Fixed: Fallout 3 Crashes on Startup
November 24, 2009I've discovered Fallout 3 about a year late. This hasn't been a bad thing, really, since I was able to pick up the "Game of the Year Edition", which includes the expansion sets. The game has an incredibly compelling storyline and excellent visual and gameplay design.
I'm also using Windows 7, which I'm happy with, but have found that after installing the second disk containing the extra missionsthe game has crashed on startup. Every time. It's been really frustrating. I think I would have given up had I not played a good part of the way through the original game and found it so compelling.
After a lot of fiddling around, I've found the answer. The issue is that Fallout 3's executable file gets updated by the add-on pack. Once this happens, it can't handle some of the visual elements provided by Windows 7 (and also presumably Vista). To fix it:
- Right click on the executable (it's in your Fallout 3 folder, called "Fallout3.exe")
- On the pop-up menu, choose "Properties"
- Click the tab marked "Compatibility"
- Tick the last three boxes under "Settings".
- Run the game from the launcher – make sure you enable the add-ons under the data section in the Launcher.
I hope this helps. Finding a solution to this on the Forums was impossible. It seems there are a lot of issues with the Game of the Year Edition.
I just discovered Mass Effect – two words "Time Sponge"
it's disappointing you've still not discovered Left 4 Dead, especially as Left 4 Dead 2 has now been released.
Loved fallout. Played it twice to try out all the different plots/twists. Though Dragon Age: Origins has totally consumed me at the moment.
Mister Downs – I'll get Left 4 Dead 2 if you insist. Do you need the original Left 4 Dead to play it?
If you want to re-enact 28 Days Later, then L4D is all you need, go with the cheaper option
I bought the game of the year edition also, now my Xbox doesn't work, too much playing made it die!
Well I just ordered Left 4 Dead 2 from Play. I hope we can co-op, Mister D!
Should have gone online and bought it from Steam. Totally converted to them after I scratched one of my discs and EA wanted money to replace it!!!
Thank you sooo much mate that solved the problem stupid windows 7 and thanks again you saved me heaps of time and searching if you have the same black out problems as i did follow this this will fix it
Thank you so much for this, game decided it wanted to crash on me after upgrading to Win7, tons of “solutions” out there but this is the one that did the trick.