Error "An error occurred while processing your request. Reference #97"

[EpicNoble]

I get this error when either I click on anything that isn't in the library. This has never happened before only started happening yesterday. Any way of fixing this problem?

[Toastie Buns]

I'm getting this ♥♥♥♥ too. When it happens, I open cmd and type:
ipconfig /release [hit enter]
ipconfig /renew [hit enter]

Steam will then magically work....for a while. Resetting your router also does this. Forwarding ports however, does nothing.

So, mystery. But that's your temporary band aid fix.

[The Giving One]

Did you search other threads using the search function to see if other suggestions may help ?

"An error occurred while processing your request. Reference #97"

http://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/search/?gidforum=882959061466924237&include_deleted=1&q=%22An+error+occurred+while+processing+your+request.+Reference+%2397%22

[Toastie Buns]

Can you link us to threads that aren't just 'maybe the steam servers are down'?

Because I used my phone (without wifi) to come to the realisation that it isn't steam servers. Something's ♥♥♥♥♥ with the home network, but I cannot work out what. My 'solution' only fixes it temporarily. I did also search both in Google and Steam, without any luck whatsoever.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Toastie Buns:

Can you link us to threads that aren't just 'maybe the steam servers are down'?

Because I used my phone (without wifi) to come to the realisation that it isn't steam servers. Something's ♥♥♥♥♥ with the home network, but I cannot work out what. My 'solution' only fixes it temporarily. I did also search both in Google and Steam, without any luck whatsoever.

I only used that error message in my search , and got many results. Surely some of those threads have helpful suggestions in them that cover that error and steps to maybe troubleshoot it, as there were many results.

And I saw this in your post........

Originally posted by Toastie Buns:

Resetting your router also does this.

The first, and usually considered the main step, in troubleshooting network connectivity issues with Steam, even if you can use the internet fine otherwise, is to bypass all wireless connectivity and hardware (routers) and use ethernet only directly to the modem.

Covered here, as well as other helpful info about connectivity troubleshooting...

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1456-EUDN-2493

[Toastie Buns]

There are many results, most of which are "It's probably Steam" or "Check ports" and none on the first 5 pages suggest anything. Even my own input in this thread is more of a working solution than the other threads.

As to the latter suggestion, I am wired through ethernet. Only the phone uses wifi, which I disabled just to check if it was different with the cellular network.

Surely enough, it was.

Suspiciously, my friend also has the same problem and in the same vein as myself, it's very sporatic and only happened this week.

Also, topkek at the link you posted being a steam link, thus requiring me to renew my IP just to read the link. *sigh* what a quirky network bug.

[The Giving One]

The suggestion about using ethernet only is only a first step, as there is plenty of other suggestions that can be tried and not gone into yet until the simple things are covered first.

For example....

If you are having connectivity issues, try this.....

Boot your PC into safe mode with networking. Again, it is safe mode with networking. Stay connected to the modem directly, and see if you can log into your Steam account using the client in that safe boot.

If you can, then that means that software is probably presenting a conflict in a normal boot. This list is a good start, but there can be other culprits.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9828-SFLZ-9289

If you cannot, then that leaves pretty much only the following.

1. NIC(LAN) device driver not installed or updated to the latest one, especially under Windows 10
2. NIC(LAN) device itself is having issues...seen it happen before here.
3. modem (try resetting it)
4. Windows firewall. Make sure Steam is fully allowed through.
5. ISP...seen that happen also, the ISP started limiting traffic for the user or user was at a school
6. Steam network. If this was the cause, there would be many other threads right now about it also, surely.

EDIT..Forgive my posting here, but connectivity does not seem to be what this thread is about. The OP seems to only have issues when doing anything not involving his or her library.

In that case, I would suggest this...

Steam in the top left of the client, then settings, then Web Browser. Delete Web Browser Cache. Allow Steam to refresh...wait, please. Now, see if that helps the problem.

[Toastie Buns]

Trust me, OP is having the exact same problem I am. My apologies if you feel I hijacked the thread, but it seemed like the relevant place to post.

