Steam doesn't start

[r1ff1]

Hello everyone! I wanted to open my Steam. But as soon as it appears to be downloading the updates, the message “Fatal Error - Failed to load steamui.dll” appears. I completely deleted Steam once and then re-downloaded it. But the same thing happens: it supposedly checks for updates after three to four attempts and nothing happens again...

Has anyone of you had experience with this and could help me?
Thanks in advance :)

[Phénomènes Mystiques]

Use SFC (System File Checker) Tool:

Windows Key + X + A (Win10)

Windows Key + X + Windows Terminal (Admin)


Copy/Paste this below:

sfc /scannow


If SFC finds file corruptions and fixes them, restart the PC.


→ If SFC finds corruptions but cannot fix the issues, proceed to the next phase of the fix below.


In Windows PowerShell/Windows Terminal (Admin) - from the above process, proceed to copy/paste this next command line to run DISM (Microsoft Windows Deployment Image Servicing and Management):

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth


After this completes, run SFC again to confirm that it fixed SFC corruptions.

If SFC fails again, restart the PC and attempt to run SFC one more time.

If SFC finally runs and fixes corruptions, restart the PC and hopefully the issue is resolved.


If SFC fails this third time (after DISM and PC restart), you have to seek the guidance of the Windows Event Viewer.

[Eziah21]

I have the same problem, but now after finishing update, steam causes BSOD... I trying SFC scan, 1st time find something and fix it, but now can't find anything. I trying reinstal steam again but is still not working. One time i got 0xc0000005 error, but only one time...

[Phénomènes Mystiques]

Postat inițial de Eziah21:

I have the same problem, but now after finishing update, steam causes BSOD... I trying SFC scan, 1st time find something and fix it, but now can't find anything. I trying reinstal steam again but is still not working. One time i got 0xc0000005 error, but only one time...

Look in Task Manager and see if any Steam Processes are running. If so, stop them all.

If not, look in "Startup tab" and see if you see any blank program file icons.

If you see (a) blank icon(s), this could very well be the culprit.


If not, proceed to delete this harmless file in location:

Steam\userdata\118693378\config\librarycache

achievement_progress.json


This has been a good "fix all" lately.

All it collects is completed achievements and logs them; however, some users, like myself, have found that it is bugged and redundant to even any achievement progress, including but not limited to; tallying and unlocking achievement data.

The deleted file will be recreated by the Steam Client.

I have not tested if the Steam Client should be running or not while performing this deletion process, but I say tis best to not have the client running while deleting this .json file.

[Eziah21]

Thanks for Your response. In task manager everything is fine, i got 3 blank programs, so i off it, and restart pc. Still not working for me.

I looking for achievement_progress.json, but there is no file like that on my whole pc. Searching in steam installation location, my documents, even in appdata. I don't have even userdata folder in that locastions... Maby because i reinstall steam? Idk

When i start steam, i see small window with "loading bar", got unpacking, instalation, clearing, window disappear and after 2 sec i got Blue Screen... Everything works fine on my pc i even try start games from other platforms, everything working. But steam no.

[Phénomènes Mystiques]

Postat inițial de Eziah21:

Thanks for Your response. In task manager everything is fine, i got 3 blank programs, so i off it, and restart pc. Still not working for me.

I looking for achievement_progress.json, but there is no file like that on my whole pc. Searching in steam installation location, my documents, even in appdata. I don't have even userdata folder in that locastions... Maby because i reinstall steam? Idk

When i start steam, i see small window with "loading bar", got unpacking, instalation, clearing, window disappear and after 2 sec i got Blue Screen... Everything works fine on my pc i even try start games from other platforms, everything working. But steam no.

This might get a bit confusing, but I will try here.

In Task Manager (ctrl + shift + esc) go to "Startup tab" and at the top where it says "Name, Publisher, Status" → Right-click any of those headers and check "Command Line".

Go to those blank programs below and see what they are connected to (specific programs) and report them back to me.

[Satoru]

Likely your anti virus is killing the dll

[Eziah21]

Autodesk\genuine Service\x64\genuineservice.exe
I know this, its for programs like autocad (from my study)

Wibukey\serwer\MkSvmgr.exe
Idk what it this

FAHClient\FAHClient.exe
Its from folding at home, deleted after covid

[Eziah21]

Postat inițial de Satoru:

Likely your anti virus is killing the dll

I think about this ealier, but no, without antivirus still got BSOD

[Phénomènes Mystiques]

Postat inițial de Eziah21:

Autodesk\genuine Service\x64\genuineservice.exe
I know this, its for programs like autocad (from my study)

Wibukey\serwer\MkSvmgr.exe
Idk what it this

FAHClient\FAHClient.exe
Its from folding at home, deleted after covid

Possibly not even blank, I was hoping to see Steam Client on the list.

But if that one program is deleted, it could be a culprit.

You can follow this guide to remove it as this is a known glitch and also affects Steam:

https://technoresult.com/remove-unknown-app-program-from-the-startup-in-task-manager

The theory being that at Startup, the PC is erroring that one deleted registry key causing BSoD or clashing programs spinning in loops.

This has happened to me in the past with a blank startup program icons for MS Teams and Steam Client causing weird issues such as BSoD.

So hopefully that is the reason behind the issues you are having.


[Revised Thoughts:]

If you have more than one disk drive, you can also attempt to install Steam Client on another drive and launch that one to check if the error is the installation itself, if applicable.

If Steam Client did run, then it is a clashing of some type such as above.

If Steam Client did not start up (as it does now) then it would be your system - but never panic because this is why we troubleshoot.

[Moth Master]

Are there any negative consequences from deleting the achievement_progress.json file? The name of the file makes me hesitant to delete it, but I'm at a point where earning an achievement crashes Steam and I can't even look at the library page.

[Phénomènes Mystiques]

Postat inițial de Moth Master:

Are there any negative consequences from deleting the achievement_progress.json file? The name of the file makes me hesitant to delete it, but I'm at a point where earning an achievement crashes Steam and I can't even look at the library page.

It does nothing but record completed achievements which to me makes no sense as it is logged elsewhere for achievement purposes.

Personally, I made an executable program to self recycle the file at will.