Steam Client Bootstrapper is not responding

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fat cat matt May 17, 2014 @ 3:26pm

As the title shows, I am not able to play any games in Steam as it gives me this error and crashes EVERY time I go to my Library, yet it works entirely fine in every other part of Steam.

What am I supposed to do to fix this? Nothing on my PC has ever or is currently experiencing any issues, JUST Steam.

- I have tried uninstalling, deleting all registry keys associated with Valve/Steam, running CCleaner to ensure no remnants left behind and then reinstalling; this has accomplished absolutely nothing.
- Tried running the Windows 'Troubleshoot Compatibility' tool and going with those recommended settings
- Reinstalled GPU drivers
- Deleted everything in the Steam folder other than steam.exe and steamapps so that it is forced to update and install fresh files
- Run the application as administrator

Any other suggestions? I am extremely frustrated and fed up with this and have been googling and attempting 'fixes' for 2 hours, and nothing is working. I am almost at the point of reinstalling Windows but having to do so just to fix one ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ application makes it a very last resort.

Thank you in advance for any further suggestions!

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Showing 1-15 of 148 comments

Dekc May 18, 2014 @ 7:48am

I had this problem for weeks and weeks until I finally just gave up and uninstalled steam and re-installed (most of) my games again. It's been working fine for a week or two but when I went to browse through my games, Steam crashed and the error popped up again.

I know Valve have generally a decent track-record for fixing bugs on steam but from what I've gathered, a ton of people have this issue with no real fix for it - re-installing steam was supposed to sort this out but as I''ve said, this issue's popped up just a couple of weeks afterwards for me.

Anyone know if Valve are looking into this?

luc45 Jun 5, 2014 @ 12:48pm

bump
just after I bought new games and a compendium this bug happens and i can't play... wasted money! -_-

Dustin Jul 14, 2014 @ 12:50am

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3134-TIAL-4638&l=english

PYTHON OF LOVE Sep 3, 2014 @ 10:49am

It is early September 2014 and the problem with the Steam Client freezing is still there. Did the "flush" suggested by Dustin. Issue is when I try to click any of the menu items in the client, it instantly freezes/crashes. I can work around it by going to the taskbar icon and selecting the menu items from there.

_guland_ Sep 9, 2014 @ 2:16am

If any of you are using custom skins on steam, delete the content in the "skins" folder, which is located under the steam install location. then restart steam and the problem should be solved. I had the same problem and this worked for me.

Last edited by _guland_; Sep 9, 2014 @ 2:18am

Bendover1444 Dec 2, 2014 @ 8:45am

Still having this issue... Just downloaded Steam onto my laptop and it won't get past the connecting to account stage. Done many things to resolvle the issue; flushed, re=installed, changed file names etc... but still not working

GhostFace Dec 18, 2014 @ 1:42pm

Originally posted by Beat My Thicket:
Bump again... sure would love to be able to play my dozens of games.

Were you able to resolve? I have the SAME issue. I still have an open ticket with no replies since December 4th. I've done everything on all forums to resolve with no success.

Rene Puente Dec 18, 2014 @ 1:43pm

Still having this issue...

doomslvt Dec 19, 2014 @ 4:35am

Having the same exact issue. Bootstrap Client is not responding. Mine seems to happen more often when I'm on the Downloads page, but also happens in the library. Doesn't happen anywhere else (i.e. Community, Store, etc.). The same thing happens on two different computers with my account so I know it's a problem with Steam and not my graphics card or something. I've spent hundreds of dollars on Steam games. This needs a fix...

hi Dec 19, 2014 @ 4:43am

im trying to buy cs:go in malaysia with the steam wallet money which is RM 20.77 (-33%) but it kept saying "An unexpected error has occurred. Your purchase has not been completed.
Please contact Steam Support." . i already try to restart steam.and also i try to purchase an item from dota 2 also the same result. help :(

#10

fat cat matt Dec 19, 2014 @ 9:16am

Sorry I forgot about this thread, surprised it's still actively being used!

I hate to give a response like this as it won't help anyone, but after battling with it and trying many different things, the problem seemed to have went away on its own a day or two after I made this thread.

If I recall correctly, the bootstrap crash only seemed to happen on a certain 'View' in my Library. I could access all my other tabs, the Store, everything except for my Library. I might be mistaken but I am pretty sure I switched the View in my library to one of the more non-standard views (Grid, maybe?) and it seemed to avoid the crashing. One day I switched it back and I never got the error again.

Seems ridiculous and likely won't help anyone but if you are able to access everything in Steam and it is just your Library causing the client crash, try changing the View you use in it if you can and see what happens.

Good luck everyone!

#11

The Cook Dec 22, 2014 @ 11:06pm

Originally posted by stasekvictor:
Having the same exact issue. Bootstrap Client is not responding. Mine seems to happen more often when I'm on the Downloads page, but also happens in the library. Doesn't happen anywhere else (i.e. Community, Store, etc.). The same thing happens on two different computers with my account so I know it's a problem with Steam and not my graphics card or something. I've spent hundreds of dollars on Steam games. This needs a fix...

I had the boostrapper issue and downloading updates issue on several games.

Go to C:\Program Files\Steam (or the Steam directory that was specified during installation).
Locate ClientRegistry.blob and rename this file to ClientRegistryOld.blob.
Restart Steam to allow the file to be recreated.

For the updates, turns out reading the logs... some files were corrupted
Go to C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\Downloading
(or the Steam directory that was specified during installation).
That's where the update files are located during patching,
erase the content of folder and restart the updates

#12