Steam crashes when I try to download a new game

[sartois99]

Hi,

I've been using Steam happily for many years but since the weekend it's just crashed when I try to install a new game. The strange thing is that there's a working connection since I can play existing games and can watch videos for new games, so there's obviously some type of connection between my computer and the servers.

It's only when I try to install new content that it freezes up. Any help / thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Sartois

[ReBoot]

The far most common cause is background crapware. Start your system in safe mode (for obvious reasons with networking) and see if you can download then.

[sartois99]

Hi ReBoot,

Thanks for your reply, but unfortunately that's run into difficulties as well. I did a safe mode boot with networking, but Wifi can't connect and I'm miles away from an ethernet connection. I did some digging around re. the Wifi protocol and using Windows 10 safe mode, but that shouldn't be an issue either.

I thought I might have solved it when uninstalling Steam because I found (and deleted) a few registry values I wasn't expecting, but that's made no difference either.

Sartois

[ReBoot]

My bet is still on background crapware. See if adding Steam to your AV's exception list helps. By now, we're lacking a clear diagnosis then and frankly, I think something's REALLY weird with your system as WLAN should work just fine in safe mode as well.

[sartois99]

Hi all,

Still no joy here and Steam support are being very slow in helping; they did suggest sending across the Dump report but curiously there isn't one. Despite the fact that Steam has crashed multiple times there's no dump reports at all. I'm not sure what to make of that.

I manually created a dump file and it referenced the wow64.dll file (in the Windows\System32 folder on the C drive), but I'm not sure whether that was problematic or not. However that file, plus another had been updated in the recent past, so I replaced them with some older versions (from about a month ago) but that didn't help either. They've now been updated back to the latest versions.

It's not an account thing either - I asked my brother to log in using my account details and he could download a game perfectly happily.

I've also tried doing a safe boot with networking with two different Wifi dongles but I couldn't get wifi with either of them. As always, any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Sartois

[ReBoot]

Still looks like background crapware, one that dug itself so deep, you got no network without it running.
Uninstall your AV/firewall, reboot, see if Steam works then.

[crunchyfrog]

Yup, I'd defeintiely agree with ReBoot. The fact that you can't get wifi in safe mode only highlights this.

Try connecting via a cabled connection. Wifi is notoriously awful anyway.

If you get it working in safe mode with networking then that would prove it IS some crapware on your PC and the best way to find out what it is by process of elimination - adding things one by one until you find the culprit.

[sartois99]

Ok, thanks, I'll give it a go - I won't be able to try a cabled connection though, my computer (desktop) is upstairs.

The no wifi in safe mode is a 'thing' though, there's quite a bit of discussion out there about it.

[Iceira]

Its years ago i have seen a AV app crash a app, for blocking something, so something else is ongoing here sametime, you sure you dont have 3 minute cooldown on no network connection, see now it will make sense, but you dont mention it or might not know the diffrence.

[crunchyfrog]

sartois99 lähetti viestin:

Ok, thanks, I'll give it a go - I won't be able to try a cabled connection though, my computer (desktop) is upstairs.

The no wifi in safe mode is a 'thing' though, there's quite a bit of discussion out there about it.

Sure, but as a its a generic problem you have no idea whether the CAUSE is the same as yours, which I doubt due to your other problems.

The bottom line is if you can't get connected in safe mode, you are stuck. So I'd be carrying your desktop downstairs just to get this done. That's what I'd do.

[ReBoot]

sartois99 lähetti viestin:

The no wifi in safe mode is a 'thing' though, there's quite a bit of discussion out there about it.

Two possible causes for this:
1. The WLAN adaptor uses some weird-ass program to run alongside it. May cause connection problems as no WLAN adaptor should need anything more than a driver.
2. Background crapware digging itself so deep into Windows' networking capabilities, ♥♥♥♥'s not working when said background crapware is not running. Deep-digging background crapware is to be uninstalled ASAP as it loves causing trouble.

[Sir Fluffykins]

Iceria and ReBoot I appreciate your attempts to help people, but many are having the issue which is clearly something in Windows 10 stopping specifically the Steam downloads and nothing else.
I found a "solution" and hopefully it'll help others, so please mention it to others along with the usual tips

Quoted from https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install-winpc/windows-10-and-steam-stop-start-download-issue/fe753e5c-02f2-4509-b32c-42b8c8480039

"I have the permanent fix at long last. Yes it's a fix in normal windows not safe mode but you have to go to safe mode first to make sure this fix will work for you.

I found this by comparing processes in safe mode with networking and eliminating processes to find the culprit in normal mode. took about an hour.

First of all reboot your windows 10 pc in safe mode WITH NETWORKING.

If you need to figure out how to do that google it separately or on your phone.

Try to download something on steam. With me, it worked perfectly like a charm, no start-stop.

If that works for you, restart your pc back in normal mode and follow these steps to fix the problem fast.

Go to control panel->administrative tools->services

Looking at the services, CDPUserSvc_3e1f2 is the piece of garbage responsible

double click on the service
click stop and wait for it to stop
change startup type to manual

Your download after less than a minute will start downloading normally and fast. Start and stop the service to watch it work its garbage magic on your steam downloads.
You're welcome, share."

I hope this helps others, it helped me and thanks for trying guys

[sartois99]

Wow, a lot of people are having issues! Thanks for posting that Sir Fluffykins! :)