Steam causes Windows to soft-lock upon launch, Support doesn't care to help
Whenever I launch Steam, it causes all running processes to slowly stop responding, and then I cannot start or end any new processes even with task manager. Meaning, when I double-click programs, nothing happens. Any programs I have running will slowly stop responding. I cannot start any new programs or terminate existing ones. Command prompt ceases to function properly. Task manager shows minimal resource usage, and the Steam window does not show up. Nothing strange in Event Viewer. The only way to fix it is to hold down my power button and hard reset the computer. This issue has never come up before and is only caused by the Steam client. Otherwise my computer works wonderfully. I uninstalled/reinstalled Steam. Didn't fix anything. I am not going to reinstall Windows as that is a pain and if it fixes it at all, is probably a band-aid fix and I suspect the symptoms will return in a few weeks.
I submitted a support request which appears to have just been read by ChatGPT and automatically closed because somehow a computer issue that is only caused by running Steam was flagged by them as not a Steam issue. I copied and pasted all of that below. Come on guys, that's sucky customer service. Any tips on how to fix this, since Steam clearly doesn't care to help me? First, I disabled my iGPU as someone on Reddit suggested. Fixed the issue for a few weeks and now it is back.



COPIED/PASTED STEAM SUPPORT TICKET
"Message from you on Nov 30 @ 7:07pm | 1 day and 19 hours ago
Steam softlocks Windows upon attempting to launch Steam or any Steam game. Initially I was able to fix this by turning off my iGPU in BIOS, but now a few weeks later the issue is back. I reinstalled Steam and that fixed nothing. Annoyingly, the uninstalled wiped all of my games off of my C drive as well as my install so if I ever get it working I'll have to reinstall everything anyway. No other programs have any sort of issues on this computer. My symptoms are the exact same as in these Reddits posts here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/WindowsHelp/comments/1ecl56y/steam_keeps_freezing_my_pc_please_help/
https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/1bevw0a/steam_freezes_my_pc_any_suggestions_welcome/


If I disable all network adapters, Steam still does not launch properly but instead of it instantly hanging the computer, it takes a few minutes.
This is not just a me thing. Several other people have had these same issues and are seemingly unable to solve them. When Steam hangs the computer, I cannot start or end any processes/executables, including Steam, and the only way to fix it is to hard reset the PC by holding down the power button."

"From your description it sounds like you're having larger issues that need to be resolved before we try and troubleshoot any game or Steam issues you're seeing. If your machine is powering down, crashing, or blue screening this indicates critical OS-level issues and possibly hardware failure. Unfortunately, issues like these are not something we can help with at Steam Support; attempting to troubleshoot game or Steam-related issues if your machine is in a bad state may only create more problems.

We recommend reaching out to Microsoft Support for help. If they can't resolve the larger issues you're seeing we can only recommend contacting a local PC technician for in-depth PC troubleshooting. Resolving your larger issues will result in a better experience when trying to play games on Steam.

I'm sorry we can't be of more help with this.

Steam Support
Dorian"

"No OS-level issues, no problems at all until I launch Steam.

There is no blue screen or any Windows issues. My computer works wonderfully, with zero issues with any app ever, except when I try to launch Steam. If I start the computer in safe mode with networking, Steam will update itself but then does not open properly. Interestingly, I can end it with task manager in safe mode and the computer does not hang. However, in "normal" windows, I am unable to kill Steam in task manager and the system becomes unusable (All programs that are running eventually stop responding, I cannot start or stop any programs. CPU usage shows very low in task manager though).
Once again, this is most definitely a Steam issue- I found multiple threads of other people having the exact same issues caused by the Steam client, and my computer has zero issues whatsoever doing any manner of things, unless I go to launch Steam. This is not a Windows issue. If you need, I can attempt to take a video with my phone or something to demonstrate, but I can't take a screen recording of the issue since whatever screen recording software I use would stop working upon attempting to launch Steam."

"Hello,

Thank you for your reply.

I understand how you may feel regarding this issue.

Since you mentioned that "Steam hangs the computer and you cannot start or end any processes/executable and you have to hard reset the PC", probably you're having larger issues that need to be resolved before we try and troubleshoot any game or Steam issues you're seeing.

I'm sorry we can't be of more help with the issue you're experiencing.

