Steam Games won't launch.

[leonine panoply]

I've tried verifying the game cache, reinstalling the game, however I haven't uninstalled my antivirus yet because I haven't found a safe replacement as I'm too paranoid of getting a virus. I have even tried restarting my computer. Please help. I am also currently using Windows 8.1 if that will help. I have even tried seeing the compatibility for my game and set it to Windows 8.

[Phantom]

• Games do not run after 'Preparing to Launch'
  
  • https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=6218-USFX-5568
  
  
• Clear download cache
  
  • https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3134-TIAL-4638
    

    Clearing your download cache can solve problems with games that won't download or start.

  
  
• Programs Which May Interfere With Steam
  
  • https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9828-SFLZ-9289

• What's your antivirus?
  
• Do these games run if executed from the executable directly?
  
• [Have these games worked previously? If so, any idea what might've changed since?
  
• Have you tried manually running said games' redistributable files under [Properties > Local Files > Browse Local Files] ?
  
• Are your videocard drivers up-to-date?

[leonine panoply]

I currently have McAfee anti-virus. Said game used to work before (Skyrim Special Edition). I have already tried manually running the game. However I do not know about the videocard driver question.

[M_Kay]

My graphics card driver updated recently and after the update, I wasn't able to launch any games. I completely uninstalled and reinstalled the driver and that fixed the problem.

If you're on a PC, go to your Device Manager and open Display Adapters. This will show you what graphics card(s) you have installed. You can right click on the card name and search for updates, which I'd recommend first.

[leonine panoply]

AMD Radeon HD 8550G is the type of driver I currently have, I'm trying to update it. If that doesn't work do you have a suitable option I could use instead of that driver. If so, could you post it here in this discussion? Also when I go into the program files and into the game folder, I tried running it from there, however it said it can't start because "api-ms-win-crt-convert-I1-1-1.dll is missing. I've tried reinstalling this many times however it did not work.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Ziemniaki:

I currently have McAfee anti-virus. Said game used to work before (Skyrim Special Edition). I have already tried manually running the game. However I do not know about the videocard driver question.

McAfee is one of the worst antivirus programs to have with Steam and games. Even if you have exceptions in real time for games, it can potentially have background processes that can still conflict with Steam and/or games that are not disabled or ignore them.

Run msconfig from Windows Start to see what is actually running for McAfee.

This is why it takes a special tool to uninstall the antivirus, depending on your version maybe.

McAfee Product Removal Tool

https://service.mcafee.com/webcenter/portal/cp/home/articleview;jsessionid=mWFvrUrzN1D-DJkK2u2uVu7xu3vzum8Ksl4Nhen2lhc_2yRiU_EP!1801083531!-53234356?articleId=TS101331&_afrLoop=1845365062456321#!%40%40%3F_afrLoop%3D1845365062456321%26articleId%3DTS101331%26centerWidth%3D100%2525%26leftWidth%3D0%2525%26rightWidth%3D0%2525%26showFooter%3Dfalse%26showHeader%3Dfalse%26_adf.ctrl-state%3D146ndytf2b_4

[leonine panoply]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Originally posted by Ziemniaki:

I currently have McAfee anti-virus. Said game used to work before (Skyrim Special Edition). I have already tried manually running the game. However I do not know about the videocard driver question.

McAfee is one of the worst antivirus programs to have with Steam and games. Even if you have exceptions in real time for games, it can potentially have background processes that can still conflict with Steam and/or games that are not disabled or ignore them.

Run msconfig from Windows Start to see what is actually running for McAfee.

This is why it takes a special tool to uninstall the antivirus, depending on your version maybe.

McAfee Product Removal Tool

https://service.mcafee.com/webcenter/portal/cp/home/articleview;jsessionid=mWFvrUrzN1D-DJkK2u2uVu7xu3vzum8Ksl4Nhen2lhc_2yRiU_EP!1801083531!-53234356?articleId=TS101331&_afrLoop=1845365062456321#!%40%40%3F_afrLoop%3D1845365062456321%26articleId%3DTS101331%26centerWidth%3D100%2525%26leftWidth%3D0%2525%26rightWidth%3D0%2525%26showFooter%3Dfalse%26showHeader%3Dfalse%26_adf.ctrl-state%3D146ndytf2b_4

Do you have a suitable replacement for when I uninstall McAfee?

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Ziemniaki:

Do you have a suitable replacement for when I uninstall McAfee?

Many here suggest using Windows Defender but if you want a third party one, I can only suggest the one I use.

Avira.

But with any antivirus, it's a good idea to make exceptions in real time for the entire Steam folder and all games. They need to be left alone in real-time scanning.

If you do uninstall McAfee, then afterwards you should reboot and then verify the game files, for any games affected. But you need to be sure all McAfee processes have been removed. Use msconfig to be sure, after the reboot.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2037-QEUH-3335

And also, you still might have other software that can cause issues with Steam games launching.

[leonine panoply]

Thank you for your help, and I don't think I have any other different software that will interfere, as I recently restarted my laptop. Thank you all once again.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Ziemniaki:

Thank you for your help, and I don't think I have any other different software that will interfere, as I recently restarted my laptop. Thank you all once again.

You are welcome, and sometimes software that you have been using for a long time maybe can cause new issues later on, depending.

If you need further help, please feel free to ask.

[leonine panoply]

Also, about how to remove the anti-virus, is using "Uninstall program" fine?

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Ziemniaki:

Also, about how to remove the anti-virus, is using "Uninstall program" fine?

Read the link from McAfee that I posted above. It should tell how to do it correctly there, becaue as far as I know, using the normal method in Windows does not work.

That's reason enough to not use McAfee, IMO.

[leonine panoply]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Originally posted by Ziemniaki:

Also, about how to remove the anti-virus, is using "Uninstall program" fine?

Read the link from McAfee that I posted above. It should tell how to do it correctly there, becaue as far as I know, using the normal method in Windows does not work.

That's reason enough to not use McAfee, IMO.

The problem is that went I go onto the site, it says my windows 8.1, then takes me to microsoft which doesn't help at all.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Ziemniaki:

The problem is that went I go onto the site, it says my windows 8.1, then takes me to microsoft which doesn't help at all.

Yes, because that is showing you to use the normal method to remove programs on Windows (add or remove programs) and then come back and use the tool you see on McAfee.

Sorry, as maybe I misunderstood you above. Yes, uninstall it from Windows as you normally would any program, then use the McAfee tool.

[leonine panoply]

So I use uninstall program, download the McAfee tool and use it, correct?

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Ziemniaki:

So I use uninstall program, download the McAfee tool and use it, correct?

Pretty sure that's right. I think it is further explained from the link I gave. Read over that there on the site before you continue, to get a general idea of the steps you will take.