Davinci Resolve Won't Start (W11)

I recently upgraded my laptop from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 11 Pro. Not long after this Davinci Resolve started hanging up at "Loading Fairlight Engine". I've uninstalled and reinstalled DR multiple times, updated drivers, and deleted config files but no change. From everything I've read it's driver related but I just don't know where to look. Here are the logs and system info.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

[Peter Chamberlain]

Which exact Resolve version?

Make sure the NVidia driver is updated.

Which exact Resolve version?

Resolve 18.6.6

Make sure the NVidia driver is updated.

NVIDIA driver version is 555.99

[Dwaine Maggart]

It's not obvious why it's hanging where it's hanging.

As a test, do the following, to see if this is some issue with your Resolve preferences:

The following process will MOVE your Resolve preferences files to a backup location. This will force Resolve to create a new set of default preferences files when it launches. If this solves the launch issue, that would imply there was some corrupt preferences related file causing the startup issue.

Open File Explorer Options, and on the View tab, enable "Show hidden files, folders and drives".

Also unselect "Hide extensions for known file types".

Then in File Explorer, navigate to this folder:

C:\Users\mka\AppData\Roaming\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve

Rename the Preferences folder to Preferences.old

Now see if Resolve will start.

If it does, it will have all the Resolve preferences set to default values.

Dear Dwaine,

I have a similar question regarding Resolve not starting on W11,
it has been almost 2 days that the program which I have been using for long time without any problems won't open anymore, I have and watched all the tutorials available, changed and checked my computer but it won't open. Now I bumped into a video of scott fichter where in the end he shows how to make that zip file with log information to send over to find out what the problem really is (this website won't let me upload the zip file containing the log files error code: PR_CONNECT_RESET_ERROR, tried to delete cache from browser but won't let me upload anyways..)

Information on the laptop that I am using DaVinci (Version 18.6) with:
Lenovo Legion 5 151MH05
BIOS Version EFCN54WW
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (15.9 GB usable)
Windows 11 Home (Version 23H2)
Windows x64
NVIDIA driver version is 555.99

I really got into a flow with davinci so I would be really sad not to be able to use it anymore and I can not find the problem myself so after 2 days of suffering I figured tthis would be my last chance to get the problem solved hopefully,
best wishes and thanks in advance
frida

[Dwaine Maggart]

In a File Explorer window, go to:

C:\Program Files\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve

and run CaptureLogs

This will place a Resolve log file named similar to this on your Windows Desktop: DaVinci-Resolve-logs-20181228_140434.zip (You may not see the .zip extension if your system is set to hide known extensions).

Then open the Windows System Information app and do a File - Save (Not a File Export), which will generate a .NFO file.

Place both those files on a file sharing site and provide links to the files here. Make sure the links don't require access credentials.

If you are a new Forum user, you may not be allowed to post URLs. If this happens, just put a space near the front of the URL, so the system doesn't think it's a URL.

Hello! I'm experiencing a similar issue. I just installed the latest version of DaVinci Resolve (01/31/2025), but unfortunately, every time I open the program, the message "DaVinci Resolve quit unexpectedly" appears.

I've already tried reinstalling the program, opening it in compatibility mode, updating all drivers, and restarting the computer, but nothing works. Could anyone help me?

Here are the Resolve log and Windows System Information files, just remove the spaces:
htt ps://drive.google.co m/drive/folders/1tgoW4n3jD23RVemtHo4fP2AHUDh-fBcv?usp=sharing

[Dwaine Maggart]

You have a version of the Maxon Red Giant Universe plugins installed that are crashing Resolve.

As a temporary fix to allow Resolve to launch:

In File Explorer, go to this folder:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\OFX

In the OFX folder is a folder called Plugins

Rename the Plugins folder to Plugins.orig

Now Resolve should start. But it will not see any of your 3 party OFX plugins.

In the Plugins folder will be folders for your 3rd party OFX plugins. If you remove the Maxon Universe related folder(s), then you should be able to rename Plugins.orig back to Plugins and allow Resolve to see your Boris FX plugins.

In the Plugins folder will be folders for your 3rd party OFX plugins. If you remove the Maxon Universe related folder(s), then you should be able to rename Plugins.orig back to Plugins and allow Resolve to see your Boris FX plugins.

