How to Fix Left 4 Dead 2 Install Problems, Freezes and Errors
Even though criticized at first, Left 4 Dead 2 is one of the best welcomed releases of the year, Valve’s shooter providing tons of quality to the computer gamers. However, not all of us are able to enjoy the game – we’ve heard reports regarding Left 4 Dead 2 freezes, the game being unable to run after installation, Steam-related problems and so on. In this article we’ll try to find out the perfect solution to fix the L4D2 errors and problems.
First thing you should do if you’re experiencing any kind of problem, is to check if your computer meets the minimum system specifications required to run the game (see them listed on Steam, at the bottom of the page). If you meet the specifications, try to update your video and sound drivers. If these things don’t fix the problems, let’s see what we can do in specific cases.
1. Left 4 Dead 2 doesn’t run after the installation
Strangely, this is the most reported problem. It usually affects people running Vista or Windows 7 because the game requires Steam Service to run – and fixing it could fix the problem. Fortunately, a Valve representative teaches us how to fix this problem via the official forums. This is what to do:
a) First fix: Exit Steam and open Command Prompt in windows then run “c:\Program Files\Steam\bin\SteamService.exe” /repair. Start Steam and run the game. Hopefully it works.
b) If it doesn’t, try this new trick: Exit Steam and delete the file SteamService.exe (located in the Steam installation folder) then restart Steam.
c) If this doesn’t fix the problem either, you could try a last thing: exit Steam, Head over to Control Panel → Programs and Features, right click on Steam and click Repair. It will take a while but it will probably worth the wait.
2. Can’t install Left 4 Dead 2 (“incomplete installation (35)” error message).
This error message means that either your connection to the internet has gone AWOL or that you have a firewall that’s blocking access of the application. In the second case, make sure your firewall allows outbound TCP connections to port 27019. The server port for this system has been changed to 27031, which is used by other services and should improve the reliability of this connection, as it should already be open in any firewall that supports steam.
3. How to fix random crashes of L4D2 to the desktop.
There are two possible solutions that might do the trick. First one would be to turn off the gore in the game – to do so right click on the Left4Dead2 executable and click properties. Click on Set Launch Options… and add -lv at the end of the line.
Another solution, offered by a moderator on the Steam forums, is to close Steam and go to the steamapps folder in the Steam installation folder. Delete the files “left 4 dead 2 client.ncf” and “left 4 dead 2 common.ncf”, restart Steam, right click on L4D2 and install.
4. Random freezes, stutters and slow frame rate
If you have this problem, try to turn off multicore rendering. If that doesn’t fix the problem and you’re using nVidia drivers, go to their official website and try installing the beta driver version 195.39. If that doesn’t fix the solution either, try using the mat_queue_mode 0 command in the console – users reported great results using this solution.
Hopefully we have here enough to help you fix Left 4 Dead 2 and enjoy it properly. If you have any other problems or solutions, please post them in the comment section below and maybe somebody will help.
thx a lot I was having the effin problem with the game not starting after installation but your solution did the trick for me. Thanx a ton, dude!
A main problem for me is message:
“Steam has found a problem with your local games file. Game files will now be re-acquired from the Steam servers.” It shows, and do nothing.
/repair, manual file deletion doesn’t work.
tried to defrag cache, and get 1232458% of defragmentation, and message to defrag my entire disk (right after disk defragmentation)
deleting of game contents doesn’t work with message that my disk has not enough space to run(sic!) the game. the same time, both disks have several hundreds GBs free.
Verifying game cache consistency doesn’t work, it completes immidiately with OK message, even after complete deletion of game files from steamapp folder.
Frustrated.
I bought L4D2 from steam and at first it all went well, it worked for about 4-5 days then when i try to enter the game after the intro vid it throws me out to the desktop and then begins again to start the game but the same thing happens again and i tried to do the examples u had but it didnt work
help or ill kill someone…..
