I click on play, I appear on Steam that I have opened the game but then it disappears

[borg100]

@stevealexandre I made a list of the games I tried.

Working:

• Donut County
• Grounded
• Minecraft for Windows 10
• Tell Me Why

Not working:

• Craftopia
• Embr
• Human Fall Flat
• Minecraft Dungeons
• No Man's Sky
• PowerWash Simulator
• Yakuza: Like a Dragon

All the "Not working" games work fine when launched from the Xbox app or with UWPHook using the command prompt.

@BrianLima I did and verified in Steam; all games are using the latest version of UWPHook.

[stevealexandre]

@TheKerevas and @borg100 could you try to configure UWPHook to run as admin in his compatibility option? (Option available in properties of the exe file in compatibility tab)

[borg100]

@stevealexandre After enabling the "run as admin" option, the game launches as expected (following UAC prompt).

[stevealexandre]

@stevealexandre After enabling the "run as admin" option, the game launches as expected (following UAC prompt).

Ok thanks for the test. Last question, can you confirm you have your windows updated ?

@BrianLima I think something as changed recently with an update of steam or windows which cause some issue running uwphook via steam without admin option. (I think it's windows because you don't have this issue and steam is auto updated)

[borg100]

Ok thanks for the test. Last question, can you confirm you have your windows updated ?

I haven't used this PC in a while and automatic updates have been disabled. I'll update Windows and then try again without the compatibility option and report back.