Every game in my steam library has files that failed to validate, but Steam doesn't start any downloads to replace files.

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Dell Conagher Mar 11, 2022 @ 9:30pm

Title pretty much sums it up. The games(Dota2, Gta:V, and Payday 2) are all playable, but when I do the verify game files thing it shows that some files failed to validate and steam will reacquire them, but no downloads start.

I noticed this was a thing because I kept crashing during the exact same cutscene when playing GTA online and when I tried to verify game files(since thats the go to solution) it shows that some files failed to validate, but nothing happens afterwards.

Has anyone encountered this issue/seen this happen before? Hoping that if i solve this that I can play the games without issue.

Update 1: I tried downloading Terraria and verifying the local files immediately after and there's already 1 file that failed to validate and doesn't get reacquired by Steam. Payday 2 seems to be having an error too that just causes me to crash if I fire a weapon. Only Dota seems to be working correctly so far.

Last edited by Dell Conagher; Mar 11, 2022 @ 11:50pm

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Showing 1-11 of 11 comments

↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect Mar 11, 2022 @ 11:13pm

Try restarting steam and your pc. Update your video card drivers.

MancSoulja Mar 11, 2022 @ 11:20pm

They're settings files, the minute you launch a game and change the default settings your modifying the default settings.ini, Steam see's the modified file as "not original".

No idea why it doesn't try to download the default file though, maybe it's by design. It doesn't happen with all games either.

Last edited by MancSoulja; Mar 11, 2022 @ 11:21pm

76561199021310671 Mar 11, 2022 @ 11:26pm

how do you fix this problem?
been stuck on it for more then 4 hours

Dell Conagher Mar 11, 2022 @ 11:48pm

Originally posted by SnakeFist:
Try restarting steam and your pc. Update your video card drivers.

I've done that multiple times while trying the many recommended solutions from the internet. I.e. change download region, clear download cache, run as administrator, and etc.

Originally posted by MancSoulja:
They're settings files, the minute you launch a game and change the default settings your modifying the default settings.ini, Steam see's the modified file as "not original".

No idea why it doesn't try to download the default file though, maybe it's by design. It doesn't happen with all games either.

I don't understand what you mean by this.

Originally posted by Geo.exe:
how do you fix this problem?
been stuck on it for more then 4 hours

Haven't found a solution yet, but I'll let you know if I do.

Lithurge Mar 12, 2022 @ 12:49am

Have you run a disk check to make sure there isn't a physical issue with the disk itself? Probably not but it won't hurt to eliminate it.

Washell Mar 12, 2022 @ 1:00am

There are a number of files that are changed or edited by the game or steam as you download and/or start the game. They relate to DRM, settings and hardware. For example, when you start the game it sees you have, say, a 1080ti and it writes that in a file along with the default settings for that performance level.

If you then verify the files, Steam sees that those files are written to and changed, and says it failed to verify.

It's not a problem you need to fix, it's working as intended. When you open the tap and water starts flowing, you don't call a plumber for a leak.

Last edited by Washell; Mar 12, 2022 @ 1:01am

Dell Conagher Mar 12, 2022 @ 3:23am

Originally posted by Lithurge:
Have you run a disk check to make sure there isn't a physical issue with the disk itself? Probably not but it won't hurt to eliminate it.

Well, I had an issue with a drive previously, but after using chkdsk and "scan drive" to see if there were any problems left it seems like the drive is fine now. I did consider that the cause of the issue, but then I had hoped someone else on the forums had encounter a similar problem.

Originally posted by Washell:
There are a number of files that are changed or edited by the game or steam as you download and/or start the game. They relate to DRM, settings and hardware. For example, when you start the game it sees you have, say, a 1080ti and it writes that in a file along with the default settings for that performance level.

If you then verify the files, Steam sees that those files are written to and changed, and says it failed to verify.

It's not a problem you need to fix, it's working as intended. When you open the tap and water starts flowing, you don't call a plumber for a leak.

If I recall correctly, when you verify game files and there were no issue then it would show the message "all files are validated"(or something along that line) and if there were files missing/that failed the validate steam would redownload and replace said files.

My issue is that all games I verify files of has the "files failed to validate message and will be reacquired", but no files were downloaded.

RagingCat May 29, 2023 @ 12:57am

Any luck with the resolution of this issue. I just got a new PC and im facing the same issue.

Iceira May 29, 2023 @ 1:10am

You sure its a DL issue
then you talk about ingame crash issue
kept crashing during the exact same cutscene when playing GTA online

and be specifik if cutscean then its a video playback, thats GPU Driver to VC++ issue
VC++ is still seen as runtime Driver, and what do game devs and steam even know about MS latest VC++ driver ( NOTHING )MC VC++ made by MS and its not need at all if you dont game, this is why its a thirdpart app.

be happy someone like me and the other helper dont hold back, and we all can have diffrent view on the subject , and its exatly what steam want.
technicaly steam dont care if 1 has right Solutions and all other is wrong they see it as test if that is the problem.

i will not explan VC++ and its past issue, i can only hope newest update will fix it, and it still require rest of the pc is update, how can VC++ have best optimized ways if rest of the pc driver aient update.

Check Brand name pc or Brand board name pc support, for Driver and BIOS.
most dont even ask this anymore, most have app that do this today, same as GPU driver update.

ingame issue is not a steam issue its game devs support thats Rockstar own ticket support.

Last edited by Iceira; May 29, 2023 @ 1:27am