Launcher gets stuck on "Preparing..."

Interesting! I'm not sure I can give you the debug symbols, so maybe we'll have to do this the old fashioned way for now. Trial and error!

• Is your OS 32 or 64 bit?

• What graphics card and drivers? (It "shouldn't" matter, but I've seen at least one case where it did. Strange stuff!)

• Got an antivirus, or any other program you think might be poking around in other processes or locking files on disk?

I'll see if I can add a bunch of debug code tomorrow morning and I'd like you to run that version and see where it dies.

I'm running on a 64bit OS windows 7
I'm running Intel HD Graphics 3000. Don't know driver version. I'm guessing I have latest.
I have anti virus but mine doesn't have real time protection so shouldn't be that.

I don't know if you also want me to test, but I'd be happy to,

If you make your computer go completely offline, no network at all, does it still happen?

I'm on 64bit Windows 10. Dual Titan X's, will have to check on the drivers when I get home tonight.
The only antivirus I've got is Windows Defender (built into Win10).

More this evening.

So after a little more testing I know 2 things
1. it only seams to happen after a full computer restart and then works the next time you launch it after it breaks.
I don't know if this is the same for you Joe Weidenbach but it's worth trying
2. yes I had it fail with trying to load minecraft offline.

For me it's always after a full restart that it breaks as well, but then it doesn't tend to work until a few hours later (I've never been able to get it to work when trying to restart the app--it just stays on "Preparing" or crashes immediately. Then if I come back to my desktop several hours later, sometimes it will work. And, between when it didn't work and when it starts working, I usually have touched nothing.

Happens sometimes while using the Staging version on different computers. Sometimes the launcher stops working, just restart and relaunch and should work. Mostly on modded installations which causes this (Forge, Optifine, etc) I can be wrong, but that's my two cents. If it occurs again I'll attach the logs here

There's a new version going out, please test if anything different happens in that. I don't expect it to be fixed, but maybe it'll have some more information.

Well you got something right because this time it didn't get stuck it threw an error

I don't know how to do those code things but here's the error:
Error details: Throw location unknown (consider using BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION) Dynamic exception type: class boost::exception_detail::clone_impl > std::exception::what: boost::thread_resource_error: An attempt was made to load a program with an incorrect format

Well that's pretty crazy. Huh. Thanks for the info, I'll investigate further. Can I also get a copy of your launcher_log.txt from attempting to start the game?

I attacked the file to this. hopefully it works.

Can you close the launcher, delete your .minecraft/libraries folder, start the launcher, try and play (hopefully fail) and then give me the log again?

It didn't fail after deleting the libraries folder. let me try deleting it them restarting my computer.

It appears the libraries folder has no effect. It didn't even generate one when failing.

Edit: launcher_log(2) should be the latest log.

I am having the same problem, throws an error and crashes. Visual Studio will offer to debug and gives me:
"Exception thrown at 0x683EB69B (launcher.dll) in MinecraftLauncher.exe: 0xC0000005: Access violation reading location 0x21F9F484.
If there is a handler for this exception, the program may be safely continued."

Here is my launcher_log.txt:

[0208/123043:INFO:LauncherAppBrowser.cpp(24)] Work dir is C:\Users\zeel0\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft

[0208/123043:INFO:ClientHandler.cpp(182)] Creating launcher window.

[0208/123043:INFO:LauncherAppRenderer.cpp(110)] Javascript bridge extended.

[0208/123045:INFO:ClientHandler.cpp(846)] Preferences / startup: Read preferences

[0208/123045:INFO:ClientHandler.cpp(846)] Preferences: Wrote preferences

[0208/123045:INFO:ClientHandler.cpp(846)] Configurations: Loading profiles

[0208/123045:INFO:ClientHandler.cpp(846)] Configurations: Loading settings

[0208/123045:INFO:ClientHandler.cpp(846)] Session: Read authDB

[0208/123045:INFO:LocalVersionProvider.cpp(81)] Looking for installed versions in C:/Users\zeel0\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft\versions

[0208/123045:INFO:ClientHandler.cpp(846)] Updating server status

[0208/123045:INFO:GameController.cpp(200)] Reinstancing game callbacks...

[0208/123046:INFO:ClientHandler.cpp(846)] GameStarter: Previous instance(s) found

[0208/123046:INFO:ClientHandler.cpp(846)] Session: Validated token

[0208/123046:INFO:ClientHandler.cpp(846)] Preferences: Wrote preferences

[0208/123046:INFO:ClientHandler.cpp(846)] Session: Wrote authDB

[0208/123046:INFO:ClientHandler.cpp(846)] Changing view to: main.news

[0208/123046:INFO:ClientHandler.cpp(846)] Preferences: Wrote preferences

[0208/123048:INFO:ClientHandler.cpp(846)] Preferences: Wrote preferences

[0208/123048:INFO:GameCallbacks.cpp(161)] launcher/launcher (main) info Preparing to launch minecraft client for 17w06a

[0208/123048:INFO:GameCallbacks.cpp(161)] launcher/launcher (main) debug Prepared asset index

Got the following iternal error after trying to launch the game. Trying it a second time did not cause it.

