Cannot Get FO4 to run on Brand New PC

[hunt14canoe]

Like many, I've been playing FO4 for years. Started on a PS4 console and then tried on a PC back in 2017 and have been hooked ever since. My last PC was a Lenovo ThinkPad. As I added Mods like the Sim Settlements 2 (Ch. 1-3) I knew I was on borrowed time as I was low on power. I broke the bank and picked up this new rig 2 weeks ago. Will post the specs. I would greatly appreciate any and all help to get it up and running!

[hunt14canoe]

I tried running it on the new rig as it was on my last computer. Steam, Vortex, some CC content, all of the DLCs, post next gen F4SE was working etc. On this new rig, the initial videos would start to play and then crash. Here's the new PC specs:
Microsoft Windows 11 Pro, Version 10.0.26100
DirectX 12
Driver: Game Ready Driver - 572.70 - Wed Mar 5, 2025
Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-14900K
64.0 GB RAM
Storage (2): SSD - 931.5 GB; HDD - 1.8 TB,
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (12 GB)
Direct3D feature level: 12_1
CUDA cores: 5888
Graphics clock: 2490 MHz
Resizable bar: Yes
Memory data rate: 20.00 Gbps
Memory interface: 192-bit
Memory bandwidth: 480.048 GB/s
Total available graphics memory: 44937 MB
Dedicated video memory: 12282 MB GDDR6
System video memory: 0 MB
Shared system memory: 32655 MB
Video BIOS version: 95.04.72.00.3f
IRQ: Not used
Bus: PCI Express x16 Gen4
Display (1): DELL U2717D
Resolution: 2560 x 1440 (native)
Refresh rate: 60 Hz
Desktop color depth: Highest (32-bit)
HDCP: Supported
Display (2): Asustek Computer Inc PA278QV
Resolution: 2560 x 1440 (native)
Refresh rate: 60 Hz
Desktop color depth: Highest (32-bit)
HDCP: Supported
NOTE: I updated the NVIDIA Drives and Windows 11

[hunt14canoe]

I disabled Weapons Debris and Godrays, but no luck. I turned off OneDrive. When I went to the video settings, the test chose Ultra for all settings. I disabled the above again and tried running direct from Steam, this time I could start the game. I then turned on some of the Mods and no luck again. I love playing FO4, but the variables that come with using mods etc are what I really enjoy. I needed a new PC, but got the bells and whistles so that I could play F04 without issue (so I thought).

[Zekiran]

Don't use ultra settings, turn off godrays while you're at manual-low.

The fact that you switched entire computers and expect this to run correctly with an existing game is ... well, not gonna happen.

The fact is that your older computer was probably fine to run it as intended. The higher end or anything newer than like 2018 will cause this game to really choke up.

Windows 11 may very well be the biggest hindrance.

It was working before because the computer was easily capable of running 2012-2015 engine which this game is built on.

I'd suggest first of all go through SDACK's guide in the fallout 4 GUIDES section. It might be able to help you spot what exactly is going on and how best to address it.

The newest graphics drivers also might not be the RIGHT drivers, try rolling them back to a prior date.

Try also to make a new, no-mods game. Make sure the game itself RUNS first, before then using vortex or any other mod organizer to run it. Use only F4SE to run it, don't rely on vortex or mo2 to launch it, and make SURE that your f4SE is correct for the version of the game, manually downloaded and properly installed.

[hunt14canoe]

Thanks Zekiran, I will have a good look at your suggestions.

[dead]

still having any other problems? if u need more help just let us know.

[dead]

the only other thing u can try is this https://www.allinoneruntimes.org/all-in-one-runtimes-download/ its a All in one run time for the drivers. i use it alot and always keep a copy of it since i kinda always lose the website. when i restore my computer each year. heck im going to need it soon after i build 3 more computers. . .

also if u Dont want to click the link just look up on google. ( aio-runtimes_v2.5.0 ) the web page url should have a windows icon.

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/results/

also for the gpu drivers.

also should look at if ur bios are up to date as well. on ur motherboard.

[dead]

Originally posted by Zekiran:

Don't use ultra settings, turn off godrays while you're at manual-low.

The fact that you switched entire computers and expect this to run correctly with an existing game is ... well, not gonna happen.

The fact is that your older computer was probably fine to run it as intended. The higher end or anything newer than like 2018 will cause this game to really choke up.

Windows 11 may very well be the biggest hindrance.

It was working before because the computer was easily capable of running 2012-2015 engine which this game is built on.

I'd suggest first of all go through SDACK's guide in the fallout 4 GUIDES section. It might be able to help you spot what exactly is going on and how best to address it.

The newest graphics drivers also might not be the RIGHT drivers, try rolling them back to a prior date.

Try also to make a new, no-mods game. Make sure the game itself RUNS first, before then using vortex or any other mod organizer to run it. Use only F4SE to run it, don't rely on vortex or mo2 to launch it, and make SURE that your f4SE is correct for the version of the game, manually downloaded and properly installed.

also the gpu drivers. might also be his problem. i mean i am upto date with my drivers and fallout 4 runs fine. im using gog. i mean i can always Test it if need be and download the fallout 4 Steam to confirm if thats the problem if need be.

[dead]

if that doesnt work. im not sure. if need be send me a friend request.

