Bioshock.exe has stopped working...

[harnabra]

Not sure what to think anymore, but I've been at it since release today to try and get this piece of ☺☺☺☺ to work...
tried everything suggested related to the issue from gamespot.com bioshock forum, steam user forum, and 2k bioshock techinical forum...nothing.

Seeing how there are many people with the same problem, it makes us beg the question, where is 2k staff in all of this mess? Not a SINGLE GOD DAMN OFFICIAL RESPONSE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, NONE. In no way am I exaggerating when I say this, I have never encountered a game that wont' even start after looking into related forums.

Yes, I've tried resinalling the game, yes I've tried downloading newest directX, yes I've had the newest god damn Nvidia driver in my system...
I've tried flagging the shortcut with "-dx9", tried getting rid of the SeCROM, tried every god damn thing there is to try, nothing has worked.

I have computer that should run this without a problem:
Vista 32-bit
Directx 10
dual 8800GTX
2g ram
E6700 intel quod core
purchased bioshock through steam.

And instead, I get a day full of frustration.

[hkancyr]

You may only think you have DX10 go get the August version and it might just work. That's what fixed mine.

[HykCraft]

All I did to fix this was REBOOT my computer. Then right-click on the Bioshock.exe shortcut and selected RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR and after that it works perfectly each time.

[HykCraft]

My setup:

Intel Extreme Quad Core 3.2 Ghz
Dual 768MB Nvidia Geforce 8800 GTX
2GB Low-Latency RAM
Purchased RETAIL BOX of Bioshock

[sluzi26]

Bumping this thread because the same god damn thing is happening to me and I want answers.

[Chccy]

Yep, i have this problem now, it happened after i melted the ice. The game crashed, and now i cant start it. I hope they release a patch soon

[Catfish55]

Guys, if you are running Vista try doing this.

Check your AppData folder ---> Roaming ---> Bioshock.

Is the Bioshock folder empty, or does it contain the 2 config ini files....???

[sluzi26]

Yep, i have this problem now, it happened after i melted the ice. The game crashed, and now i cant start it. I hope they release a patch soon

SAME DAMN THING cept my game didn't crash. I saved it after I melted the ice.

[sluzi26]

Guys, if you are running Vista try doing this.

Check your AppData folder ---> Roaming ---> Bioshock.

Is the Bioshock folder empty, or does it contain the 2 config ini files....???

Yep. Bioshock/Running/User

[sluzi26]

Yep. Bioshock/Running/User

So guys. How about that game not launching bit? Pretty damn annoying isn't it?

[Sandtiger]

I was able to play for about 3 hours with no crashes last night.

Intel P4 Dual Core 3.0GHz
3GB RAM
150GB HDD
Nvidia 7300GT 512MB
AC'97 Sound
VIsta Business 32bit

I tried just about everything posted on this board before I finally found the right combination that got it working consistently. Here is how I fixed it. (All steps must be done before it will finally work)

1) Download and install the latest chipset INF files (for me it was Intel i945)
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...omepage+dc_inf

2) Download and the beta NVIDIA Drivers.
http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_do...etadriver.html

3) I also downloaded and installed the DirectX Aug 2007 Update for Vista/XP
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

If you do this you shouldn't have to run as administrator or play with the DirectX 9 option.

[capnhowdy]

1: Done
2: Done
3: Done

Also formatted and reinstalled, tried multiple Nvidia drivers, tried the dx-9 option, tried running as administrator, tried running in XP compatability mode, tried removing hardware from my computer to rule out conflicts, tried removing every peripheral device I own. Nothing works. Even the event viewer log doesn't give me anything to go on. I'm at a loss and if I could get a refund from Steam I don't think I would object to it at this point.

[Catfish55]

1: Done
2: Done
3: Done

Also formatted and reinstalled, tried multiple Nvidia drivers, tried the dx-9 option, tried running as administrator, tried running in XP compatability mode, tried removing hardware from my computer to rule out conflicts, tried removing every peripheral device I own. Nothing works. Even the event viewer log doesn't give me anything to go on. I'm at a loss and if I could get a refund from Steam I don't think I would object to it at this point.

Have you been able to get past the splash screen at all...?

Running Vista....?

If so, check your AppData folder-->Roaming-->Bioshock....

Is it empty or does it contain the 2 config ini files...?

[Raeth]

I had the exact same problems as the topic starter and decided to give it one last go this morning.

I disabled my firewall/anti virus, uninstalled the game, rebooted my computer, reinstalled the game (firewall/anti virus still disabled) and now it is actually working!

