Windows 8.1 Fallout 3 Crash

[SamuraiWarmonger]

Ok, i just recently upgraded to windows 8.1, and when i tried to play FO3 today it just crashes before the start up menu even loads.

 

If there is anyone who has experience with windows 8.1 and getting it to work with FO3, that would be nice.

 

 

[Billy1969]

Hi,

 

I just noticed this thread so I will add to this one instead of creating my own one as I am likely to encounter the same problem and a few others.

 

Currently I am running Windows 7 32 bit with PAE patch enabled and I am going to upgrade to Windows 8.1 64 bit over the course of next weekend or soon thereafter. Since I'm going to upgrade from 32bit to 64bit a clean install from the OS is the only option for me.

 

So this is my plan : I have 3 physical hard disks : Drive 1 has a primary partition C: with Windows 7 on it and the directory program files which contains my anti-virus and business applications. On the same HDD is a secondary partition D: which contains all my game data, the second HDD contains backups and the third one is a small one that I use for emergency recovery only, it contains all system and hardware drivers.

 

 

- download all 64 bit drivers for my hardware and put them ready for installation on my third HDD (the recovery one)

- backup my c: partition entirely to my backup HDD in a system image then install Win 8.1 64 bit and let it clean install itself on the c: partition, it will format it and install itself there. Once that is done, I reinstall all my drivers from the recovery HDD, then my security software and program files and then restore the personalised settings from my backuped old c: partition

 

Now, should I also backup my d: partition which contains all my game files or not? I didn't find anywhere on the net if the 64 bit install will wipe that one also since it's on the same physical disk?

Am I forgetting or missing something obvious?

And finally same question as poster before me: what should be done to make fallout 3 run on Windows 8.1 other than what makes it run perfectly on Windows 7? Thanks for all possible advice and help!

[Billy1969]

All right, I made the upgrade from win 7 32-bit to Win 8.1 64bit and I got Fallout 3 to run, well sort of...

 

Sometimes it starts 10 times in a row no problem, sometimes it refuses 10 times in a row lol, fose enabled or not so I can rule that out, UAC enabled or not, so I can rule that out also, so it's the fallout3.exe (patched with the 4gb patch) that crashes sometimes. I remember having had the same problem in Win 7 a loooong time ago and of course I forgot how I fixed it there, so I'm still tweaking/searching/monitoring.

 

All my savegames are still working, my ENB loads ok, my mods load ok, I even got wrye bash and FO3Edit to work also but the GECK doesn't work yet so I guess I'll have to reinstall that one, I just tried running it from within my backup without properly running it's setup so it could be that, I'll have to check that.

 

Fallout 3 itself I reinstalled properly (Win 8.1 complaining it was not compatible when launching setup, but hey who cares lol) and then updated with my backup from the fallout 3 folder I had in Windows 7. And as I wrote it works 1 out of 2 times, I just have to wait sometimes before the program finally wants or is able to run... To be able to run it at all I had to set "run as an administrator" to the fallout3.exe, fakefulscreen.exe and the fose_loader.exe files, also prior to restoring my backup I had the fallout3launcher.exe rebuild my fallout.ini and falloutprefs.ini from scratch and then I overwrote them with my backuped copies also, oh yeah and install it not in the program files(x86) folder as the setup program suggested but somewhere else but you had to do that also to be able to run it in Windows 7 so no change there.

 

If I find out what's the cause of Fallout only starting when it wants to instead of always I'll come back and update this post :smile:

Edited April 30, 2014 by Billy1969

[Purr4me]

 

All right, I made the upgrade from win 7 32-bit to Win 8.1 64bit and I got Fallout 3 to run, well sort of...
Sometimes it starts 10 times in a row no problem, sometimes it refuses 10 times in a row lol, fose enabled or not so I can rule that out, UAC enabled or not, so I can rule that out also, so it's the fallout3.exe (patched with the 4gb patch) that crashes sometimes. I remember having had the same problem in Win 7 a loooong time ago and of course I forgot how I fixed it there, so I'm still tweaking/searching/monitoring.
All my savegames are still working, my ENB loads ok, my mods load ok, I even got wrye bash and FO3Edit to work also but the GECK doesn't work yet so I guess I'll have to reinstall that one, I just tried running it from within my backup without properly running it's setup so it could be that, I'll have to check that.
Fallout 3 itself I reinstalled properly (Win 8.1 complaining it was not compatible when launching setup, but hey who cares lol) and then updated with my backup from the fallout 3 folder I had in Windows 7. And as I wrote it works 1 out of 2 times, I just have to wait sometimes before the program finally wants or is able to run... To be able to run it at all I had to set "run as an administrator" to the fallout3.exe, fakefulscreen.exe and the fose_loader.exe files, also prior to restoring my backup I had the fallout3launcher.exe rebuild my fallout.ini and falloutprefs.ini from scratch and then I overwrote them with my backuped copies also, oh yeah and install it not in the program files(x86) folder as the setup program suggested but somewhere else but you had to do that also to be able to run it in Windows 7 so no change there.
If I find out what's the cause of Fallout only starting when it wants to instead of always I'll come back and update this post :smile:

 

 

Do you own a stop watch? I ask because this time, if I show you something, I want it to stick.

