When I click play on the game it goes from 'X stop' back to 'play' after only a few seconds

[magic hamlet]

Have you tried Alternative launching ?

[ornate pagoda]

yes i've tried alternative launching all it does is give me a prompt to press a key and when i do all that happens is the window closes

i reinstalled it a few days ago and now the steam page says it still runs but zomboid hasnt actually launched

alt launch window doesnt give me a prompt anymore but thats about all the changes