The Creation Kit WILL NOT OPEN!

[BananaRespecter]

okay I just got the creation kit and can't use it, I've tried so many things suggested here and nothing is working

[jfresh401]

okay I just got the creation kit and can't use it, I've tried so many things suggested here and nothing is working

[josa177]

For the steam_api.dll issue, try copying over the same file from a free steam game. Worked for me a while ago, though I can't remember the name.

 

If need be, I could upload one.

Worked for me. Used the one from TERA, Thanks man :D

[HarveyBell]

AHAHAHAHHA NOTHING f*#@ING WORKS

[gentester]

First thing to check is to open the creation kit from the game folder rather than the shortcut Bethesda put on your desktop. If it still won't work then:

 

Find a couple of downloads for steam_api64.dll and libScePad.dll (depending on what the problem is - in my case I needed both) They are all on the net someplace make sure you pick ones for your version of WIndows. You may have them on your other games.

 

Install them both into steam/steamapps/common/Skyrim Special Edition if thats the one that won't work - Its probably the same for SkyrimLE from memory I did the same there.

 

Don't use the shortcut to the creation kit Bethesda put on your desktop. Make a shortcut yourself from the CreationKit.exe in the same folder. That one should work, the one Bethesda puts in can't see the newly added dlls.

 

That's what worked for me anyway. Necro'd an old thread in case it helps anyone out looking for a solution.

[Bisador]

Hey all, i just came across this post as i was having this issue,

 

if anyone is still having the same problem, get hold of a copy of the "steam_api64.dll" from any source, (i had one in the root of my skyrimVR install folder) and copy it to the following locations:

 

c:\windows\syswow64

 

and just for same bet:

 

c:\windows\system32

[Punkn]

Anybody who has to restore/refresh their OS... ESPECIALLY if you find yourself dealing with the 32/64bit-bull-spit, knows all too well the headaches that come with the process all too well. I could go into detail how the last 6 days have been a living nightmare on Windows Street for me, but, I don't want to flood the thread with all that extra reading material --- ergo --- I'll post the "quick" of it on here, and absolutely do plan on posting full details to either a YouTube video or my site that's currently under construction which will contain similar articles/tools/links/etc.

 

After a system restore went Cookoo for Coa-Coa Crapola, I followed my father's suggestion to refresh my OS (most of us know this since we've dealt with it before) --- for those who don't know yet --- which is an entirely different process than a system restore. Since dad is rarely wrong about anything (it's a family curse lol) and awesome to-boot, I figured the 3 hour wait definitely couldn't hurt since the restore had already done more than a conceivable amount of damage to my system. Once it finished up refreshing, I immediately began noticing a positive change between that moment and the first windows log-in after the "restore" and it continued to show that progress. To put in a list (if you find yourself needing to follow steps or remember anything that pops out at you) here's what I [did] and it's part in-thanks to gentester and Bisador... both posted comments in this exact thread so don't forget to read their comments in full for further details.

 

1) Opened Steam and Validated my SSE Game Files

--- the game I've been having issues with and use the CK for (if it helps anyone to know) is Skyrim SE

2) Opened/Ran the Bethesda Launcher (which immediately installed Visual C++

--- so far I haven't encountered a problem with it doing so)

3) Via Launcher: Validated the files for the CK

4) Attempted to launch the CK from Launcher --- received notification that I'm missing "d3dx9_42.dll"

BEFORE RUNNING OFF TO DL/INSTALL THE MISSING FILE, KEEP READING --- ONLY SUGGESTING, BUT YOU-DO-YOU

5) Second attempt to launch the CK

--- without doing anything additional, downloading any new files, etc... got a new notification for missing "steam_api64.dll"

6) Restarted my PC

--- after restart, I decided to look into fixes (instead of YouTube and Google) on [here] and Steam's site...but I haven't paid enough money to them to be graced with the ability to post on those forums or even comment on existing posts. I know - dumb.

6) Opened Folder: ( [PF](x86)/Steam / SteamApps / Skyrim Special Edition) >> located the missing steam_api64.dll >> copy & paste to a temp folder on desktop

--- the temp folder step was just a precaution I wanted to take after the mass-chaos I'd lived during the last week

7) Opened Folder ( Windows / System32 ) and ( Windows / SysWOW ) to paste [DLL] to the system folders

8) Launched the Game from the shortcut on my Desktop >> Visited the Creation Club (I'm sure the Mod Page might work as well) and Downloaded/Installed the Rare Curios DLC

***because my laptop is old enough to have been using Windows 7 when it was the newest OS available***

9) Restarted my laptop to exit the game from the Creation Club & Deleted both default Game & CK Shortcuts from the Desktop

10) Went back to the (Skyrim Special Edition) folder to create the new Game Shortcut and found the CreationKit.exe, the INI files for the CK, etc in the [sSE] folder

--- Keep in mind I didn't paste anything to that folder... couldn't have since the INI files were never found on my laptop before this point

10-b) Also created the new CK Shortcut from this EXE instead of the EXE that's automatically placed in the Bethesda Launcher folder when downloaded

 

To "test" this spontaneous CK.EXE I launched from the EXE instead of shortcut.... and the heavens opened up... angels sang... I celebrated and woke up the whole house...

 

I know that there are many "methods" of fixing the "missing .dll issues" on just YouTube/Google alone... and while they may help MOST people, they can also cause a plethora of catastrophic problems that will only create a dog-pile of stress and grey hair. If anybody needs any help with an issue that popped up which is eerily similar to those which I described going thru myself, please don't hesitate to message me or comment on this and I'll get all my notes and such together to post all that on a different thread to prevent this one from going astray.

 

Hope it helps --- even if it only helps one person at some point. I bid y'all "adieu" as the CK is open behind Firefox and calling my name desperately X-D