Fallout 3 crashes on windows 7

Fallout 3 is a hit released by Bethesda over 10 years ago. It is not surprising that the latest OS versions have problems starting. The third part was conceived by developers for Windows XP and Vista. In 2018, almost no one uses these OSs anymore. Fans who updated Windows to version 10 encountered crashes.

The most common problem is a constant crash when loading. The passage time is also very laggy and you won’t be able to get any pleasure. Rare malfunctions include sound errors, broken saves and freezes in textures.

Fixing problems

There are several basic errors that cause the game to crash. The article describes ways to solve them; experts recommend the use of comprehensive measures.

1. Run with admin rights

Many users on the network claim that there is a way to launch a fallout, thanks to administrator rights. You will need:

• Find a shortcut on your desktop/file with the extension exe in the root folder of Fallout.
• Etc. Click the mouse to select “Run as administrator”.

In order not to repeat the algorithm constantly, in the compatibility properties, check the “run as ad-ra” checkbox.

1. Enabling in OS compatibility mode

You are probably unable to enable Fallout 3 due to incompatibility with your operating system.

• Find the program file with the extension ...exe.
• RMB -> open properties -> compatibility.
• Set compatibility with Windows xp.
• Launch Fallout.

1. Changing the file configuration

It turns on, but crashes - you only have to edit a couple of lines.

• In the game folder, find the FALLOUT.ini file.
• Open it in Notepad.
• In “bUseThreadedAI=0” change the value 0 to 1.
• On the next line, enter “iNumHWThreads=2”.
• Save what you write.

1. Games for Windows Live service

Many developers patch their games by decoupling them from the service, but this does not apply to fallout; Bethesda does not change their project. You will have to install GFWL on your PC. The folder contains the program installer (not the pirated version).

• Download the program from the official website.
• Install the file.
• Clean your registry. For example, using free programs (CCleaner).

Methods don't work

Many fans don't get to play. On the Steam forum you will find many reviews crying for help.

If you can't run Fallout 3 on Windows 10:

• Launch the game in windowed mode.
• Change the graphics settings (change to minimum\maximum).
• Change the resolution.

We hope this article solved the problem with Fallout 3 on Windows 10.

Are you trying to play games on a built-in video card from Intel HD? You are lucky, on Nexusmods you will find a lot of mods and a patch that guarantees a stable game launch.

Introduction

This guide is intended for those who are familiar first-hand with the problem of launching Fallout 3 on current versions of Windows, the inability to start the game, and crashes after the main menu. For those who for some reason were not helped by other guides. And for those who are simply tired of looking for a solution to this problem.

A miraculous technique in three simple steps, from your humble servant, a native of Vault 101, PhD in Graphic Sciences. Without picking ini files, dancing with a tambourine under the moon, locking/unlocking processor cores and other tinsel.

• Fresh client Games for Windows - LIVE, build from 11th year (newer ones are not yet available). The stock client that comes with the Steam distribution has long lost its relevance and is not going to be updated. Because of this, problems usually arise with launching many games closely related to this service (hello to the owners of the fourth car theft).
• An alternative library d3d9.dll - for those who were not helped by the one already existing in the English guide. It differs from its competitor 6.1.7600 in size (instead of 1.74 MB, our friend weighs 104 KB) and in that it is shy while others are talking.

Step one

Download, registration on dropbox is optional. Just ignore the login window and click "download". If the link is removed by moderators, please contact me in a personal message.

Step two

Unpack the library file (d3d9.dll) into the game folder. The default path to the root folder is below

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 3

Step three

We install the GFWL client (gfwlivesetup.exe), after unpacking it from the archive. We make sure that the program installs smoothly, without errors, crashes or any accidents. At the end of the installation, it will prompt us to make the first launch, after which we will be thrown to the authorization window on the Windows Live ID network. All we can do is minimize it (without logging in) and forget about its existence. Let's launch Fallout 3 and enjoy.

Finally

If you did everything correctly, I congratulate you. And I present you with an achievement for being able to breathe life into the forgotten Fallout 3 by many!

