Steam won't open

[Djsint2]

When I launch steam, it doesn't open. I opened task manager and I saw that "steam client Bootstrapper (32 bit)" starts running when I start steam.exe but it closes almost immediately. I run win10 and I never had this problem before. There are no crash reports. Opening steam.exe with administrator rights doesn't work.

[TheSarge1975]

I'm wondering if there is some hidden file or registry entry somewhere thats conflicting??

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by TheSarge1975:

Ok, did that, it downloads all the files fine, but when you click on steam.exe it start it does the same, flashes a box up saying "updating steam" and "varifying installation" then stops.

Boot your computer into safe mode with networking and try again. If Steam launches and updates in that safe boot, then something on your computer is negatively affecting Steam, such as security software or other(s).

This list has some programs that may affect Steam and keep it from launching or updating.

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

[TheSarge1975]

I tried that too, it does the same thing 😞. I really have no idea what on earth went wrong.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by TheSarge1975:

I tried that too, it does the same thing 😞. I really have no idea what on earth went wrong.

Are you sure it was with networking enabled when you set the options for starting Windows in safe mode ?

We still don't know certain things about your setup there, unless I missed them of course....

Operating system, and if it is 32 or 64 bit ?

Are you using a router while troubleshooting this ? You should not be. If you are, bypass that router and use ethernet only directly to the modem.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1456-EUDN-2493

THEN boot into safe mode with networking.

Once you do those, if Steam still will not connect and update, that leaves pretty much only...

1. NIC(LAN) device driver issue (not installed/updated/supported)
2. NIC(LAN) device itself having issues
3. Modem
4. ISP
5. Steam network (this is probably the least likely, as others would be posting more also)

Go ahead and reply with the model and model number of that computer, please. If custom built, post the exact motherboard instead, including what I asked about the OS, please. Thanks.

[TheSarge1975]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Originally posted by TheSarge1975:

I tried that too, it does the same thing 😞. I really have no idea what on earth went wrong.

Are you sure it was with networking enabled when you set the options for starting Windows in safe mode ?

We still don't know certain things about your setup there, unless I missed them of course....

Operating system, and if it is 32 or 64 bit ?

Are you using a router while troubleshooting this ? You should not be. If you are, bypass that router and use ethernet only directly to the modem.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1456-EUDN-2493

THEN boot into safe mode with networking.

Once you do those, if Steam still will not connect and update, that leaves pretty much only...

1. NIC(LAN) device driver issue (not installed/updated/supported)
2. NIC(LAN) device itself having issues
3. Modem
4. ISP
5. Steam network (this is probably the least likely, as others would be posting more also)

Go ahead and reply with the model and model number of that computer, please. If custom built, post the exact motherboard instead, including what I asked about the OS, please. Thanks.

Im running win 7 x64 on a custom build.
The thing is, it was running absolutley fine on Thursday night, i shut down my pc and went to bed. Fri morn, i started the pc, steam did an update, then poof, it didn't work. You click on steam and a small box, in the middle of the screen shows up for a split second saying " Updating Steam" and under it "verifying installation"

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by TheSarge1975:

Im running win 7 x64 on a custom build.
The thing is, it was running absolutley fine on Thursday night, i shut down my pc and went to bed. Fri morn, i started the pc, steam did an update, then poof, it didn't work. You click on steam and a small box, in the middle of the screen shows up for a split second saying " Updating Steam" and under it "verifying installation"

Please read my reply again, that you just quoted. You missed providing some of the information that I asked you for, please.

All this is is using process of elimination to find the cause. If you want help, please provide the rest of what I asked you for above. Thanks.

[TheSarge1975]

OK, just tried woth safe mode and networking, does the same thing. Steam had been running fine on this build and previous builds until now.
I do run ethernet directly yo modem.
Im running win7 x64 on a gigbyte Z97-HD3 mobo

I think thats all you asked for, please corrct me if not, and thanks for you help, im at my wits end here and dont see any other choice but to reinstall win ??

