Steam and WinXP user privileges

Cain · 08-05-2007, 03:25 PM

For several years, I have happily used Steam under a restricted user account in WinXP. After installing under admin privileges, I simply added my user account in the security settings for the Steam tree and everything worked perfectly; adding games, updating Steam, launching apps etc.

Yesterday, I rebuilt my system and suddenly I can't get it to work. To the best of my knowledge, I didn't do anything different and the Steam support forums suggest this is the proper way, not that they are very helpful on the subject. Google gave no extra clues.

Obviously, I'm overlooking something here. I can still update Steam and install games as a restricted user, but hl.exe crashes to desktop on launch after a short glimpse of the title screen, no error message. It's not drivers or firewall settings, running as admin works just fine.

Suggestions, anyone? It would help with a crash report, but I can't seem to find one.

**TheSkudDestroyer** · 08-05-2007, 10:07 PM

Wait...so its the same HDD right?

Specs? Current video drivers?

Cain · 08-06-2007, 07:30 AM

Same physical HDD, yes. Fresh partition, though, but user has same privileges as last install.

7.7 ATI Catalysts and I don't think it's drivers. Everything runs fine under my admin account. For some reason hl.exe just crashes to desktop under my user account without an error message. I can launch it with "run as..", but that is not really an acceptable solution, for obvious reasons, plus it messes with my mouse settings.

Anyone know how you get crash reports from Steam?

**Dick Blonov** · 08-07-2007, 11:18 AM

Cain, do you see something logged in the event viewer ?

DB

Cain · 08-07-2007, 11:59 AM

No, nothing. Can someone confirm that they have it working with the latest Steam client?

I tried reinstalling windows, just in case, fresh partitions and everything. Also, I dug up an old version of the Steam installer, but no luck. I guess this is yet another work of the windows-pixies that I just have to live with.

**Dick Blonov** · 08-08-2007, 09:40 AM

This might help you:

Mini-dump Files (for Steam Crashes and Game Crashes)
Mini-dump files will only be generated by crashes.

Steam crashes: The mini-dump file will be located in your Steam installation folder (C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\ by default)

Game crashes: The mini-dump file will be located in your game installation folder under the Steam installation directory
/SteamApps/ (your account name) / (game folder) /

DB

Cain · 08-08-2007, 12:08 PM

Oh, I got a bunch of those, but I don't speak fluent assembly so they tell me nothing. I opened a support ticket with Steam and attached one of the dumps. Perhaps they can figure it out.

08-05-2007, 03:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cain Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 128	Steam and WinXP user privileges For several years, I have happily used Steam under a restricted user account in WinXP. After installing under admin privileges, I simply added my user account in the security settings for the Steam tree and everything worked perfectly; adding games, updating Steam, launching apps etc. Yesterday, I rebuilt my system and suddenly I can't get it to work. To the best of my knowledge, I didn't do anything different and the Steam support forums suggest this is the proper way, not that they are very helpful on the subject. Google gave no extra clues. Obviously, I'm overlooking something here. I can still update Steam and install games as a restricted user, but hl.exe crashes to desktop on launch after a short glimpse of the title screen, no error message. It's not drivers or firewall settings, running as admin works just fine. Suggestions, anyone? It would help with a crash report, but I can't seem to find one.

08-05-2007, 10:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheSkudDestroyer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NY Posts: 3,210	Re: Steam and WinXP user privileges Wait...so its the same HDD right? Specs? Current video drivers? __________________ \|TG-6th\|Skud BMT Graduate - 320th Training Squadron, Flight 024 "Kids no more!" 8 months Keesler AFB, 1W0X1 - Weather The 6th Devils - Now with MORE Air Force! "...I simply stated "Video Games". They thought I was joking..."

08-06-2007, 07:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
Cain Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 128	Re: Steam and WinXP user privileges Same physical HDD, yes. Fresh partition, though, but user has same privileges as last install. 7.7 ATI Catalysts and I don't think it's drivers. Everything runs fine under my admin account. For some reason hl.exe just crashes to desktop under my user account without an error message. I can launch it with "run as..", but that is not really an acceptable solution, for obvious reasons, plus it messes with my mouse settings. Anyone know how you get crash reports from Steam?

08-07-2007, 11:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dick Blonov Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: In a Vortex! Age: 51 Posts: 3,387	Re: Steam and WinXP user privileges Cain, do you see something logged in the event viewer ? DB __________________ \|TG-6th\|Blonov «Any situation that involves the line "I was ran over by a dumptruck..." can't be good.» eGoatBoy BattleField2 SOPs \| Teamspeak \| Server Rules and SOPs \| The 6th Devil's Brigade

08-07-2007, 11:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
Cain Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 128	Re: Steam and WinXP user privileges No, nothing. Can someone confirm that they have it working with the latest Steam client? I tried reinstalling windows, just in case, fresh partitions and everything. Also, I dug up an old version of the Steam installer, but no luck. I guess this is yet another work of the windows-pixies that I just have to live with.

08-08-2007, 09:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dick Blonov Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: In a Vortex! Age: 51 Posts: 3,387	Re: Steam and WinXP user privileges This might help you: Mini-dump Files (for Steam Crashes and Game Crashes) Mini-dump files will only be generated by crashes. Steam crashes: The mini-dump file will be located in your Steam installation folder (C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\ by default) Game crashes: The mini-dump file will be located in your game installation folder under the Steam installation directory /SteamApps/ (your account name) / (game folder) / DB __________________ \|TG-6th\|Blonov «Any situation that involves the line "I was ran over by a dumptruck..." can't be good.» eGoatBoy BattleField2 SOPs \| Teamspeak \| Server Rules and SOPs \| The 6th Devil's Brigade

08-08-2007, 12:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cain Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 128	Re: Steam and WinXP user privileges Oh, I got a bunch of those, but I don't speak fluent assembly so they tell me nothing. I opened a support ticket with Steam and attached one of the dumps. Perhaps they can figure it out.

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