[SOLVED, Denuvo was the problem] Games won't boot, happened from night to day, any similar issues?

[lusominy]

[UPDATE:]

Last and final update, will update title and description in case somebody else needs help with the same issue: DENUVO. IS. HORRIBLE.

After a close friend had the same issue we theorized on something that we saw happening ages ago. Turns out the source of all my problems was that, the known and very kind DRM that haunts us in the latest years, for some reason it's conflicting with our ISP because his Denuvo games weren't working either. I called them and asked for a refresh, and would you look at that, I am now playing...

So that's that guys, thank you so much for everybody who saw this through with me and tried to help, but turns out the issue all along was a dumb stupid DRM that forces an internet connection and refused to read my previous address. And companies, please drop Denuvo, it really does you or us no good...




[ORIGINAL:]

Yesterday everything was fine, but as soon as I tried playing anything today I've been having this issue where I launch a game, my profile shows in-game as if it's running, but the game itself never actually boots, and that's with multiple games. Checking on task manager the process of the games are there, but consuming 0% of my PC

I've already tried anything possible on surface troubleshooting, updated drivers, system, reinstalled Steam, cleared caches, tried beta and non-beta build, heck I even changed my whole OS from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and no luck. Also it's definitely not a storage issue, tried on all disks I have and no luck, plus everything works fine outside of Steam, even other games that have self-launchers like Genshin

Already sent a ticket for support, but just wondering if anyone had a similar issue?

[pravda]

you could check for a games log file maybe to see how far it is getting in its loading?

typical place might be: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\gamename\Saved\Logs

i know on some unreal engine games reinstalling easy anti-cheat has fixed some launch issues and also ensuring nothing is blocking steam (try running steam as admin/compatability mode) or a game such as antivirus or firewall but you probably checked those already ... same as having the latest graphics driver/chipset drivers/windows updates...

[lusominy]

No luck with logs unfortunately, but also every single game is giving me issues which just makes it even the more weirder, literally everything refuses to boot

Yep double checked permissions and admin too, all of these are fine and didnt change, not sure if I'm missing something else but everything I could do on surface troubleshooting was done

[pravda]

you could try running a diag tool like Process Monitor (get if directly from microsofts website) to see the drive/registry/network/process activity going on as you load/run a game or any app and windows for that matter ...

[Lee]

Have you tried verifying the games' files?

[IFIYGD]

On top of what others have suggested- check your security software's virus quarantine are to see if any game files or Steam Client files are locked off there. If your security software (this included Windows Defender or any other OS baked-in anti-virus SW) got a definition update or heuristics update, it could be allowing the .exe to run, but killing a needed .dll or other associated file that the launcher or games need to run properly.

Also verify file integrity for Steamworks Common Redistributables to make sure nothing got borked there.

[Eagle_of_Fire]

Originally posted by lusominy:

Already sent a ticket for support, but just wondering if anyone had a similar issue?

Yep. Forgoing MS updates on Windows 10 invariably lead to stuff on Win10 "breaking"... Until I finally give in and do those updates. Usually happen every 4 months or so.

When it happen I always noticed that some completely random tasks get "suspended" for no apparent reasons. Problems usually force me to comply when it is network related as I can't access the internet at all when it happen. It is really weird too because everything seem to be working A1 even when it isn't, just that some random processes and programs get suspended and it looks like they just hang in limbo and never complete.

I've been fighting those updates my whole experience of owning my computer with Win10 on it. And it always automagically fix every ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ problem by itself when I finally give in and apply those updates.

Now, is it really related to what you said, OP? I have no clue. Especially since you mentioned that
you've already reinstalled your OS and stuff. But it is way too similar to be a complete coincidence IMHO.

[lusominy]

Originally posted by pravda:

you could try running a diag tool like Process Monitor (get if directly from microsofts website) to see the drive/registry/network/process activity going on as you load/run a game or any app and windows for that matter ...

Weirdly enough the process goes just fine, it's just "dead" per say as it consumes nothing from my PC, but process itself runs fine and talk with registry

[lusominy]

Originally posted by SLGray:

Have you tried verifying the games' files?