Thanks for your help too, though it's unfortunately not yeilding any results (yet)

LAN drivers are reinstalled, only thing I can't really check is the ISP.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Toastie Buns:

Trust me, OP is having the exact same problem I am. My apologies if you feel I hijacked the thread, but it seemed like the relevant place to post.

Thanks for your help too, though it's unfortunately not yeilding any results (yet)

LAN drivers are reinstalled, only thing I can't really check is the ISP.

No, no I was not saying that at all...not saying you are hijacking anything here. Only said that to cover my mistake if my suggestions are not on topic with the issue here. Sorry about that, if that confusion is my fault.

I don't see where you tried safe mode with networking. You can post here while still in safe mode with networking and using ethernet only. More info about your system there would be maybe helpful also.

Such as...

Operating system (Windows and if it is 32 or 64 bit)

Network info (school/home network ?)

Computer model and model number exactly. If custom built, the exact motherboard instead. And if you reinstalled the drivers for the NIC, where did you get them ?

[Toastie Buns]

To be honest, I'm humouring you and myself with these solutions, since I know full well it's a network problem. The reason I know this is because when my phone is connected via wifi, it encounters the same error my PC connected via ethernet does. On the cellular network, it doesn't have the issue, so listing specs can't really help, an iphone (as awful as they are) has little to compare to my own PC, even custom built.

Edit: As to routers, I can't see any correlation there either. My friend is over in the US using a Linksys router. Mine is....something. It's not Linksys though.

[Unlucky.]

фывпарпо

[justeg]

Yeahs

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Toastie Buns:

To be honest, I'm humouring you and myself with these solutions, since I know full well it's a network problem. The reason I know this is because when my phone is connected via wifi, it encounters the same error my PC connected via ethernet does. On the cellular network, it doesn't have the issue, so listing specs can't really help, an iphone (as awful as they are) has little to compare to my own PC, even custom built.

Edit: As to routers, I can't see any correlation there either. My friend is over in the US using a Linksys router. Mine is....something. It's not Linksys though.

This is perhaps going to sound rude so forgive me ahead of time......please.

You seem to be making many assumptions as to what is or is not causing the problem. That is the last thing you should ever do in troubleshooting something. Just troubleshoot it, using process of elimination and not make any assumptions, no matter what you think is or is not relevant, please.

Step by step method, using process of elimination is all there is to troubleshooting connectivity issues. Eliminate or go around one possibile cause and move on to the next.

[Toastie Buns]

Which is great, except I cannot physically install anything to an iphone, which once again procs the exact same error. I know many people say "It's not my PC" when troubleshooting, but in this case, it literally CANNOT be my PC if multiple devices on the same network are having the same problem. It stands to reason therefore, that the problem must be a network issue.

I can even shut my PC down and have the phone generate the exact same error and when I renew my IP from the PC, Steam works again. There's just too much that's screaming "NETWORK". Had I not seen this thread and talked to my friend, I'd probably be updating the router's firmware right about now.

You know what WOULD be handy? Actually knowing what Ref #97 is.

[The Giving One]

May I please ask you this, and forgive me if this is a silly question...

Why the comments about the phone ? Are we not talking about Steam here and troubleshooting an issue with Steam, as in network connectivity problems ?

And I thought you said you use ethernet only anyway.

Originally posted by Toastie Buns:

As to the latter suggestion, I am wired through ethernet. Only the phone uses wifi, which I disabled just to check if it was different with the cellular network.

So why does the router keep coming up here, please ? I am sorry for my confusion, if so.

[Toastie Buns]

Okay, so we have the steam client that we're logged into playing games, yeah? This is throwing the error.
Then you have the browser version of Steam, which also throws the same error.
Then you have the mobile version of Steam, (basically the browser version) throwing the same error.

Thus, multiple ways to access Steam are reacting identically.

Now, on the offchance that Steam, using a chrome webkit is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ with me via cached data, I have completely obliterated the caches in both the client and my browser. The phone also has a cache, so I'm in the process of obliterating that too.

Should this not be the case, the only other thing these devices have in common is where they connect: The router.

Hence why I bring up the router.