FIX! If your game is freezing/crashing or just unplayable....

[Rhyvinn]

I had the same problem, and was able to fix it by doing the following:

Some extra tips: These are not necessarily needed, but just to be extra sure...

-Delete ALL Fallout files from your PC before re-installing. Then verify the integrity of the game cache.

-Make sure you have all mods disabled.

-Disable Games for Windows Live (GFWL). It's known to sometimes cause problems.


1. Probably goes without saying, but make sure your game is patched to the latest official patch.

2. For some reason, the game sometimes crashes with certain screen resolutions/graphics settings (at least it did for myself). Open the Fallout Launcher and click Options. Turn Antialiasling and Anisotropic Filtering OFF. Under mode, I would recommend turning V-Sync OFF as well. Under Screen Effects, set it either to None, or HDR. You may also try setting to windowed mode if Fullscreen still gives you issues.

3. Sometimes, the game has problems running on Quad-core processors. Try this fix to limit the game to using only 2 cores: Find and open the fallout.ini file in "My Documents\My Games\Fallout3"

Find

bUseThreadedAI=0

and change it to

bUseThreadedAI=1

Then, add this line after it

iNumHWThreads=2


4. Try running the game in compatibilty mode.

Find your Fallout 3 file. Usually, it's in C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\common\Fallout 3

Right-click on Fallout3.exe and select Properties.
Click on the Compatibility tab.
Check the box that says "Run this program in compatibility mode".
Choose Windows XP Service Pack 3 from the drop-down menu.
I would also recommend checking the box that says "run this program as an administrator".

Repeat these steps for the FalloutLauncher.exe in the same folder.

If you have trouble finding that folder, try this instead:

Go to your game library on Steam. Right-click on Fallout 3 and click Properties. Next, click the tab that says Local Files. Click on Browse Local Files...

This will open up the folder that you have Fallout 3 installed in.

[Jack_Ispep]

Changing/adding those 2 lines sure did fix my freezing problem, i run fallout 3 on Window Vista.

In case people are wondering : Freezing was actualy the only problem i had on vista

thanks for posting

[Weetybred]

None of this worked for me :(

[KT 💣KλBoƠM ♡ ᓚᘏᗢ]

I have Windows 7 and this did not work for me. I crash after 45 min.. just freezes.

[Rhyvinn]

Originally posted by pengelsmn:

None of this worked for me :(

Try running the game in compatibilty mode?

Find your Fallout 3 file. Usually, it's in C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\common\Fallout 3

Right-click on Fallout3.exe and select Properties.
Click on the Compatibility tab.
Check the box that says "Run this program in compatibility mode".
Choose Windows XP Service Pack 3 from the drop-down menu.
I would also recommend checking the box that says "run this program as an administrator".

Repeat these steps for the FalloutLauncher.exe in the same folder.

Originally posted by IA KT KaBo0M:

I have Windows 7 and this did not work for me. I crash after 45 min.. just freezes.

Where exactly in the game is it freezing? Are you able to get through the birth scene, the party, and the tutorial part of the game? Does the freezing only occur when entering buildings or anything like that, or does it seem to be random? And any error code or anything?

[KT 💣KλBoƠM ♡ ᓚᘏᗢ]

Originally posted by BlackoutxSky:

Originally posted by IA KT KaBo0M:

I have Windows 7 and this did not work for me. I crash after 45 min.. just freezes.

Where exactly in the game is it freezing? Are you able to get through the birth scene, the party, and the tutorial part of the game? Does the freezing only occur when entering buildings or anything like that, or does it seem to be random? And any error code or anything?

It started freezing when I left the vault for the first time and was exploring. I didn't crash before this and had not changed anything after this fresh install.

Now to update, I changed the following things you said to:

bUseThreadedAI=0

and change it to

bUseThreadedAI=1

Then, add this line after it

iNumHWThreads=2

Oddly enough iNumHWThreads= was set to 14 (I have NO idea why).

Anyway now it isn't crashing but I am getting an odd new problem that is making the game unplayable for me ... I either shoot after every interaction or getting out of the Pipboy or first getting into the scene or if I have no gun I am continously swinging my fists. I have even started a brand new character and game and as soon as I get the bbgun that is when that problem starts. I don't understand what is going on. HELP?? Please...

[Rhyvinn]

Originally posted by IA KT KaBo0M:

Glad to hear it's no longer crashing. As for the new problem...

First, are you using a controller or the keyboard to play? Make sure your controller is working properly if using one. And also, double-check the key configurations to make sure you don't have anything overlapping (i.e.- 2 different commands set to the X button, etc..)

Also, do you have any mods installed? I actually had a mod a while back that gave me weird glitches and things like that after closing the pip-boy out, so could be something like that as well.

Edit: One more thing :3 ... Does it do this with ALL weapons? Or just the bbgun/fists at the beginning of the game? Try unplugging your controller or mouse and re-plugging, and try restarting your PC and see if it still does it.

[Krushim]

Here is a video if it helps some people be more comfortable editing an ini file by seeing what to click on
https://youtu.be/WCuPY1LlM2M

[KT 💣KλBoƠM ♡ ᓚᘏᗢ]

Restarting fixed that odd issue

[Rhyvinn]

Originally posted by IA KT KaBo0M:

Restarting fixed that odd issue

Strange... lol. But glad you got i fixed