|
Article ID: 6218-USFX-5568 FAQ ID: NA Created: May 19, 2009
The content of this page is moderated by both Steam Support and the Steam user community - any links to outside sites should be treated with caution.
Steam Support will not request your Steam account password for any reason, nor will you ever be asked to enter your Steam account password into a website form.
Basic Troubleshooting
- Verify Your Game Cache FilesThis error is often caused by corruption in your extracted game files. See the Verifying GCF Cache Files topic for instructions to verify your game cache files.
- Update DirectXIf the issue persists, see the Checking DirectX Settings topic for instructions to update DirectX to the most recent runtime. DirectX is updated about once a month by Microsoft.Also, many games on Steam include a DirectX run-time installer. It is strongly recommended that you run the installer when prompted. If you opt not to run this installation file, you may encounter this error and you will need to update DirectX.
- Update WindowsPlease visit Windows Update and make sure that your system is fully up to date. This also includes the Microsoft .NET framework that is available through Windows Update, as ATI drivers and certain games require the framework to be installed and fully updated.
- Disable All Background ApplicationsPlease disable all of your background applications by following the guide in the Disabling Background Applications topic. Internet Security software such as Zone Alarm, CA Internet Security Suite and Norton/Symantec Internet Security have been known to cause these issues. If you suspect that an Internet Security application is the root cause of the issue, you may want to consider fully uninstalling the Internet Security application.
- The Problem Only Occurs for Source Engine GamesIf you are experiencing this issue only with Source engine games like Team Fortress 2, Portal and Half-Life 2: Episode 2, then please see the New Source Games Crash while Preparing to Launch topic for further instructions.
Advanced Troubleshooting
Note: these instructions are for advanced users only and only apply to Windows XP. If you are not comfortable with editing your registry, please do not attempt the steps below.
There's a chance that your Windows Installer Service is not correctly configured or needs to be reinstalled. If you recently installed a third-party game on Steam and you were not prompted to update DirectX or install a C++ Redistributable, then there's a chance this is the issue.
Please follow these instructions to make sure your Installer Service is configured correctly: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315346
|
