Fix: Hard West 2 PC Startup Crashes

Fix: Hard West 2 PC Startup Crashes

Although Hard West 2 is receiving favorable ratings on Steam, it appears that a number of players are experiencing PC crashes upon launch.

Now, if you’re one of the victims that runs into this problem, don’t worry; it happens to a lot of PC games. No matter what game you’re playing or what kind of PC setup you have, you’ll most likely run into this identical startup crashing or the game not launching issue at some time. Fortunately, we’ve provided a few potential workarounds with you below that ought to be helpful. Below, we’ve included several plausible causes.

Why is Hard West 2 crashing?

If we focus specifically on the causes of startup crashing, the chances are that conflicts or problems at your PC-end are eventually causing you a lot of grief. Unless there is an in-game bug, there is nothing significant we can blame developers for. Most players may experience crashes, lags, stutters, FPS drops, and other issues as a result of hardware or software issues with their computers.

Some possible causes include a PC compatibility issue with the game’s system requirements, missing or corrupted game files, an outdated game version, an outdated DirectX version, an overclocked CPU/GPU, an outdated game launcher, and others. Crashing can be caused by an outdated system version, outdated or missing graphics drivers, unnecessary background tasks, security software issues, startup app issues, and so on.

How to Fix Hard West 2’s Startup Crash on a PC

The following troubleshooting steps should be followed to fix this problem, as you now know all the likely causes. It’s best not to overlook any way because, while it might not be useful to someone else, even a basic method can come in helpful for you. So, use any and all workarounds until the issue is resolved. Let’s get started right now, without further ado.

Verify the system requirements.

To begin, make sure your PC meets the system requirements of the game by double-checking its specifications. Be sure to upgrade your PC’s software and hardware if it’s not compatible enough with the game’s requirements. The most common cause of frequent game crashes is an out-of-date or underpowered PC. You can move on to the next option if your PC is already set up to work with it.

Minimum Requirements:

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E4700 2.6 GHz/AMD Phenom 9950 Quad Core 2.6 GHz
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750/Radeon RX 550
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 35 GB available space

Recommended Requirements:

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-2320 3.0 GHz/AMD Ryzen 3 3200 3.0 GHz
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti/Radeon RX 570
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 35 GB available space

Turn off full-screen enhancements

It appears that for some people, disabling the fullscreen optimization option did work. To do this:

  1. Launch the Steam client. Select Library.
  2. Right-click Hard West 2 and select Select Manage.
  3. Choosing Browse local files Visit the Hard West 2 installation site.
  4. Right-click HardWest2.exe again and choose Properties.
  5. Tickmark by selecting the Compatibility tab. To make it available, disable fullscreen optimizations.
  6. Once finished, press OK before pressing Apply to save your changes.

Run the game’s executable file as administrator.

Additionally, it’s advised to always execute the game executable file on a Windows computer with administrator privileges so that User Account Control (UAC) can correctly provide all access.

The computer may occasionally believe you’re attempting to start the game without permission. For every game, this is a one-time procedure. To do this, make sure to take the following actions:

  1. On your computer, control-click the Hard West 2 exe shortcut file.
  2. Choose Properties next, then click the Compatibility tab.
  3. Ensure that the Run this software as an administrator button is clicked.
  4. select the checkbox to mark it.
  5. To save changes, select OK after clicking Apply.
  6. Now, all you have to do to start the game is double-click the exe file.
  7. The identical procedures can then be followed for your Steam launcher.
  8. Therefore, you are also granting the game launcher access to the UAC.

Game File as an Administrator

Driver updates for GPU

To make sure no update is due on your end, you should try checking for graphics driver updates on your Windows PC and installing the most recent version. The proper operation of graphics-intensive programs can be affected by an outdated or missing graphics driver. For that:

  1. To get the Quick Access Menu, perform right-click on the Start Menu.
  2. In the list, select Device Manager to launch the interface.
  3. To expand Display adapters, double-click on it right now.
  4. Then, to bring up the context menu, right-click on the dedicated graphics card name you’re using.
  5. Then, select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
  6. The system will check for available updates automatically.
  7. If an update is available, it will download and install the most recent version.
  8. Once finished, restart your computer to apply the changes.
  9. If you cannot find any updates, go to the official graphics card website and manually search for the most recent update. If a new version is available, simply download and
  10. install it on your computer. Whatever graphics card you have, go to the manufacturer’s link below.

Windows must be updated.

