Recent Update Failure

08-03-2011, 08:20 AM

Posting this in the hope that it helps someone, and maybe helps me too.

OS: MS Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

Update started automatically 8.2.2011 and failed.

Uninstall Steam.

Install from MSI file.
Dialogs complete.
[Finish]

Update 0% -> 26%
Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: deleted Steam.exe but the file is still there [OK]
process terminates

Clean Install Attempt:

DONE - Write down your Steam Account name and password - you will need them to log back into Steam once you have reinstalled
DONE - Logout of Steam if you are able to do so
DONE - Exit Steam
DELETED - Move "SteamApps" and "userdata" out of the Steam folder. These are the folders that hold your games and various local save files so you want to keep them!

DONE - If you are having problems with a specific game, delete its folder from SteamApps/<account>
DONE - Uninstall Steam via Add/Remove programs, if you can
RESTARTED ANYWAY - Restart if prompted
DONE - Delete Steam folder if it still exists
DONE - Hit windows key + r ( run at the start menu ) and type regedit
DONE - Delete HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Valve (or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Valve on 64-bit Windows)
DONE - Restart
DONE - Download and install a fresh copy of the Steam installer from http://www.steampowered.com/download/SteamInstall.msi
DONE - Run the installer

RESULT - Dialogs complete. [Finish]
Update 0% -> 26%
Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: deleted Steam.exe but the file is still there [OK]
process terminates

UNABLE - Exit Steam before you first login
UNABLE - Move your "SteamApps" and "userdata" folders back
UNABLE - Run Steam.

Forums - Registered.
Support - Registered and ticket open.

DONE - Rename SteamNew.exe -> Steam.exe
DONE - Run Steam.exe
RESULT - ERROR unable to open SteamNew.exe for writing.

2nd Attempt - Run Steam.exe

RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."

3rd Attempt - Run Steam.exe

RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."

4rd Attempt - Run Steam.exe
RESULT - ERROR unable to open SteamNew.exe for writing.

5th Attempt - Run Steam.exe
RESULT - ERROR unable to open SteamNew.exe for writing.

6th Attempt - Run Steam.exe
RESULT - ERROR unable to open SteamNew.exe for writing.

7th Attempt - Run Steam.exe
RESULT - ERROR unable to open SteamNew.exe for writing.

8th Attempt - Run Steam.exe

RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."

9th Attempt - Run Steam.exe

RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."

Delete Steam.exe - Success.
Rename SteamNew.exe -> Steam.exe - Success.

Run Steam.exe

RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."

Delete ClientRegistry.blob

Run Steam.exe

Creates new blob.

RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."

DONE - Delete everything but Steam.exe

Run Steam.exe

RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."
And created ClientRegistry.blob, Steam_66.mst, Steam_66.pkg, SteamNew.exe, SteamTmp.exe, and steamtmp_1065011_assert_2011_8_2T13_25_18C0.mdmp

DONE - Delete everything but Steam.exe
STOP - Windows Defender Service.
System Restore is already off.
Volume Shadow Copy is already off.

DELETE - All except Steam.exe

Run Steam.exe

RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."
And created ClientRegistry.blob, Steam_66.mst, Steam_66.pkg, SteamNew.exe, SteamTmp.exe, and steamtmp_1065011_assert_2011_8_2T13_30_26C0.mdmp

RUN - msconfig
BOOT - Safe mode with networking
RESTART
RUN - Steam.exe
Update completed.
RESTART.
Steam launches at startup in normal mode.
Wants code from email but I haven't got a message.
Finally email arrives. Enter code.
Client seems normal.
All files downloaded.

I'm not sure why this happened. Does anyone know how to prevent it? As you can see I eventually found the solution and in hindsight it wasn't necessary to delete my saves and downloaded files, etc, but I'm relatively new to Steam and didn't know this at the time. The actions above were the result of suggestions from the forum and the Steam website.

It's curious why a reboot into safe mode allowed the process to complete.

Epsilon · 08-03-2011, 08:30 AM

Sounds like something was messing with Steam's ability to update itself, and whatever it was never got run in safe mode.

Very odd, anyway.

08-03-2011, 08:32 AM

Yeah, it is odd. Even a clean install wouldn't take.

PaladinX · 08-03-2011, 09:49 AM

Similar problem here.
Steam.exe is gone. SteamNew.exe is not working due to "temporarily not available"
Wtf?