I need to know how much time it requires for your massive load to land in game from the instant you click the button to run the game.

 

64 bit operating systems use 32bit Emulation so your game will run, that means it uses a 32bit kernel for it, a 64bit kernel will not run 32bit.

should you have any doubt, try a 64bit linux OS. there is no 32bit emulation there, you must use wine.

let me know, and I'll tell how to fix it.

kitty

[donnyducky]

I recently upgraded to 8.1 myself and Fallout 3 works fine but it broke the GECK. at any rate, something i've done that may help the OP is I went into the Fallout 3 folder (not the data folder) and sorted all the files by 'Type', getting the Application files to sort to the top. Then I went through each of the Application files one by one, right clicked it, selected properties, selected the Compatabilities tab, then checked the box "Run this program as an Administrator". I don''t know if this will help you or not, but it might.

[datacrotchoblivion55]

I am directing this comment to "purrforme" sorry if I spelled it wrong! so I just started a few months ago playing skyrim and then about a month ago fallout new vegas. new to modding and computer lingo and all things that have to do with modding but modding is the whole reason I bought a computer to play games on. Anywho I saw your posts on the nexus I think it was into the breach you seem to know your s---t!! so here goes ,I installed GECK for FONV first and I took me quite awhile to get I working but the fallout 3 version I quite the beast!!!!!! I click the installer and it goes through the process and then asks for me to click the finish button. when I click the finish button that is all that happens and I am back to square one again. before I go any further my computers OS is windowe 8.1 and It is a beast to get anything like FO3 to work on it,of course you already know this. I had to get windows live to get FO3 to work and a couple of other things . I am just a little bit familiar with GECK in FONV I know you probably think I am stupid and you would be right I just thought I should tell you what was happeninig and a little bit of my background. I want to say that I appreciate someone with your expertise sharing the knowledge you have with all of us so we can learn and are enabled to play these wonderful game however imperfect they are. thank you

[Purr4me]

I am directing this comment to "purrforme" sorry if I spelled it wrong! so I just started a few months ago playing skyrim and then about a month ago fallout new vegas. new to modding and computer lingo and all things that have to do with modding but modding is the whole reason I bought a computer to play games on. Anywho I saw your posts on the nexus I think it was into the breach you seem to know your s---t!! so here goes ,I installed GECK for FONV first and I took me quite awhile to get I working but the fallout 3 version I quite the beast!!!!!! I click the installer and it goes through the process and then asks for me to click the finish button. when I click the finish button that is all that happens and I am back to square one again. before I go any further my computers OS is windows 8.1 EDIT: <---What version ? 32bit or 64? where is the game located /installed @........ and It is a beast to get anything like FO3 to work on it,of course you already know this. I had to get windows live to get FO3 to work and a couple of other things . I am just a little bit familiar with GECK in FONV I know you probably think I am stupid and you would be right I just thought I should tell you what was happeninig and a little bit of my background. I want to say that I appreciate someone with your expertise sharing the knowledge you have with all of us so we can learn and are enabled to play these wonderful game however imperfect they are. thank you

Windows 8.1 64 bit will not allow the older .net software to install correctly, it does install some parts that are missing but does not allow any overwrites.

Thus, check in the OS system program installed area, in the control panel section for any listing of .NET, the (x86) visual basic gets installed, but the outdated Obsoleted data will not install from the game setup, these things require additional input on the users side.

 

32bit systems require one less step but still require attention.....as in xlive controls to a newer system does.

Depending on your PC's HARDWARE too...may be hindering things...AKA lintel chip sets ? The mother boards equipment.

 

The game launcher...what does it do?

Does it load?

Does it show any greyed out items?<---If so, post a screen shot of that...screen shots...keyboard print screen key ,paintbrush / ctrl + v.

 

save as jpg upload it some where and link it in or just post it. Even I need to see some sort of visual aid..it saves time.

 

kitty B.

[datacrotchoblivion55]

purr4me, thank you for the input! I am not really familiar with computers or the OS obviously and know very little about where to find things that explain my hardware. thanks to the internet managed to piece together some info that you asked for. there is no problem when I load my game ,the game works as far as the load screen and getting it going. searched through my control panel and x86 program files and found some info here is what was in the control panel: no .NET files only Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable x64 and x86 from 2005,2008,2010,2012,2013. In my programs x86 files there was a Microsoft.NET folder and in it there was a folder named "RedistList" and inside that folder were two XML documents one named "AsseblyList_4_client" and the other named "AsseblyList _4_exstended". As far as I can tell my processor is a AMD A6-6400k APU with Radeon HD Graphics 3.90 GHz , 8GB Ram x64bit OS, x64 based processor. like I said I am not very computer savy! I fogot to mention that there were a couple of other things in the control panel, two in fact Games for Windows Live and Games for Windows Market place.