If you are running an outdated Windows OS version or build, make sure to follow the steps below to check for and install updates.

To access the Windows Settings menu, press the Windows + I keys together.
From the left pane, select Windows Update > Check back for updates.

  1. If an update is available, you should choose Download and Install.
  2. Wait for the update process to finish.
  3. After that, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Check for Any Optional Updates

You should also check for optional updates by following the steps below because some device driver and security patch updates may appear in a different section.

  1. To access the Windows Settings menu, press the Windows + I keys together.
  2. From the left pane, select Windows Update > Select Advanced Options.
  3. Scroll down to find the Additional options section.
  4. Select Optional updates > If an update is available, make sure to download it.
  5. Select Download & Install > Once the update has been installed, restart the system.

Change to a Dedicated GPU

You should also make sure that your Windows computer is using the dedicated GPU rather than the integrated HD graphics. To accomplish this:

For the Nvidia GPU:

  1. To open the context menu, right-click on the desktop screen.
  2. Now, open the Nvidia Control Panel by clicking on it.
  3. Navigate to 3D Settings > Manage 3D Settings.
  4. Select Hard West 2 from the drop-down menu in the Program Settings tab.
  5. Then, from another drop-down menu, select the preferred graphics processor for this program.
  6. Finally, your Nvidia GPU should be identified as a High-Performance Nvidia Processor.
  7. Save your changes and restart your computer.

For AMD graphics cards:

  1. To open the context menu, right-click on the desktop screen.
  2. Navigate to Additional Settings in Radeon Settings.
  3. Navigate to Preferences > Power > Switchable Graphics Application Settings.
  4. Choose Hard West 2 from the list of installed programs. [If the game isn’t on the list,
  5. choose Add Application and include the game’s exe file.]
  6. Finally, from the Graphics Settings, option > Reboot the PC, select High Performance.

Finish Background running tasks

The chances are that your system will become laggy or overloaded as a result of a large number of unnecessary background running tasks. These tasks essentially consume system resources such as CPU, memory, or internet bandwidth, which can have a significant impact on the game launching experience.

If you don’t need those tasks (third-party), try closing them completely by following the steps below.

  1. To open Task Manager, use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
  2. Click on the Processes tab > Make sure to select the task that you want to close individually.
  3. Then click End Task to finish it.
  4. As previously stated, repeat these steps for each task you want to complete.
    Close the Task Manager window and restart your computer.

Check and Repair Game Files

Missing or corrupted game files on the PC can cause problems with the game application launching properly or crashing. It does not imply that you will always receive an error message or a warning notice following a crash. A minor but useful game file can easily become corrupted or missing. Fortunately, most game launchers include a useful feature that allows you to automatically verify and repair game files online. To accomplish this:

  1. Start the Steam client > Select Library.
  2. Select Hard West 2 from the list of installed games by right-clicking it.
  3. Now, select Properties > Local Files.
  4. Select Verify Game File Integrity.
  5. You’ll have to wait until the process is finished.
  6. After that, simply restart your computer.

Steam Overlay and SteamVR Options can be modified.

Several Hard West Two PC players have also reported that they are frequently crashing. It’s most likely happening to Steam users, and we have a potential workaround. How to do it:

  1. Open the Steam client on your PC and navigate to the Library tab.
  2. Select Properties by right-clicking on Hard West 2 in the left pane.
  3. Now, go to General and uncheck the Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game option.
  4. You should also enable the option Use Desktop Game Theatre while SteamVR is active.

Turn off the Windows Firewall.

If you are using the default Windows Firewall protection on your PC, you should temporarily disable it and recheck for the problem. To accomplish this:

  1. Select Start > Search for Firewall.
  2. From the search results, choose Windows Defender Firewall.
  3. Now, in the left pane, click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
  4. For both the Private and Public Network Settings, select the Turn off Windows Defender
  5. Firewall (not recommended) option.
  6. Once you’ve made your selection, click OK to save your changes.
  7. Finally, turn off your computer.

Disable Antivirus Protection

You can also try disabling Windows Defender on your PC to ensure that no antivirus software is preventing the game files from running properly.

  1. To open the Windows Settings menu, press the Windows + I shortcut keys.
  2. Select Update & Security > From the left pane, select Windows Security.
  3. Now, select the Open Windows Security option.
  4. Navigate to Virus and threat protection > Select Manage settings.
  5. After that, deactivate the Real-time protection toggle.
  6. To proceed, select Yes when prompted.
  7. If you have another antivirus program installed on your computer, make sure to disable it.

