Common Issues and Fixes

Last Updated: August 7, 2024

Common Technical Problems and Solutions

Below is a list of possible solutions to the common technical problems players can encounter with the client.

• You should create a folder and add that folder to your antivirus exception when uninstalling it, as it ensures that nothing may be intentionally removed from the client or its contents.

Minimum System Requirements

Specification	Minimum	Recommended
Operating System	Windows 7	Windows 8, 10 or 11
RAM Memory	2 GB	4 GB or higher
DirectX Version	9.0c	11 or higher
Processor	Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz | AMD Athlon 64 X2 2.0GHz	Intel Core i3 Series 3.0GHz | AMD FX-4000 Series 3.0GHz
Video Card	GeForce 6600 Series 128MB | Radeon R5 Series 128MB	GeForce GTS 250 1GB | AMD Radeon HD 5450 1GB
Disk Space	29 GB	33 GB or higher

Client errors:

1. Servers are showing as offline

   • Start the launcher.exe and check if your game is at its latest version. If it's not, let it update and check again.

   • Restart your router and PC and check again.

   • Add the elementclient.exe file to your antivirus/firewall exception list.

   • Alternatively, redownload / reinstall the client.

2. Game client won't open or crashes upon launch

   • Install Microsoft Net Framework 4.

   • Install Visual Studio 2013 redistributable.

   • Install VC redistributable x86

   • Install VC redistributable x64

   • Add the game directory to your antivirus exception list.

   • Start the game from launcher and click Verify button, then once the process finishes, check again.

   • Install DirectX 9.0c by running dxwebsetup.exe file located in PWE/element/ directory and check again.

   • Reinstall your graphic card drivers and check again.

   • Update your Windows (if your system is outdated it might be missing some libraries required to run the game).

   • In the end, restart your PC and check again.

   • If it still fails, redownload / reinstall the client.

3. Game client crashes upon logging your toon

   • Go to the panel to move your toon to the safe spot.

   • Solution above might not be permanent - in this case go to PWE/element/userdata and delete systemsettings.ini file and Layout folder - start client and check again.

   • Add the game directory to your antivirus exception list.

   • If problem still persists, click Verify button on launcher and check again.

   • Finally, if the problem still persists, it means that the client is corrupted. In this case please redownload / reinstall the client.

4. Error message: Missing d3dx9_42.dll file

   • Install DirectX 9.0c by running dxwebsetup.exe file located in PWE/element/ directory.

   • Reinstall your graphic card drivers.

5. .ini files cannot be edited and saved / new file is created as .txt

   • Run Command Prompt as Administrator and type net user administrator /active:yes, press enter then close the window and try again.

Launcher errors:

1. Launcher won't update or Launcher message: Update server connection fails

   • Run the Launcher as administrator and check again.

   • Add Launcher.exe to your antivirus/firewall exception list and check again.

   • Restart the PC and router, then check again.

   • Alternatively, redownload / reinstall the client.

2. Launcher showing SE_ERR_ACCESSDENIED

   1. This is happening because the launcher doesn't have access to your /element folder

   2. Create a new notepad, paste this inside of it:

perms_fix.bat

@echo off

REM Take ownership of the entire directory structure takeown /f "element" /r /d y

REM Grant full control to all users for the /element folder and its contents icacls "element" /grant Everyone:(F) /T /C /Q

REM Remove the "read-only" attribute attrib -r /s /d "element*"

echo Ownership taken, read-only attribute removed, and permissions set to full control.

pause

Save this as perms_fix.bat and run it in the root directory (ie if you extracted it within Perfect World Ember/element, you'll place the .bat file within Perfect World Ember)

Alternatively, you can check a guide to make a windows folder readable