Steam Client Bootstrapper Crash

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76561197967527250 22 May, 2014 @ 2:42pm

Steam Client Bootstrapper Crash

-- Edit by Valve: we've fixed this. You need to re-download and run SteamSetup.exe from http://store.steampowered.com/about/ to download the fix - but you do NOT need to delete or uninstall anything. --

Since May 21 2014 last update, Steam.exe can not start. just crash.
Deleted all steam folders and download new installed. The same problem.

{LINK REMOVED} <== SCREEN SHOT ADDED

AppName: steam.exe AppVer:2.23.80.6 ModName:steam.exe Offset:00017b1b
Exception Information
Code: 0xc000001d Flags: 0x00000000
Record: 0x000000000000000 Address: 0x0000000000417b1b
System Information
Windows NT 5.1 Build: 2600
CPU Vendor Code: 68747541
CPU Version: 000006AO CPU Feature Code: 0383FBFF
CPU AMD Feature Code C1C3FBFF

This is Windows XP SP3 with AMD Athlon XP 2500+

I have other PC with Intel CPU is just fine.
So I believe Steam company programmer failed to check old AMD CPU

Please Fix It

~~~~~~Aug 29 2014: 2nd problem with crashhandler.dll --------------------
Exactly same problem happen again with today's steam.exe update. V2.37.82.33
AMD Athlon CPU got this problem again.
Steam programmers forgot NOT to include SSE2 CPU instruction set.

Screen shot is here.
{LINK REMOVED}

~~~~~~Sep 23 2014: we found work around ---------------------------------------
Well..........
I think I found workaround

=== WORKS ====================================================
My current Steam folder has 2 DLL files of the crash error
- crashhandler.dll (= Version 2.37.82.33 = 297,664 bytes) <=== This is problem!
- crashhandler.dll.old (= Version 2.35.92.75 = 308,416 bytes August 13 2014)
- Steam.exe (=Version 02.37.82.33 August 28 2014)
- Steam.exe.old (=Version 02.35.92.75 August 13 2014)

1. delete crashhandler.dll (= Version 2.37.82.33)
2. rename crashhandler.dll.old to crashhandler.dll (= Version 2.35.92.75)
3. create steam.cfg with 1 line text "BootStrapperInhibitAll=Enable" without quotation in Steam folder
4. Now, test steam.exe starting.
===============================================================

I uploaded my files if you want to compare
Steam bootstrap crash workaround.zip ==> {LINK REMOVED}

Still I want Valve to fix the crashhandler.dll instruction as soon as possible.
If Valve fixes, then just delete steam.cfg file which is preventing update.

Note: You do NOT need to use old Steam.exe which is dated August 13 2014.
===============================================================

Last edited by Max; 21 Jan, 2015 @ 8:26am

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Showing 1-15 of 560 comments

Offordef 22 May, 2014 @ 2:54pm

Exactly, the same here.

Tyan Thunder Dual K7 here. (Athlon MP aka XP)
Looks like VALVE requires SSE2 since the last update.
Very unfortunate because many games don't need SSE2 to run but effectively killed my Retro Gaming box.

No workaround as Steam automatically updates to the latest version,
Hope this will be sorted or at least be given an option to run a Legacy Steam version that does not require SS2.

Otherwise everything lower then K8/P4 will not be able to run Steam, P3 and K7 Athlon and lower.

Offordef 22 May, 2014 @ 3:23pm

Anyway I see a trend.

L4D2, HL2 suddenly all required SSE2 which are SIMD Streaming Instructions.
And recently they were released for nVidia's Shield (no conspiracy theory :-)).

I knew the moment would come SSE2 would be a requirement however still I feel like somebody hit my kidneys with hard blow, just publishing stuff on Youtube running games on my ancient PIII and Dual Athlon MP.

VALVE PLEASE SORT THIS!
(And to inform your loyal customers in advance is not that much asked is it?)

76561197967527250 22 May, 2014 @ 8:42pm

If Steam does not want to support SSE2 on some games, that's fine. However, Steam.exe is not a game. It is just listing game names and help login and settings. Why it needs SSE2???
It must be just simple stupid so that any PC can login and see the game lists.