The English version of the long awaited S.T.A.L.K.E.R : Call Of Pripyat (CoP) has finally hit the shelves. Russian version of this game was released back in November 2009. Although there were numerous RUS to English translation patches, subtitles, menu fixes, etc around, the NA and EU versions of the game which are targeted specifically at English speaking users are now out. If you’ve played the previous two STALKER games, most of you would agree with me when I say they had great gameplay. But they did also contain a ton of bugs. Thankfully, Call of Pripyat seems to be the most stable & optimized game in the STALKER series so far. English version comes pre-patched to v1.6.02 for improved stability. Anyways here’s our routine troubleshooting article for COP – this post will hopefully address issues you are facing with the game.

Note: This article is a work in progress. It will be expanded as more fixes and issues are discovered.

Possible fixes for X-Ray 1.6 engine has stopped working error 

So far, this is the most common issue I found people reporting with CoP. Apparently the game throws this error upon launch and refuses to start. Below are some possible solutions that may fix this problem for you. Please note that these may not work in all cases – ‘X-ray engine stopped working’ looks like a very generic error and it may be triggered by a number of reasons including certain hardware configurations. Anyways the below fixes are always worth a try:

Note: You may lose your game progress when trying to apply these fixes. Assuming you can’t start the game at all, this probably won’t be an issue :p

  1. Install the game. During the prompt where you have to insert the CD-Key, do not inser a name.
  2. Browse the to folder where the game stored user data. by default this is C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents\S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Call of Pripyat (if you installed the game for all users, look under C:\Users\Public\Documents\S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Call of Pripyat\)
  3. Delete everything inside this folder including subfolders and files (if any)
  4. Now launch the game using Stalker-COP.exe located in the game’s installation directory
    - courtesy KeSeM435 on TL

Cannot open file fsgame.ltx. Check your working folder error

This error (sometimes with different filenames) could be triggered by several different reasons – for example if you are trying to launch the game using a desktop shortcut that has an improper value in the ‘Working Directory’ field. Some fixes you can try:

  • Launch the game directly from the installation dir using Stalker-COP.exe without using a shortcut
  • Launch the game using the launcher
  • Download this batch file, place it in your CoP installation directory and execute the file. (this solution is based on a fix for same issue with STALKER Clear Sky)
  • To the fix mentioned above for X-ray engine issue

Access violation errors, general protection faults, black screens and other issues

If you get random CTD, access violation errors in game. Try disabling dynamic lightning from the options and see if frequency of crashes is reduced. You can also try following the usual best practices including updating directx, updating device drivers, etc.

Note: This article is incomplete. More fixes will be added and existing fixes corrected as more information becomes available.


21 Comments

  1. Ravanas // 2/07/2010 01:46:00 AM  

    It worked for me. Thank you for posting this fix!

  2. John Phoenix // 2/08/2010 12:23:00 AM  

    The crash fix for the engine crashing is no good.. sure it will restart the game BUT, then you cannot re apply your settings - Because this requires a restart.. which then Crashes! Anyone else got any better ideas?

  3. Unknown // 2/12/2010 02:19:00 PM  

    The X-Ray 1.6 crash happens to me if I try to switch the Render Type to "Enhanced Dynamic Lighting", the second option from the bottom. I have a feeling it may be some kind of Windows 7 DirectX problem or something but that is just a best guess, to lazy to find out. As long as I don't switch to that render type I can restart and run the game just fine. Hopefully this helps somebody...

  4. Unknown // 2/13/2010 05:33:00 PM  

    i found solution for x-ray engine 1.6 stopped working.

    i delete s.t.a.l.k.e.r ltx file located in library/documents every time before i run game.

    directory s.t.a.l.k.e.r - call of pripyat in same library/documents folder i leave untouched and i can play game with savegames and saved graphic and other properties :)

    hope this will help! enjoy

  5. Unknown // 2/15/2010 09:57:00 PM  

    As with Dan, the x-ray crash only happens to me when I change to enhanced dynamic lighting. BUT enhanced dynamic lighting (dx 10) works fine. My OS is vista ultimate 64bit.

