Windows 11, crashing, Fallout 4 and Skyrim

[guszti95]

As above suggested I have played both games on and off, but last week I allowed my windows 10 to update to windows 11. Since then I can't start either games. I go, steam says the game is running for a few seconds, but I don't get anything and I belive Steam acts as if the game crashed or wasn't even started up (crasshing uppon starting?). I don't get the game, I don't even get the launcher to work.

I have used Ccleaner to assist me in deleting both games and reinstalled them using steam. nothing changed. I know my laptop is capable of running both, I played both with it, but now... Did anyone else have the same or similar problems? Would I need to go back to windows 10 to play again? Is there a solution I was unable to find, but was right in front of me, even here?

Ah and thanks for reading and any help you can give!

[simonhobnob]

If you used the windows 10 to 11 updater, that is most likely the cause and issues. I have never (and I am speaking from windows 95 onwards here) allowed windows to do an "upgrade". I always use the fresh install option after saving my docs, pics, and any files I want to keep.

Reason is that the upgrade option ALWAYS seems to mess things up (especially games).

I would reinstall windows with a fresh windows 11, install all your drivers again, install steam fresh, install fallout 4 fresh, download vortex from the nexus mod site and get the unofficial fallout 4 patch as a minimum and then run it from vortex. See if that solves the issue.

I have fresh windows 11 and use vortex to run the unofficial patched version. NO issues at all with Fallout 4. My wife does the same with Skyrim (and she also now on fresh windows 11) - no issues either.

[cheshirm]

and I bought a new computer running win 10 then did a win 11 upgrade. and fallout 4 has been running since Dec 2021. (except for Oct 2022 win 11 major update - had to uninstall/reinstall the game).

NEITHER STEAM NOR THE GAME LAUNCHER NOR THE GAME MAKE ANY CHANGES TO WINDOWS SECURITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

game launcher needs to create folder
Documents\My Games\Fallout4
folder should contain files Fallout4.ini Fallout4Custom.ini Fallout4Prefs.ini
and after game starts your saves folder.

if these files are missing (also besides no saves)

check antivirus log? might be blocking game/game launcher.

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

check windows event viewer and also windows reliability history.
might be a game crash event or system related problems.

running Windows One Drive? One Drive moves the ini/preference files to the one drive.
modify one drive to exclude the game folder.

mods? mods cause all kinds of issues.
ever have mods? uninstalling mods does NOT delete any files created/modified by mods

run game from game folder .exe and NOT from steam library or an icon.
sometimes an error msg (missing library) appears not hidden by steam

laptop? make sure game is using dedicated graphics card
and not motherboard graphics.

try steam verify game files at least?

try running the game after a "clean boot" in case an app/program/overlay/service is causing an issue

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

[nubbyclairvoyant]

Just had an issue on a new Win11 rig where mouse would freeze to a small area in the center of the screen on launch, effectively forcing a hard reboot.

Solution was to wait for 'press any key to continue' prompt; then pressing any key. Then mouse became unstuck and game functioned normally; including on restart--going straight to main menu.

[Xenon The Noble]

I just refused another Windows 11 update. Microsoft does not care if they make your owned software useless. Absolutely take NO responsibility for backward compatibility. Learned that when they broke Sim Ant... or maybe Lotus 1-2-3. Lots of broken stuff.

[WillyvonWilly]

Originally posted by cheshirm:

and I bought a new computer running win 10 then did a win 11 upgrade. and fallout 4 has been running since Dec 2021. (except for Oct 2022 win 11 major update - had to uninstall/reinstall the game).

NEITHER STEAM NOR THE GAME LAUNCHER NOR THE GAME MAKE ANY CHANGES TO WINDOWS SECURITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

game launcher needs to create folder
Documents\My Games\Fallout4
folder should contain files Fallout4.ini Fallout4Custom.ini Fallout4Prefs.ini
and after game starts your saves folder.

if these files are missing (also besides no saves)

check antivirus log? might be blocking game/game launcher.

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

check windows event viewer and also windows reliability history.
might be a game crash event or system related problems.

running Windows One Drive? One Drive moves the ini/preference files to the one drive.
modify one drive to exclude the game folder.

mods? mods cause all kinds of issues.
ever have mods? uninstalling mods does NOT delete any files created/modified by mods

run game from game folder .exe and NOT from steam library or an icon.
sometimes an error msg (missing library) appears not hidden by steam

laptop? make sure game is using dedicated graphics card
and not motherboard graphics.

try steam verify game files at least?

try running the game after a "clean boot" in case an app/program/overlay/service is causing an issue

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

One drive was it for me solid advice thank you!