All games "launch" but get stuck in processes and do not open as applications

[Tomfoolery]

As of this morning, attempting to launch any game through steam will open a "preparing to launch game" window which completes, followed by nothing. Sorting through the processes using the task manager I find the game running but is otherwise completely inaccessible. ENDING TASK AND RETRYING DOES NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. Steam will display my account as playing the game, memory usage for the process is variable, with Stardew Valley taking a relatively large amount but a launcher for Borderlands 2 taking almost nothing.

I have restarted my system multiple times and even turned it completely off.

I have uninstalled steam completely and reinstalled (which has been a massive waste of time as it blew away every installed game I had.)

I have made sure to run up-to-date Visual C++ and Direct X

I have verified all game caches multiple times

I have updated all my drivers

I have shut down all non-essential processes I can

I have made sure windows 7 is up to date

I have made sure my internet is correctly connected

I have cleared my steam download cache

I have found that circumventing the steam launcher for Stardew Valley lets the game run just fine.

GOG Galaxy launches games just fine.

I have made sure that my video card is only outputting 1 monitor display, the applications never appear in the application tray, instead getting stuck in the processes.

I suspect that it has something to do with the fact that I modified Fallout: New Vegas with New Vegas Script Extender, New Vegas Anti-crash and New Vegas Anti-Stutter, as I did so yesterday. I have removed all those mods and New Vegas alongside it, but the issue is not contained to New Vegas, it applies to all steam games.

I'm running 2 Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5440 @ 2.83GHz
GTX 1050 TI
160 gb SSD primary hard drive (which contains steam)
1 TB HDD secondary hard drive
Windows 7 (64 bit)
32 gb ram

This setup has been running fine for months.

[Wildbow]

Seconding this problem. Exactly as described. Took most of the same steps with no resolution. Adding my voice to this here.

Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU @ 2.80GHz 2.80GHz
GTX 1060
240GB HDD hard drive
Windows 10
16 GB ram

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Tomfoolery:

As of this morning, attempting to launch any game through steam will open a "preparing to launch game" window which completes, followed by nothing.

Games do not run after 'Preparing to Launch'

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=6218-USFX-5568

[Tomfoolery]

Been to that page about a hundred times.

[Wildbow]

Seconding what OP said - Windows is up to date, updated drivers, verified game cache files (all games are broken it seems), disabled everything I could get away with, system requirements aren't a problem as the games were working fine for months and now everything from binding of isaac to path of exile to lyne are being uncooperative.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Tomfoolery:

Been to that page about a hundred times.

Unless I missed it then, maybe editing that into the title post so others will know you performed all the steps on that page would be good. Thanks.

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

EDIT.....

Originally posted by Tomfoolery:

I have uninstalled steam completely and reinstalled (which has been a massive waste of time as it blew away every installed game I had.).

Just so you know, that is why you are supposed to save your steamapps folder before you uninstall Steam for any reason. Then, no reinstalling games due to uninstalling Steam.

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

2. Move the Steamapps folder out of C:\Program Files\Steam to keep game installations

[Wildbow]

https://imgur.com/a/sOVjA - Imgur album with installed programs, services part #1 and #2, and startup tab.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Wildbow:

https://imgur.com/a/sOVjA - Imgur album with installed programs, services part #1 and #2, and startup tab.

I cannot even see the ones on the far right of the programs (apps) shot. You have quite a many , I may add.

Intel Management and Security. It is a security process, so it is suspect.

Those other children of that Intel process may also be suspect, if they possibly conflict with games/Steam. Google what they do and research their funcion, then consider disabling them and try again.

Troubleshoot it using process of elimination.

[Tomfoolery]

Here's all the relevant info I could get, stripped down all the programs I could and it's still having the same issue, it's even given me the issue in safe mode with networking.
https://imgur.com/a/x8osv

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Tomfoolery:

Here's all the relevant info I could get, stripped down all the programs I could and it's still having the same issue, it's even given me the issue in safe mode with networking.
https://imgur.com/a/x8osv

I will have a look at this and meantime, please see my edit above. You need to know that in case it will help you in the future.

And as far as safe mode with networking, you can use Steam there, but you cannot play games as your GPU drivers are not loaded and utilized. That is the limitation with using that as a test method to troubleshoot. But, it is still worth noting exactly what you saw happening while trying in that boot here, as that information may be helpful.

Back in a moment. .........

[Wildbow]

Uninstalled/stopped Intel programs & services that weren't essential to graphics/sound.

I hit the game 'play' button, I get the gray window popping up, saying the game is starting, disappears promptly, mouse cursor shows activity, game doesn't pop up, no signs of life - task manager shows nothing under apps, only Path of Exile (or another game) under background processes. This is a new problem as of today - game has run fine otherwise.

[The Giving One]

@Tomfoolery

You don't need Adobe, Java, or GOG while troubleshooting this, but they "should" not be a problem anyway. For now, maybe disable them under msconfig just while troubleshooting this and that eliminates them from the possibilities.

I don't really see anything else that "should" be a problem, compared to what we normally have seen here in the past. That does not mean that a process isn't still causing the issue.

The games are trying to launch, but something is negatively affecting that and causing them to close unexpectedly, and not launch.

Almost always, that is caused by a background process or programs, such as antivirus or others.

It's good that you are attempting to use safe mode with networking while troubleshooting this, but you cannot play games in that boot, due to not having GPU drivers (and other drivers needed for games and game-using hardware) loaded in that boot.

@Wildbow

I assume you did restart after disabling all those and then verified the game files all over again, right ? I am sorry I did not cover that specifically.

Each time you try something, you need to verify the game files all over again. Then, playtest the game again only afterwards. If making changes in msconfig or uninstalling programs, you have to restart before doing any of this.

I think you missed what I said above about not seeing the rest of your installed programs, just in case it may matter. I cannot see all of them in your shot.

[Wildbow]

Album updated with one you should be able to see better.

Reset & re-validated every step of the way. Switched over to steam beta in case it was a recent update to the launcher that threw a wrench into the works and no luck. Problem persists.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Wildbow:

Album updated with one you should be able to see better.

Reset & re-validated every step of the way. Switched over to steam beta in case it was a recent update to the launcher that threw a wrench into the works and no luck. Problem persists.

What is that PXMmemtool for there ?

[Wildbow]

Editing save files for a separate utility. Safe, mundane, been using it for years now.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Wildbow:

Editing save files for a separate utility. Safe, mundane, been using it for years now.

Don't assume that just because you have been using something for a long time, that it is not suspect to this problem. That is improper troubleshooting. I am not saying that one is for sure, but you should consider all possibilities when troubleshooting things like this.

Programs change. Operating systems change. Things update and run in the background that did not run before. Things are not as they were "before".