If you've tried everything else, and bioshock 2 still crashes, try this

[jbailey8]

I'm running windows 7 64 bit, go to 'Control Panel', 'Program', 'View installed updates', do a
search for the following platform update:

KB2670838

If you have this installed, right-click on this update in the search results, and click 'uninstall'.

Bioshock 2 went from crashing constantly/randomly to running perfect for hours.
I had tried everything else I could find on google about this issue, editing ini files etc,etc.

note that you will have to restart windows after uninstalling this update.

[RStriker69 ♥]

I can vouchfor this fix, it is the only thing that enabled me to play Bioshock 1 and 2. One caveat, be aware that this will make the game Warframe not work properly, and though I haven't experienced this personally, others have said Mass Effect 3 stopped working after removing that update.

Also, if you're still running internet explorer 9 or 10 (older versions) they won't work either once this is removed.

All that being said, do try this if nothing else works, it worked great for me some time ago.

[jbailey8]

Originally posted by RStriker69 ♥:

I can vouchfor this fix, it is the only thing that enabled me to play Bioshock 1 and 2. One caveat, be aware that this will make the game Warframe not work properly, and though I haven't experienced this personally, others have said Mass Effect 3 stopped working after removing that update.

Also, if you're still running internet explorer 9 or 10 (older versions) they won't work either once this is removed.

All that being said, do try this if nothing else works, it worked great for me some time ago.

-----------------------

I just played mass effect 3 for about 45 minutes, ran perfectly, I also ran ie9, it ran fine also,
I don't have warframe installed, so I can't say on that.

[RStriker69 ♥]

Good to know, the only one I know personally that doesn't work right is Warframe. It will run for me, but it seems to crash and mess up like Bioshock 2 did before removing that update. I use firefox and don't think I even have access to ie 9 or 10, so I didn't test those.

Thanks for the input!

[jbailey8]

I just installed warframe, I played for about 30 minutes, it ran fine for me...

[RStriker69 ♥]

Hey, thanks for the heads up! Apparently something released in the last couple of weeks, either for windows update or warframe itself fixed the problem removing the update caused some people, myself included.

Now I don't have to keep switchinching KB2670838 in and out to play warframe, which I obviously haven't been doing lately. lol. Did it for about a week, then just stopped playing warframe becaus of it

It's also nice to know I no longer have to warn people about those things not working when I recommend the fix to them. Good news all around.

Cheers!

[jbailey8]

When I was installing warframe, I noticed a update bar running accross the screen and
underneath the bar it was saying 'updating directx components', I haven't tried bioshock 2
again yet, but as long as that update was local to the game and not windows itself, things
should still be ok.

[jbailey8]

Just played bioshock 2 again for about 40 minutes, seemed to run ok...

[RStriker69 ♥]

Yeah, far as I can tell, everything is good now. I never had problems with ME 3, couldn't test ie 9 or 10, and warframe apparently either fixed itself or another windows update covered that area. KB2670838 is still removed and Bioshock 1 and 2 still work. Fab.

[Blind-Seer]

Originally posted by jbailey8:

I'm running windows 7 64 bit, go to 'Control Panel', 'Program', 'View installed updates', do a
search for the following platform update:

KB2670838

If you have this installed, right-click on this update in the search results, and click 'uninstall'.

Bioshock 2 went from crashing constantly/randomly to running perfect for hours.
I had tried everything else I could find on google about this issue, editing ini files etc,etc.

note that you will have to restart windows after uninstalling this update.

Dude thanks for this, I just felt like playing my retail copy again and found out I could register it on steam now, but it kept crashing at the rivet gun, this fixed the crashes so far!

[jbailey8]

No problem! Glad to help!

[jbailey8]

Just in case anyone is interested, I have 1 spare copy of bioshock to gift....

[Affable]

I can also vouch for this fix - found it myself a week ago trying to fix the same issue. You were the quicker one to post about it!

Was getting a constant crash to desktop not long after picking up the rivet gun. Forcing DirectX 9 also worked, but I wanted those DX10 effects.

To the users applying this fix, note that uninstalling KB2670838 will also uninstall the latest version of Internet Explorer. If your computer does not have an older version to fall back on, a few things won't work quite how they're meant to, such as Steam desktop shortcuts. An easy remedy is to install IE9 (Microsoft download link[www.microsoft.com]). Installing IE10 or higher will put KB2670838 right back on your system.

I also remember reading that this fix may not be possible on Windows 8 as the functionality of the update is built in.

And hey, a deep thanks for your work with WinRott jbailey8, you are awesome. I had many a fun time with it back in the 3DR forum days.

[jbailey8]

Thanks! It's been quite a while since I worked on either winrott or winrottgl, but who knows,
maybe work will resume on it eventually.

[Chaotic Phoenix]

Windows 8.1 here... i get random crashes as well it's so annoying never did it in the first bioshock i never understood that but unfortunately I can't find that platform update :/

[jbailey8]

I'm not positive, but I think the reason you can't find that platform update is because it's not
actually a update for windows 8.1, it might be integrated into that version of windows, as a
alternative, you can try setting dx9 operation only, go to your launch options in steam for
bioshock 2 and in the launch options box, type '-dx9'. You won't have any dx10 effects, but
that might stop the game crashing for you.