Game Won't Launch - Fix Found!

Ok so this is the problem I ''WAS'' (keyword, was, not anymore ;D) having: I ran Steam, I clicked Play Game for Orcs Must Die 1.

Last year I was able to play this game a buttload with no issues at all, and it even worked a couple of months ago too, well tonight I tried to start the game a few hours ago and it gave me the following problem:

The Issue: It told me that the game was loading and then suddenly it would just cut off with no error pop up, no nothing, it just died and wouldn't tell me why.

So I did my research around the web and found out there were many ways to fix it, so I tried them all, but absolutely none of them worked for 'me'. But others claimed they worked for them, so i'll share them all here and then finally get to 'my' fix that worked for me, in case others were at the dead-end no solution dead end that I was.

1. Verify the integrity of the game cache. [did it, didn't work]
2. Verify it multiple times! [did it, didn't work]
3. Delete local content, reinstall the game [did it, didn't work]
4. Delete local content, reinstall the game, and then verify the integrity of the game cache multiple times again! [did it, didn't work either]
5. Disable Avast AntiVirus or other AntiViruses, then re-run verify cache, or reinstall, etc etc above. [This I didn't do, as I didnt trust the idea of disabling my anti-virus, but it is listed as one of the fixes for some people, I thought I'd merit a mention of it for those who wish to persue this]
6. Download 'microsoft visual pack C++ redistributable' [Yeah I didn't do this because I literally just did this a week ago while trying to fix something in Civ 5, which also didn't work there. But it's another option others have listed as working]

Now, My fix that worked for me!
7.
A) I closed out the steam application and I did the following:

B) I followed these instructions and I'm Windows 7 64-bit, so I used the windows section.
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7241-EYON-2343
I renamed my ClientRegistry.blob to ClientRegistryold2.blob [because apparently I had already done this before and forgotten with some other game, so I just named this one '2']

C) Next, I right clicked the steam application and chose Properties, I clicked the Compatibility tab and at the bottom option I chose 'Change settings for all users' - I noticed at this point that my steam had been automatically running in compatibility mode for windows vista, something that I didn't tell it to do, which would explain why when others uninstalled and reinstalled steam as an attempt to fix their similar issue, it had no effect. It seems as if Steam defualts, at least for some, to automatically enter an un-disableable compatibility mode into windows vista, if you're running on Windows 7. Sooo to that end I went into 'Change settings for all users' at the bottom.

D) From here I went to the top section, clicked on the drop down box for compatibility mode and selected 'Windows 7' as Run this program in compatibility mode for...

E) After this I then 'UN-Checked' the 'run this program in compatibility mode' option altogether. I clicked apply and then ok. [P.S. Make sure that Run As Administrator IS checked though, before you hit apply and ok]

F) I ran my Orcs Must Die game expecting another failure and to my suprise it began to run perfectly fine!


Conclusion: Now I'm not entirely sure WHAT actually fixed the game. It could be the deletion and recreation of the ClientRegistry.blob - It could be the newfound disabling of compatibility mode for Steam. - It could be a combination of running Steam in Administrator Mode coupled with either of the two changes above - OR it could be all three working together. Either way I'm happy now and overjoyed at the fact that my game is working now. I never write help articles for people having tech issues as I'm often the one needing the help and not vice versa, but I thought it was very sad that I had found posts going back to a full year ago, in which people had not yet resolved their issue or had anyone reply to them concerning their issue in such a long period of time. So hopefully anyone that comes across this article with this issue, will find their fix! Good luck and happy gaming to all! '; D