  6. TTHaZaRd // 4/07/2010 12:56:00 PM  

    I had the XRAY engine crashing on me at the same point in the game, thought maybe it was some sort of bug. ended up i had had the rendering on 'enhanced dynamic lighting DX11. changed it to DX10... all good! hope it helps. Cheers for the info. Good to see people willing to share thier findings. not like a page i just visited with the original poster swears his head off and the whole thread was about him swearing. lol. thanks

  7. Anonymous // 8/03/2010 07:51:00 PM  

    I have been reading and looking for Call Of Pripyat Crashes, Launch Errors, X-Ray Engine Issues and is amazing and disturbing how many blogs related to buy viagra are in the web. But anyways, thanks for sharing your inputs, they are really interesting.

  8. HaRrY PoTtEr // 8/15/2010 01:10:00 PM  

    I found some more fixes here.This guy can help us make the issues associated with the mods.Hey have you guys tried the SMRTER v.41 mod?How is it?Is it good?
    http://sunil-bhaskar.blogspot.com/2010/08/call-of-pripyat-complete-fix.html

  9. Yubson // 10/27/2010 11:35:00 PM  

    Well I got some errors too mostly running the prepatched version.
    But all my problems when away when I got new crack only that wrong directory error screwed me.

    I sampled few common steps that helped me run the awesome game.
    So if you still have problems download this and read instructions, it's legit site- file size is 1mb - crack + instructions.

    http://www.filesonic.com/file/27728703

    Enjoy,
    Cheers.

  10. Geo // 12/31/2010 03:07:00 AM  

    hey. my game suddenly crashes every time i try and acces pripyat. do i just delete all the files u recomended or is there some other way i could do it withought deleting all my progress??

  11. Poison Blood // 1/06/2011 12:49:00 PM  

    xray engine failure!!! Okay after messing with files over and over i finally got it if you are running a mod like me Smrter v0.41 to be specific you can only run that mod and Atmosfear 2.0 and absolute textures like structures and nature thats it no description fix or option pack weapon add-ons or anything even if it says its for that mod for some strange reason even though the mod add-ons are from same maker they don't work together believe me i tried every single one of them i just did smrter mod and the atmosfear mod thats it my game works perfect. sorry for carried on sentence lol i don't type or read :p HAPPY HUNTING

  12. Unknown // 4/10/2011 07:13:00 AM  

    Nothing is working for me on this one, doing everything that is on this feed and no luck.

    guess I'll just not play this game with my 5850 radeon..

  13. Music's Download. // 7/20/2011 08:17:00 PM  

    Hey man, thank you very much, it was helpful :)

  14. Unknown // 6/21/2012 06:30:00 PM  

    Grazie!!!

  15. Unknown // 6/21/2012 06:30:00 PM  

    GRAZIE!!!

  16. HoneyBadger // 8/28/2012 03:54:00 AM  

    Okay so here's my problem, i know it's the lighting. but my game crashes on startup... so i don't have access to the setup menu. anyway i can change the settings from the outside or im i just doomed to never play again? idc if i need to erase my save games... i was only 15 mins into the game.

  17. aatif // 8/28/2012 03:27:00 PM  

    i installed stalkar cop om my laptop .frst ity flashed dx.dll not found error but i was able to correct it. now when i try to install it in hp probook 443o it always shows dx.dll notn found ..plz plz help

  18. Generic viagrabuy // 5/31/2014 04:41:00 PM  

    the way you present the blog is such a wonderful please keep updating
    Generic Viagra
    Tadalis SX

  19. Unknown // 7/21/2014 07:27:00 PM  

    I need Help fix bug crash ,i can't go to pripyat when it's done loading it crashes and i got bugcrash message-i cant fix it!!!

  20. Unknown // 11/03/2014 03:22:00 PM  

    stalker call of pripyat compressed direct link download for pc

    http://extremegamery.blogspot.in/2014/11/stalker-call-of-pripyat-compressed.html#axzz3Hukz8WSp

  21. Unknown // 1/11/2017 08:15:00 PM  

    Thank you guys.. seems like the old data from when my brother had the cd version installed messed with the xray engine.. after deleting the files in the folder The game started right up without any problems.. playde for 2 hours now and no crashes!