Problem isn't related to one singular game, it's to all, but yeah I did try to check and reinstall a few of them

[lusominy]

Originally posted by IFIYGD:

On top of what others have suggested- check your security software's virus quarantine are to see if any game files or Steam Client files are locked off there. If your security software (this included Windows Defender or any other OS baked-in anti-virus SW) got a definition update or heuristics update, it could be allowing the .exe to run, but killing a needed .dll or other associated file that the launcher or games need to run properly.

Also verify file integrity for Steamworks Common Redistributables to make sure nothing got borked there.

AV looks fine, tried even running with absolutely everything turned off and no success.
Regarding Redistributables, where do I run verification for it? Didn't know that was possible.

[lusominy]

Originally posted by Eagle_of_Fire:

Originally posted by lusominy:

Already sent a ticket for support, but just wondering if anyone had a similar issue?

Yep. Forgoing MS updates on Windows 10 invariably lead to stuff on Win10 "breaking"... Until I finally give in and do those updates. Usually happen every 4 months or so.

When it happen I always noticed that some completely random tasks get "suspended" for no apparent reasons. Problems usually force me to comply when it is network related as I can't access the internet at all when it happen. It is really weird too because everything seem to be working A1 even when it isn't, just that some random processes and programs get suspended and it looks like they just hang in limbo and never complete.

I've been fighting those updates my whole experience of owning my computer with Win10 on it. And it always automagically fix every ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ problem by itself when I finally give in and apply those updates.

Now, is it really related to what you said, OP? I have no clue. Especially since you mentioned that
you've already reinstalled your OS and stuff. But it is way too similar to be a complete coincidence IMHO.

Y'know I had a hunch it could be W10's bottlenecked update that I had on my PC for a week, it would keep failing and failing, then I decided to fully update to 11 and for some weird enough reason, it's STILL not working

All that's left for me is install this new preview update for W11, but if so far nothing has worked, doubt this would

[Eagle_of_Fire]

Originally posted by lusominy:

Originally posted by Eagle_of_Fire:

Yep. Forgoing MS updates on Windows 10 invariably lead to stuff on Win10 "breaking"... Until I finally give in and do those updates. Usually happen every 4 months or so.

When it happen I always noticed that some completely random tasks get "suspended" for no apparent reasons. Problems usually force me to comply when it is network related as I can't access the internet at all when it happen. It is really weird too because everything seem to be working A1 even when it isn't, just that some random processes and programs get suspended and it looks like they just hang in limbo and never complete.

I've been fighting those updates my whole experience of owning my computer with Win10 on it. And it always automagically fix every ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ problem by itself when I finally give in and apply those updates.

Now, is it really related to what you said, OP? I have no clue. Especially since you mentioned that
you've already reinstalled your OS and stuff. But it is way too similar to be a complete coincidence IMHO.

Y'know I had a hunch it could be W10's bottlenecked update that I had on my PC for a week, it would keep failing and failing, then I decided to fully update to 11 and for some weird enough reason, it's STILL not working

All that's left for me is install this new preview update for W11, but if so far nothing has worked, doubt this would

It is completely possible that they have coded in some kind of DRM or similar scheme which force some part of the system to shut down if you don't verify your presence or ownership of your licence after some time. I believe, if it is the case, that it is all tied up with the update system. A system they force on absolutely everybody and which you can't shut down ever.

This is part of the reason why I've already decided a while ago that my next system is going to be Linux based. At the base I went with Windows 10 as a gamer to guarantee compatibility with games and limit those headaches but it is clearly not working as intended.I'm sure I'm going to have even more problems then but at least I'll know why and that I can fix it without too much hassle as long as I'm willing to give it the time required.

[pravda]

if still not working after checking windows is fully up to date:

(the failed windows update (KB5034441) i think you are talking about is probably the one a lot of people are getting and it is related to the Windows Recovery Environment update not having sufficient free space to do this particular update - i just ignore it)


u can run a command prompt by typing cmd.exe into windows search/run box in the start menu ... but right click and run it as administrator) and then run the following one after another (hit enter after each one, very important so each is completed before doing the next command):

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

DISM.exe /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup

sfc /scannow

Restart your computer once it's done.


