DiRT 3 – Technical Assistance

[iMaster]

Hello community,

I have the problem, DiRT 3 from Steam does not want to start on my computer. There is just the steam windows "DiRT 3 is starting", but after that, nothing appears. I'm using Windows 7, an AMD x2 260 with 3,20ghz, an ATi Radeon HD 6670 Graphics card (I got a coupon with a serial for DiRT 3). Peripheric drivers are up to date and latest versions. For testing i downloaded a cracked version of the game, and it ran without any problems. I have verified the steam cache very many times, and it seems, there is no problem in the cache. I like DiRT 3 much and i'd like to play it again.

[SpaceMonkey]

Accidently clicked on 'I have this problem too' - I don't.

Uninstall the game from Steam completely

Make sure all your saves and files are deleted from the illegally downloaded copy of your game

Download the version from Steam again

Don't illegally download games

[Ryder25]

Had same problem. After running Dirt 2 instead of Dirt 3 for the first time, it installed/updated the following:
1. DirectX
2. GFWL
3. BlueRippleSound - Rapture3D

If you already have 2/3 then I guess uninstall the reinstall them.

After these things happened with Dirt 2, Dirt 3 started to work again. Hopefully it will work for you too.

[fkafady]

 bought on steam, played for about 3 days then got this error.

Problem signature:
  Problem Event Name:    APPCRASH
  Application Name:    dirt3_game.exe
  Application Version:    1.2.0.0
  Application Timestamp:    4e2d973a
  Fault Module Name:    KERNELBASE.dll
  Fault Module Version:    6.1.7601.17651
  Fault Module Timestamp:    4e211319
  Exception Code:    c06d007f
  Exception Offset:    0000b9bc
  OS Version:    6.1.7601.2.1.0.768.3
  Locale ID:    1033
  Additional Information 1:    0a9e
  Additional Information 2:    0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789
  Additional Information 3:    0a9e
  Additional Information 4:    0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789

I have been through the Codemasters support AND steam support. both gave me plenty of suggestions but nothing has worked. i gave up for a while but decided to see if maybe by now, someone has found a good fix. i THINK mine has something to do with games for windows because if i just try to launch that, it fails. and i have tried launching other games that use GFWL and they no longer work either. but if anyone can help me out, that would be awesome. i'd really like to avoid formatting....

[Dijenga]

Same problem. Sure wish there was an answer other than spending another 20 hours downloading this game (and steam).

I went to the folder where Steam stores the game and clicked on the executable and chose run as administrator. When I did, I got an alert type box telling me that xlive.dll was missing.

Doing a bit of research, I noticed that I would need to install windows live games to get that file. Why do I also need windows live games when I already have steam's bloatware/spyware?

Any ideas???

Not looking for sympathy, just a solution.

[Dijenga]

Someone at the Steam forum enlightened me, and I hope this helps:

You must have "Games For Windows Live" account in order to play the game. Nothing on the paperwork I had (my game was downloadable) said anything about it.

Once the GFWL account was activated (and of course the GFWL software installed . . . just what I needed, something made by the good ol' Massive Incorporated boys of m4d.dll fame), the game runs fine.

[Greybeard999]

DiRT2 and 3 are both GFWL games... Yes it is necessary as far as I know.