Game won't launch

[j.asher69]

So, I just purchased the game (I know, I'm very late on this) and whenever I try running it, it says "preparing to launch Fallout: New Vegas", immediately closes and then reopens, and it keeps doing that on a loop until I cancel it. My play time is already at 36 minutes even though I haven't spent a single minute in-game.

Here's another thread from some years ago where someone else had the exact same issue as me https://steamcommunity.com/app/22380/discussions/0/522730701504899478/ This person said the issue was resolved by disabling user account control, but I tried that and it didn't work. Another forum suggested running it in compatibility mode, which didn't help. Even when I try launching the game externally (by clicking on the .exe file on my computer rather than launching it through Steam, or by using "troubleshoot compatibility settings"), the same thing happens.

I used the "verify integrity of game files" option on Steam to make sure my download wasn't corrupted and it said "1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired". Last time this happened with a game, it reacquired the file immediately and the next time I tried to verify the file integrity, it said there were no issues, and the game ended up running fine. However, with New Vegas nothing seems to be changing. It keeps saying "1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired" every time I run the integrity check, and I saw a comment on another forum that said that if this happens, it can mean that there's an external application blocking the file. https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9828-SFLZ-9289 I already disabled UAC and I do have anti-virus, but I don't know if that's what's causing the problem and if so, I don't know how to fix it.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

EDIT: I added the game files to my list of exceptions on my antivirus software (I didn't know which specific files were the problem, so I just added the whole folder) and nothing has changed

[itzRiceKrispies]

Try uninstalling and reinstalling.
If that doesn't work, is your os windows 10? If so u might need that .net framework download from windows(specifically Games For Windows Live) to run the game. To acquire that, message Steam about how to obtain that download.

Man what is up with these games being broken at startup.

[j.asher69]

Originally posted by ILikeRiceKrispies:

Try uninstalling and reinstalling.
If that doesn't work, is your os windows 10? If so u might need that .net framework download from windows(specifically Games For Windows Live) to run the game. To acquire that, message Steam about how to obtain that download.

Man what is up with these games being broken at startup.

Yesterday I uninstalled and reinstalled the game and it ran fine, then when I tried playing it again this morning I started experiencing the same issue as before. I just installed it and reinstalled it for the second time, and the issue is still there. The worst part is that I can't even refund the game, because when I played it yesterday (the only time I've successfully got the game to run) my play time reached more than 2 hours, and you can't refund games past that point. I'm really disappointed because I was enjoying the game so much.

[j.asher69]

Originally posted by ILikeRiceKrispies:

Try uninstalling and reinstalling.
If that doesn't work, is your os windows 10? If so u might need that .net framework download from windows(specifically Games For Windows Live) to run the game. To acquire that, message Steam about how to obtain that download.

Man what is up with these games being broken at startup.

Yes, my OS is Windows 10. I just tried to install the .net framework as you suggested (I downloaded the most recent version, version 4.8) and it said "cannot install because .net framework is already installed on this PC" - not those exact words but something to that effect. I don't know what to do now. I'm currently in the process of reinstalling the game for the third time. If that doesn't work then I don't know where to go from here. I also can't understand why the game worked fine yesterday and then all of a sudden it won't launch again.

[itzRiceKrispies]

Ok so u have the .net download. When u have reinstalled verify again, see if its still saying 1 file failed to write.

Originally posted by charisj123:

Originally posted by ILikeRiceKrispies:

Try uninstalling and reinstalling.
If that doesn't work, is your os windows 10? If so u might need that .net framework download from windows(specifically Games For Windows Live) to run the game. To acquire that, message Steam about how to obtain that download.

Man what is up with these games being broken at startup.

Yesterday I uninstalled and reinstalled the game and it ran fine, then when I tried playing it again this morning I started experiencing the same issue as before. I just installed it and reinstalled it for the second time, and the issue is still there. The worst part is that I can't even refund the game, because when I played it yesterday (the only time I've successfully got the game to run) my play time reached more than 2 hours, and you can't refund games past that point. I'm really disappointed because I was enjoying the game so much.

This sounds like some kind of settings or permissions error. Go to this games Preferences.
Set Input per-game, make sure its using Global Steam Settings (Xbox/Generic) or (Ps/Generic)
Make sure Bpm Overlay is set to Global settings or Developer preferences.(these r generic fixes that probably wont help, but its worth atleast checking.) Also allow Cloud Sync if u havent.

[j.asher69]

Originally posted by ILikeRiceKrispies:

Ok so u have the .net download. When u have reinstalled verify again, see if its still saying 1 file failed to write.