It worked, it really worked! Thank you so much for helping me solve this problem!

Hi Dwaine,

Thanks for your help on this issue. You have helped me before on other Resolve issues and I hope that you will come through for me one more time.

My Resolve won't start. It had been running fine until I shut down yesterday evening, and when I returned later to resume work, it would start to launch and after a few seconds, stop.

I've tried some of the fixes suggested here hoping that I would get lucky but they didn't fix my problem.

Here is a link to my log file and msinfo32 file. I hope it yields some insight.

_https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KDvHbY9ji1pUi4wAynAmW2gTSllLYkLQ?usp=drive_link

There are no security limitations on this Google Drive folder so I expect you will have unrestricted access.

[Dwaine Maggart]

Your Google Drive link requires access credentials. Please make it an open link.

Sorry about that. I can never get this security thing figured out on the first go-'round.

Your Google Drive link requires access credentials. Please make it an open link.

I think I have it now. Same link but open (I hope).

_https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KDvHbY9ji1pUi4wAynAmW2gTSllLYkLQ?usp=drive_link

[Dwaine Maggart]

Open the Windows "Add or remove programs" Control Panel, and select the DaVinci Resolve Control Panels app and then Uninstall it.

Does that solve the issue?

Yes, that worked. The application launch. Thank you. However, now I have lost the connection to my Mini Panel. What is the best way to reinstall the Control Panel app?

I tried reinstalling the control panel app, which was successful, but now Resolve is crashing on launch again. I will uninstall the control panel again and see what happens.

With the control panel app installed, Resolve won't launch. No control panel, it launches. What is my next step? Any suggestions?

[Dwaine Maggart]

We've had this issue ongoing for a while. Unfortunately, despite considerable effort, we've not been able to reproduce the issue locally. Without being able to reproduce it, it's hard to fix.

Up to now, people with this issue haven't had control panels, so removing the control panels app was a pretty simple fix.

You said: "It had been running fine until I shut down yesterday evening, and when I returned later to resume work, it would start to launch and after a few seconds, stop."

It seems like something on the system must have changed to cause this. Did you install any new software? Or update any existing software? Did Windows do an update? Or did you connect any new hardware to the system? Just trying to pin down what could have led to this.

Same problem for me, Resolve crashes on startup.

According to my log files, Resolve does not start if there are internet connection problems.

Resolve crashes when starting if I have a VPN connection. This worked fine until recently. I use Nord VPN and Windows 11. Now I always have to interrupt VPN when I want to start Resolve. Then it works. The Event Viewer lists fusionsystem.dll as the cause of the error.
Reinstallation or driver updates didn't solve the problem for me either. Disconnecting from VPN solved the problem for me. But that can't be a permanent solution.

Okay, I've got everything back.

It appears that my VPN was interfering with my control panel. I modified the VPN settings and POP, I broke the system. Once I turned off the VPN, everything worked again. I will deal with putting the VPN back online later. For now, Resolve and the Control panel are both working and all is right with the world.

Thanks, Dwaine, for all your help, and thank you, Marinox23, for pointing me in the right direction.

Removing the Control Panels worked for me. Thank you.

Hi, I was straggling for few hours changing many settings on my PC. Nothing worked.
Finally I turned of VPN and it started. That's it

I am also having this issue! i have tried multiple reinstalls of DR along with different versions, including the latest and 18. 6.6. I am fully up to date in windows and GPU drivers as of writing this. i am at a total loss, have send in multiple crash reports via the pop up.

[Dwaine Maggart]

The automatic crash log reporting does not help the individual user.

If Resolve is not starting, we need the following info. But...if you are using Nord VPN, it's very likely that if you uninstall the DaVinci Resolve Control Panels app, using the Windows "Add or remove programs" Control Panel, that could solve your issue. Otherwise, this:

In a File Explorer window, go to:

C:\Program Files\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve

and run CaptureLogs

This will place a Resolve log file named similar to this on your Windows Desktop: DaVinci-Resolve-logs-20181228_140434.zip (You may not see the .zip extension if your system is set to hide known extensions).

Then open the Windows System Information app and do a File - Save (Not a File Export), which will generate a .NFO file.

Place both those files on a file sharing site and provide links to the files here. Make sure the links don't require access credentials.

