Game Crashes Upon Starting

[someguynamedjoe]

I've reinstalled the game three times, and nothing on the official site has any information on it. Every time I try to start the game, it says "Fallout 3 has encountered an error and must close." The screen goes black beforehand, if that helps.

 

I installed it automatically, and have not tried installing it anywhere else. I still get the CTD on startup. I've been using the launcher from the start menu.

 

I don't think it's my video card, because I used to get the video card error until I get a new one (the most expensive one in the shop, and now I can run MMORPGs on High Detail) and I don't get that error anymore. I have over a gig of RAM, too.

 

Any advice?

 

EDIT: Okay, let me update OP.

 

1. Windows XP 2002

2. Radeon 9800 Pro graphics card

3. 1.2 GB of RAM

4. I do NOT have FFDshow installed

5. Retail version of Fallout 3

6. NO mods installed, not even FOMM or FOSE. No DLCs either.

7. Patched to 1.6

8. I have a lot of Hard Drive space left

9. I am running GFWL

10. I uninstalled Roxio.

11. I am running SoundMAX Digital Integrated Audio, though I doubt that's the problem.

 

UPDATE 1:

I have just defragged my computer and cleared registry. I then restarted my computer; nothing. Still getting the CTD, I will try updating .NET

[drews2ndaccount]

I've reinstalled the game three times, and nothing on the official site has any information on it. Every time I try to start the game, it says "Fallout 3 has encountered an error and must close."

 

I installed it automatically, and have not tried installing it anywhere else. Nothing seems to work.

 

I don't think it's my video card, because I used to get the video card error until I get a new one (the most expensive one in the shop, and now I can run MMORPGs on High Detail) and I don't get that error anymore. I have over a gig of RAM, too.

 

Any advice?

Honestly Im having the same problem. I've run across a few other posts around and they stated something about latest updates, but I dl'ed fallout off of steam so im having trouble updateing it. Plz let me know if u have found an answer.

[Gishank]

To be perfectly honest there's not much that can be done to assist you unless you post your system specifications. (Specifically: CPU, GPU (driver version), RAM, Operating System, Version of the Game, Patch version).

 

 

@someguynamedjoe

 

Steam updated Fo3 automatically. You should already have the latest patch;

[someguynamedjoe]

Okay, I tried patching from 1.0.0.15 to 1.5, and it still didn't work.

 

I'm running Windows XP Version 2002, Pentium 2.8 4 CPU Ghz processor, 1 GB of RAM. It's the PC version. My graphics card is a Radeon 9800 Pro.

 

EDIT: Also, it's the retail version.

[VerbalEarthworm]

update to 1.6

 

don't use the Fake or Unofficial Patches, unless they are specifically for 1.6

[someguynamedjoe]

Okay, I have 1.6 and GFWL 2.0, and it's still not working; same problem as last time, though I think it made a little progress. The toolbar at the bottom of the screen was enlarged, which usually happens when I run a game normally (not FO3), but I still got the CTD.

[someguynamedjoe]

Come on, someone has to know how to fix this.

[phoneyLogic]

How did you reinstall the game? You should do it as clean as possible.

 

1. Backup save games and your ArchiveInvalidation.txt file if you use one

2. Uninstall Fallout3 in your System Control (Software)

 

3. There are two Folders left: Game Dir (with your Mods) & My Games folder

-> delete or simply rename the Folders to backup

-> be careful with backed up data and avoid using old *.ini files

 

4. Clean Registry (e.g. by CCleaner or RegCleaner)

5. Reboot your System, to get all Registry changes applied

6. Defrag your Hard Drive

7. Install Fallout3 + the latest GfWL-Client

8. Install Patch 1.6 and you'll be fine

[someguynamedjoe]

Updated the OP. I'll try doing what the guy above says to do.

[phoneyLogic]

Could also help to update MS .net Framework and MS Visual C++ (should easily work by windows update)