Russification

Of course, this is not the only problem you may encounter. Namely, there is no Russification in the game, possible freezes/crashes after installing it. I deliberately did not add this point to the guide. I think that this is a personal matter - everyone’s business. The Internet is full of the most varied variants of Russification; sound, text, textures. But as they say, it’s up to your own taste and, of course, at your own risk.

Subscribe, tell your friends about this guide, help others! Peace for everyone!

And if this doesn’t help, then I ask you not to write a ton of comments on this matter, but try to perform another manipulation with the configuration file. Go to My Documents\My Games\Fallout3\ and in Fallout.ini (configuration file), find the line bUseThreadedAI=0. Change its value from 0 to 1. Under the same line enter iNumHWThreads=2

Very often, Fallout 3 does not start on a particular computer. Even if it meets all technical specifications. It's about the game itself. There are several options why Fallout 3 may not work, crash, or not launch. Let's figure out where the reason lies and eliminate it!

Compatibility issues between Fallout 3 and Windows 7, 8, 10

Unfortunately, Fallout 3 and compatibility with modern versions of the operating system are antonyms. The developers didn't bother to make the game work properly even on Windows 7, and it doesn't launch as expected. What to say about newer versions of the OS.

Fallout 3 starts and crashes with an error

Since Fallout 3 is a fairly buggy game, there can be several types of errors during startup. And their reasons often do not overlap at all. Therefore, be prepared that when solving one problem, a second one may appear. Or Fallout 3 won't launch at all for a completely different reason. There are many options.

The application has performed an invalid operation and will be closed

There is a known problem when the game suddenly crashes to the desktop, where the window informs: “The application performed an invalid operation and will be closed. Error code: *****". As a rule, this happens due to a lack of a certain shader package.

Fallout3.exe error... Offset

Appears due to the fact that files with the extension *.spd associated with some other application. And when you try to launch the game, this application begins to process them, which leads to an error. What programs can this be associated with:

1. QuickTimePlayer(more often).
2. Audio/video decoder FFDShow(installed with KLite Codec Pack).

As a result of this association, the files are not available for use with Fallout 3.

Fallout 3 just won't launch

It doesn’t work, that’s all! No errors or problems are shown. But Fallout 3 does not start even after solving all the previous problems. What can be wrong? There are several reasons:

1. The computer does not meet the minimum system requirements.
2. Lack of the latest version of hardware drivers.
3. Old version of DirectX.
4. Lack of .NET Framework and other accompanying software.

The game launch will have to be corrected in accordance with each of these problems. There may be several solutions.

How to solve the problem and launch Fallout without errors?

Now let’s look in detail at how to get rid of this or that error that prevents Fallout 3 from starting.

Running Fallout 3 on Windows 7, 8, 10

So, what you need to do to fix the Fallout 3 compatibility issue with Windows:

1. Go to folder My Documents/MyGames/Fallout3 and find Fallout.ini.
2. Make a backup copy of it in any other folder, and run the original through Notepad.
3. Find string bUseThreadedAI = 0 and change the value to unit.
4. Under the changed line, enter iNumHWThreads = 2 and save changes.
5. Launch the game.

If this method does not help, you can do it simpler: before starting the game, you need to right-click on the game shortcut And select in "Properties" compatible with Windows 2000.

Launching after crashing with an error

If you get the error “The application has performed an illegal operation and will be closed,” you will have to deal with shader packages. You don't have to download anything. Need to:

1. Enter My Documents\My Games\Fallout3 and open the file with Notepad RendererInfo.txt.
2. Find value Shader Package and remember its number.
3. Go to Fallout3\Data\Shaders and find the file corresponding to the number shaderpackage0x.sdp (instead of x - the desired number). If it is not there, find the shader with the number closest to the missing one and copy it.
4. Rename the file and place it in the other folder.

This will force Fallout 3 to perceive the “fake” shader as a real one, and start normally.

In case of error "Fallout3.exe... Offset" it is necessary to deal with problematic programs and files. Important: this can be any program capable of using the permission *.spd.

