factorio.exe goes missing from x64 file

[m0b1us1]

So its just like the title claims, when I try to load into a friends world, almost every time recently, the factorio.exe simply goes missing from
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Factorio\bin\x64

This will also occur when I try to apply/disable mods in single player. My initial thought was it was a mod issue, however this has never occurred and I have played with these very mods up until a few days ago where the issue started occurring. It will pause during the loading screen, then the program closes completely and the exe goes missing. What is strange is that sometimes this bug doesn't occur and I can connect and play just fine.

Anyone ever come across this bug? And yes, I have verified the files before, then after making sure the exe was still there, and I have uninstalled and reinstalled 4 times already.

[Rseding91]

What antivirus do you have?

[m0b1us1]

Malwarebytes and already checked that. If it was an antivirus thing then it would have occurred the moment I tried to open the game. But I had been playing for 2 weeks before this started.

[Rseding91]

I ask because the changing of enabled mods causes the game to re-launch itself which some antiviruses might see as "suspicious". Where normal play does not involve that.

[posila]

It's also impossible for exe to delete itself on Windows. Running executable is locked for any modifications by OS, so it has to be deleted externally.

[m0b1us1]

Well not sure what to tell you, but when the game is booted to start, the exe is still there. When trying to join a friends game, it crashes and the exe is gone.

[FuryoftheStars]

Well not sure what to tell you, but when the game is booted to start, the exe is still there. When trying to join a friends game, it crashes and the exe is gone.

Is your enabled mod list the same as your friend’s? If not, then that could likely cause the scenario Rseding91 mentions.

Try disabling your antivirus (and double check windows defender, too), and/or try making sure your enabled mods list matches your friend’s prior to trying to join. It’d also be interesting to see if changing your enabled mods from within the main menu (which once hitting confirm will auto trigger a game restart) also causes this issue or not.

[Koub]

There should be a log somewhere tracing what happens. Either the anti virus', or maybe in Windows' event log. Maybe even Factorio's log has a trace of why the game crashes
Alternatively, can you try to download the standalone version (zip file) from Factorio website, unzip it in a different place, and try to reproduce what you're experiencing ?