Anybody else have this problem with Steam?

[jhansman]

It installs OK, but when it tries to auto update, it fails with a message that Steam.exe could not be deleted in the process. Apparently, the update deletes the newly installed executable and regenerates it. The error I'm getting is documented on their support site, but none of the suggested fixes (making sure the folder and/or Steam.exe are not write protected, disabling A/V apps, making sure you have admin status, etc.) have worked so far. The irony in all this is I am not interested in the slighted in anything Steam has to offer except getting my copy of Deus Ex:HR, which was free with my recent CPU purchase.

So, any ideas how I might overcome all this? I traded messages with support for two days, and all they can tell me is that the auto update cannot be bypassed or stopped. Very frustrating. TIA.

UPDATE: Managed to get the Steam client installed on my wife's laptop, so clearly this is an issue with my system. Sigh...

 

[Texashiker]

Operating system?

On windows 7, and I "think" vista, there has to be a steam service that is running.

 

[jhansman]

Win7 (in my sig). Since it won't even update the install, no service could be running. It's weird, because I've installed it on both C & D drives, and on either drive it's unable to complete the update. Even stranger is that Steam.exe is gone from the Steam folder after the update failure, so it appears that the update is deleting the executable, but then chokes. I'm just curious if anyone else has had this happen.

 

[Northern Lawn]

On the occasion when I had steam trouble a reboot sufficed. Man I love Steam, I don't even pirate games anymore because of the convenience and there sales. Occasionally I get a game that doesn't work but for the most part they do even old games like Star Wars Dark Forces.

The only time I'm pissed at steam is when they don't carry a game I want

 

[jhansman]

I have a sinking feeling that the OS reinstall I was going to do on my new build (but avoided with a simple driver update) will have to happen to resolve this, and I'll probably never know why it happened.

 

[Northern Lawn]

I just reformat as well with win7 ultimate. Tons' of updates. I learned not to install steam until I'm completely done with updates or I get this error that I'm at a new machine then I have to paste in an email code.

 

[Texashiker]

Are you running a software firewall?

Have you ran a malware scan, to make sure your traffic is not getting sent through a proxy server

 

[manimal]

delete the client.blob file thingamagigy

 

[jhansman]

Yes, running MSSE and Malwarebytes. Disconnected from the interweb, disabled both, killed their processes, and tried the install once again. Same error. When I try to delete the Steam folder, every file in it is deleted except SteamNew.exe, which no matter what, will not delete. No 'cannot delete' message either. Oh well...

 

[Texashiker]

Are you running malware bytes proactive, where it runs all the time?

What about software firewalls

 

[mrblotto]

try deleting SteamNew.exe it in safe mode?

also, maybe try installing Steam to a different folder, then see what happens

good luck!

 

[jhansman]

Hmmm, mrblotto, ideas worth trying. AV and MB are both active, but safe mode might provide a clue. BTW, if you read the list of apps on Steam's support site that can 'interfere' with its install, it makes you wonder how it manages to install at all.

 

[Texashiker]

BTW, if you read the list of apps on Steam's support site that can 'interfere' with its install, it makes you wonder how it manages to install at all.

I have been running Steam since November 2004 (the day half-life 2 was released) and have never had an issue with steam installing or running.