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"DISK WRITE ERROR" Fix!
So I was having this issue recently where new games that I was downloading from Steam would give me a "Disk Write Error" once the download finished making me unable to play them. I've noticed that a lot of people in the forums have been having this issue as well. I've seen a lot of people offering suggestions like re-installing Steam, re-downloading games, changing Steam file permissions or altogether saying that it's a failing hard drive. However, I think I may have found a very simple solution that actually works, at least it did for me!

go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common

In the "Common Folder" you should find this blank white file with the name of the game that's giving the issue associated with it, its has no extension, just a blank white file with no data. Go ahead and delete it.

Once that's done, go back to your steam downloads and hit the update button. It should now say "Ready to Play". That's it!

Hopefully, this fix can help some of you having this issue. This was a real pain for me and I'm sure it has been for many of you having this issue. If this works for you, please tell others about this fix so they don't go around re-formatting their hard drives, deleting their games and doing other completely unnecessary things so they can just get back to gaming!
Last edited by Red_Potatoes_620; 31 Oct, 2015 @ 1:52pm
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Showing 1-15 of 25 comments
Punter 6 Nov, 2015 @ 9:15pm 
tyvm, this helped for me, at least I now can get into the game
DR 10 Nov, 2015 @ 5:24am 
I cant find this I was wondering what to do because I was installing the update for Fallout 4
ExRay 10 Nov, 2015 @ 4:39pm 
OMG this worked for me too thank you soooo much.
Red_Potatoes_620 10 Nov, 2015 @ 6:06pm 
No Problem, glad it worked for you!
v 16 Nov, 2015 @ 5:36am 
this helped alot, i kept uninstalling and re installing but didnt do much, im new to steam so this saved me alot of time, THANKS!
this worked for me too! thanks you're awesome!
Matías 29 Dec, 2015 @ 6:08pm 
I dont have any black file, there is only the games
The Giving One 29 Dec, 2015 @ 6:10pm 
Originally posted by XD649010:
I dont have any black file, there is only the games
It is not a black file as far as I know, but a tiny strange file with the same name as the game you are getting the error for. If you have it, it should be in the common folder, which is inside your steamapps folder.

If you see it, exit Steam fully after logging out and delete it. This works for some that actually have the file. Hope that helps.
Last edited by The Giving One; 29 Dec, 2015 @ 6:10pm
Matías 29 Dec, 2015 @ 6:23pm 
Originally posted by The Giving One:
Originally posted by XD649010:
I dont have any black file, there is only the games
It is not a black file as far as I know, but a tiny strange file with the same name as the game you are getting the error for. If you have it, it should be in the common folder, which is inside your steamapps folder.

If you see it, exit Steam fully after logging out and delete it. This works for some that actually have the file. Hope that helps.
Still not watch the blank white file, In the folder of common there are only more folders (the game ones) http://b7.us.is.pp.ru/x/xd649010/2/46294362VAZ.jpg
The Giving One 29 Dec, 2015 @ 6:27pm 
Are you using Windows 10, as it look that way in your shot that you linked here. If it is Windows 10, then was that an upgrade or did you buy that computer with Windows 10 already installed on it ?

What game are you having this problem with ? Post your computer specs here, please. You alos need to make sure to check your drive space and check it for errors first, as it may be an actual disk error for real that you are getting.

Read this support page carefully and also check anything linked in blue.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9709-FKCB-4230
Matías 29 Dec, 2015 @ 6:40pm 
Originally posted by The Giving One:
Are you using Windows 10, as it look that way in your shot that you linked here. If it is Windows 10, then was that an upgrade or did you buy that computer with Windows 10 already installed on it ?

What game are you having this problem with ? Post your computer specs here, please. You alos need to make sure to check your drive space and check it for errors first, as it may be an actual disk error for real that you are getting.

Read this support page carefully and also check anything linked in blue.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9709-FKCB-4230
Yep, w10(upgrade) I have a laptop with 8gbs of ram, Amd A8 4555M at 1.60Ghz and I have a HDD of 672gbs and i have 62gb left
The Giving One 29 Dec, 2015 @ 6:50pm 
So did you visit the manufacturer's website for that computer/computer hardware and make sure Windows 10 is supported on it ? Some computers do not support the upgrade to Windows 10, and by that I mean there are no system drivers for your computer and that operating system.

Post the exact model and model number and the manufacturer of the computer. If this is a custom build, then give us the motherboard in exact same details, please.

You missed my other question in my post above. Please answer all questions that were asked previously when you make a reply here, thanks.

62 GB left out of 672 GB ? That is not much space left, actually, when you consider how large the drive is. That is why I was asking what game this is that you have this problem with, you see, as the size of the game in question may affect the error. Thanks.
Muzan 7 May, 2016 @ 4:07am 
I can't delete it
Joe 29 Jul, 2016 @ 6:06am 
Thanks, worked perfectly :balloon:
seb 16 Sep, 2016 @ 11:54am 
already deleted but doesnt work anything still disk write error for me
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Date Posted: 31 Oct, 2015 @ 1:49pm
Posts: 25