Maybe because of the DVD "protection" the firewall/anti virus stopped it from correctly installing or maybe it was something else entirely.
Just thought I let you know what worked for me.

[dan221081]

I have exactly the same problem tried everything as well still no joy here either. Ive reached a stage where I am not prepared to completely screw up my system just for one poorly developed game.

Going on that every other game out works flawlessly on my system its simply not worth the effort.

[kurzvor12]

the same problem...

Steam, Windows XP...
I was able to play 3 hours yesterday...
and today i can't play.

The game crash everytime i try to launch it...

[MG2k]

Seems like i have the same problem.

I am running the retail box version of the game on windows XP.
I have ALL the latest drivers inc the beta 163.44 Force ware and Aug version of DX. I have 3.3Ghz CPU, 1 GB ram, XFX 7900GTX.

The game was running FINE ( as long as indepth shader dodars were turned off in graphics options) for like about 6 hours of game play.
Turn PC off as normal, came back to it the next morning and BOOM. Instant Exe Crash.

Its checks for the disk. Brings up the little bioshock image (desktop behind it) then the screen goes black as if its about to load. Mode switches, Then i get EXE error and back to desktop.

NOTHING HAD CHANGED ON MY SYSTEM for it to start doing this.

I have checked and scanned my hard drives, nothing wrong with them.

Reinstalled ALL drivers to make sure everything was up to date, still the same.

Reinstalled the game 3 times on 3 different drives. Still not running.

Changed windows users and been admin, tryed editing Bioshock user ini files, tryed DLing the bioshock patch that it downloads when it installs (the exe file) from the URL etc etc etc.
Nothing works.

Only thing i can think of is its the DRM ☺☺☺☺ the game comes with in them hidden folders.

FIX MY GAME PLEASE 2K.

[frikkasoft]

I have a similar problem. I get the crash to desktop effect showing the "Bioshock.exe has stopped working".

This happens when AND ONLY WHEN the game is loading the Neptune's bounty inside a teleporter (the first one I have seen in the game), right after me killing the first big daddy. So basically this happens the game loads the 2nd level in the game.

I started a thread detailing my problems ( http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7898 )

... still no solution

I have never been so angry, nor dissatisfied with a product before, this is really new for me

[MG2k]

Turning off "High Detail Shaders" stoped my game crashing on lvl loading and other bits and bobs.. I had ALL other options on high at a res of 1280x1024.
Game worked fine. Try that.


Well it worked until the bioshock.exe stopped working all together as i said above.

[XTU_Kingpin]

I was able to play for about 3 hours with no crashes last night.

Intel P4 Dual Core 3.0GHz
3GB RAM
150GB HDD
Nvidia 7300GT 512MB
AC'97 Sound
VIsta Business 32bit

I tried just about everything posted on this board before I finally found the right combination that got it working consistently. Here is how I fixed it. (All steps must be done before it will finally work)

1) Download and install the latest chipset INF files (for me it was Intel i945)
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...omepage+dc_inf

2) Download and the beta NVIDIA Drivers.
http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_do...etadriver.html

3) I also downloaded and installed the DirectX Aug 2007 Update for Vista/XP
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

If you do this you shouldn't have to run as administrator or play with the DirectX 9 option.

Thanks for this tip!!! I did steps 2&3. And turned off high shader's. Also I kept admin rights on for the game. Seems to be working now, got to play for 2 hours without a crash. Thank you for posting this!

[XTU_Kingpin]

Also I failed to say that I turned off anti virus software when running the game. Good luck guys.

[MG2k]

Like i said before i had got about 6 hours of play under my belt before i started getting INSTANT crash's
I had reinstalled drivers, the game etc etc etc. One thing i had NOT done tho was manually delete my saved games folder for Bioshock in "my documents" on windows XP.

I after i did this the instant Bioshock.exe crash stopped and i can again play the game.

Werid thing is, if i try and use old saves ago ( I moved them rather then delete them) it starts instant crashing again. So it guess it MUST be something to do with bollox'd save files?

You LOSE your progress with this but at least you CAN play again.

[capnhowdy]

The way I get around the crashing at the splash screen and never even getting it to load: testapp.exe. It's in your Bioshock > Builds > Release folder. Same place as the Bioshock executable. Run that and the game loads fine for me. Bioshock.exe just crashes still though. Was enough to get me through the game though. I'm on my second run through and still can't load the game normally. Have to drill down to that damn file every time.

[eDave]

Seriously, just run the exe in 256 color mode. It just changes your desktop to 256, not the application (Bioshock)

I had every problem as everyone else and tried everything until this. It worked for me and I am now enjoying the game.