Set the Power Options to High Performance.

Typically, the Windows system is set to the default Balanced Power Mode, which provides both performance and power consumption. However, when it comes to graphics-intensive programs, this mode can cause performance issues on your PC. It is preferable to set the power mode to High Performance, which will improve the performance of the tasks.

This mode, however, will use more power or battery juice than usual. To perform this:

  1. Click the Start button, then type the control panel into the search box.
  2. From the search result, select Control Panel.
  3. Now, navigate to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
  4. To select it, click on High Performance.
  5. Once completed, restart the computer to apply the changes.
  6. It may resolve the Hard West 2 crashing problem on your PC.

Install Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime again.

If your Windows computer is not running the most recent version of the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime, you may encounter a variety of problems. To accomplish this:

  1. To access the Start Menu, press the Windows key on your keyboard.
  2. Now, search for apps and features.
  3. Open the search result Apps & Features.
  4. Individually select the Microsoft Visual C++ program(s) from the list.
  5. Choose each program and then click Uninstall.
  6. To complete the uninstallation, follow the on-screen instructions.
  7. Next, go to the Microsoft website and download the most recent Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime.
  8. Once completed, install it on your computer > Restart the system to see the changes.

Restart with Clean Boot

According to some reports, when the Windows system boots up, multiple programs are always running in the background. As a result, those services may use system resources and internet data without your knowledge. It is preferable to perform a clean boot and disable unnecessary startup applications by following the steps outlined below.

  1. To open the Run dialogue box, press the Windows + R shortcut keys.
  2. To open System Configuration, type MSConfig and press Enter.
  3. Navigate to the Services tab and check the Hide all Microsoft services box.
  4. Select Disable all > To save changes, click Apply and then OK.
  5. Now, navigate to the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager.
  6. From Task Manager, select the Startup tab.
  7. Make sure to select the task with the greatest startup impact.
  8. Once selected, click Disable to disable it. [Repeat these steps for each program with a higher startup impact].
  9. Finally, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Disable Overlay Apps.

Occasionally, a couple of applications will include an additional overlay app that greatly assists streamers or gamers. However, these overlay apps may eventually conflict with the game files and cause a variety of issues such as FPS drops, black display issues, lags, glitches, and so on. You should disable the overlay apps manually before relaunching the game to see if the crashing issue has been resolved. To accomplish this:

Turn off Discord Overlay:

  1. Open the Discord app > At the bottom, click the gear icon.
  2. Select Overlay from the App Settings menu. Enable the in-game overlay by checking the box.
  3. Select the Games button > Choose Hard West 2.
  4. Finally, deactivate the Enable in-game overlay switch.
  5. To apply the changes, restart your computer.

Turn off the Xbox Game Bar:

  1. To open Windows Settings, press the Windows + I keys together.
  2. Go to Gaming > Navigate to the Game Bar > Switch off Using the Game bar option, you can record game clips, snapshots, and broadcasts.

Deactivate the Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay:

  1. Navigate to Settings in the Nvidia GeForce Experience app.
  2. Disable the In-Game Overlay option by going to the General tab.
  3. Finally, restart your computer to apply the changes and relaunch the game.
    Other overlay apps that can cause problems include MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, RGB software, and others. You should also turn them off.

Turn off CPU or GPU overclocking.

It’s also worth noting not to enable CPU/GPU overclocking on your PC if your game frequently crashes or stutters. We understand that overclocking the CPU/GPU can significantly improve gameplay, but it can also cause bottlenecking or compatibility issues. For best results, leave the frequency at its default setting.

Hard West 2 Update

Even an outdated game patch version can cause a variety of problems on the gaming device, including crashing, lags, stuttering, and other issues. It is recommended that you check for game updates on a regular basis and install the most recent update whenever it becomes available. You can do the same by following the steps below.

  1. Go to Library in the Steam client.
  2. On the left pane, select Hard West 2 from the list of installed games.
  3. The client will now search for the latest update automatically.
  4. If an update is available, you will see the Update option > Simply click on it.
  5. Wait a couple of minutes for the game update to finish. [Depends on storage space and wifi]
  6. When finished, make sure to exit the Steam client.
  7. Finally, restart your computer to apply the changes and relaunch the Hard West 2 game.

That wraps things up, guys. We assume that you found this information to be useful. If you have any further questions, please comment below.

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