PELUXA1 · 08-03-2011, 10:09 AM

You can't prevent it... it happened to a lot of Steam Users...

http://forums.steampowered.com/forum....php?t=2031659

MmmBacon · 08-03-2011, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yourekidding

"The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."

It's curious why a reboot into safe mode allowed the process to complete.

It's because Steam.exe is being used. Obviously it can't be deleted since it's running. Reboot, logoff, shutdown, start in safe mode really achieves the same thing, allows the process(es) using Steam.exe to close. Reading the error messages helps.

zakspeedf1 · 08-03-2011, 04:13 PM

I had tehe same issue couple days ago, the only way i could reinstall steam after the update snafu was to use a physical disc copy (my old Orange Box retail dvd).
yes, strange

satasonic · 08-03-2011, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MmmBacon

It's because Steam.exe is being used. Obviously it can't be deleted since it's running. Reboot, logoff, shutdown, start in safe mode really achieves the same thing, allows the process(es) using Steam.exe to close. Reading the error messages helps.

When it happened to me, Steam wasnt running. I just decided to play a quick game in the morning, turned Steam on, and as soon as I clicked the shortcut that happened. Its not related to whether steam is "used" or not.

mawpa · 08-04-2011, 07:16 AM

I had the same. But still got the problem when trying to open updated steam by clicking steam.exe it simply freezes entirely notebook...
Sent a new ticket for support, didn't get any respond yet. The waiting begun...

08-06-2011, 11:45 AM

@MmmBacon

While reading the error message certainly was entertaining it didn't suggest a course of action. It might be of interest to you to know that the Steam.exe (or any of the files it created) were not running in a process list at the time. Starting the process would obviously call it, it would error, then exit.

The users on this forum posted a few possible solutions and the faq offered another possible solution. Both of which, I might add, were more helpful than support, as the answer was found in another thread that thankfully someone posted. This shouldn't be the case, obviously, but if that is the system we are working with then it might be helpful to post such results so that other people can find them.

It may very well be that restarting is all that's required to solve the issue. I've no proof of that as my own issue was resolved in the manner above.

In any event, to lean on your obvious expertise in the subject, would you know which process was using the .exe?

redconfusion · 01-20-2012, 03:22 AM

Hopefully this helps others.
After about 3 days of trying finally got this to work.

Had the following error appear in my attempts to install this software:
Fail at 26% load.
Deleted Steam.exe but file still exists.
SteamNew.exe not available for writing.
Steam.exe in use by another process.

I'm using Windows 7 64 Bit

I created a new Admin account.
Turned off Windows Firewall.
Turned off UAC.
Turned off all background programs via run command MSCONFIG
switch to Selective mode
Services tab - after checking Hide all Microsoft services
IMPORTANT TO CHECK HIDE MICROSOFT SERVICES, turning off a Microsoft service may prevent windows from booting properly
disable all services shown
Startup - uncheck everything
Reboot computer

C:\Program Files(x86)\Steam\
Set compatibility mode for Steam.exe
Run this program in compatibility mode - Windows 7
Check - Run this program as an administrator

After setting up compatibility mode it updated to 100%
Then gave error: "Running Steam in Windows compatibility mode not recommended"

After turned off all compatibility mode settings steam started up like normal.

<Out`6 · 07-16-2012, 10:49 PM

Hey guys!
I had the same problem, og found this link:

http://www.alienwarearena.com/forums...ms-with-steam/

It 100% works and it takes less time

This is how its done in Windows7:

1 - Install steam from SteamInstall.msi

2 - When you get to the "Im done, but now were going to look for updates" dialog, DO NOT hit "finish." Instead, open the task manager and kill all the msiexec processes

3 - Reboot the machine and enter "safe mode with network support" by hitting F8 just before windows starts to boot

4 - Locate and run Steam.exe, it should complete normally

5 - Reboot the machine and waste the rest of your life playing video games

Hope it will help you!