In the meantime, I recommend visiting the following community hubs. It's possible other users have experienced similar issues and can offer helpful advice.

Official Steam Help
Steam Subreddit

Because we have provided all the information we have for your issue I'm closing this help request. If you have an unrelated issue please open a new help request and we will be happy to help.

Steam Support
Elijah"

Support could have at least read my messages. I don't understand how a program with no admin permissions could somehow hang the Windows kernel, but it does. Once again, the computer is new (only a couple months old), pretty high-end, and works perfectly to run anything from simple word processors to modern games in 4K. This issue only appears when launching the Steam client. Has anyone else run into this issue and successfully solved it? Thanks
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正在显示第 1 - 7 条,共 7 条留言
nullable 12 月 2 日 下午 12:29 
Are you sure the igpu is still disabled?
Satoru 12 月 2 日 下午 2:30 
Steam is an application, meaning that it has only access to the the application layer of your OS

In modern windows it is functionally impossible for an app to hang the entire system. If it does, the app itself is not causing it, its because the app is interacting with a lower level part of your OS that is broken

This means that Steam isnt the problem, its simply manifesting an issue that exists in your system. Note given that disabling the iGPU 'fixes' the issue then its mroe than likely that your motherboard is the problem and that its basically slowly dying.

1) Run a full windows update
2) update your video drivers
3) reinstall windows

If reinstalling windows doesnt fix it, then its more or less a hardware problem on your system. I'd wager either the CPu or the motherboard is fried or dying very slowly
RPG Gamer Man 12 月 2 日 下午 7:19 
We are lacking info. Which version of windows operating system are you using? How much RAM do you have? Are you on a 32 bit or 64 bit pc? What intel generation chip are you using?

Most of the time people lacking this information are only hurting themselves in the end due to people on here not being able to help. You give more info, more people can help you. Lack of info hurts you.

Also, i see a trend of people posting having problem but omitting there using windows 7. This is most of the time why they do not say which OS they are using, and they know it.
最后由 RPG Gamer Man 编辑于; 12 月 2 日 下午 7:19
Dranak 12 月 2 日 下午 7:24 
Enalbe IGPU , update BIOS and chipset driver from Brand board support page or is ita a Brand name pc then its that support page you need to DL from.

Then you have update igpur drivers then use windows device turn off igpu or bios

ps.
You also dont mention steam settings turn off web acccealration in browser view.

And you still forget no hands on here "steam told you as recommend contacting a local PC technician for in-depth PC troubleshooting."

No matter how many suggestion we can do and maybe some helper nail it, but we still have no hands on or even windows event viewer log why steam.exe crash. ( sometimes it can give a clue whats wrong. )

And we are not talking about all the other option in BIOS, in the past we did see ram turbo mode later not work well at BIOS, cause unstability, as i said thats years ago, point is more what if you run things in OC mode for let BIOS do alot of extream OC, we are many that try belive them it can do that, but atm you need stability and make sure its not such new ways that might cause this.

i could also just say you give a crap in OC if you cant even start steam. ( stablity first is you way only at, until you can proof it work. ) im not after OC pc im telling you make sure it work first before try gain speed.

new PC today can make it sounds so legit with it, but as you see toy have other issue atm.
最后由 Dranak 编辑于; 12 月 2 日 下午 7:27
Dranak 12 月 2 日 下午 7:26 
I agree with RPG man here, win7/8 is dead a long time ago only recent steam offcial say no more.

I can only say then you cant start steam from a freshly installed OS thats so many do

and this dont look like antivirus app blocking steam.exe or other security app issue.
最后由 Dranak 编辑于; 12 月 2 日 下午 7:30
RPG Gamer Man 12 月 2 日 下午 7:29 
引用自 Dranak
I agree with RPG man here, win7/8 is dead a long time ago only recent steam offcial say no more.

Actually even windows 10 ended support, but it should theorhetically work on steam probably till 2027, most likely.
Dranak 12 月 2 日 下午 7:30 
引用自 RPG Gamer Man
引用自 Dranak
I agree with RPG man here, win7/8 is dead a long time ago only recent steam offcial say no more.

Actually even windows 10 ended support, but it should theorhetically work on steam probably till 2027, most likely.

As long steam say win10+ ready its made for that range.
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