Steam client crashes (FIXED)

[TheBoringDuck]

So a few days ago the steam client started crashing when I would open it then after about a minute of not responding steamerrorreporter.exe would come up in task manager for about 10 seconds. I tried reinstalling steam, didn't work, deleted steam and its registry files didn't work, compatibility mode didn't work either. Any ideas? Worked just fine earlier that day as well.

[The Giving One]

Sounds like it could possibly be a Windows update to security or another issue with conflicting software that is causing that problem for you. Sorry it took me a while to reply.

If you are seeing "not responding" errors and crashes when only trying to run Steam, then often that can be caused by software that is doing that, such as antivirus or firewalls.

Check to be sure Steam is listed as exceptions in all security software. You can also try to use only Steam in safe mode with networking, and see if that shows better results, but that is only for testing purposes, and not a permanent solution.

See this :

https://support.eset.com/en/start-windows-in-safe-mode-or-safe-mode-with-networking

Here are some other possible programs and processes that might be an issue also :

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

[Vaulty]

If you use Laptop try setting "turn off hard disk after" to 0 minutes (aka never) in the battery options

Try starting the Steam.exe as an administrator

try repairing the Steam service:
Exit Steam.
Click Start > Run (Windows Key + R).
Type the following command:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\bin\SteamService.exe" /repair
Launch Steam and test the issue again.
Note: This command requires administrator privileges and may take a few minutes. If you have installed Steam to another path, please replace C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam with the correct path.

[TheBoringDuck]

@The Giving One sadly I am not able to login to Steam from safe mode with networking because it disables my wifi adapter (still working on getting ethernet) I have tried disabling my firewalls and antivirus software and it still didn't work. Already tried everything from that list you provided.

@Vault Hunter 101 tried that and it still freezes when I try to login. I have no clue how to read dmp files so I can't find what is causing the error.

Any more ideas?

[The Giving One]

Can you give details to your wifi adapter and what that is ?

The router as well, please. Yes, using ethernet while testing this problem would be best, but I doubt it has anything to do with your connection. It's just that you can't use the safe mode with networking to eliminate software conflict possibilities because you said you can't connect in safe mode with networking. So yes, if you can't get results from other helpful suggestions here, then I would still try to use Steam in safe mode with networking.

Or, you can just try to make sure there are no programs or processes that might be causing the issue. Did Windows do an update right before Steam started giving you problems ?

Is this Windows 10 ?

[TheBoringDuck]

The wifi adapter just plugs into a usb port on my computer and then I can connect to wifi since my computer doesn't have it built in. It came with my computer and here is a link to it. Problem with safe mode is it disables all usb connections besides keyboard and mouse.

https://www.amazon.com/H50334-802-11ac-Wireless-installation-Compatible/dp/B076PRRVY6/ref=sr_1_3?gclid=Cj0KCQiAxrbwBRCoARIsABEc9sjmMoyRkdPmiBgQXxCyHhL2G1stpSt4JlI5-nps1RHXQWVNZBalpY0aApnyEALw_wcB&hvadid=267969759838&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9019700&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15689582417133716154&hvtargid=kwd-302648462316&hydadcr=18007_9429818&keywords=hiro+wifi+adapter&qid=1578005729&sr=8-3

The router is from Century Link however I'm not sure what model.

Yes this is Windows 10 and no updates were installed and neither was any software. It worked just fine 2 hours prior before I went to get lunch.

Edit: I won't be able to hook up my computer to ethernet for another month or 2

[The Giving One]

Yes, safe mode with networking would be an issue, since you have that USB device. It should reamain suspect to the problem. We have seen that here before. That's why it's best to bypass all that and just use ethernet for now, if you can get a cable.

But that's only for the safe boot test, and not part of the issue, from what I can see. I think it's some program or process on your PC that is causing the issue, from what you described. But I could be wrong.

I still have to go with a software conflict here. If Steam is crashing, and you are getting "not responding" errors, that is almost always the result of some other software running at the same time that is causing the issue with Steam, from what I have seen.

Also, programs like CCleaner that never caused an issue before, might be causing it now. Because CCleaner has a monitoring mode setting area that is a known issue with Steam, or can be.

This is just an example. Have you looked into any software conflicts ? Pay no attention to the fact you never installed anything right before this started. Just troubleshoot the problem and take all possibilities into account, until they are eliminated as possibilities.

[TheBoringDuck]

I have looked into software conflicts and can't find anything that would be doing it. I uninstalled software I don't use anymore because I was going to do it anyway. I just use the built in windows defender because I haven't bothered getting anything better. I tried internet sharing from my Mac over ethernet however it never gives internet like it should so that didn't work. I tried tethering from my phone in case it was the adapter that breaks it but it still didn't work. Is there any easy way to read dmp files to see what it says?

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by TheBoringDuck:

I just use the built in windows defender because I haven't bothered getting anything better.

And you are sure that Defender is ignoring Steam in real time scanning ? Not sure about the dump files, as you might need other software for that, unless someone here can do that for you.

If you would like to share the dumps here, or a link to where you can upload them, then maybe someone can try looking at them.

[TheBoringDuck]

Yes I am positive that it is ignoring Steam. I tried launching Steam in safe mode even though I don't have internet in it and it still freezes when I launch it.

[TheBoringDuck]

I just now tried installing steam on an external drive to see if that changes anything but it still didn't respond when I tried to login. I also tried launching steam from a new user and that still didn't work.

[The Giving One]

It's a shame that you can't borrow or get an ethernet cable somewhat soon, as from what I see, it's a software issue but we can't necessarily confirm that without using the safe boot suggestion.

I would keep trying to troubleshoot the issue using an internal hard drive, though. Externals can possibly present a whole other issue, and complicate things :

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8379-RYIP-2998

You seem to have said recently that aside from the crashes and the "not responding" errors, that you see Steam freezing. Is that something new or just the same, as freezing for a few seconds before not responding or crashing ?

[TheBoringDuck]

I do have ethernet cables, however my computer isn't close enough to a plug or the router so I can't connect to that. It would be a pain to unplug everything from my computer as it is in one of those cabinet things below my desk. I am going to try to borrow a longer ethernet cable from my friend tomorrow and try safe mode with networking that way.

Edit: It goes back and forth between steam not responding and freezing.

[The Giving One]

Ok, thanks for the reply. I can't know what the issue is but I would like to see you solve it, so all I know to do at this point is test Steam in safe mode with networking.

As long as the Steam files are intact, and you do use ethernet only, and the PC is fully up to date and Steam is made as exceptions in all security software, then there really is no reason it should not run fine in safe mode with networking.

Unless there is a hardware issue such as a hard drive but since you tested it using an external temporarily, then I doubt that is it either. I will reply to the thread tomorrow and others here might offer help also.

[TheBoringDuck]

Ok. I'll have the cable around 4:30PM CT tomorrow.

[TheBoringDuck]

Alright, so safe mode with networking did not work. I tried a few other troubleshooting steps and its still broken. I contacted Steam support a few days ago and they got back to me with a few things to try, didn't work. So now I'm sending them some dmp files to look at.