Game hard freezes entire computer.

[Saturn Anomaly]

(Edit: Just wanted to add on that Windows 11 does not seem to mix well with PC's with old parts. This particular games instability with freezing seems to happen on old systems with Windows 11, however, other games work fine for whatever reason. This has been the conclusion I came to, as I've tested on other PC's with old parts VS more modern machines (2018 and onwards). This may or may not be true, but I just wanted to add this in here in case it helps people figure things out).

I've seen others mention that their game crashes. Idk what the specifics are for them but I can say that for me it not only crashes the game but it locks up my entire computer, forcing me to hard reset. Basically I'll start up the game, wait for the intro to play out a bit before pressing a key (because the game can freeze on the menu if you press too fast), and then I get into the game. Once I am in the game, I can play for about anywhere between 1 to 5 minutes and then suddenly the whole computer freezes.

It only does it with this game, other games work completely fine which is strange because this game used to run fine before the gleaming depths update. So I can only assume it's something to do with that as the timing of the issue doesn't seem like a coincidence to me, although there is a chance I could be wrong. I've tried verifying steam files, setting the game to high cpu priority, etc, all to no avail.

My specs:
i5-4460 CPU@ 3.20ghz
16gb DDR3 ram
Nvidia Geforce GTX 1070
Windows 11

I'm sharing my issue in case it helps others to know they're not alone if they're experiencing this specific problem.

[AtmaDarkwolf]

IF u can get into game fully and it locks up IN the game, this sounds like a pc issue, unlikely to be the gpu, but very likely a psu issue or something else. If u can enable log reporting it MAY help u track it down, but more like it is an issue with the power supply and it unable to give enough power for a micro surge but not enough to trigger the power shutoff.

If u have another psu to test it, u may want to try that first and see if the crash repeats with a bigger/better powersupply.

[Saturn Anomaly]

Originally posted by AtmaDarkwolf:

IF u can get into game fully and it locks up IN the game, this sounds like a pc issue, unlikely to be the gpu, but very likely a psu issue or something else. If u can enable log reporting it MAY help u track it down, but more like it is an issue with the power supply and it unable to give enough power for a micro surge but not enough to trigger the power shutoff.

If u have another psu to test it, u may want to try that first and see if the crash repeats with a bigger/better powersupply.

Before the update I was able to play on this very same computer for hours on end without a single issue on my thermaltake 750w psu which has been absolutely fine all this time for years. Now I'm not saying you're wrong, as what you say could very well be the issue and it wouldn't hurt to try another psu, but I highly doubt this is the case. Again, it was fine this entire time until the update happened.

[DocBravo]

Mine:
Ryzen 7 7700
3060Ti
16GB RAM
W11
SSD x2 drives.

Runs fine until an update or "maintenance" and then my problem.
Will FREEZE at "Hit any button to start." and won't close. Have to restart.
Not a PC issue but outdated stuff issue.

[PorcusGrunzus]

Also happens on:
i7 9700K
2070 Super
16GB RAM
Windows 11

I recently set the OS freshly up and moved from Windows 10. It also sometimes hardlocks my PC but only like all few hours completely randomly almost like a bluescreen just that there isnt any bluescreen. Only game with this issue but I had other issues with this game in the past so its safe to say its most likely FO76.

[Krumbleskin]

I run the game on 3 Win 10 pc, never had hard lockup just occasional disconnect or sound loss. Win 11 seems to be ... unfinished. I have seen friends have issues with pc freezing but is was due to pc being in a wall socket common to high draw devices like fridges and AC. When they cut in it's a huge surge on the circuit and while it does not pop the breaker it causes issues. I had a minibar fridge doing that /who knows.

[FlameMother]

I had this issue for a week or more. I had verified the game files, updated drivers...nothing worked. Did all the config tweaks, limited CPU cores and nothing solved the freezing. I was having to power off my computer all the time forcibly due to the issue.

So I did a clean install of Windows 11, installed basic drivers, and the game is running fine in medium settings. So far it is working fine. but I have had limited time to play, but no crashes yet.

Also, if you can back the game up to a external drive so you don't have to d/l the whole game again.

[Saturn Anomaly]

Originally posted by FlameMother:

I had this issue for a week or more. I had verified the game files, updated drivers...nothing worked. Did all the config tweaks, limited CPU cores and nothing solved the freezing. I was having to power off my computer all the time forcibly due to the issue.

So I did a clean install of Windows 11, installed basic drivers, and the game is running fine in medium settings. So far it is working fine. but I have had limited time to play, but no crashes yet.

Also, if you can back the game up to a external drive so you don't have to d/l the whole game again.

I just installed windows 11 not that long ago so I'm not so sure if that's the issue for me but I have no clue at this point. If you're able to, please keep us updated if you're able to keep playing with no issues.

[Krumbleskin]

Is the game installed on the same drive as the OS? . I always have Steam folder on a second drive, an ssd.

[Saturn Anomaly]

Originally posted by Krumbleskin:

Is the game installed on the same drive as the OS? . I always have Steam folder on a second drive, an ssd.

The game is installed on an SSD which also happens to have the OS on it as well. I am currently in the middle of switching from a 750w psu (the one the game is locking up on) to a spare 600w psu that I have and I am noticing a strange increase in performance with another game I am testing (Generation Zero) where as before it was stuttering real bad with said game. So now I am even more puzzled. I have yet to try out 76 and am wondering if it will still hard freeze and lock up. I will see here in a bit.

[JBrown247]

Did you verify install? Drivers updated? BIOs updates? If those have been done and it still doesn't work, uninstall + delete other files + reinstall

[Bueno]

The crashes has started about a month ago.

Had a problem with freeze-lag every few seconds when I 'upgraded' to Win11,
solved by just running Fo76 on my first four cores.

But now a minute or a few, it crashes so hard I have to cold start my computer.
Fo76 is updated, NVidia drivers are updated, OS is updated.
Please halp.

My hardware:
Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-9300H CPU @ 2.40GHz
1660ti
24GB RAM
Windows 11 Home

[n.takashima]

The 76 client is already unstable, but I feel that the current version has reached the worst level. Sudden freezes and hardware resets completely destroy the desire to continue playing the game. Bethesda should fix this soon.

CPU core limiting was effective in my PC environment, but it is of course only a temporary solution.

[JBrown247]

Originally posted by n.takashima:

The 76 client is already unstable, but I feel that the current version has reached the worst level. Sudden freezes and hardware resets completely destroy the desire to continue playing the game. Bethesda should fix this soon.

CPU core limiting was effective in my PC environment, but it is of course only a temporary solution.

I have only had it freeze up once during the loading screen.

[Travis]

Same type of crash. Two computers both after tuesdays patch. Loads in fine. Play for 5 min, boom computer goes down. Both machines pretty much died at the same time length.

[Saturn Anomaly]

Originally posted by Travis:

Same type of crash. Two computers both after tuesdays patch. Loads in fine. Play for 5 min, boom computer goes down. Both machines pretty much died at the same time length.

Definitely confirmation something goofy is going on with the game.