Share via

Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit) - Steam Games will not launch, except TeamFortress 2...

Anonymous
2011-01-02T02:58:53+00:00

Hello,

For quite a while now my Steam games have not launched, a "Preparing to launch..." window is shown for a few seconds, and I see the game appear in the task managed briefly, but then it dissapears and nothing happens.

I have contacted Steam Support and got the following:

Thank you for contacting Steam Support.

Please exit Steam and go to the folder called C:\Program Files\Steam\ (this is the default location for a Steam installation - if you set a different installation directory, you will need to browse to it).

Delete all of the files in this folder except:

The \Steamapps\ folder and Steam.exe (this file is listed as an application and features the black and white Steam logo)

Restart your computer.

Then, launch Steam.exe from within the Steam installation folder, and not from a pre-existing shortcut.

With Steam running, re-test the original issue.

Note: This process will not affect your currently installed games.

If the issue persists, make sure your network is optimized for Steam:

Title: Troubleshooting Network Connectivity

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

This however did nothing, and after I told them, they asked for an MSINFO32 report, so I sent them it, and the following reply came:

A Windows feature called WMI may not be functioning correctly.

Click the Start Button > All Programs > Accessories

Right Click on the Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator"

Type this command and press Enter:

net stop winmgmt

Minimize the command prompt.

Open 'My Computer' and browse to the following location:

C:\Windows\System32\Wbem\

Locate the folder "Repository" and rename it to "Repository_Old"

Now, bring up the command prompt once more and type:

net start winmgmt

Then, close the window and click Start > Run, type in the command for your OS *exactly* as written (You can also Copy/Paste the command)

Windows XP:

rundll32 wbemupgd, UpgradeRepository

Windows Vista & Windows 7:

winmgmt /salvagerepository

Restart your computer and re-test the issue.

More information on repairing WMI can be found here:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/repairwmi.htm

This also did nothing, and after telling them I still had a problem, they said they couldnt fix it, and to contact Microsoft support...

My drivers and OS are all upto date, so does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

Chris.

Ps - Would prefer to avoid reinstalling OS if possible!

Windows for home | Other | Gaming

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

  1. Anonymous
    2011-01-02T18:19:39+00:00

    Hi, 

    I would suggest you to follow these steps and check if it helps.

    Method 1:

    First check if the game is compatible with Windows 7, here is the link to check compatibility:

    http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/

    Method 2:

    If the game is compatible with Windows 7, then try running it as administrator and check, right click on .exe file and click on run as administrator.

    If this doesn’t help, then try uninstalling the game and reinstalling it and check if it helps.

    If the game is not compatible with Windows 7, then try running the game in compatibility mode and check if it helps, here is the link:

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Make-older-programs-run-in-this-version-of-Windows 

    I would also suggest you to go through the troubleshooting steps on steam's website as well:

    https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=5688-IFHZ-2170Azam – Microsoft Support.

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and, if you have any feedback you can post here.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

2 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-05-05T18:51:40+00:00

    I am having the same exact problem on our computer with the games I bought my son from steam : Terraria (please launch from steam client error) and Turbo Dismount (doesn't get past the secret exit loading screen).  It has been months trying to get these games to work, Steam support sends me an automated message to my support ticket after 5 days and it is always the same then they dump me off to the game Mfg.  but the problem isn't any particular game it is STEAM.  I have been going back and forth with someone trying to help from Secret Exit after sending the log files something is stopping steam from initializing they suggested in the last correspondences it could be a parental setting or windows security setting.  I don't have any controls set up that would be affecting this.  I have everything turned off that is not related to windows at start-up and the firewall is turned off when trying to launch.  Which settings could affect this does anyone know?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2012-10-07T18:30:21+00:00

    This is basically the same thing that has been said before, and still has not fixed the problem we are having. None of my steam games will work on my newer computer running win 7 64 bit. Fallout New Vegas, Dawn of war II. and Borderlands 1 all refuse to start after the preparing to launch screen shows.  Getting support for this issue has been nothing but pure frustration. Ive gotten to the point where I will no longer buy steam games. They have no fix, microsoft doesnt know what to do about it. No one does.

    0 comments