Thanks to Rim Jim

Best reguards

<Out`6

jsura · 08-04-2012, 04:55 PM

Hi
Today the dreaded can't copy steamnew.exe to steam.exe crap started again but the old fixes did not work. What did work was to put a copy of the security certificate for steam in the root authority folder. by getting properties -digital signatures-hilite valve-details-view certificate-install-it gives big warning that all CA for valve will be trusted but do it-get success install certificate message-run steam and voila! now i can play my games. Then one can use the cert authority to remove it if you like and then reinstall it in the place the cert installer chooses as default rather than forcing the root authority. you may even try installing the certificate in the default first to see if iy fixes the problem without having to go thru the root, remove reinst default thing. best GD

08-03-2011, 08:20 AM	#1
yourekidding Guest Posts: n/a	Recent Update Failure Posting this in the hope that it helps someone, and maybe helps me too. OS: MS Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit Update started automatically 8.2.2011 and failed. Uninstall Steam. Install from MSI file. Dialogs complete. [Finish] Update 0% -> 26% Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: deleted Steam.exe but the file is still there [OK] process terminates Clean Install Attempt: DONE - Write down your Steam Account name and password - you will need them to log back into Steam once you have reinstalled DONE - Logout of Steam if you are able to do so DONE - Exit Steam DELETED - Move "SteamApps" and "userdata" out of the Steam folder. These are the folders that hold your games and various local save files so you want to keep them! DONE - If you are having problems with a specific game, delete its folder from SteamApps/<account> DONE - Uninstall Steam via Add/Remove programs, if you can RESTARTED ANYWAY - Restart if prompted DONE - Delete Steam folder if it still exists DONE - Hit windows key + r ( run at the start menu ) and type regedit DONE - Delete HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Valve (or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Valve on 64-bit Windows) DONE - Restart DONE - Download and install a fresh copy of the Steam installer from http://www.steampowered.com/download/SteamInstall.msi DONE - Run the installer RESULT - Dialogs complete. [Finish] Update 0% -> 26% Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: deleted Steam.exe but the file is still there [OK] process terminates UNABLE - Exit Steam before you first login UNABLE - Move your "SteamApps" and "userdata" folders back UNABLE - Run Steam. Forums - Registered. Support - Registered and ticket open. DONE - Rename SteamNew.exe -> Steam.exe DONE - Run Steam.exe RESULT - ERROR unable to open SteamNew.exe for writing. 2nd Attempt - Run Steam.exe RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process." 3rd Attempt - Run Steam.exe RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process." 4rd Attempt - Run Steam.exe RESULT - ERROR unable to open SteamNew.exe for writing. 5th Attempt - Run Steam.exe RESULT - ERROR unable to open SteamNew.exe for writing. 6th Attempt - Run Steam.exe RESULT - ERROR unable to open SteamNew.exe for writing. 7th Attempt - Run Steam.exe RESULT - ERROR unable to open SteamNew.exe for writing. 8th Attempt - Run Steam.exe RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process." 9th Attempt - Run Steam.exe RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process." Delete Steam.exe - Success. Rename SteamNew.exe -> Steam.exe - Success. Run Steam.exe RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process." Delete ClientRegistry.blob Run Steam.exe Creates new blob. RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process." DONE - Delete everything but Steam.exe Run Steam.exe RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process." And created ClientRegistry.blob, Steam_66.mst, Steam_66.pkg, SteamNew.exe, SteamTmp.exe, and steamtmp_1065011_assert_2011_8_2T13_25_18C0.mdmp DONE - Delete everything but Steam.exe STOP - Windows Defender Service. System Restore is already off. Volume Shadow Copy is already off. DELETE - All except Steam.exe Run Steam.exe RESULT - Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: copying SteamNew.exe to Steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 32 "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process." And created ClientRegistry.blob, Steam_66.mst, Steam_66.pkg, SteamNew.exe, SteamTmp.exe, and steamtmp_1065011_assert_2011_8_2T13_30_26C0.mdmp RUN - msconfig BOOT - Safe mode with networking RESTART RUN - Steam.exe Update completed. RESTART. Steam launches at startup in normal mode. Wants code from email but I haven't got a message. Finally email arrives. Enter code. Client seems normal. All files downloaded. I'm not sure why this happened. Does anyone know how to prevent it? As you can see I eventually found the solution and in hindsight it wasn't necessary to delete my saves and downloaded files, etc, but I'm relatively new to Steam and didn't know this at the time. The actions above were the result of suggestions from the forum and the Steam website. It's curious why a reboot into safe mode allowed the process to complete.