Originally posted by charisj123:

Yesterday I uninstalled and reinstalled the game and it ran fine, then when I tried playing it again this morning I started experiencing the same issue as before. I just installed it and reinstalled it for the second time, and the issue is still there. The worst part is that I can't even refund the game, because when I played it yesterday (the only time I've successfully got the game to run) my play time reached more than 2 hours, and you can't refund games past that point. I'm really disappointed because I was enjoying the game so much.

This sounds like some kind of settings or permissions error. Go to this games Preferences.
Set Input per-game, make sure its using Global Steam Settings (Xbox/Generic) or (Ps/Generic)
Make sure Bpm Overlay is set to Global settings or Developer preferences.(these r generic fixes that probably wont help, but its worth atleast checking.) Also allow Cloud Sync if u havent.

Ok, I checked the settings and BPM overlay and input per-game settings were already set to global settings by default and cloud sync is also on.

[itzRiceKrispies]

Originally posted by charisj123:

Originally posted by ILikeRiceKrispies:

Ok so u have the .net download. When u have reinstalled verify again, see if its still saying 1 file failed to write.

This sounds like some kind of settings or permissions error. Go to this games Preferences.
Set Input per-game, make sure its using Global Steam Settings (Xbox/Generic) or (Ps/Generic)
Make sure Bpm Overlay is set to Global settings or Developer preferences.(these r generic fixes that probably wont help, but its worth atleast checking.) Also allow Cloud Sync if u havent.

Ok, I checked the settings and BPM overlay and input per-game settings were already set to global settings by default and cloud sync is also on.

I want to try something just to see if it works. Were gonna set your game to launch a specific way.

Go to advanced launch options in the games preferences. Type the following.

-windowed -noborder -height[1280] -width[720]

If the game boots try removing the "-windowed" command. If no difference let me know.

[j.asher69]

Originally posted by ILikeRiceKrispies:

Originally posted by charisj123:

Ok, I checked the settings and BPM overlay and input per-game settings were already set to global settings by default and cloud sync is also on.

I want to try something just to see if it works. Were gonna set your game to launch a specific way.

Go to advanced launch options in the games preferences. Type the following.

-windowed -noborder -height[1280] -width[720]

If the game boots try removing the "-windowed" command. If no difference let me know.

yeah, that didn't change anything. It still goes round in circles whenever I try to launch it, and it still says "1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired", but never reacquires the file. Is there anything else I can try? I might have another try at re-installing (for like, the fifth time) but I doubt it will do anything. Otherwise I might have to use someone else's computer to play it

[cheshirm]

the "1 file failed ..." is normal. read the last paragraph here:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2037-QEUH-3335

check windows security/controlled folder access. if on add exceptions for game launcher and game.

game launcher needs to create folder
Documents\My Games\FalloutNV
with 3 preference files. check the RendererInfo.txt. should contain your graphics card.

[j.asher69]

Originally posted by cheshirm:

the "1 file failed ..." is normal. read the last paragraph here:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2037-QEUH-3335

check windows security/controlled folder access. if on add exceptions for game launcher and game.

game launcher needs to create folder
Documents\My Games\FalloutNV
with 3 preference files. check the RendererInfo.txt. should contain your graphics card.

the "1 file failed to validate" message doesn't appear for any of my other games. is it only certain games, or what?

I already added exceptions for the game and game launcher (it's pretty much the first thing I did)

and yep, my GPU is on the rendererinfo.txt file

[itzRiceKrispies]

I feel like this is a pathway issue. U have the game saved in a normal location correct. Program files 86 steam common etc correct? Below is one weird but possible short term fix. Try it it just to see if it works.

1. Open game, get stuck on loading.
2. AltTab, then open the game up again.
3. Should "create save data" now, wait until box is closed.
4. AltTab 1-2 more times, you should then get "Saving Data" (Similar to this).
5. AltTab 2 more times, and the box should close and the game should open.

Taken from a user named "Mosphe"

Edit. Also Disable Cloud sync to see if a change occurs.

If its not a pathway issue it must be a Directx issue. Intel processor correct? It might be trying to launcher in 32 bit. Which would actually explain the constant crashing when opened.

Edited again. U could always try adding -64bit in the advanced launch options. For some reason I feel like this won't do ♥♥♥♥ either, but just try it.

[cheshirm]

"the "1 file failed to validate" message doesn't appear for any of my other games. is it only certain games, or what?"

yes only certain games.

check windows event viewer. hopefully some kind of game error event.

also check windows reliability monitor. in windows search run
perfmon /rel
the red x's and yellow !'s may be related issues.

check FalloutPrefs.ini should have your video card and monitor size
sD3DDevice="your video card"
iSize W=1920
iSize H=1080

trying to see if game launcher can read your hardware and write the settings to disk correctly.

[j.asher69]

Thanks for your help, both of you. The game started working again the other day (no idea why, it was completely random) and I wanted to wait a couple of days before I said anything on this forum, just in case it stopped working again immediately afterwards, like it did last time.