[genu]

1. Install Windows
2. Update Windows
3. Install .net Framework and Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable x64 & x86
4. Install Chipset Drivers
5. (optional) Install Network drivers (if needed)
6. Install Latest Graphic Driver(s)
7. Install Audio Drivers of your Motherboard
8. Install additional drivers e.g. 2nd sound card, printer
9. Periphal drivers: mouse, keyboard, gamepad, flight stick etc.

Drivers source: From your mainboard manufacturer, Graphics from NVIDIA or AMD

DON'T install system tuning utilities any sorts of. If your still needed them for monitoring your fan speed and temperatures make triple times sure those utils ain't overclocking your PC!

Install Steam to e.g. "C:\Games\Steam". Outside your Programs folder(s). Dont let Windows User Access Control taking over your games. This eliminates a lot of problems with games.

Install Fallout 4. Skip Bethsofts High Resolution pack and run Fallout 4 with high settings - not ultra - for them very first time. Quit the games at the mainboard screen.

Use BethINI or the successor BethiniPie to set your screen resolution.

Last step: Deinstall or deactivate MS OneDrive. If your need Onedrive for other stuff make sure "Documents\My Games\Fallout4" will not be synchronised.

[schmvck]

All pretty encompassing and decent advice here, but you really need to be more specific about the crashes if you want us to be able to help you.

When does it happen? Are you only able to play for a few moments then the game unexpectedly crashes? Is it a crash to desktop or a freeze? Can you reproduce the crash, as in make certain conditions so that the game crashes?

Other than that, if you want to play a modded setup, I find that The Midnight Ride [themidnightride.moddinglinked.com] is a good starting point, follow each of the steps, and make sure the game starts.

Then and only then, look over your modlist one by one, visit their respective pages and take note of its existing bugs and compatibility issues if any. Yes, it takes a lot of time and effort unfortunately.

That said, Sim Settlements 2 brings a plethora of new issues that can contribute a lot to crashes, even with top end pc, so if you want to play that, make sure to look at the compatibility issues and avoid mods that make vast changes to the game, I may help you with that if you post your modlist, but first, you need to be able to run the modded game, and the linked guide can help you with that if you want to try it.

[Ceredh]

That's sad. I'm running Fallout 4 (pre-"Next Gen") on my laptop (Asus, i9-11900, RTX 4070, 1 TB SSD, 2 TB HD, 32 GB RAM, Windows 11 Home) and my newer PC (build for me by my local ADV dealer, i9-14900, RTX 4080 Super, 64 GB Ram, 2 x 2 TB SSD, 8 TB HD, Windows 11 Pro) with about 200 mods (no SS 2 however) without any problems, and with - surprise - much higher fps than on my older PCs. That's with 4k textures for anything if available from mods, sometimes 8k, or 2k if not, and an ENB. In both cases the game is on SSD.
So I have difficulties to buy the story that modern hard- and software is generally poison to FO4.

Does FO4 crash without any mods installed? As it seems that more than one person have problems with newer computers, it might be a special setting or drivers from some components that pose problems? Hard to believe. Do we have to compare single manufacturers?

[Zekiran]

"As it seems that more than one person have problems with newer computers, it might be a special setting or drivers from some components that pose problems? Hard to believe. Do we have to compare single manufacturers?"

Emphasis mine.
Answer?
Yes.

Because there are about 2 trillion different combinations of components, OS types, installed drivers, hardware pieces, software issues, firewalls, and players who can't install something if it's not a plug and play device.

It is in fact, usually "weapon debris" is left on. This is and has been a known issue since it was released, and is not bethesda's fault, it's Nvidia's. Other issues are from drivers being incompatible, Windows 11 being Windows 11, people trying to run ultra high graphics with a stupidly slow CPU bottlenecking their expensive video card, and all manner of other simple - fixable - issues, that require one thing and one thing only:

user participation in troubleshooting.

[Boris]

Windows 11 - 4090 - 32GB Ram - 7950X3D. Fresh install. First window is for automatic GPU settings. After that i click "Spielen" (play) and the game is closing. It do not run anymore. Ok,not using Ultra setting..now it run.

[schmvck]

Originally posted by Boris:

Windows 11 - 4090 - 32GB Ram - 7950X3D. Fresh install. First window is for automatic GPU settings. After that i click "Spielen" (play) and the game is closing. It do not run anymore. Ok,not using Ultra setting..now it run.

Weapon Debris should be disabled too just in case.

[Dindunuphen]

Did you try turning off your game bar and dropping to 1080p?

Your best bet if all else fails it to just play on an Xbox Series X.
Modding bethesda games on PC is an absolute nightmare.

Bethesda games is as bethesda games do.
You got a $10,000 PC? You're gonna crash too.

Might just need to buck up and get an Xbox Series X.
Might just need to change Windows settings & update software/drivers/DLL files.

I haven't tried to mod a lot yet personally since I got my 7900 GRE 16GB GPU with an M.2, Ryzen 7 7700, & 32GB of DDR5 RAM on Windows 11. Have had no issues besides crashing & broken quest lines with max settings at 1080p.

It's basically a love/hate relationship regardless of where you play.
Love it long time when it works. Leave it alone & hate it long time when it doesn't.