Workaround
Downgrading is not, was never, and will never be officially supported. You are advised to run older versions in separate directories. Otherwise, issues like this will occur.
To change directories, please read this guide.
If you need to use the same directory (not recommended, but provided for completeness):
Stop Minecraft
Navigate to
[.minecraft/|http://hopper.minecraft.net/help/guides/finding-minecraft-data-folder/]Open
options.txtwith an editorSearch for the line
lang:xx_yy(xx_yy = LanguageCode_CountryCode, e.g. en_us for English (US) )Change the lowercase CountryCode to uppercase, e.g. change
en_ustoen_USSave the file
When launching Minecraft 1.5.2 or below in a folder that was previously used to start a recent version (e.g. 1.12), the game will crash on start:
java.lang.NullPointerException
at java.io.Reader.<init>(Unknown Source)
at java.io.InputStreamReader.<init>(Unknown Source)
at bp.a(SourceFile:64)
at bp.a(SourceFile:100)
at net.minecraft.client.Minecraft.a(SourceFile:252)
at avv.a(SourceFile:56)
at net.minecraft.client.Minecraft.run(SourceFile:507)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)Steps to Reproduce:
Create a new profile using the latest version.
Launch it.
Close the game, and then change the version to 1.5.2 (or earlier).
Launch it.
Observe that the game crashes on start.
3. Watch it not even start up and crash.
Related issues
is duplicated by
MC-11669
Minecraft crashes when I start it?
MC-110201
1.11 Launcher won't run prior versions of Minecraft
MC-111203
MINECRAFT NOT LOADING AND ALWAYS CRASHING
MC-112934
Failed to start game
MC-113013
Old Versions 1.2 - 1.5.2 and (1.6 maybe)
MC-113795
1.5.2 GAME CRASH
MC-114291
Minecraft versions < 1.5.2 crash on startup
MC-114331
When trying to load up minecraft version 1.5.2 and below, problem popped up as soon version 1.11.2
MC-114596
The New minecraft Launcher refuses to allow me to even play lower versions this has been going on for weeks. and It's still not fixed, and I still can't play
MC-118404
Trying To Get Minecraft to Run Before Horse Update
MC-118901
Estou tentando entrar no meu minecraft 1.5.2 mas aparece Minecraft has crashed!, e fala para eu falar com a mojang sobre o crash-report
MC-119135
My minecraft still crashes and i wanted to send you my crash report,Thank you..
MC-119609
1.5.2 crash! (New launcher)
MC-119636
Minecraft crashed whenever I start 1.5.2
MC-119723
1.5.X Versions Instantly Crash Upon Launching
MC-122080
options.txt incompatibility issues
MC-123574
Some older versions don't start
MC-126417
1.5.2 not working
MC-127775
Game crashes when I try to start
MC-127987
Minecraft crashando
MC-136459
Old version minecraft don't run in my pc
MC-144524
After playing on the most recent version once, I cannot get Minecraft to launch after the logo screen and it just crashes
MC-153598
Minecraft Version 1.5.1 Crashes on Load-up
MC-157700
version 1.2.1 crashes after launch
MC-157941
crash - launcher of 1.5.2
MC-160116
1.5.2 always crashing
MC-160205
Failed to start game crash 1.5.1 (TLoN)
MC-165684
IDK
MC-166961
Error launcher 1.5.2.
MC-168651
Minecraft 1.5.2 Crash
MC-170684
java.lang.NullPointerException
MC-222482
Crash
MC-258676
1.5.2 Crash
MC-264035
Game Crash
MC-264209
Minecraft crashes after upgrading a Beta 1.3b world to Version 1.1
MC-264512
Launching OLD Minecraft
MCL-5147
All older version keep crashing.
