I am only able to run steam in compatibility mode.

[Jon Doe]

Hello, thanks for taking the time to read this. I know this is a somewhat common problem, and I've lurked a lot of the discussions but nothing has helped me.

Basically, one day steam just stopped working. I execute it, it says that it is logging me in, then it closes instantly. So I am forced to use it in compatibility mode, and the loading times for games are horrible. The problem arose after I installed Origin. So I uninstalled Origin but the problem remains. It may have just been a fluke that it stopped working when I downloaded origin.

Here are the things I have tried:
-Closing all steam related processes in task manager
-Moving the userdata folder elsewhere
-uninstalling avast
-various CMD commands
-running as admin
-uninstalled origin
-restarting computer (several times)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[[wan-clan.org] Gordy Freeman]

Reinstall Steam.

Failing that: Reinstall Windows and don't install Avast.

[demo]

I found this, - any use?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HtHBCTSPMI

[Jon Doe]

Originally posted by demotricus:

I found this, - any use?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HtHBCTSPMI

Unfortunately not ]:
Thank you for your reply, though.

[Jon Doe]

Originally posted by Gordy Freeman (Hardware Girl):

Reinstall Steam.

Failing that: Reinstall Windows and don't install Avast.

I was hoping it wouldn't have to come to that, but I guess it may be my only option

[Jon Doe]

Does it make any difference that I am able to run steam in windows safe mode?

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Jon Doe Gecko:

Does it make any difference that I am able to run steam in windows safe mode?

Yes it does. And you must mean safe mode with networking, if you want Steam to actually connect to the network. But it will run in simply safe mode without connecting to the network.

Regardless, that suggests you have a software conflict in a normal boot.

If you want advice to help find it.........

1. Take screenshots of all of the programs you have installed on your computer. Control panel then programs/programs and features. (Windows 7,8,8.1) or "apps" (Windows 10 click "Start" (Windows icon on bottom left))

2. Click Windows Start and type in msconfig and run that resulting process. Go to the services tab and check the box on bottom "Hide all Microsoft services". Take screenshots of all that is left.

3. Then go to the startup tab on top of that same window (Task Manager in W10). Take screenshots of all that there also.

Post all the links to the above screenshots here, using a file hosting site such as imgur.com

[Jon Doe]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Originally posted by Jon Doe Gecko:

Does it make any difference that I am able to run steam in windows safe mode?

Yes it does. And you must mean safe mode with networking, if you want Steam to actually connect to the network. But it will run in simply safe mode without connecting to the network.

Regardless, that suggests you have a software conflict in a normal boot.

If you want advice to help find it.........

1. Take screenshots of all of the programs you have installed on your computer. Control panel then programs/programs and features. (Windows 7,8,8.1) or "apps" (Windows 10 click "Start" (Windows icon on bottom left))

2. Click Windows Start and type in msconfig and run that resulting process. Go to the services tab and check the box on bottom "Hide all Microsoft services". Take screenshots of all that is left.

3. Then go to the startup tab on top of that same window (Task Manager in W10). Take screenshots of all that there also.

Post all the links to the above screenshots here, using a file hosting site such as imgur.com

You're correct, it was safe mode with networking.
I've taken all the screen shots, here's the link: http://imgur.com/a/K2UOm

Thanks for your reply!

[The Giving One]

First one is a big one, according to issues from others in the past........

AMD External Events Utility. Disable that one for sure.

Do you have real-time scan exceptions for Steam and games in Avira ? Avira usually does not cause issues with Steam and games, but you still need the exceptions.

Honestly, the only bad one I see is the AMD External Events Utility process. Discord "may" be an issue, but consider that one for later and leave it be for now.

After making changes in msconfig, you must "apply" then "ok" in that window, then restart the computer into normal Windows. Then test the issue again.

If it still is a problem, we will continue trying to help and take further steps. Thanks.

EDIT..Don't forget to remove all compatability mode settings on the Steam.exe if currently on. Place all those changes back to make Steam in a normal, default configuration. You should not need compatabilty mode, once you find and correct the problem.