(nb. these commands are verifications done by windows against microsoft servers to see if you have any system file/component corruptions - can take a little while for it to complete)



- u can also look in event viewer (run eventvwr.msc from search/run box) at the windows logs - application and system ... see what events/errors have been happening ... (this is full of information so can be a little daunting which errors/info are important and which you can ignore)


- go to windows settings - windows updates and look under update history and make sure you can see recent updates installed (including .net framework updates) and check for any optional updates

- reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable latest (runtime libraries)


- try right click steam icon from the desktop and run it as administrator and try turning off steam overlay (steam settings - ingame) and turning off steam overlay for an individual game ... right click on a game - properties - general

- could try steam - view - big picture mode


- do you have onboard graphics as well as a discrete graphics card?

you can run dxdiag.exe from the windows start/search (Press the windows key (or press "Windows key" + "R")) ... select the display tab ... on the right hand side you can see what graphics driver version/date you are running

maybe try grabbing the latest graphics driver and choose to do a clean install of the driver

try installing a free game that you don't already have such as counter strike 2 or something like that and see if a new installed game runs (right click the game in steam - manage - add desktop shortcut and try running the game from the desktop)


Steam Client Reinstall:

- steam client setup file is available by right clicking on the install button on the steam about webpage and choosing save link as and save the steam setup file to your drive

- run the SteamSetup.exe file (right click the file and run as administrator if possible) which will install the steam client over the existing steam client installation

- nb. you will have to enter your steam login credentials again after the install and it will send a security code to your email which you will then have to retrieve and fill in the code to allow steam to verify the login details and then it will continue to load the steam app ...

- WARNING: also be aware if you uninstall the steam client it will delete steam games (from their install location) you have installed via steam, removes downloadable content and also savegames and other steam settings

[lusominy]

Originally posted by pravda:

if still not working after checking windows is fully up to date:

(the failed windows update (KB5034441) i think you are talking about is probably the one a lot of people are getting and it is related to the Windows Recovery Environment update not having sufficient free space to do this particular update - i just ignore it)


u can run a command prompt by typing cmd.exe into windows search/run box in the start menu ... but right click and run it as administrator) and then run the following one after another (hit enter after each one, very important so each is completed before doing the next command):

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

DISM.exe /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup

sfc /scannow

Restart your computer once it's done.


(nb. these commands are verifications done by windows against microsoft servers to see if you have any system file/component corruptions - can take a little while for it to complete)



- u can also look in event viewer (run eventvwr.msc from search/run box) at the windows logs - application and system ... see what events/errors have been happening ... (this is full of information so can be a little daunting which errors/info are important and which you can ignore)


- go to windows settings - windows updates and look under update history and make sure you can see recent updates installed (including .net framework updates) and check for any optional updates

- reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable latest (runtime libraries)


- try right click steam icon from the desktop and run it as administrator and try turning off steam overlay (steam settings - ingame) and turning off steam overlay for an individual game ... right click on a game - properties - general

- could try steam - view - big picture mode


- do you have onboard graphics as well as a discrete graphics card?

you can run dxdiag.exe from the windows start/search (Press the windows key (or press "Windows key" + "R")) ... select the display tab ... on the right hand side you can see what graphics driver version/date you are running

maybe try grabbing the latest graphics driver and choose to do a clean install of the driver

try installing a free game that you don't already have such as counter strike 2 or something like that and see if a new installed game runs (right click the game in steam - manage - add desktop shortcut and try running the game from the desktop)


Steam Client Reinstall:

- steam client setup file is available by right clicking on the install button on the steam about webpage and choosing save link as and save the steam setup file to your drive

- run the SteamSetup.exe file (right click the file and run as administrator if possible) which will install the steam client over the existing steam client installation

- nb. you will have to enter your steam login credentials again after the install and it will send a security code to your email which you will then have to retrieve and fill in the code to allow steam to verify the login details and then it will continue to load the steam app ...

- WARNING: also be aware if you uninstall the steam client it will delete steam games (from their install location) you have installed via steam, removes downloadable content and also savegames and other steam settings

- Regarding the update, I have freshly reinstalled my system and it seems to be gone, so it's okay

- I can't see to find any unusual errors or off the rail happenings on monitoring

- I've done disk check and scannow as well

- Checked updates, reinstalled. Drivers also freshly reinstalled, and I have no onboard.

- Tried running Steam through admin, different disks, reinstalled, nothing clicks

- All games fail to boot no exception, paid and free games, though non-Steam games work jut fine so the issue is definitely centered here

[Eagle_of_Fire]

Have you checked permission granted to Steam itself via Windows?

[lusominy]

Yes permissions are fine, nor have they been changed at any point before, Steam has all the right needed permissions