MCL-5361
minecraft crashes running any previous version to 1.6.1
MCL-5384
minecraft crashes running any previous version to 1.6.1 [REPORT UPDATED]
MCL-5643
crash
MCL-6139
Can't play older versions
MCL-7586
Minecraft 1.5 and below doesn't launch
MCL-7790
Crash in the most of versions
MCL-8040
Crashing while starting profile, version 1.5.2
MCL-8322
i cant open old versions
MCL-8613
java crash
MCL-8846
Minecraft Crash Report: Failed To Start
MCL-8865
Crash
MCL-9198
On 1.4.7 game wont load
MCL-9234
I can't play in minecraft 1.5.2 or older
MCL-9575
2.0 keeps crashing
MCL-9883
My launcher crashes everytime
MCL-9904
Minecraft version 1.5.2 crashes when I try to launch.
MCL-10025
Minecraft 1.5.2 Crash Report
MCL-10045
Minecraft will only launch on certain versions.
MCL-10612
Newest Launcher doesn't work with 1.5.2 and below.
MCL-10962
Old versions are crashing
MCL-19199
Unable to launch older versions of Minecraft(Versions 1.5.2 and below)
MCL-19829
1.1.#, 1.2.#, 1.3.#, 1.4.#, 1.5.# and 1.6.# will crash on boot.
MCL-21864
1.4 Launching Bug
MCL-21887
minecraft launcher won't open versions before 1.6
relates to
Attachments
Comments
migrated
galaxy_2alex
I'm sorry, but we cannot track issues that are related to very old modifications.
This is a technical support issue; this site is for bug reports only. For technical support please use the Mojang Support Center.
migrated
It is your job to deal with these kinds of problems, since the launcher can't literally launch versions prior to 1.5.2, so this is technically considered a launcher bug. The previous launcher worked perfectly with any older version, even back to Alpha, so there is no reason for it not to work with the new launcher (it's basically one of its' main features).
If this is really to be considered a new and improved launcher, then it should be able to do everything the previous one did, and nothing less.
This is not an issue related to an old version, this is an issue with a new launcher unable to startup the older versions, and it should be addressed immediately. Everything worked fine before and it just had to be screwed up.
I'm sure there's a simple fix to this problem, and it has something to do with the "id": "legacy" on the .json of older versions with the new launcher.
galaxy_2alex
Please provide the crash report so we can further investigate this issue.
migrated
The launcher is unable to launch 1.5.2 anymore in order to show it crash (I wish I had saved a crash log from some days ago), so it doesn't create a crash log in my .minecraft of what happened. When I attempt to launch it, it just says "An unexpected issue occurred and the game has crashed. We're sorry for the inconvenience."
So the only information I can show is with the Output Log when I try to start it up. Everything is ok until this happens in the Output Log:
13:56:10 launcher Version does not support log configuration, will assume one plaintext entry per line
13:56:10 game fev 12, 2017 1:56:10 PM net.minecraft.launchwrapper.LogWrapper log
13:56:10 game INFO: Using tweak class name net.minecraft.launchwrapper.VanillaTweaker
13:56:11 game fev 12, 2017 1:56:11 PM net.minecraft.launchwrapper.LogWrapper log
13:56:11 game INFO: Launching wrapped minecraft
13:56:12 launcher Process closed with exit code -1073740791
This just shows how bad it is at the moment.. it's unable to even launch the game and crash xD
galaxy_2alex
Duplicate of MC-112780, please follow the instructions on that ticket to solve your issue.
And I'm sorry for not correctly handling your request earlier.
migrated
Ok, now it's able to launch thanks to the nvidia driver fix. But it now crashes just like before I had installed the nvidia update. Here is the crash report (It says its probably modded, to which I guarantee it is not):
https://bugs.mojang.com/secure/attachment/133906/crash-2017-02-12_14.49.32-client.txt
galaxy_2alex
You may need to reinstall the locally installed files that Minecraft puts into place. To do so, press your Windows+R keys, type in %AppData% at the dialog, and press Enter. In the window that appears, open the .minecraft directory, and delete everything except for the saves directory that you see therein. Then, try running Minecraft again.
