How to Fix Elder Scrolls Online Error 1005?

The ESO error 1005 can be caused by permission issues of the launcher and installation folders of the game. It can also be caused by the antivirus software by blocking access to the game. Moreover, a corrupted installation of Visual C++ may also cause the issue you are encountering.

A user will encounter the following message and will not be able to play the game:

Here are some quick steps to troubleshoot the issue before proceeding with the technical solutions:

1. Check for maintenance on a Twitter Page.
2. Restart your system.
3. Clean boot Windows to check if any other application/service is creating the issue.
4. Update your Windows and system drivers.
5. Make sure that proxy and automatic configuration script are disabled.

Solution 1: Run the ESO Launcher as Administrator

As the ESO error message is suggesting, the issue could be with the permissions of the Launcher. Every game requires administrator permission to run properly in a system without interruptions or because of UAC restrictions. In that case, opening the ESO launcher with administrative privileges may solve the problem.

1. On the desktop of your system (or in the installation location of the launcher), right-click the Launcher icon.
2. Then in the context menu, select “Run as Administrator” and check if the game is working fine.

   

Solution 2: Disable Your Antivirus and Firewall Temporarily

Antivirus applications (especially MacAfee) are known to block the game from being played. They mark the game as a false positive which in turn blocks access of the game to essential system resources. The problem can be solved either by adding exceptions for the launcher and game files/folders or by disabling your security software.

Warning: Proceed at your own risk as changing settings of your antivirus/firewall or disabling it may make your system more vulnerable to threats like viruses, trojans, etc.

1. You may disable your antivirus or turn off your firewall
2. Or you can opt to add exceptions (do not forget to add into the exception list of real-time scanning of your AV/firewall) for the following files:

   Bethesda.net launcher: C:\Program Files (x86)\ZenimaxOnline\Launcher
   
   ESO.exe: C:\Program Files (x86)\ZenimaxOnline\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client\eso.exe
   
   Eso64.exe: C:\Program Files (x86)\ZenimaxOnline\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client\eso64.exe
   
   Steam.exe: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam.exe

3. Following folders should also be excluded:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online\ 
   
   C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\
   
   C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\
   
   C:\Users\<userid>\My Documents\Elder Scrolls Online\ and subfolders

4. Then launch the launcher/game with administrative privileges to check if it is operating fine.

Solution 3: Repair the Game

Many factors can cause the game files to get corrupt. This usually occurs due to an incomplete update of the game. If your very game files are corrupt, you will not be able to launch and play it without a handful of errors. In that case, repairing the game files may solve the problem.

1. Restart your system.
2. Open the ESO Launcher as an administrator. If using multiple ESO clients, then make sure to highlight the correct one by clicking on it.
3. Wait for the launcher to load completely.
4. Then open the Game options dropdown and click on Repair.

   

5. When asked, allow the launcher to scan all the game files.
6. It can take time, so wait for the completion of the repairing process.
7. Then exit the launcher and restart your system.
8. Upon restart, open the launcher/game with administrative privileges and check if it is clear of the error.

Solution 4: Change the ESO Folder Name

The ESO client uses different folder names for EU and NA megaservers. If the name of the folder does not meet the region of the game, then you may encounter the error under discussion. In that case, renaming the folder as per your game’s region may solve the problem.

1. Quit the launcher/game.
2. Open your File Explorer and navigate to ESO folder in My Documents:

   C:\Users\<userid>\My Documents\Elder Scrolls Online\

3. For example, if you are playing in the EU, then find the Live folder and rename it to Liveeu.
4. Then restart your system.
5. Now launch the game and check if it is clear of the ESO error 1005.

Solution 5: Change the Game Folder’s Permissions

If the user account being used to play the game has permissions’ issue to access the installation directory of the game, then you may encounter the error 1005. In that case, making the user owner of the game’s folder may solve the problem.

1. Quit the launcher/game.
2. Open your File Explorer and navigate to the installation directory of the game, usually, it is:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\ZenimaxOnline\

3. Now right-click on The Elder Scrolls Online folder and click on Properties.
4. Then navigate to the Security tab and click on Advanced.

   

5. Now click on Change in front of Owner.

   

6. Now click on Advanced and then Find Now.
7. Now select your user name in the search results in the bottom part of the window and click OK.

   

8. Again, in the permissions window, click OK.
9. Then click on the checkbox of Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.

   

10. Now click OK when the Windows security warning appears.
11. Then restart your system.
12. Now launch the game and check if it is operating fine.

Solution 6: Restart in Safe Mode and Delete the Game’s Exe Files

As the error message is suggesting, the launcher could not access the game’s exe. If the launcher could not access the files even with administrative privileges, then there are maximum chances that the exe file of the game itself is corrupt. In that case, deleting/renaming the exe file and repairing the game (to download the new exe file) may solve the problem.