If you are a new Forum user, you may not be allowed to post URLs. If this happens, just put a space near the front of the URL, so the system doesn't think it's a URL.

I recently upgraded my laptop from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 11 Pro. Not long after this Davinci Resolve started hanging up at "Loading Fairlight Engine". I've uninstalled and reinstalled DR multiple times, updated drivers, and deleted config files but no change. From everything I've read it's driver related but I just don't know where to look. Here are the logs and system info.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

If you tried everything and nothing seems to work, the last resort is a fresh install of everything, including Windows 11 ... somtimes upgarding Win 10 to 11 creates problems so fresh install should solve all probems.

I have found a potential solution!!!

My resolve was giving errors related to a 'panel' that wasn't loading correctly. So I uninstalled the control panel module from resolve via the windows standard process.

Low and behold, on resolve v18.6.6, it now opens and SEEMS to run as normal. Unsure if this will work for more recent versions. I am also yet to put it through any real editing yet however. I hope this helps!

I have found a potential solution!!!

My resolve was giving errors related to a 'panel' that wasn't loading correctly. So I uninstalled the control panel module from resolve via the windows standard process.

Low and behold, on resolve v18.6.6, it now opens and SEEMS to run as normal. Unsure if this will work for more recent versions. I am also yet to put it through any real editing yet however. I hope this helps!

Good to know that you manged to solve the problem. But may I know why you did not upgrade to v19? What is the reason you are still on v18?

Same issue. Here are my logs and Windows System Information files.

https://1drv.ms/f/s!AuxfyPrBhLLRpao173J ... A?e=zJKTcv

[Dwaine Maggart]

The Resolve startup crash is being caused by Topaz.

In File Explorer, go to this folder:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\OFX\Plugins

In that folder will be a Topaz related folder. Delete or move that folder out of the Plugins folder, which will prevent Resolve from trying to load the Topaz OFX plugins.

Stand alone Topaz should still work properly. At least, that's what others have reported.

The Resolve startup crash is being caused by Topaz.

In File Explorer, go to this folder:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\OFX\Plugins

In that folder will be a Topaz related folder. Delete or move that folder out of the Plugins folder, which will prevent Resolve from trying to load the Topaz OFX plugins.

Stand alone Topaz should still work properly. At least, that's what others have reported.

That worked! Many thanks!!

The Resolve startup crash is being caused by Topaz.

In File Explorer, go to this folder:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\OFX\Plugins

In that folder will be a Topaz related folder. Delete or move that folder out of the Plugins folder, which will prevent Resolve from trying to load the Topaz OFX plugins.

Stand alone Topaz should still work properly. At least, that's what others have reported.

That worked! Many thanks!!

Same issue recently with Topaz after new machine
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=220543

During the Topaz instal don't allow the Topaz plugins to instal by default. You can opt out of it.

Have the V20 Beta installed and Topaz and it seems that all is behaving well over the last few days.

On the Topaz instal, there is an options to X the plugins during the Topaz instal
By default they instal even if not used or initiated in Topaz GUI.
Red cross them to prevent this and that seemed to sort it out.

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=220543

The same issue with DaVinci 18.6.6 on macOS Monterey 12.7.6.
It will start after several attempts, but what if it doesn't start?

I have no Topaz but I have OFX plugins from picture and audio plugins Waves, iZotope, Flux, Native Instruments, etc. and I recently updated Apple Codecs Pro.

[Dwaine Maggart]

Hard to say without a diagnostics log.

Hard to say without a diagnostics log.

Here you are.
Thanks!

[Dwaine Maggart]

It appears your BorisFX plugins are crashing Resolve.

To verify:

In Finder, navigate to the /Library/OFX folder, then rename the Plugins folder to Plugins.bak

That will prevent Resolve from loading any third party plugins.

Now Resolve should start.

It appears your BorisFX plugins are crashing Resolve.
To verify:
In Finder, navigate to the /Library/OFX folder, then rename the Plugins folder to Plugins.bak
That will prevent Resolve from loading any third party plugins.
Now Resolve should start.

Thank you, Dwaine.
I found new version FxFactory that brings the issue. (I use it with Apple Motion)
I reinstall to older version and DVR starts fine again.