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