**Resolved** MW2 Single Player stuck on "Updating Executable"

[himma]

Does anyone have a fix for this? I've tried verifying, reinstalling and running as admin.

[Sułtan Kosmitów]

i did the same things and still doesn't run, dunno what's happening

[...]

I see that too as of today.

[KOOLGUYWOW]

i just bought the game on disc and its not installing

[HunnckiSerfer]

it steam error, restart steam or pc, clear cache in settings, it work for me in bo2 and another games with this

[himma]

Closing discussion. Restarting PC and uninstalling both single and multiplayer and then reinstalling the single player only worked.

[juanp520]

Hi, I found a rare solution, follow the next steps. If you need extra help contact me through email: [e-mail]

1) Go to the directory where you install the game. Example: C:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2

2) Select the icon single player (it´s green and its called "iw4sp")

3) Right-click on the icon and select compatibilty, in this section go to "Compatibilty mode" and select the option windows 7, to finish click on apply.

4) Run the game (maybe the game don´t started and continue with the error)

5) Repeat step 3 but now disable the section "Compatibilty mode" and to finish click on apply setting

6) Again run the game (the error should go away)

[CallMeHarry]

I have no idea why this thread is marked as resolved. Reinstalling, admin mode or running in compatibility mode are no solutions. There seem to be other games with this issue, see: https://www.reddit.com/r/civ5/comments/1g7h4gf/steam_launch_stuck_on_updating_executable/ It seems there is a fix in windows 10, but no fix for games in windows 11.

Edit: singleplayer works with the alterware launcher: https://github.com/mxve/alterware-launcher

[Icelandic88]

I think i found a fix : so click the green play button and when it is still saying updating files, go the the folder cod mw2 is in (example : (C: Program Files (x86), Steam, steamapps common, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2) and right click it and click properties and uncheck it being read-only

[martinstanchev02]

Originally posted by Icelandic88:

I think i found a fix : so click the green play button and when it is still saying updating files, go the the folder cod mw2 is in (example : (C: Program Files (x86), Steam, steamapps common, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2) and right click it and click properties and uncheck it being read-only

This worked for me, one small caveat is that you should uncheck the read-only, then click apply and should not close the properties until the game starts.

[RockLight]

Once files are verified and you see the "updating executable" message, just keep trying to launch until it finally does and it will launch just fine from then on.

Others have done many other things that say fixed it. I think it's just that it finally works at some point. I have not had to make any settings change or install any mod. The same is true for BO2 and MW3, which have also had launch issues.

In fact, this has worked for me for three different CoD apps, twice -- the second time was after I moved them to a new partition. It worked all six times.

No compatibility mode or mod or any other setting change is necessary.

[EatMahAss]

Having this game connect to the internet at all is very dangerous. This symptom is a sign you're being forced to download malware, the entirety of the game is breached by hackers, even playing single player if the game connects to the MW2 servers its likely downloading malware as those servers have been hijacked for years now, you might think this is ridiculous but its a fact, and every single call of duty up to Bo4 is vulnerable to this. They can pretty much take full control of your computer though it. Run steam in offline mode only for your own good, or better yet disconnect your internet connection while playing. The game engine basically comes with a RAT preinstalled in game files and neither Activision or Steam are doing anything about it. If you wanna play online get ♥♥♥♥, its a mod that fixes the security issues.

[GamingDempster]

I had the exact same issue where the game would not start from Steam. The only thing that worked for me was deleting one game file from C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2. I deleted iw4sp.exe and then went to the steam library, right clicked on properties > installed files > verify integrity of installed files and this fixed it.

Prior to this even a full reinstall of MWII did not fix the issue.

[piotr.madeja [PL]]

Hello, I also had this problem today and it turns out that if you once had the game installed on a specific partition and folder and then uninstalled it, and suddenly you wanted to play again (like me) you have to install it in the same location :) I struggled with this for over 2 hours and the message "updating the executable file" always appeared and the game would close. I moved the files to the previous location on another partition and it works normally. I assume that clearing the Windows registry of Modern Warfare 2 entries probably also solves the problem but I didn't have the time or desire to test it.

[RockLight]

I moved it to a new partition and it works just fine, though I had to go through the failure to launch and "updating executable" thing all over again. It takes many tries to launch sometimes but it will eventually do so and will launch immediately from then on. I did the same thing with MW3 and BO2.

[Leto]

Hello friend... it's very simple, it's a DX problem of W10/11, so let's solve it... go to the game directory: Open the Redist folder and install DirectX "DXSETUP" and then install vcredist_x86... Ready! start your game and the executable will be updated and will work perfectly... If you want to reward me, feel free. I hope I helped.