01-20-2012, 03:22 AM	#11
redconfusion Join Date: Apr 2011 Reputation: 0 Posts: 15	Finally fix on my system Hopefully this helps others. After about 3 days of trying finally got this to work. Had the following error appear in my attempts to install this software: Fail at 26% load. Deleted Steam.exe but file still exists. SteamNew.exe not available for writing. Steam.exe in use by another process. I'm using Windows 7 64 Bit I created a new Admin account. Turned off Windows Firewall. Turned off UAC. Turned off all background programs via run command MSCONFIG switch to Selective mode Services tab - after checking Hide all Microsoft services IMPORTANT TO CHECK HIDE MICROSOFT SERVICES, turning off a Microsoft service may prevent windows from booting properly disable all services shown Startup - uncheck everything Reboot computer C:\Program Files(x86)\Steam\ Set compatibility mode for Steam.exe Run this program in compatibility mode - Windows 7 Check - Run this program as an administrator After setting up compatibility mode it updated to 100% Then gave error: "Running Steam in Windows compatibility mode not recommended" After turned off all compatibility mode settings steam started up like normal. Last edited by redconfusion: 01-20-2012 at 03:26 AM.

07-16-2012, 10:49 PM	#12
<Out`6 Join Date: Oct 2010 Reputation: 0 Posts: 16	New and easier solution: Hey guys! I had the same problem, og found this link: http://www.alienwarearena.com/forums...ms-with-steam/ It 100% works and it takes less time This is how its done in Windows7: 1 - Install steam from SteamInstall.msi 2 - When you get to the "Im done, but now were going to look for updates" dialog, DO NOT hit "finish." Instead, open the task manager and kill all the msiexec processes 3 - Reboot the machine and enter "safe mode with network support" by hitting F8 just before windows starts to boot 4 - Locate and run Steam.exe, it should complete normally 5 - Reboot the machine and waste the rest of your life playing video games Hope it will help you! Thanks to Rim Jim Best reguards <Out`6

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08-03-2011, 08:30 AM	#2
Epsilon Join Date: Jan 2003 Reputation: 1795 Posts: 5,306	Sounds like something was messing with Steam's ability to update itself, and whatever it was never got run in safe mode. Very odd, anyway.

08-03-2011, 08:32 AM	#3
yourekidding Guest Posts: n/a	Yeah, it is odd. Even a clean install wouldn't take.

08-03-2011, 09:49 AM	#4
PaladinX Join Date: Mar 2010 Reputation: 0 Posts: 12	Similar problem here. Steam.exe is gone. SteamNew.exe is not working due to "temporarily not available" Wtf?

08-03-2011, 10:09 AM	#5
PELUXA1 Join Date: Dec 2010 Reputation: 1092 Posts: 7,964	You can't prevent it... it happened to a lot of Steam Users... http://forums.steampowered.com/forum....php?t=2031659

08-03-2011, 04:13 PM	#7
zakspeedf1 Join Date: Mar 2009 Reputation: 0 Posts: 31	I had tehe same issue couple days ago, the only way i could reinstall steam after the update snafu was to use a physical disc copy (my old Orange Box retail dvd). yes, strange

08-04-2011, 07:16 AM	#9
mawpa Join Date: Dec 2006 Reputation: 0 Posts: 14	I had the same. But still got the problem when trying to open updated steam by clicking steam.exe it simply freezes entirely notebook... Sent a new ticket for support, didn't get any respond yet. The waiting begun...

08-06-2011, 11:45 AM	#10
yourekidding Guest Posts: n/a	@MmmBacon While reading the error message certainly was entertaining it didn't suggest a course of action. It might be of interest to you to know that the Steam.exe (or any of the files it created) were not running in a process list at the time. Starting the process would obviously call it, it would error, then exit. The users on this forum posted a few possible solutions and the faq offered another possible solution. Both of which, I might add, were more helpful than support, as the answer was found in another thread that thankfully someone posted. This shouldn't be the case, obviously, but if that is the system we are working with then it might be helpful to post such results so that other people can find them. It may very well be that restarting is all that's required to solve the issue. I've no proof of that as my own issue was resolved in the manner above. In any event, to lean on your obvious expertise in the subject, would you know which process was using the .exe?

08-04-2012, 04:55 PM	#13
jsura Join Date: Jan 2012 Reputation: 0 Posts: 1	Hi Today the dreaded can't copy steamnew.exe to steam.exe crap started again but the old fixes did not work. What did work was to put a copy of the security certificate for steam in the root authority folder. by getting properties -digital signatures-hilite valve-details-view certificate-install-it gives big warning that all CA for valve will be trusted but do it-get success install certificate message-run steam and voila! now i can play my games. Then one can use the cert authority to remove it if you like and then reinstall it in the place the cert installer chooses as default rather than forcing the root authority. you may even try installing the certificate in the default first to see if iy fixes the problem without having to go thru the root, remove reinst default thing. best GD