Fehler-Details: Throw location unknown (consider using BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION)
Dynamic exception type: class boost::exception_detail::clone_impl<struct boost::exception_detail::error_info_injector<class boost::thread_resource_error> >
std::exception::what: boost::thread_resource_error: Es wurde versucht, eine Datei mit einem falschen Format zu laden

The message is in German, but this site claims the English error message is

And for that error message an answer on stackoverflow exists.

@marcono1234 You're getting the same error, but that translation is not correct. So that answer doesn't help, and eather way it is a minecraft launcher bug so nothing we can fix on our side.

Okay that's good to know. I have a theory! I'll let you know when there's something new to test, hopefully later today.

Same bug occurring on OS X 10.11.6, with the log reporting no errors.

Can you try the new version that went out?

Yes, I appear to have the same issue. For me, the game does not crash, but yet is stuck on preparing.

same problem

Can I get a copy of your launcher_log.txt?

same problem.

worked 1 hour ago

Confirmed
for:

Bootstrap
1226-stage 
Thu, 09 Feb 2017 12:53:00 GMT 
94835cc334558f05ea7490b534facab7ec366013
Launcher
2.0.785-stage 
Thu, 09 Feb 2017 12:39:53 GMT 
eddc72a80f28305aef3e2718f4b86e7b1fbed94a
UI
35 
Thu, 09 Feb 2017 12:38:06 GMT 
af01f3a2ee4cb8166e81cbe2ade3d77345cba6bf

Can we get a system with stable launcher updates, and unstable beta launcher updates, so not everybody with the launcher updating gets locked out of minecraft?

This way we can have beta testers try out the unstable versions before releasing to the public,
there should always be a way to install a stable launcher version!

I have exactly the same problem.
First time I opened the launcher Minecraft started, now that I dowloaded the new update of 120MB it stills in "Preparing..." (version: macOS Sierra 10.12.3).

I really hope you'll find a solution!

Ok so the game now launches it's just stuck preparing for a while but it still launches. So I think this is solved.

Edit: so by the looks of it it's fixed on windows but mac users are still having trouble, or they haven't updated. one of those two.

I have the same problem on Mac OS X 10.11.6.

To avoid this problem, I'm using Minecraft_legacy.dmg. (downloaded from https://minecraft.net/ja-jp/download/alternative)
It requires Java 8 Update 121 (latest).

I have the same problem even I updated to version 2.0.798. The launcher won't launch game.

The Mac OS preparing issue has been fixed, and I'd still like someone to try the original windows one to confirm if it is still an issue or not.

Windows is working. It takes a while on first launch but It's fixed.

Hajrah Shabir That's a completely different issue.

Windows seems to be working now, finally launched with no apparent problems.

Everything worked for me last night, will boot up fresh tomorrow and make sure.

Not working at all for me. I click the icon, and the white square window appears...

Just to clarify what I've tried, uninstalled and reinstalled both minecraft and java. Removed optifine. Restarted my laptop twice. Still de nada.

I'm having the exact same problem on windows, it wont get past the launch screen without crashing despite uninstalling and then reinstalling Minecraft and java.

MCL-5895 might be a duplicate of this issue as I've just opened it but I'm having similar issues, EXCEPT I never get stuck on Preparing, the launcher disappears and then pops back up with a generic error. Not sure if the two are linked.
edit: also different versions, but possibly linked?

I'm having the same issue, but for me, 5-10 minutes of waiting makes the screen smaller. (about 1/20 in both ways of its original size) After that, it still doesn't work. After an additional half-hour, it stays the same. I changed the language, but it still doesn't work.

However, I have a few things that I think may cause it:

1. On both Optifine and the normal launcher, the errors seem to appear after the "Changing view to: main.news" command runs. However, it doesn't seem to have any visual effect on the launcher. I think this possibly glitched menu state might have an effect on how it works.

2. It doesn't seem to be receiving any processing power, and doesn't get much internet connection. (only 0.1 mbps a small fraction of the time)

3. On Optifine, there's three errors that seem to be related to a website:

"[0204/100308:INFO:GameCallbacks.cpp(161)] launcher/launcher (main) warn Couldn't get hash for optifine/OptiFine/1.11.2_HD_U_B5/OptiFine-1.11.2_HD_U_B5.jar from https://libraries.minecraft.net/optifine/OptiFine/1.11.2_HD_U_B5/OptiFine-1.11.2_HD_U_B5.jar.sha1: HTTP 404: Not Found

[0204/100308:INFO:GameCallbacks.cpp(161)] launcher/launcher (main) warn Have local file C:/Users\joe\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft\libraries\optifine/OptiFine/1.11.2_HD_U_B5/OptiFine-1.11.2_HD_U_B5.jar but don't know what size or hash it should be. Have to assume it's good."

The first issue here is that it doesn't seem to be able to find the webpage.

