Steam.exe wont function - Steam hangs/freezes at login screen

[MemeMeUpScotty]

So I've tried for hours to fix this issue which has suddenly occurred,

When I try to open steam from anywhere (desktop, start menu, task bar, file folder, etc.), steam wont function. it starts by opening a blank steam error box with no content or even a background, just the box frame on the desktop screen. Then if I click on it it'll change to "-Not Responding". THEN, after I wait maybe 1-2 minutes, the Steam Login screen will finally appear on my desktop screen. Except, I cant interact with it, I cant click or type or anything with it, as soon as I do I get a windows "Steam Bootstrapper Client is Not Responding" window, and asks me to wait or close the program as per the usual. I CANNOT interact with the login screen. Sometimes when i try to click on it to enter my password (username is saved), the window goes all fuzzy and on the rare occasion I get another window I cannot interact with stating Windows is running Steam in Compatibility mode, and this may cause problems etc. etc.

I have tried:

- unchecking all compatibility options in the compatibility tab of the .exe file
- attempting to run as admin, run in compatibility for Win. 7 / 8
- the windows 7 registry fix(es) regarding Steam and Windows compatibility mode (though im currently on windows 10, I thought itd be worth a try)
- .blob fix
- looking for 'beta' file to rename/delete in /steam/package, it is not present
- deleting all steam file folders and files except for /steamapps and Steam.exe
- deleting ALL steam files and folders, completely, including /steamapps and steam.exe, downloading steam from the internet and running
- uninstalling steam completely using uninstall.exe, and doing a clean install via steam internet download (again)
- setting Anti-virus/Firewall exceptions for my entire steam directory (P:/Steam)
- pausing and disabling protections
- updating and reinstalling graphics drivers (nvidia geforce gtx 1080)
- entering task manager and ending all steam-related tasks (webhelper, bootstrapper, etc.)

My specs are:

- Windows 10 Pro 64-bit OS
- MSI Z170A GAMING M7 Mobo
- Intel i7 6700k CPU
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 (EVGA FTW) GPU, using GeForce Game Ready Driver v.378.78 (newest)

Up until now I haven't had an issue like this before. Easy gaming, easy life. Now I cant even login to access or play any of my Steam games whatsoever. ANY help would be dearly appreciated!

[The Giving One]

Place all setting back to totally default values. Place everything back like it was in Steam settings before you started troubleshooting this.

Boot the computer into safe mode with networking....WITH networking, please.

Now try to launch Steam by right clicking the .exe directly in this safe boot and watch what happens.

If you see improvement, then more steps will be needed, as this is only a test.

[ShockerCyclone]

I was having the same issue. I totally uninstalled and reinstalled steam and was able to get back in but I inadvertently deleted all my game data.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by ShockerCyclone:

I was having the same issue. I totally uninstalled and reinstalled steam and was able to get back in but I inadvertently deleted all my game data.

Because you are supposed to backup or save your steamapps folder before uninstalling Steam.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9609-OBMP-2526

[MemeMeUpScotty]

So guess what. I started backtracking Nvidia driver versions. I downloaded and am running GeForce driver 376.33, and Steam ******* WORKS now.

I for the life of me cannot figure out how or why the newer drivers are causing Steam to turn into a vegetable on me. I had just updated my drivers a couple days ago so that mustve been it. Hadnt updated since december of last year so This newest driver seems to SOMEHOW be the culprit.

I cant find any solutions or even anyone else experiencing this problem online.

Also, I downloaded 376.33, but when I open GeForce Experience, it claims Im running 376.53. Not sure what thats about either.

Is there any advice or a possible fix/workaround that I could use to get Steam to function while also using the updated drivers?

[The Giving One]

GPU drivers should not prevent Steam from functioning properly. You have an issue elsewhere.

You don't seem to have tried safe mode with networking to see if the issue presents itself there.

But if the issue is somehow resolved now, that probably will not help at this point.

Post screenshots of all of your installed programs on that computer.

