Black Main Menu for both OOTP 26 and OOTP18

Nukester2 · 01-10-2026, 11:12 PM

Greetings.....Since last night I suddenly get a black screen when starting either OOTP18 or OOTP 26. Ive verified files, reinstalled OOTP 26 (twice), updated graphic drivers, and updated DirectX all to no avail

All my other installed games still start with no problems (Skyrim, Age of Wonders 4, etc....). This was working with no issue last night. I shut down the game then shut down my laptop.Tried to start the game today and just get the black screen. I have to cancel via task master as well

Any suggestions?

LansdowneSt · 01-10-2026, 11:32 PM

You didn't mention anything about moving files but maybe the configuration got messed up in another way. It may be worth deleting the configuration file because when you restart the game afterwards, it will, as if starting for the first time, find the files it needs and not look in the wrong (typically old) place.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=365058

Nukester2 · 01-10-2026, 11:50 PM

Thanks for the suggestion. I didnt move anything around. I tried to delete the paths files but that didnt work either. Im not even getting an error message. Just a blank black screen. It shows Out of the Park Baseball 26 (or 18) in the top left of the screen but I see no background or links or anything

Whats really weird is that I have OOTP18 and OOTP26 installed and the same thing happens in both games. I use 18 for my solo league and 26 for PT and both worked before I shut down my laptop last night

LansdowneSt · 01-11-2026, 12:37 AM

Here's the Gemini suggestion presumably from crawling all the threads...

Common Fixes (Windows)

Force Reinstall/Verify Files: In Steam, go to the game's properties, find the "Installed Files" or "Local Files" tab, and select "Verify integrity of game files" or "Force reinstall".

Run as Administrator: Right-click the OOTP shortcut or .exe file and select "Run as administrator".

Disable Fullscreen Optimizations: Right-click the .exe, go to Properties > Compatibility, and check "Disable fullscreen optimizations".

Windowed Mode: Try using the "Maximize Window" setting instead of true fullscreen in the game's display options to avoid scaling issues.

Update Graphics Drivers: Ensure your GPU drivers are up-to-date.

Check Antivirus: Temporarily disable your antivirus to see if it's blocking game files.

Nukester2 · 01-11-2026, 01:04 AM

Tried the above but still get black screen. Appreciate the help though

Another odd thing is when I move the mouse around the screen it changes from an arrow to a hand like there is a link or button there

Wracking my brain trying to figure out what would cause 2 different installed versions do the same exact thing

Nukester2 · 01-11-2026, 06:25 PM

I ended up resetting my laptop. When I started OOTP I think I saw something about installing a MS redistributable file so maybe that was it. Working again. Thanks for the help!

01-10-2026, 11:12 PM	#1
Nukester2 Bat Boy Join Date: Jan 2026 Posts: 4	Black Main Menu for both OOTP 26 and OOTP18 Greetings.....Since last night I suddenly get a black screen when starting either OOTP18 or OOTP 26. Ive verified files, reinstalled OOTP 26 (twice), updated graphic drivers, and updated DirectX all to no avail All my other installed games still start with no problems (Skyrim, Age of Wonders 4, etc....). This was working with no issue last night. I shut down the game then shut down my laptop.Tried to start the game today and just get the black screen. I have to cancel via task master as well Any suggestions?

01-10-2026, 11:32 PM	#2
LansdowneSt Global Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: From Duxbury, Mass residing Baltimore Posts: 7,764	You didn't mention anything about moving files but maybe the configuration got messed up in another way. It may be worth deleting the configuration file because when you restart the game afterwards, it will, as if starting for the first time, find the files it needs and not look in the wrong (typically old) place. https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=365058 __________________ Complete Universe Facegen Pack 2.0 (mine included) https://www.mediafire.com/file_premi...k_2.0.zip/file Just my Facegen Pack: https://www.mediafire.com/file_premi..._Pack.zip/file

01-10-2026, 11:50 PM	#3
Nukester2 Bat Boy Join Date: Jan 2026 Posts: 4	Thanks for the suggestion. I didnt move anything around. I tried to delete the paths files but that didnt work either. Im not even getting an error message. Just a blank black screen. It shows Out of the Park Baseball 26 (or 18) in the top left of the screen but I see no background or links or anything Whats really weird is that I have OOTP18 and OOTP26 installed and the same thing happens in both games. I use 18 for my solo league and 26 for PT and both worked before I shut down my laptop last night Last edited by Nukester2; 01-10-2026 at 11:51 PM.

01-11-2026, 12:37 AM	#4
LansdowneSt Global Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: From Duxbury, Mass residing Baltimore Posts: 7,764	Here's the Gemini suggestion presumably from crawling all the threads... Common Fixes (Windows) Force Reinstall/Verify Files: In Steam, go to the game's properties, find the "Installed Files" or "Local Files" tab, and select "Verify integrity of game files" or "Force reinstall". Run as Administrator: Right-click the OOTP shortcut or .exe file and select "Run as administrator". Disable Fullscreen Optimizations: Right-click the .exe, go to Properties > Compatibility, and check "Disable fullscreen optimizations". Windowed Mode: Try using the "Maximize Window" setting instead of true fullscreen in the game's display options to avoid scaling issues. Update Graphics Drivers: Ensure your GPU drivers are up-to-date. Check Antivirus: Temporarily disable your antivirus to see if it's blocking game files. __________________ Complete Universe Facegen Pack 2.0 (mine included) https://www.mediafire.com/file_premi...k_2.0.zip/file Just my Facegen Pack: https://www.mediafire.com/file_premi..._Pack.zip/file

01-11-2026, 01:04 AM	#5
Nukester2 Bat Boy Join Date: Jan 2026 Posts: 4	Tried the above but still get black screen. Appreciate the help though Another odd thing is when I move the mouse around the screen it changes from an arrow to a hand like there is a link or button there Wracking my brain trying to figure out what would cause 2 different installed versions do the same exact thing

01-11-2026, 06:25 PM	#6
Nukester2 Bat Boy Join Date: Jan 2026 Posts: 4	I ended up resetting my laptop. When I started OOTP I think I saw something about installing a MS redistributable file so maybe that was it. Working again. Thanks for the help!