Troubleshooting Game Crashes

The troubleshooting recommendations provided here will resolve the most common crashes reported by Steam users, however, you should review the Troubleshooting Crashes topic first because many specific crash conditions have their own troubleshooting processes and solutions.

Basic Troubleshooting

1. The Steam Diagnostic Tool can identify and provide troubleshooting recommendations for many common issues - please follow this link to generate a diagnostic report: steam://support/?Issues=*
2. Check the Recent Steam Update Issues, Programs Which Interfere with Steam, and Spyware, Adware, and Viruses Interfering with Steam topics to ensure crash which you have encountered is not related to a recent Steam update, a program which is known to cause issues, or malicious software.

Install BIOS, Driver, and Windows/DirectX Updates

1. Run Windows Update.
2. Download and install the latest version of DirectX from the Microsoft DirectX Download Page.
3. See the Updating Drivers topic for instructions to check your current video and sound card driver versions and visit links to hardware manufacturer sites (on-board sound card drivers will be found at your motherboard manufacturer's site). Remember to remove outdated drivers before updating and check for any known software or driver conflicts which may occur with the updated drivers.
4. Check the Motherboard Information and Drivers topic for motherboard manufacturer links so you may download BIOS updates and driver updates.
5. Try launching the game to test - if you continue to experience crashes, proceed to the next set of troubleshooting recommendations.

Use Game Launch Options to Troubleshoot Components

1. Disable your sound card through the Windows Device Manager and try running the game. Please see the Troubleshooting Device Conflicts with Device Manager Microsoft Knowledgebase article if you would like instructions to disable the device. (If disabling the sound card resolves the issue, please see the How to manage devices in Windows XP Microsoft Knowledgebase article to resolve the device conflict)
2. Review the Setting Game Launch Options topic for instructions to test the game with these launch options: -nosound -window -dxlevel 70 +mat_forcehardwaresync 0 (If these launch options do not resolve the issue, skip the remaining steps in this section and proceed to the next section)
3. If the game runs without crashing, remove the -nosound launch option and set the DirectX hardware sound acceleration to "BASIC" by running DXDIAG, selecting the Sound tab, and then moving the Hardware Sound Acceleration Level slider to the second-lowest setting. (If this setting does not resolve the issue, skip the remaining steps in this section and proceed to the next section)
4. If the game continues to run without crashing, you may remove the -window launch option and review the Reset Video Settings and Force a Video Mode topic for instructions to slowly increase the -dxlevel, resolution, and detail levels until you find a working level.

Test System Memory and Research Driver Conflicts

1. If the issue persists, please download and run the Memtest86 RAM test program and run it to determine whether or not the issue may be caused by a faulty RAM stick. (RAM sticks which fail this test must be replaced)
2. Verify that your RAM timing setting in the BIOS is correctly set for your RAM. (If you have 3.0 timed RAM in your PC) Please review the topic for links to motherboard manufacturer sites if you are not familiar with checking your system BIOS.

Contact Steam Support

If you have confirmed that the issue is not memory-related and you are not comfortable with the advanced system configuration recommendations provided below, you will need to contact Steam Support for further troubleshooting recommendations.

1. Prepare an MSINFO report by following the process outlined in the MSINFO32 Reports topic.
2. See the Contacting VALVe Billing and Support topic to provide your SteamResults.html test results and your MSINFO32 report.

Advanced System Configuration Recommendations

These recommendations are for advanced users - please do not make changes to your system BIOS until you are familiar with the documentation provided by your motherboard manufacturer.

1. Disable FastWrites
2. If you are using an AGP 8x motherboard with an AGP 8x Videocard, try setting it at 4x
3. Test the AGP Aperture or Graphics Windows Size at both 128 and 256
4. Disable "Shadowing" or "Memory Hole" options
5. Disable "Cache Video BIOS" option
6. Set AGP Driving Mode to "Auto"
7. Adjust AGP Voltage to 1.6v