[Purr4me]

are you bouncing between installed games?

to each game ...Unlike a load order to put it into a surmised way you might connect with...last software installed has precedence over what data is used, and version of it.

 

Fallout New Vegas is not the same as fallout 3, it FNV is an updated revised setup, installs different Direct-x data, visual-basic data and alike.

windows 8.1...defaults to a newer DX version, the OS will fight you about what goes in and what gets used.

 

so it's really important I understand what game was installed last, what software is current here. The post lay'd out "Fo3 was installed and is currently last installed, the data in the setup logs, menu items in the control panel show both versions of x live.

 

Both of these are 32bit, but there is a version 64bit too.....which version of x-live was installed?

 

My signature takes you only to the source, from there , it's up to the user as to preferences ...what to install.

IF you mix and match software, there is a possibility of messing ...mixing up data and confusing not only the game software, but us as well.

 

Fo3 is a silly simple game. methods of installing it known to us can remove obsoleted factors from getting installed before hand, but the first install of any of it, bares meaning as to what runs.

 

The desktop...the screens (over lay) is where things lie. Steam rules the system, If the game is digital download ? then steam is in control, not just the game. If it is retail...Plastic disc's ? it's very important i know what was installed onto that PC. Here is why....

Fallout retail the second disc will install a horrible DRM data control software...and it does not care about the bit factor....it over rides all data.

 

it really makes one's day, not in a nice way. I always find this bug..eventually it shows up. you have no idea what's installed ...do you?

So let's dispence with all of this and find out, allow me to give you the power to see things first hand.

fallout3 is lod, so we are gonna use old methods to see whats installed on somethiong new and use new /update old things to do it.

Download, install and update this software here. (http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html)

when you have all things updated and verified are up to date, save an html to your document folder, go to it and right click it and zip it up, send that to me VIA PM, a link to a shared ...upload copy of the print out ,DO NOT post that data here.

 

I can open it here in my browser and see what's installed, versions ,dates, times ,and some time where, any thing missing, out of place ,most of the things that have no meaning to you I need to know. This document is to kept private, it's all your personal installed software, and licensing data. you keep it private. I am asking you up front here so you and any one knows this.

 

keep it that way, I'll be responsible for it. I only need to clarify what's installed and how. IF the steam overlay is in control, know that it was updated...some things about the updates I will not post here. But I need to know what's going on.

 

it's simple for me. not too important for any one else. I need to see where the car is going to be going, what roads are available for it, so you need to provide me with that map of the country side it will be using.

How I drive the car is not as important as to where I drive it too or at what speed.

 

simple install fo3, disc one installed to any place other than Program files and folders. preferred off C:\ say like D:\,E:\ etc....

the second disc, the data once installed, needs to be backed up..because you will need to do this later any way's if it is retail.

 

If you had the 32bit system? things would change in order...it's proper order.

the desktop...uses a driver for the display, radon graphics..is where all of the-important compatible data comes from for that operating system and the game. it may be incompatible....there are facts to support this but it is there.

 

Game gets installed, a launcher opens up the sequence of events ,IF the game and all it's associated compatible software is installed and in the correct order, the game runs flat out and smooth. During game play, certain things are not allowed to be displayed, refused to render? this is x-live involved controls. regardless of what is believed ,xlive needs to be updated and able to be accessed by the OS and game engine for that display ,"STEAM" takes care of all of this and makes any thing I post. "obsolete"

 

If it is retail, then there is a software fight taking place, unknown to you. important I understand what's going on especially if you have no skill sets.... I'll provide you with needed data to obtain those skills, and fast.

 

If all of this is a waste of time? for go any further posts here.

Edited January 29, 2015 by Purr4me

[Purr4me]

Just so you know, I am familiar with the chip set you use:

http://s26.postimg.org/fya3uhz7t/My_system.jpg

This is my current loaded hard drive and OS, notice the graphics here? that is a TV set, High resolution unit set on Super-VGA mode.

the software packages needed to render fallout 3 in this mode are not the same as for HDMI mode for this TV set, OS and game.

 

compatibility issues are in abundance here, verified ...tried and true. I know about graphics. This is a a cheap TV set, one i know most have purchased to fit the budget, a low end unit.

 

now if need be I can provide support for windows 10 both versions if required. NOTE: I fall on 32bit as it leave me with the greatest amount of least hassle with gaming systems.

I can afford this, many can not.