Crash to desktop?

[throdgrain]

Sometime about the time the MW2 came out, my games suddenly have started crashing to desktop mid game. Completely random, it seems to be just Steam games. though thats difficult to test as I dont think I have any installed that arnt Steam games.

So. I've deleted client blob (std steam fix) no good, and I've installed new video drivers. No change.

I'd try checking on the Steam website but I'm at work and websense thinks it's something bad apparently ...

Anyone else had this?

Cheers

 

[throdgrain]

Note, looking at OCUK it appears that L4D2 might be the problem. I installed both the same day ....

 

[MYstIC G]

Right click L4D and go through the properties & get it to check the install (Verify integrity of game cache).

I had similar crashes (not to desktop, refusing to connect to any server) and this checked, found errors, replaced and it's been fine ever since.

 

[throdgrain]

Thanks for the suggestion Meg, Im planning on doing that when I got home. I'd done it on MW2, because that was what I thought the problem was

Since coming to work I've read the problem was L4D2! It's odd though ,because the CTD effects all games, not just one

 

[soze]

Did MW2 install or update your DirectX install if so could be worth giving that a reinstall.

 

[throdgrain]

Not a bad idea either, thanks

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

steam updates/notifications can cause this mate

 

[throdgrain]

Cheers Brooky

I popped home today for lunch and verifyed L4D2, and there were 2 files missing, I've not had chance to test it yet but hopefully this will be the answer!

 

[throdgrain]

All files validated, all tested, exactly the same :/

 

[MYstIC G]

Try it on your other titles mate, then try and force a steam client update.

 

[kirennia]

All files validated, all tested, exactly the same :/

After doing verification, finding the 2 files missing and the steam client redownloading them, did you perform verification checks again? I ask because I had a horrible issue when L4D2 came out and despite the browser saying they had been fixed, everytime I checked, the files were still corrupted; cue endless loop.

 

[throdgrain]

That's exactly what I'm getting on MW2, though L4D2 is now ok it seems.

 

[throdgrain]

Actually, just done it again and it says it's fine. However if it updates every time you play on Steam, maybe its referring to that?

 

[kirennia]

Unless it's a specific validation error, i.e. validation says it has completes then fails again immediately after, I'm guessing it's a different bug Mine was caused by the program attempting to access a folder which it didn't have permissions for. The result was that any friendly fire whatsoever crashed the game immediately to the desktop...


All I can really suggest then is to go onto the forums specific to the game and check to see if it's a common error... and hope it is.

edit: That said, if it's an error caused by an access violation, this should pick up where it occurs from.

(ripped from steam forums)

1) Goto http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx and download Procmon.
2) Start Procmon as administrator.
3) Goto filter menu -> filter...
4) In the drop down pick "Process Name" and type in "(INSERT NAME OF THE GAMES .EXE FILE HERE)" then hit the Add button.
5) In the drop down pick "Result"" and type in ACCESS DENIED then hit the Add button.
6) Click Ok then leave Procmon open and goto Steam.
7) Run the game until it crashes.
8) After you crash go back and read procmon to see if it gave you any info.

What you are looking for is in the last entry hopefully. Look at the "Path" column and post what it says here.

 

[Bahumat]

There is talk atm that AVG9 causes your game to ALT+TAB. The game does not crash, but you simply go onto the desktop.

 

[TdC]

I'm running that, but no alt-tabbing atm. On the other hand, after I dl'd the DLC for Dragon Age the game has started to crash :/ Verifying the files clears it up...until the next crash

 

[Bahumat]

I'm running that, but no alt-tabbing atm. On the other hand, after I dl'd the DLC for Dragon Age the game has started to crash :/ Verifying the files clears it up...until the next crash

Ah I have not had that, but I only have L4D2 demo (heard L4D2 has been causing crash issues).

Mine literally alt+tabs onto desktop. I can click on the minimised link and i go straight back in game. No crashing etc.

 

[throdgrain]

Yep it was AVG 9. I've just uninstalled it, played for a hour, no crashes.

Anyone got a good free alternative ?

Bauhamat - cheers mate, I found out just the same time you was posting I suspect

 

[nath]

Throd, Microsoft Security Essentials. Free, low profile, decent.

 

[Bahumat]

Yep it was AVG 9. I've just uninstalled it, played for a hour, no crashes.

Anyone got a good free alternative ?

Bauhamat - cheers mate, I found out just the same time you was posting I suspect

haha no worries
I have a cracked version of Vista so I am using Avast. I thought the Microsoft Security Essentials may cause me some trouble lol

 

[throdgrain]

Throd, Microsoft Security Essentials. Free, low profile, decent.

Cheers mate

 

[TdC]

tbh after a crash and two BSODs while playing DA:O, I reinstalled my directX, and not with the dx web thing, but with the _full dl, and since then it worked fine.

some proggies try to install their own dx shizzle over your original install, which sucks.

 

[throdgrain]

I completely removed AVG, then reinstalled, no further problems yay