Desperately need help with game start issues

[tekmagika]

As in, my game won't start, and I really am desperate for help!

The issue started about nine (edit: now ten) days ago. Click on the green Play button in Steam, the game acts like it's getting ready to start, the Play button switched to blue and says "STOP", the game list on the left says "Fallout 76 - Running", the task manager says that Fallout 76 is an active process (but with 0's across the board as far as CPU/Memory usage). Then a minute or two later, it all switches back to how it was before clicking Play and the game never starts.

I have played the game nearly daily for the last year and have never experienced this issue before. I have poured over the internet and, although I've found others reporting similar issues as long as 2-3 years ago (and some more recently), I have not found any hard fixes.

I have a ticket in with the Bethesda help desk, but they have not replied in four days and have yet to offer any actual fixes.

I have tried the following:

Restarting computer.

Uninstalling Fallout 76 (including deleting every single F76-related file I can find on the computer), and reinstalling.

Verified game files through Steam.

Verifying that Fallout 76 is listed in my firewall exceptions.

Adding Fallout 76 to my port forwards in my router.

Run it in Admin mode.

Made sure I'm not running any overlay apps.

Made sure I'm not running any antivirus software.

Made sure I'm running the latest drivers and DirectX.

Run it in Windows 8 (and 7) compatibility mode.

Run it with all browsers closed.

Made sure UAC is enabled. or disabled. tried both.

Made sure Windows 10 was updated.

Reset my DNS and set a static IP.

Checked other Steam games to make sure they will run. They will (Fallout 4 included).

Verified that the line 'bSteamEnabled' in Fallout76.ini = 1.

Probably some other things that I have forgotten about.

I am running Windows 10, have an AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and a Radeon RX 580 Series graphics card. The only things I haven't tried are rebooting in safe mode, and reinstalling Windows 10. I have a feeling it's something really really simple but just overlooked (as they often are).

Please, please, please, if you have any idea what could be causing the issue, chime in. Or if you're just really knowledgeable and can offer some suggestions on possible fixes or things to try. I'll take any help I can get. Thanks in advance.

[tekmagika]

JG - Yep, I have it set to start in Admin mode.

Krumble - Nah afraid not, don't own any other video cards that I could switch out. I was considering reverting the driver (even though there were no updates around the date that the game stopped working), but I haven't found how to do that with the AMD software. Yet!

[PotatoBasket]

Well, this is a stretch as this hasn't been the source of the bug for a few years but way back when potato was afflicted it was due to a couple corrupt photos used for the load screens. Clearing my screen shots fixed it in my instance. This won't work for you.

Try these instead.
1 https://steamcommunity.com/app/1151340/discussions/0/6690735268996243126/
2 "Sappy -
"Found a fix , creating a desktop shortcut and launching through it seems to work, thanks for the previous comments!"
3 https://steamcommunity.com/app/1151340/discussions/0/4358997660742423554/

Sorry to be useless OP. Hopefully mining the forum will be fruitful if no one gets back to you with a fix that applies.

[Renard gris]

I was lucky that my problem was resolved randomly. I hope you get through it. disassembling my PC seems to have had an effect, but I don't know what it is. I have hope for you.

[tekmagika]

Potato - not useless at all. It took me 7-8 days just to get any traction at all on my issue. I will def be trying a couple of these.

Renard - We will see! Just glad that there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. I was making good progress on the scoreboard too!

[tekmagika]

Tried the shortcut/Admin suggestion and it didn't fix it. Gah.

[Petrus]

Same issue here, have to close the game with task manager every time i launch it.

[tekmagika]

Petrus - The one F76 process stops automatically after a minute or two, for me.

[Krumbleskin]

Originally posted by tekmagika:

JG - Yep, I have it set to start in Admin mode.

Krumble - Nah afraid not, don't own any other video cards that I could switch out. I was considering reverting the driver (even though there were no updates around the date that the game stopped working), but I haven't found how to do that with the AMD software. Yet!

AMD has an express uninstall of ALL AMD software if you go to uninstall programs. I expect this includes MB drivers so have a fresh set on hand. Also one annoying thing with Nvidia not sure about AMD is that after uninstalling drivers if you don't delete the Nvidia folder prior to restart the pc will just install those drivers again.

[Wack-A-Mole MLRS]

Every time Windows does an update or Nvidia does one I cross my fingers. And I switched my drives to M2 and it loads so much faster now. I have had 3 different Video cards in this one and every time I got the black screen of death. Had to go to NVidia and take off auto update and not to Max my games.

[splinterz]

Originally posted by Wack-A-Mole MLRS:

Every time Windows does an update or Nvidia does one I cross my fingers. And I switched my drives to M2 and it loads so much faster now. I have had 3 different Video cards in this one and every time I got the black screen of death. Had to go to NVidia and take off auto update and not to Max my games.

I'm running older Nvidia drivers on a 3060 and 4070TI with no issues other than the occasional CTD that was introduced last patch, never update unless having problems. No graphical issues on these drivers, if you use non WHQL drivers like a beta Win may replace them when updating

[tekmagika]

Today's fix attempt involved running the AMD Cleanup utility (which removes all graphic drivers) and reinstalling Adrenaline (this time going minimal instead of full). Full reboots through the uninstall and reinstall process.

Tried FO76 after everything was done. Issue is still there. Game will not start.

[splinterz]

Originally posted by tekmagika:

Today's fix attempt involved running the AMD Cleanup utility (which removes all graphic drivers) and reinstalling Adrenaline (this time going minimal instead of full). Full reboots through the uninstall and reinstall process.

Tried FO76 after everything was done. Issue is still there. Game will not start.

Are you using the latest mb drivers from the manufacturer or latest AMD chipset drivers or the Win 10 plug and play drivers. Just throwing ideas out there...seems I remember some windows updates addressed AMD cpu's

[Scooty]

So no official reply huh? But I bet the money transfer with through without any bugs.

[tekmagika]

Ha, nope, no replies on the ticket for the last 8 days.

splinterz - To my knowledge, I'm using the AMD drivers for the Radeon. I had a full install before, but I went minimal this time hoping it would take care of the issue.

[Krumbleskin]

Seems like you've tried most possibilities, I know 580 can run this as I had one in the early days. What connection are you using to the monitor, on the old original forums I remember someone with a laptop having issues starting the game and I suggested to them to try a HDMI cable to a TV just to see. It worked for them and after using that the laptop screen started to work...go figure /shrug. This old engine has weird issues with displays and frame rates might be worth a shot.