First, let's deal with QuickTimePlayer, if it is installed. To do this you need:

1. Enter "Conductor".
2. Go to folder Fallout3\Data\Shaders and see what the file icons look like *.spd.
3. If they look similar to the program shortcut, then open QuickTimePlayer.
4. Click on Edit, Preferences.
5. Choose QuickTime preferences, and in this section – File type.
6. Find the line with the checkbox "Streaming/SPD Stream descriptor", which is responsible for using permission *.spd.
7. Remove it and leave.

This applies to any application. You can use the universal option - simply remove the problematic program.

Fallout 3 needs no introduction. This RPG was released a long time ago, but still remains popular. But no matter how old it is, no matter how many patches have been released for it, for many who have just installed it, Fallout 3 crashes. What to do in this case will be discussed in the article.

The most important

If you are using a “pirated” build of the game, crash problems can often be solved with general recommendations, but if the program still catches crash after crash after all the manipulations, it is quite possible that it is worth downloading another repack or using a licensed version.

Check in advance whether your computer meets the minimum system requirements.

Try to update the drivers of all devices, paying special attention to audio and video cards. Install the latest version of DirectX, XLiveRedist and Net Framework. Often, outdated libraries cause Fallout 3 to crash.

Fallout and Asus

If the video card developer is Asus, it is worth checking whether the GamerOSD application is available on the system. Very often this program comes with a video device driver. GamesOSD is useful for broadcasting video over the Internet, but for this it replaces the stable driver with its own. As a result, games that read information about software and hardware before launching do not understand what device is installed in the system, and therefore do not turn on or crash immediately after launch.

Fallout 3 crashes on startup

If the game crashes when you turn it on and does not report an error code, you may need to enable it. Select the shortcut and select “Properties”. Click on the “Compatibility” sign at the top. After this, you can choose between several operating systems. Stick with Windows XP or Windows 2000.

For a game installed on Windows 7, enabling compatibility will not help. You can try installing either a newer version of the game, or removing from its directory all files that begin with d3dx9.

If Fallout 3 still crashes after this, try deleting the “fallout.ini” file, which is stored in the “Documents\My Games\Fallout 3” directory. The program itself will create it when you restart it, but will make new settings suitable for the system.

Crashes may be caused by incorrect loading order of libraries. To solve the problem, simply disable all add-ons in the Fallout 3 launcher or edit the list stored in the “fallout3.ini” document. At the same time, correct it so that the game libraries come first, not the modifications. Fallout Mod Manager can also be used for this operation.

If after disabling the mods the game still starts, try turning them on one at a time. This way you can find out which add-on is causing the crash.

Crash when trying to start the game

It often happens that the game loads, but when you press any button, the loading screen does not appear, Fallout 3 crashes, and a new game does not start. In this case, after the crash, the system message “The program performed an illegal operation” appears. There are quite a few reasons for this behavior. Check if all shader files exist. In Explorer, follow the path “My Documents\My Games\Fallout3\RendererInfo”, find the line “Shader Pckage” and remember the number that is written next to it. Then open the “Fallout3\Data\Shaders” directory and check if the “shaderpackage0[digit].spd” archive exists in it. If not, create a copy of any other archive from this directory and rename it to “shaderpackage0[digit].sdp”.

It is possible that the video card does not support the resolution in which the game is trying to run. Empty the Documents\My Games\Fallout 3 directory. Leave only the "Saves" folder if saved games are important to you. Now launch the game and go to the launcher settings. Uncheck the “Show all resolutions” checkbox and set one of the standard sizes.

If Fallout 3 crashes, Windows 7 also displays a window with the error “Instruction X accessed memory at address Y. The memory cannot be read,” you may need to configure DEP. Click on the “Start” button and go to “Control Panel”. In it, find the “System” item and in its submenu, click on “Performance”. On the “Data Execution Prevention” tab, configure the use of DEP with the exception of “fallout3.exe” (this file is located in the root of the directory where the game is installed).

Fallout 3 crashes with the error “...d3dx9_38.dll not found”? Update your DirectX package. For a game installed on Windows 7, download the library specified in the error and move it to the game directory. Look for the file on the Internet; the native library from the system folder will not work.