migrated
Oh I forgot to mention that the crash happened on 1.5.2 and older versions, the latest one works just fine.
galaxy_2alex
Please still try to redownload the game, there is a chance something didn't download correctly.
migrated
That's what I've tried countless times already, here is the new crash report:
https://bugs.mojang.com/secure/attachment/133918/crash-2017-02-12_16.39.46-client.txt
I'm really curious why the "id": on the .json file of every version before 1.5.2 (including 1.5.2) has been changed to "legacy" with this new launcher update. It's really nerve wracking because it's precisely the 1.5.2 version that I want to use. There needs to be a simple fix in order to play the older versions, it can't be that complicated.
galaxy_2alex
Your crash report is a bug that was fixed one version later, in 1.6. Did it work fine on the old launcher?
migrated
Yes, the old launcher worked perfectly with every version available, including 1.5.2.
galaxy_2alex
What Language do you currently have selected in your launcher?
migrated
I always use the standard language: English (US).
kumasasa
Sure, but in your options.txt there may be the entry Language=en_us whereas the old version expects there en_US and crashes because en_us != en_US
migrated
Yes, there is an entry called lang:en_us in my options.txt, should I attempt to change it to en_US and launch 1.5.2 that way?
migrated
That simple entry actually enabled the game to launch now, but that still doesn't explain the change in the 1.5.2 (and older versions) .json file from "id": "1.5.2" to "id": "legacy", since that must have something to do with modded versions not showing up anymore.
And you can't say that it's not a Launcher issue, because as soon as I updated to the new one, the change I described earlier happened, and no modded versions would show up in the new Launcher's versions list, even though they've worked for years with the previous launcher.
I'm well aware the problem isn't just (probably) with the .json file, but this change needs to be addressed since things worked perfectly before, and I've seen other people unable to use modded versions of 1.5.2 with the new launcher.
Everyone has heard this one before, but "If it isn't broken, don't fix it", referring to the old launcher of course.
migrated
I would like to know the reason behind the change in the 1.5.2 (and older) .json files, which changed the "id": "1.5.2" into "id": "legacy".
After the new launcher and that changed, modded versions of 1.5.2 stopped being able to show up on the versions list (in the launcher), which is a huge issue.
I understand that older versions are no longer supported, but that's not the problem in hand, since before this new launcher, modded versions would work fine and show up when creating a new profile. If that issue can be solved, then this launcher would definitely be an upgrade, but now it's just useless for people that want to play older modded versions.
kumasasa
@unknown, please create a separate ticket about that "id:" thing (leave a reference to this ticket)
kumasasa
Invalid, because this ticket is MC-4947
migrated
I have something i wish to add. While using any launcher 1.6 or lower, attempting to connect to any server running 1.6 or lower causes me to receive "Bad Login".
This still occurs regardless if i made a new directory or not.
pokechu22
I've completely rewritten this report for searchability and accuracy (you're free to rant elsewhere, but the rant wasn't correct or relevant). If you haven't already, do feel free to create a separate issue regarding the "Legacy" message.
migrated
I have tried this I'm currentl using version 1.16.3 and it still says that the game crashed while trying to use 1.8.9.
I'm using Linux Ubuntu 20.04.1
galaxy_2alex
Please read the moderator note Batu.
NBG-bootmgr
Relates to MCL-21801.It also happens in 13w16a to 13w26a.
Laranjadao
Can confirm it crashes. Still trying to find out how to safely get the Err422 and where it is lol
Laranjadao
mods dont show the full thing of what Error 422 was like (not as in Minecraft people but as in configurations)
Laranjadao
Minecraft, if you're hearing this, will you add the Error422 Version please? i REALLY REALLY want to play it and see if i can find this so called "Err422".
If it isn't real like giant alex and the others then sigh
migrated
its an easy fix. well, not really a "fix", but a workaround! just create a new file for the worlds to be stored in, because (from my understanding) the reason its crashing is because the old world format dosent work in the same folder as new ones!
slicedlime