[Solution for Windows] Fatal Error: Steam needs to be online to update but was set... - Page 5

hockeybrianboy · 02-15-2013, 08:13 PM

Why the ♥♥♥♥ did steam have to go and screw up a perfectly working client. I've tried everything listed in here and nothing's working.

Deinon · 02-17-2013, 01:39 PM

Like others I have never had problems with any Steam update except for the latest 110 MB one. It stops randomly in the download with every solution I try, so it's not even a reproducible crash. I get the same message about needing to be online to update, but my internet connection is fine and everything else works.

I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling steam, disabling/uninstalling virus/spyware detection software, deleting all of the steam folder contents except for the steam.exe, modifying the offline registry entry, turning on "Automatic" on the Steam client services, running the Steamtmp file. They all result in the same error at random points in the download even if I repeat the same method.

Once it downloaded all except 20 kb of the update and then quit with the error message. I almost threw my computer out of the window. I have $240 of software locked up in Steam and not usable now!

DarkLite123 · 02-17-2013, 03:35 PM

Cannot get Steam working. Tried Google DNS, tried SteamTmp.exe, tried Steam.exe, checked registry, tried reinstalling and can't even do that.

Help.

frogmirefrost · 02-17-2013, 04:37 PM

Well I had Steam installed and was getting the not online error. I tried the registry fix but it didn't work. I then tried the steamtmp.exe and that allowed me to open Steam, but only if I used that exe file. I then decided to try and reinstall steam from scratch after uninstalling it, it can't even finish a complete install now without getting the online error. Using steamtmp.exe now tells me "ERROR: invalid segment uncompressed file length". /sigh.

TL;DR - None of the fixes have worked for me and now Steam isn't even installing completely.

yatterman · 02-17-2013, 05:16 PM

http://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/commen...jego?context=3

Can you add this to the list of fixes? It fixed it for me.

Deinon · 02-17-2013, 06:20 PM

Tried the reddit link solution, but still get the error. No fix.

Dreadjaws · 02-18-2013, 03:22 PM

Thanks, OP! This saved my life! (Disclaimer: not literally)

Hantsuki03 · 02-27-2013, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faliwn

Ok, so when I started Steam today, I got the error of "Steam needs to be online to update but was set to offline mode" and couldn't even start Steam. My solution was this:

Restarted Steam and it updated. This worked for me, but I'm not sure if it would work for anyone else. I had found the solution after looking for the solution itself and only finding Mac answers, to which I modified for Windows users.

If the above solution doesn't work, try this from Hal853:

If both of these solutions don't work, then my only suggestion would be to uninstall and reinstall steam, since that has solved the issue for some people (though I myself would really hate to do that). I'm not a computer wizard unfortunately, so troubleshooting isn't really my thing. Just to add, registries can be dangerous to mess around with so don't go changing random values in all your entries.

Another possible solution (Credit to earthquaker501):

(Tell me if you didn't want your solution up here, I'll take it off)

WHAT IF: I'm using windows 8? I can't access it like that because technically, it doesn't have the start button on the lower left like windows 7 and older pcs have

SaturdaySnax · 02-28-2013, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogmirefrost

Well I had Steam installed and was getting the not online error. I tried the registry fix but it didn't work. I then tried the steamtmp.exe and that allowed me to open Steam, but only if I used that exe file. I then decided to try and reinstall steam from scratch after uninstalling it, it can't even finish a complete install now without getting the online error. Using steamtmp.exe now tells me "ERROR: invalid segment uncompressed file length". /sigh.

TL;DR - None of the fixes have worked for me and now Steam isn't even installing completely.

I'm in the EXACT same situation. I can't get a fresh clean steam install to work.

US_Ranger · 02-28-2013, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaturdaySnax

I'm in the EXACT same situation. I can't get a fresh clean steam install to work.

A lot of us in the same boat. I put in a support request a few days ago but haven't heard anything back.

SaturdaySnax · 03-01-2013, 07:37 AM

Put in my support ticket yesterday. If I get a response that helps, I'll post it here.

DarkDXZ · 03-01-2013, 10:56 AM

I am in a dire need of help, too.
Nothing that I tried from this thread worked - messing with registries, redownloading Steam, and now even SteamTmp refuses to work.

Haven't sent a support ticket yet, but I guess I will.

AlfieWilRus · 03-01-2013, 11:30 PM

Well, I tried using my Skyrim disc and by the grace of God steam actually updated without getting the damn error. And I'm currently installing Skyrim again.

I guess buying the disc has saved me this time.

DarkDXZ · 03-02-2013, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfieWilRus

Well, I tried using my Skyrim disc and by the grace of God steam actually updated without getting the damn error. And I'm currently installing Skyrim again.

I guess buying the disc has saved me this time.

Yeah, but everyone else out there is stuck with more than just Skyrim, you know...
Not all games have a disc to let you play w/o Steam.

And even if they do have a disc, they still need Steam.