When starting the game, it crashes with the error “...xlive.dll not found.” Simply update the XLiveRedist package or install it if it is not already installed.

Intermittent problems

If Fallout 3 crashes intermittently, allowing you to enjoy the game for a while, try ending any applications that may be causing pop-ups or messages. Do not turn off antivirus software; such software has quiet modes that are used specifically for running full-screen applications.

Whatever code the game returns when it crashes, always install the latest patches for it, and it is advisable to use only the latest version of Fallout 3. This measure can solve many problems, but you can’t get rid of them all with any tricks - the engine on which the game is created is not is considered the most stable, and therefore the answer to the question “Why does Fallout 3 crash?” may not always be found.

The game starts, but the screen is filled with pink

Your system must have two video cards installed in CrossFire or SLI mode. Replace the bridge connecting the devices with a high-quality one.

Try reinstalling the game, because this problem appears when the “Textures.bsa” archive is damaged. If reinstallation does not help, check your hard drive for bad sectors. To do this, right-click on the section icon and open properties. Going to the “Service” tab, click the “Run check” button. After checking, reinstall Fallout 3 again.

Computer games, unfortunately, are not ideal programs. They are also characterized by certain whims in certain cases. Even if you buy a licensed copy of, for example, Fallout 3, there is no 100% guarantee that you will be able to run this project without problems. Naturally, the likelihood of their occurrence becomes much lower than if you were using a pirated version, but here the cause may already be your hardware, as well as the configuration and settings of your system. In general, if Fallout 3 does not start for you even from a licensed disc, then you should go through some popular points that allow you to solve this problem quickly and painlessly.

System requirements

Very often people forget that their computer was new and cutting-edge five years ago, and now it is average, if not completely bad. And if Fallout 3 doesn’t start for you, don’t immediately blame the game or the developers. The problem may be with your computer. In order to find out the real reason, you need to go to the developer’s website and find the official system requirements for the game there. After this, you can either manually or using a special program that collects data about your hardware and its configuration. Then compare the requirements and available data point by point, paying special attention to the processor, RAM and video card. And if for any of these points your computer turns out to be weaker than the minimum system requirements, the issue is resolved. It's just that your computer is not powerful enough for you to play this RPG, so Fallout 3 won't start for you. The only way out here is an upgrade that will allow you to play not only Fallout 3, but also other modern games.

Video card driver updates

A video card, or more precisely, its drivers, is very often a headache for any gamer. It's possible that your copy of Fallout 3 won't start because your drivers are out of date. Even if you only recently updated them, it is better for you to go to the website of the manufacturer of your video card, find it in the list and check that the drivers are up to date. It is likely that there is a new version that you should download and install in order to run Fallout 3. Naturally, this is not a 100% guarantee of solving the problem, so you should know about other methods. In most cases, you don't need to know why Fallout 3 won't start - it will be easier to follow the instructions and understand exactly how, rather than persistently looking for its reasons.

Windows 2000 compatible

spd file association

Another solution to this problem is the following: you will need to remove spd. Such files are found in the game folder, but on many computers they are already associated with some program that can play them. In some cases, this blocks these files in the game itself, so it crashes already in the first stages of launch. To get rid of this problem, you need to disable the association of spd files with the program to which they are attached - most often this is, for example, QuickTime Player. This is done quite easily through the control panel, after which the game should work as it should.

Distribution

Installing various distribution applications can also help with Fallout 3, as well as with other computer games. Gone are the days when installing a game consisted solely of unpacking the archive or running the installer. In addition to the game itself, you also need to install a distribution kit - special programs that are designed to support the operation of the game itself. Without them, Fallout 3 will be glitchy or won't launch at all. Therefore, you need to find installers for all modern popular distributions, such as DirectX, VCRedist, Visual C++, net.Framework, and so on, install the latest versions on your computer, and you will notice how many games will start to function much better, and those that do not work at all did not start, they will work quietly and will not bother you anymore. Thus, the distribution can solve many of your problems, and not just the issue of running Fallout 3. Naturally, there is a possibility that this solution will not help either. Then you should contact technical support so that your issue can be resolved privately.