[MemeMeUpScotty]

Okay, I could reinstall the newer driver again just to see if that recreates my issue, and then try safe mode w/ networking. And I'll grab pics of my programs

[The Giving One]

Are you sure you have all other device drivers (not GPU) fully up to date form MSI ?

https://us.msi.com/Motherboard/support/Z170A-GAMING-M7.html#down-driver

Also, if you have the Killer Network Access Manager installed, that has been known to conflict with Steam, so it is recommended to NOT have that on your system and have the latest Killer Driver ONLY and not the manager software.

[MemeMeUpScotty]

Okay, so I uninstalled Killer Network Manager and used the Mobo Drivers and Utilities DVD to install the Driver Only (Not Utility) version of the Killer Network Drivers, then updated Drivers Only from the MSI Mobo website.

All device drivers should be up to date, except when I scan using MSI Live Update 6 it still says my Network Drivers are out of date. Im hesitant to use MSI LU 6 to update my Network drivers as last time it caused a PC crash on reboot and resulted in the driver being removed and not updated so I had to manually reinstall the driver and update via. Mobo Driver disk and update via. MSI Mobo website. Still said out of date on LU 6, however, just like now.

Also, I updated my GPU drivers again and it managed to recreate my issue, Steam bootstrapper client is unusable, I cant interact with the login window.

So i booted into Safe Mode w/ Networking and from there, steam.exe worked fine, I could log in from the window and everything responded fine. Returning to normal boot, it still doesnt work since updating my GPU driver. I went back to the old one again and it works fine. I dont know how, at all.

Program screenchots:

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x408/Parkerbrost1997/Screenshot%201.png
http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x408/Parkerbrost1997/Screenshot%202.png
http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x408/Parkerbrost1997/Screenshot%203.png
http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x408/Parkerbrost1997/Screenshot%204.png
http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x408/Parkerbrost1997/Screenshot%205.png

[Seven7]

What we see: avast free, eset security combine, intel security assist (ex-mcafee), wtfast - snake oil, two outdated 7-zip... idk why you want 2 outdated versions at same time, maybe better use one outdated and one actual?
teamspeak and few chat clients, that can concurent for mic, cam and network if not configured... +Killer Network - normal configuration... if you don't want have network connection at all

[MemeMeUpScotty]

Okay, Ive uninstalled one of the 7-zips, avast, intel sec. as. , wtfast.

Anything else that I could/should be doing to hopefully help the issue?

Edit: I tried opening Steam up first, sitting in store page, and then updated my GPU drivers and steam continues to function while opened, but as soon as I exited steam and tried to open again the same issue occured. The issue only occurs when I try to open the bootstrapper client and login when launching steam, after Ive updated to the latest nvidia geforce drivers. It works in safemode with networking, but not outside of that.

[Seven7]

uninstall all av, choose only one at once - few av not mean better security - Nine women do not give birth to a child in a month

check firewall \ av settings - https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8571-GLVN-8711 https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1456-EUDN-2493
check settings other programs that use network

+http://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/154644045355841952/?tscn=1482066772#c154644045356177819
*.txt is backup of your network settings

P.S.: current steam client have problems with nVidia driver newer 376.33

[MemeMeUpScotty]

Okay, I only have ESET av now, I checked and allowed steam to be accepted/excluded by my firewall/av but il make sure to check again.

And okay, so it might actually be that the new nvidia driver and steam client arnt very compatible with eachother? In that case if I still cant get this fixed I'll just hold onto this older driver for now. Thanks!|

Edit: Okay, now I installed the newest driver, again, and this time when I open a new window using google chrome the entire webpage is Black....
Like, I cant see any content. Its black. Wtf..?

Edit 2: Okay, rebooting and opening chrome again fixed the black screen issue. However, I still cannot run steam.exe while using the new Nvidia driver (version 378.78 for GTX 1080, Windows 10 64-bit)

[Zrikz]

Were you able to fix this? I keep having the same issue.. new MSI laptop with GTX 1070.

[Zrikz]

Found a workaround... uninstall video card from device manager, open steam. Reinstall nvidia graphics drivers.

[MemeMeUpScotty]

Hey, no I NEVER found a workaround for this issue other than what you posted. Months later, the newest Nvidea drivers FINALLY allow me to use steam functionally. To test, I went back to the driver versions causing the issue and they did indeed continue to render steam unusable... but thank goodness the newest drivers arnt causing these issues.

NO idea what or how this works or what happened...