Fallout 3 won't start when I press play

[alexnpoirier]

I have CPU 11th Gen Intel Core
CPU speed 5 GHz
Ram 16GB
Windows 11
Plenty of free disk space
It starts up normal at first where it shows the first screen and gives you the options play,options, data files, tech support, and exit. but when i press play it loads for a second and nothing happens. I went into properties and ran it in windows vista (and every other windows options it gives me after each one failed to work) as well as "run as administrator" and still nothing happens. I then uninstalled the game and reinstalled it and it's the same thing. I tried it out with fallout new vegas and it works perfectly. Just fallout 3 won't start.

[Ja]

Using any mods?
Does it let you start a new game, or is it just when loading a save?

[kdodds]

Intel HD Bypass mod.

[mkdir34]

happening to me too, can't play.

[King_Reaper_117]

same thing here it used to work a month ago on mine now it wont even start there is no mods or anything conflicting with the game itself. i just reinstalled steam again to see if that would work it didn't. does anybody have a solution for this cause i know Bethesda wont do anything about this.

[mkdir34]

Originally posted by Urdnot_wrex:

same thing here it used to work a month ago on mine now it wont even start there is no mods or anything conflicting with the game itself. i just reinstalled steam again to see if that would work it didn't. does anybody have a solution for this cause i know Bethesda wont do anything about this.

Tried going on the bethesda site and there's literally no help, purchased the game today, and again through the xbox store for pc i have two copies on my pc and both are doing the same thing, maybe the recent update? i've tried to follow a few troubleshooting articles, unsure if me having windows 11 is the issue, new vegas works fine though, i don't understand.

[alexnpoirier]

Originally posted by Ja:

Using any mods?
Does it let you start a new game, or is it just when loading a save?

No I can't even get to the main screen where you have the option to load a saved game. I can only get to the screen where it then takes you to the game. If that makes sense. Like the screen that pops up before it loads the rest of the game. Where the options you have are play, options, data files, tech support, and exit. And normally when you press play the bethsda logo will play and it'll take take you to the main screen where you can load a game. I'm trying the Intel HD Bypass mod, so far no luck but i'll keep trying

[chasingtheimprobable]

same here, new vegas runs just fine but i cant get fallout 3 to launch.

[Lance Corporal]

This turned out to be simple for me. I tried compatability etc. (for hours, following many guides) but it turned out that the solution is to rename the Launcher file!

Rename FalloutLauncherSteam into FalloutLauncher (remove Steam from file name). Worked Immediately!

[Wirewing]

Originally posted by Lance Corporal:

This turned out to be simple for me. I tried compatability etc. (for hours, following many guides) but it turned out that the solution is to rename the Launcher file!

Rename FalloutLauncherSteam into FalloutLauncher (remove Steam from file name). Worked Immediately!

This is the way

[Hijal]

Originally posted by Wirewing:

Originally posted by Lance Corporal:

This turned out to be simple for me. I tried compatability etc. (for hours, following many guides) but it turned out that the solution is to rename the Launcher file!

Rename FalloutLauncherSteam into FalloutLauncher (remove Steam from file name). Worked Immediately!

This is the way

Tried this and it now doesn't even detect the Fallout 3 Installation, just a Install button that says insert CD/DVD-ROM (which does not exist... steam version). Trying to launch the Fallout3.exe and bypass the launcher altogether still does nothing. This is weird because this is only happening on my girlfriends laptop but works just fine on my PC.

[Wirewing]

Originally posted by Hijal:

Originally posted by Wirewing:

This is the way

Tried this and it now doesn't even detect the Fallout 3 Installation, just a Install button that says insert CD/DVD-ROM (which does not exist... steam version). Trying to launch the Fallout3.exe and bypass the launcher altogether still does nothing. This is weird because this is only happening on my girlfriends laptop but works just fine on my PC.

When you rename the launcher, you can never again use the play button in Steam. You have to click the newly named launcher from the game files (you could also make a shortcut to it to put on your desktop or another, more easily accessible folder.)

Don't use fallout.exe

[UnheardofOne]

Hello i've tried changing the launcher and running it with the re name but it still doesn't work for me sadly

[SvenDE]

Originally posted by Lance Corporal:

This turned out to be simple for me. I tried compatability etc. (for hours, following many guides) but it turned out that the solution is to rename the Launcher file!

Rename FalloutLauncherSteam into FalloutLauncher (remove Steam from file name). Worked Immediately!

Work fine for me ... Thank You ;-)

[Anvil]

Originally posted by Carnal:

Originally posted by Urdnot_wrex:

same thing here it used to work a month ago on mine now it wont even start there is no mods or anything conflicting with the game itself. i just reinstalled steam again to see if that would work it didn't. does anybody have a solution for this cause i know Bethesda wont do anything about this.

Tried going on the bethesda site and there's literally no help, purchased the game today, and again through the xbox store for pc i have two copies on my pc and both are doing the same thing, maybe the recent update? i've tried to follow a few troubleshooting articles, unsure if me having windows 11 is the issue, new vegas works fine though, i don't understand.

same

[21M341773R]

This video led me to the solution:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84qxZCHmxvU

Go to C:\Users\*username*\Documents\My Games\Fallout3

Delete everything in there (except the Saves folder if you have one):

Fallout (<-this is an unlabeled .ini file)
FalloutPrefs (<-this is an unlabeled .ini file, too)
Fallout.ini.baked
Fallout.ini.base
FalloutPrefs.ini.baked
FalloutPrefs.ini.baked
RendererInfo

I did not have a Saves folder, so you might need to get rid of that too, but I would try to keep it first :)

Also, I was trying to make it work with some mods, so my list might have some extra files.