Project Zomboid crashes on startup with EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION

Problem:

Project Zomboid crashes on startup.  The generated hs_err_pid Crash Report file contains:

# A fatal error has been detected by the Java Runtime Environment:
#
#  EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION (0xc0000005) at pc=0x00007ff897eb51d0, pid=3408, tid=10904
#
# JRE version: OpenJDK Runtime Environment Zulu17.30+15-CA (17.0.1+12) (build 17.0.1+12-LTS)
# Java VM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Zulu17.30+15-CA (17.0.1+12-LTS, mixed mode, sharing, tiered, compressed oops, compressed class ptrs, g1 gc, windows-amd64)
# Problematic frame:
# C  [glfw.dll+0x51d0]
...
---------------  T H R E A D  ---------------

Current thread (0x000001a99e540390):  JavaThread "main" [_thread_in_native, id=10904, stack(0x0000008f9b460000,0x0000008f9b560000)]

Stack: [0x0000008f9b460000,0x0000008f9b560000],  sp=0x0000008f9b55e668,  free space=1017k
Native frames: (J=compiled Java code, j=interpreted, Vv=VM code, C=native code)
C  [glfw.dll+0x51d0]

Cause:

The crash is due to external Graphics Driver, glfw.dll, and not related to the Zulu JVM itself.

Solution:

Typically, this can be resolved by unplugging external displays.  The following steps are recommended:

1.)  Unplug all devices from your computer and try to run Project Zomboid (PZ) again.  Especially make sure you've disconnected external monitors and TVs.  This is a known cause for this type of crash.

2.) Next try to upgrade your Graphic Drivers. 
  (a) In Windows -> Start Manager -> Search for "Device Manager" -> Click on "Device Manager"
  (b) Navigate to DESKTOP -> Display Adapters -> right-click <your-adapter> -> Update driver
  (c) Search automatically or download from your graphic-card website and update from your computer
  (d) restart your computer and try again.

3.)  If you manually downloaded Java, ensure you have downloaded the correct version for PZ, and try again.

4.)  Finally, it is recommended to open a case with Steam since this is their application and they are the best to assist with this issue.

Similar Problem:

A similar crash may be seen with an hs_err file showing something like:

#
# A fatal error has been detected by the Java Runtime Environment:
#
# EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION (0xc0000005) at pc=0x00007ffb22f40525, pid=2704, tid=6920
#
# JRE version: OpenJDK Runtime Environment Zulu17.30+15-CA (17.0.1+12) (build 17.0.1+12-LTS)
# Java VM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Zulu17.30+15-CA (17.0.1+12-LTS, mixed mode, sharing, tiered, compressed oops, compressed class ptrs, g1 gc, windows-amd64)
# Problematic frame:
# C [opengl32.dll+0x40525]

Cause:

In this case, the crash again happens outside the JVM, in opengl32.dll, a software-based OpenGL implementation.

Solution:

Our user in this case found the problem had to do with an overlay with Steam and Discord. Disabling anything that used the GPU was a resolution for these crashes.