The second issue is possibly related to the part that says "but don't know what size or hash it should be. Have to assume it's good." I think that means it didn't get to download the entire file, so I went to the website link given and it says "Bad Request." I don't know if it is related to me not being a user of Optifine, but if it's downloading a file from the page, this may mean that it isn't able to get a file that may be required, or not the entire thing was downloaded.

Third, after it says that it assumes the file is good, which I think may mean it likes the file, but then it abruptly ends it.

I have a few things that I think may fix the issue:

For the Minecraft development team, check the "menu.news" code. You might want to delete the whole thing for that and start from scratch for the next update.
I don't know if there's anything the player can do here, so until the error is fixed, it may be impossible for these players to be able to play the game. If you want to, you could check if your Java is updated, or if the launcher is updated. (For Optifine users, check your internet; you might want to use a speed test from Bing or Google.) Otherwise, you could redownload Minecraft and/or Java, but this doesn't seem to have an effect.

As for the duplication comment: I'd keep them separate issues for now. It could be related to the news screen as well, but we don't know if they are linked yet. I don't think they are, though.

Hopefully this helps.

This happened with mine so I decided to open it with the older one it worked and it also says on the menu screen to update to java 8 so I did then after that i used the newer one then it worked like before. I hope this helps.

I have the same problem. But with me it says 'Game already running' But i cant see a minecraft window thats open. And im not logged in on a other pc. I have a own post but nobody is answering it. :C

Windows isn't working. I clicked "Play", and it didn't launch game and the launcher still gets stuck on Preparing 😞 (My launcher version is 2.0.808)

Is there any possible way I could downgrade my launcher until this is fixed?

Identical issue. First time running new Launcher, status bar stuck at "preparing". Closed and re-opened several times, with no change. Left it run overnight (~6 hours) with no change. Rebooted. Ran Launcher, which appeared to work normally. Waited 10 minutes, then let it run unattended for another ~4 hours. Came back to find no change. Checked task manager, and found 2 instances of MinecraftLauncher.exe and 1 instance of Javaw.exe. Java was taking 90+% of CPU cycles and ~275M of memory, but nothing was displayed on the screen, and no icon was in the taskbar. Forced everything closed via the Task Manager. Restarted the Launcher, and it's once again stuck at "preparing".

I think I may have a way to get around it!

I went into my Task Manager and ended Java.

And it started working!!!

I don't know why, or how, or if this is fully temporary, but Minecraft has started!

This appears to be a temporary fix, but (like all science) it is repeatable!

I'm going to expand on the instructions:

1. Open your launcher.
2. Click Play.
3. Open Task Manager (or your related version)
4. Find "Java SE Binary."
5. End the task.
6. If it works, you should see a launcher output in a new window. If this is your first time doing this, it will download a few files as well in the launcher and then close. After the launcher closes, Minecraft will start without problems!

It's temporary, and needs to be done every time, but it does work all the time!

@James Ford: your method just causes my launcher to reappear, with the generic error, quicker. I think this cements the fact that my bug and this bug are related but have different causes.

If you have recently updated nvidia drivers, roll them back and try it again. Worked for me

Hi, I am in need of Help. When I turn on the new launcher I get a note saying "Cannot play when in Offline Mode" or something like that. It says to try again later when your internet is working and it is, when I try to play MC. Please help, I am in Need!

Oliver, I think that's something they changed. You have to be online, otherwise you can only play the demo. I don't particularly like it either, but it's not a bug.

Oh... you were online. I missed that. Then, it is a bug. However, this isn't the place for it. You should create a new issue, you'll probably get more attention that way.

I can open up Minecraft launcher but I cant open up Minecraft

I can open up Minecraft launcher but I cant open up Minecraft

i think i may have found a weird fix for this bug. When you press the play button, the game gets stuck on preparing. Ive been trying this thing where i press the play button and then switch to a chrome window (you should have the chrome window already open before you click play). When i do this, the game loads up and i can play. I stay on the chrome window until the game launches. This is the weird fix i found for this problem. Tell me if it works for you.

I have tried and it works with Forge. But I press play button with a very old Minecraft version (rd-132211) , it won't work.

how do you mean open a chrome window (only the browser) it doesn't work here. Maybe i'm doing something wrong?

problem solved gameband update fixed the problem

We don't like using Chrome too much baggage comes with it, is there another option?

i only tested it with chrome because i dont use any other browsers. you could try it i guess. to be honest, i think the problem is the news screen. when im not looking at it, the game loads without a problem. so again, you could try using another browser, and maybe you could even try just opening a random window. tell me if this helped and if you have any luck in the future.

That's really, really weird. Maybe the Chrome pauses the bad code?

If you don't like Chrome, you might want to try my method; you'll need to open all the comments.

However, these seem to be separate issues, so I don't know if it will work for you.

Yes, my Gameband update made it work for me, so if you have one, now would be the time to use it. It makes it very easy.

If you have this problem you could try downloading the OLD launcher. It worked for me. Get it at this link:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/launcher/Minecraft.exe