[The Giving One]

Stay connected with an ethernet cable while you troubleshoot this. I also recommend staying in safe mode WITH networking while troubleshooting connectivity issues.

Originally posted by TheSarge1975:

Im running win7 x64 on a gigbyte Z97-HD3 mobo

What revision is that board ?

It is either 1.0, 2.1, or 2.0, according to Gigabyte...if my search is correct.

http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4955#dl

Is that the right board ? If it is, or after you verify the revision number in blue up top there, check for the latest device driver for your NIC(LAN)) ethernet device.

Download it and install if if you need to. If you have been using Windows update for device drivers in the past, then you should not be. Always use the official website of the manufacturer of the hardware for drivers.

Once your device is surely up to date, that pretty much leaves what I posted above.

You can try to reset the modem also, using the reset button and not simply powercycling it.

Also, you can flush the winsock and see if that helps.

For Windows Vista and 7:
1) Go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories
2) Right-click on Command Prompt and click Run as administrator.
3) Type "netsh winsock reset" (without the quotes).
4) Press Enter, close out of the command prompt and restart your computer.

[TheSarge1975]

And for your info, i uninstalled steam, cleaned reg with ccleaner, did a restart, reinstalled steam. Allowed the installer to run steam, steam does a load of downloads and updates. Then when you click on steam to start it, it flashes up a small box in the centre of the screen stating at the top, " Updating Steam" and at the bottom "verifying installation" , this flashes up for a split second then disappears, the cursor does it "spinning im doing something" routine for about 1/2 a second then stops. While this is happeneing, steam.exe *32 shows up in the task manager, then disappears when the box does. Nothing else steam related is in the task manager.

I can post the logs again if you like??

And again, many thanks for anything you can sugguest, as i dont know what else to do, besides re-install win.

[The Giving One]

You are welcome, and this is why I always suggest safe mode with networking while troubleshooting connectivity issues on Steam. If software is conflicting in a normal boot, and that is the cause or part of it, that software won't get in the way in safe mode with networking.

Because you said you have CCleaner, which has a monitoring mode that will conflict with Steam, among other programs possibly.

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

Other Applications

(snip)

Catalyst AI
CCleaner
Daemon Tools
Download Accelerators (all clients)

(snip)

If you keep CCleaner after this is resolved, I suggest you disable that monitoring mode at the very least, in CCleaner settings.

[TheSarge1975]

Mobo is a rev 2.1.
Ive done a modem reset (button on the modem) no difference.

Ill look for an ethernet update, though, as i said, worked the night previous, why would it not work the following am??

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by TheSarge1975:

Mobo is a rev 2.1.
Ive done a modem reset (button on the modem) no difference.

Ill look for an ethernet update, though, as i said, worked the night previous, why would it not work the following am??

You should not focus so much on when it did work and now that it does not. Just troubleshoot the problem using process of elimination, as we are doing.

And from your last reply, you seem to now suggest that the connectivity is not the issue here...

Originally posted by TheSarge1975:

Allowed the installer to run steam, steam does a load of downloads and updates.

So it sounds like you are connecting to the network to get the updates just fine, but then Steam is actually crashing after you try to launch it.

Are you in safe mode with networking right now ? If you are not, you should be.

While in safe mode with networking, reinstall Steam in the SAME EXACT path where you previously installed it, overwriting the existing installation. See if that helps.

I suspect you installed in normal boot, and CCleaner or another program got in the way and borked up the installation initially.

STAY in safe mode with networking.

[TheSarge1975]

ok, ill do that now :-)

[TheSarge1975]

Sorry, was way laid, one of my kids was ill and had to take to hospital. I'll get back to you asap

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by TheSarge1975:

Sorry, was way laid, one of my kids was ill and had to take to hospital. I'll get back to you asap

Oh not at all, and I hope all is well with your child. Please, as that is much more important of course.

Reply as you have time. We in the community will be here, and post back to try to help when we can also. Thanks.