SaturdaySnax · 03-02-2013, 12:11 PM

I'm in!!!! Saw someone from valve suggest booting into safe mode with networking in another thread and it worked. Here's what I did:

1. Moved steamapps folder to somewhere safe
2. Uninstalled steam
3. Restarted (don't know if necessary)
4. Downloaded steam and installed
5. Saw the stupid updating problem, had the stupid not connected to the internet message, etc ...
6. Deleted everything from steam folder except for steam.exe
7. Restarted computer
8. Booted into safe mode with networking
9. Launched steam from the .exe in the steam folder, not the shortcut
10. Steam updated and started as usual
11. Closed steam, moved my steamapps folder back in, restarted steam and I'm all set.

02-15-2013, 08:13 PM	#61
hockeybrianboy Join Date: Apr 2012 Reputation: 0 Posts: 1	WTF Why the ♥♥♥♥ did steam have to go and screw up a perfectly working client. I've tried everything listed in here and nothing's working.

02-17-2013, 04:37 PM	#64
frogmirefrost Join Date: Sep 2011 Reputation: 0 Posts: 49	Well I had Steam installed and was getting the not online error. I tried the registry fix but it didn't work. I then tried the steamtmp.exe and that allowed me to open Steam, but only if I used that exe file. I then decided to try and reinstall steam from scratch after uninstalling it, it can't even finish a complete install now without getting the online error. Using steamtmp.exe now tells me "ERROR: invalid segment uncompressed file length". /sigh. TL;DR - None of the fixes have worked for me and now Steam isn't even installing completely. Last edited by frogmirefrost: 02-17-2013 at 04:51 PM.

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02-17-2013, 01:39 PM	#62
Deinon Join Date: Feb 2013 Reputation: 0 Posts: 5	Like others I have never had problems with any Steam update except for the latest 110 MB one. It stops randomly in the download with every solution I try, so it's not even a reproducible crash. I get the same message about needing to be online to update, but my internet connection is fine and everything else works. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling steam, disabling/uninstalling virus/spyware detection software, deleting all of the steam folder contents except for the steam.exe, modifying the offline registry entry, turning on "Automatic" on the Steam client services, running the Steamtmp file. They all result in the same error at random points in the download even if I repeat the same method. Once it downloaded all except 20 kb of the update and then quit with the error message. I almost threw my computer out of the window. I have $240 of software locked up in Steam and not usable now!

02-17-2013, 03:35 PM	#63
DarkLite123 Join Date: May 2010 Reputation: 2512 Posts: 1,862	Cannot get Steam working. Tried Google DNS, tried SteamTmp.exe, tried Steam.exe, checked registry, tried reinstalling and can't even do that. Help.

02-17-2013, 05:16 PM	#65
yatterman Join Date: Oct 2009 Reputation: 288 Posts: 1,444	http://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/commen...jego?context=3 Can you add this to the list of fixes? It fixed it for me.

02-17-2013, 06:20 PM	#66
Deinon Join Date: Feb 2013 Reputation: 0 Posts: 5	Tried the reddit link solution, but still get the error. No fix.

02-18-2013, 03:22 PM	#67
Dreadjaws Join Date: Mar 2010 Reputation: 906 Posts: 3,126	Thanks, OP! This saved my life! (Disclaimer: not literally)

03-01-2013, 07:37 AM	#71
SaturdaySnax Join Date: Jul 2010 Reputation: 15 Posts: 152	Put in my support ticket yesterday. If I get a response that helps, I'll post it here.

03-01-2013, 10:56 AM	#72
DarkDXZ Join Date: Sep 2011 Reputation: 265 Posts: 2,280	I am in a dire need of help, too. Nothing that I tried from this thread worked - messing with registries, redownloading Steam, and now even SteamTmp refuses to work. Haven't sent a support ticket yet, but I guess I will.

03-01-2013, 11:30 PM	#73
AlfieWilRus Join Date: Jul 2011 Reputation: 0 Posts: 3	Well, I tried using my Skyrim disc and by the grace of God steam actually updated without getting the damn error. And I'm currently installing Skyrim again. I guess buying the disc has saved me this time.

03-02-2013, 12:11 PM	#75
SaturdaySnax Join Date: Jul 2010 Reputation: 15 Posts: 152	I'm in!!!! Saw someone from valve suggest booting into safe mode with networking in another thread and it worked. Here's what I did: 1. Moved steamapps folder to somewhere safe 2. Uninstalled steam 3. Restarted (don't know if necessary) 4. Downloaded steam and installed 5. Saw the stupid updating problem, had the stupid not connected to the internet message, etc ... 6. Deleted everything from steam folder except for steam.exe 7. Restarted computer 8. Booted into safe mode with networking 9. Launched steam from the .exe in the steam folder, not the shortcut 10. Steam updated and started as usual 11. Closed steam, moved my steamapps folder back in, restarted steam and I'm all set.