1. Boot your system in the safe mode.
2. In the safe mode, navigate to the installation directory of the game. Usually, it is located at

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client

3. Now find the exe file (eso64.exe/eso.exe) and delete it (if you want to play safe, rename the exe file).

   

4. Now boot your system in the normal mode.
5. After the system has powered on, start repairing the game as mentioned in solution 3.
6. After repairing and restarting the system, add the exe into the exception list of your AV program (discussed in solution 2).
7. Now open the launcher with administrative privileges and check if it is clear of the error.

Solution 7: Remove the Game’s Addons

ESO support different type of addons to enhance the user experience. If any of these addons have corrupted, then it can cause the ESO error you are encountering. In that case, removing these addons may solve the problem. We will discuss the process for Windows.

1. Quit the launcher/game.
2. Open File Explorer and navigate to

   C:\Users\<userid>\My Documents\Elder Scrolls Online\

3. Now open the Live or Liveeu folder.
4. Then open the Addons folder and delete all of its contents.
5. Now open the “SavedVariables” folder and delete all of its contents.
6. Then delete the AddOnSettings.txt file. If you want to play safe, then you can rename these folders/files.

   

7. Now restart your system.
8. Upon restart, launch the game and check if it is working fine.

Solution 8: Repair Your C++ Installation

ESO requires Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015 (vcredist_x64_2015.exe and vcredist_x86_2015.exe) to operate. If the C++ installation is not present or is incomplete, then you may encounter the error under discussion. In that case, repairing the Visual C++ installation may solve the problem.

1. Quit the launcher/game and all of the related processes through the Task Manager.
2. Press Windows key and in the Windows search box, type Control Panel. Then in the search results, click on Control Panel.

   

3. Then click on Uninstall a Program.

   

4. In the installed applications list, right-click on your C++ installation and click on Repair.
5. Then follow the prompts on your screen to complete the repair process.
6. After repairing, restart your system.
7. Upon restart, launch the game and check if it is working fine.
8. If not, then uninstall the Visual C++ installation.
9. Now download and install Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015.
10. Then launch your game and check if the game is clear of the error.

Solution 9: Delete the Program Data Folder of the Game

The new patches are downloaded in the program data folder in the installation directory of the game. If the newly downloaded patch iscorrupt, then you may face the current ESO error. In that case, deleting the program data folder may solve the problem.

1. Exit the ESO Launcher.
2. Now open the File Explorer and navigate to the Program Data folder in the installation directory of the game. Usually, it is

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online\Launcher\ProgramData

3. Then delete this ProgramData folder.

   

4. Again, in the launcher folder, find the files “host.developer.Xlog” where X represents a number. Delete all such files except the one without a number i.e. host.developer.log.

   

5. Now restart your system.
6. Upon restart, open the launcher. Now, the launcher should display “Creating Download”.

   

7. After completion of the download, check if the game is clear of the error.

Solution 10: Launch the Game from the Installation Directory

If your launcher could not find the exe file of the game (which is causing the error 1005), then launching the game directly from the game may solve the problem.

1. Quit the launcher/game.
2. Open the File Explorer and navigate to the installation directory of your game, usually it is:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client

3. In the client folder, find and right-click on eso.exe or eso64.exe. Then click on Run as Administrator.
4. Now check if the game has started to operate fine.

Solution 11: Uninstall, Delete the Games Folders and then Reinstall

The ESO error 1005 could be caused by the corrupted installation of the game. In that case, uninstalling, deleting the related game folders, and then reinstalling the game may solve the problem.

1. Quit the game and launcher.
2. Press Windows key and in the search box, type Control Panel. Then in the list of search results, click on Control Panel.
3. Then click on Uninstall a Program.
4. Now, in the list of installed programs, right-click on The Elder Scrolls Online and then click on uninstall.
5. Follow the prompts on your screen to complete the uninstallation process.
6. Now restart your system.
7. Upon restart, open the File Explorer and navigate to the installation directory of the game. Usually, it is:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\ZenimaxOnline\

   Delete all files/folders here.

8. Now navigate to the folder

   C:\Users\<userid>\My Documents\

   and delete the Elder Scrolls Online folder here.

9. Then run the disk cleanup utility to remove any residues of the game.
10. Now restart your system.
11. Then download and install the game.
12. After completion of the installation, launch the game.

If you are still having issues, then you can transfer the updated file of the game from a working and trusted computer.

Moreover, you can reset your PC to get rid of the ESO error. Although, it will be a good idea to contact support before resetting the PC.