I tried everything listed, openned ports on router and firewall, shut down firewall, anti-virus, spyware, etc, even uninstalled and re-installed the game and steam. Nothing fixed the incomplete installation error (2). Steam tech support is non-existent They havent even bothered to respond to my tech help request. Demo worked great for weeks and the Game worked fine until Steam did the update Saturday. Havent been able to run every since. Running Vista Home Premium 64 on an I7 920 machine.
how about for a mac?
can you help me my l4d2 always crash while playing it when i’m in the safe room the game crash
why is it that all these huge, new games always want to be installed on C:\. steam has got to be the worst for this…. every time, install on C:\ …. what happened to the days where you could choose your partition? now i am screwed… my C:\ doesnt have enough space, but my games partition G:\ has over 20 gigs left. god damn steam.
Same problem with loner , after getting to the saferoom and close the metal red door , it crashes . Oh and I am so unlucky to get the rare bug which is ” Kill Witch Means Crash With No Error ” Was that a new attack by witch when it die?
Is there any password during installation for left 4 dead 2?
Cuz I juz bought the cd, and it says that need password during the installation.
is there anyone help me when im playing l4d2 it crashes in 5 mins. how could i fix it.
up
i bought the game…bt during product activation wizard window…i hv key in the product key n click next,another window popped up steam working n waiting for it to load.afta a while it say steam server unavailable, your computer is either currently unable to reach the steam servers, or the service is temporarily unavailable… i kip on trying n trying…it jus kip on sayin the same ting….i nid help!!!
I need help! I bought the CD l4d2. when i put it in it takes me to Steam and everything. when i go to install it get stuck at ” Creating Local Game Cache Files” does this mean i cant install L4D2?? I have Dial-up and do I need to download L4D2 from Steam even tho i have the CD??
is there any password to install left 4 dead 2 ?
Same problem with Dragon..
After kill the witch, I’m get crash with no eror…
is there any solution for this bug ?
yeah same problem with dragon and liquid . after i kill the witch , the game freaking crashes to the desktop . no errors no messages nothing ! what can we do about it ?
is there any password to install left 4 dead 2 ?
i don’t have any product key….so how can i install? anyone knows what is the product key 4 this game?? Or the activation code??
Help!!!!! need password for installation
I have tried all your suggestions and nothing will let me install the game from DVD-ROM. Using Vista 64 SP2 with tons of memory and disk space free. No firewalls or router. Dial-up though. I cannot get through the install without Steam hanging up. (I get a “732897 not responding”). No reply from Valve or Steam “support” (worthless!). I simply want to install for single player from the disk I bought. This is beyond frustrating! So, how do I get my money back?
i have the problem where you cant run the game after you install it and i try to delete “SteamService.exe”, but everytime i re-run steam, “SteamService.exe” is automatically re-installed on my PC wtf???
I have the same issue as Bob try to install for local play single player only tries to download and crashes on creating local game cache. I also want a refund and there seems to be no such thing. I am so sick of these games it is ridiculous.
I’m on Win.XP and after installation, i launch the game, wait a little and a windows message appeared: the program eccounter problem, left4dead2.exe have to close… it don’t say why, so i can’t play. I tried the steamservice reboot issues but it doesnt works :(
Help me please!
zzzzzz..need password!!
GET PIRATED COPY,YOU DONT NEED TO BAY THE GAMES
oh man… actually im havn problem wid steam.L4D2 startd nd whil loadn, i gt a msg “steam s nt running”… i gt an idea, but my rite d tim my hard diskdown due 2 sme problm…. cryn crazzzyyy.
see guys.. juz down load steam v008. L4D2 need diz 2 run sucessfully..
hi im currently using a dell desktop monitor and l4d2 says “cannot display this video mode”. i tried to install it in other pc w/ different monitor and it work perfectly. it seems it had problems w/ its resolution. how can i change the resolution setting before i launch the game?
i install but when the game start i only see is white many colors and i cannot see the survivors
and i cant see a thing
how to install the game left 4 dead 2