[Jon Doe]

I tried your suggestions, AMD External Events was disabled, and I made an exception for steam in Avira. Then restarted, but the problem still persists. Oh and I made sure that all compatibility was turned off before taking these steps.

Would the next step be uninstalling Discord?

Thanks

[The Giving One]

Hmmmm...

What is that 'nefarious Software Solutions" process for there ?

Any "updater" or "manager" or "service" processes need to be carefully looked at. Of course, don't disable anything Microsoft or Intel or "mostly" HP (some HP ones may be suspect if not vital processes).

I can suggest you try one or two at a time, then reboot and try again. It's just process of elimination, really, as you have proven Steam works in safe mode with networking, it seems.

That was good that you tested it that way, as it can tell where the issue is usually. So in safe mode with networking, all those third party programs and processes do not automatically start with Windows, unless you manually launch them after the boot, of course.

Try the "nefarious" one next (no pun intended, but the actual name LOL)

EDIT...Also, the "Hi Rez Studios Authenticate" in services seems suspicious. It is currently "paused" in msconfig also, which is a bit unusual.

"Validity WBF policy Service" also. That one seems a bit suspicious.

May as well temporarily disable Punk Buster also, but that one "should" not cause issues.

SCP Toolkit in the startup tab. These are just some off the top of my head. Just be careful what you disable, please. Pretty sure all these are ok, though, to disable.

[Jon Doe]

Tried disabling and then restarting all of them, one by one. Still nothing, though.
I'll try some other update/manager services

[The Giving One]

Do you have any other computer issues worth noting here, or is the only problem you currently have Steam crashing, as it was described in the opening post above ?

If it will still work in safe mode with networking, that should confirm that the Steam installation itself is fine and the files are not damaged or corrupted in any way.

Then, if it will crash in a normal boot of Windows, then something surely must be causing that. Another remote possibility could be an infection causing it, but if Steam is the only issue you have, it is probably not likely.

Still, to cover all the possibilities, I would suggest downloading Malwarebytes and boot into safe mode (not with networking this time) and scan very intensively with that program, as well as Avira.

Also, considering disabling those child processes of Avira. Not the antivirus itself, but the other processes you see in msconfig there.......

Avira Scheduler
Avira Web Protection
Avira Mail Protection

Or, disable them all temporarily as well as the antivirus itself and then try again. As far as I know, Avira should not be the cause of this, but you should check to be sure. This is using proper process of elimination, as you are probably aware. Thanks, and sorry it seems to be a challenge.

[Jon Doe]

As far as I know, I am only having problems with Steam. I did do a scan with Avira and Malwarebytes as you suggested, but no issues were detected. After the scans were done, I restarted and disabled those child Avira processes. That didn't help, so I went ahead and tried disabling pretty much every service that wasn't Intel, HP or Microsoft. But that didn't seem to help. And no need to apologize haha, I appreciate your help a lot.

[The Giving One]

Thanks for the kind words, and I am really sorry this is being so difficult to figure out. I was sure that one or more of those processes being disabled would take care of this.

Now, I know this will seem foolish to ask, but I have to anyway. Did you by chance disable the Steam processes there also by accident, when you said you disabled pretty much every service except Intel, HP, or Microsoft ? I have seen users do that by accident before.

And there may be one or two of those HP ones that need to be disabled also. I cannot say for sure, without researching what they do. And also, in your startup tab shots, the header was not expanded to the right, so the name of the program/process is not clearly visible and complete.

To further cover possibilities, those need to be fully visible so we know what they are in fact. Sorry. If you like to reupload the screenshots so we can take a fresh look, maybe that will help. It's up to you.

Also, what computer is this please ? What model number of HP exactly is it ?

And what is the operating system, both Windows and if 32 or 64 bit ?

[Jon Doe]

Haha nope, I made sure to keep Steam enabled, but thanks for making sure.
I will take new screenshots, with the header expanded. No problem.

Link to computer: https://support.hp.com/ca-en/document/c02861764

Operating system Is Windows 7 Professional, 64 bit