unable to open steamTmp.exe for writing

03-25-2009, 01:10 PM

So i tried to play L4Dead and steam began to update itself. At 26% complete, I got the above error. Steam support doesn't seem to care much, so I thought I would ask about it here. Anyone had this prob. before? I have tried many remedies ( remove .blob, restart w/ all non microsoft stuff off, emptied caches, reinstall from a disk, and others) and none have worked yet.

AciD · 03-25-2009, 01:29 PM

Take a look at this FAQ:
Unable to open SteamNew.exe for writing

03-25-2009, 02:25 PM

Thanks for the reply. I updated and ran the two freeware spyware tools i use, updated and ran my antivirus tool, disabled my firewall, spyware tools, "tea timer", antivirus and whateverelse I could think of. I saw you make this same suggestion on another thread, but it doesn't seem to be my answer.

03-26-2009, 04:07 PM

Is steam support existent yet slow or what?

cryptodan · 03-26-2009, 05:22 PM

Check your firewalls and the permissions on the folder your Steam is installed in.

03-26-2009, 07:42 PM

I've done that already, both Windows and my other app. Antivir also. Spyware tools also. All non windows apps also. Ugh.
What would change folder permissions? I have run steam on this machine for 2 years.

cryptodan · 03-26-2009, 07:54 PM

Try running Steam from Safemode with Networking.

What kind of spyware tools do you use?

03-27-2009, 07:07 AM

I've done that also, with no luck. This is a very frustrating problem. I've posted a question at the support site, and have gotten very little feedback. I explored the full install download for this file (steamTmp.exe) and did not find it. Does anyone know where it is written to?

cryptodan · 03-27-2009, 11:05 AM

It is written in the root of the steam installation location. What security programs do you use?

03-27-2009, 11:30 AM

xp's built in and Comodo firewalls. Windows Defender, Ad Aware, Spybot w/tea timer enabled, spyware blaster. AVG for antivirus.

03-27-2009, 11:31 AM

Thanks for your help / interest btw.

cryptodan · 03-27-2009, 11:34 AM

Okay You need to pick a firewall to use and disable the other one, you need to remove spyware blaster, and adaware, and keep spybot, and dont use Windows Defender. Using multiple security products at once can cause a lot of issues such as yours.

I would disable Windows Firewall, remove Defender, Adaware, and Spyware Blaster, and I would keep the following: Comodo, Spybot, and AVG. Those should be all you need.

03-27-2009, 01:02 PM

I understand that similar apps. running at the same time can cause problems. I did not mean to imply that I do run these apps at the same time. Your advice is sound, but unfortunately does not help w/ my problem. I thought I had made some headway earlier today. I was in safe mode, and attempted to start steam several times (each ending at 26% and closing the update process) when finally after a short pause at 26% it proceeded normally to 100%. I thought "GREAT!!", but afterwards Steam did not start. After waiting for it to do so for a couple of minuets, I tried to start it manually w/ no luck. I turned off all MS services, reboot in norm. mode, still wouldn't start. ARGH!!. Clicking the executable in the root folder did nothing. Does not show up in the process tree.

cryptodan · 03-27-2009, 02:12 PM

Then you have a permissions issue.

03-27-2009, 03:09 PM

Na, checked that also. Full Control Allowed 'cross the board.

03-25-2009, 01:10 PM	#1
emarshallp Guest Posts: n/a	unable to open steamTmp.exe for writing So i tried to play L4Dead and steam began to update itself. At 26% complete, I got the above error. Steam support doesn't seem to care much, so I thought I would ask about it here. Anyone had this prob. before? I have tried many remedies ( remove .blob, restart w/ all non microsoft stuff off, emptied caches, reinstall from a disk, and others) and none have worked yet.

03-26-2009, 07:54 PM	#7
cryptodan Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Reputation: 405 Posts: 7,625	Try running Steam from Safemode with Networking. What kind of spyware tools do you use? Last edited by cryptodan: 03-26-2009 at 07:57 PM.

03-27-2009, 03:09 PM	#15
emarshallp Guest Posts: n/a	Na, checked that also. Full Control Allowed 'cross the board. Last edited by emarshallp: 03-27-2009 at 08:30 PM.

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03-25-2009, 01:29 PM	#2
AciD Volunteer Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Reputation: 2263 Posts: 13,874	Take a look at this FAQ: Unable to open SteamNew.exe for writing

03-25-2009, 02:25 PM	#3
emarshallp Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks for the reply. I updated and ran the two freeware spyware tools i use, updated and ran my antivirus tool, disabled my firewall, spyware tools, "tea timer", antivirus and whateverelse I could think of. I saw you make this same suggestion on another thread, but it doesn't seem to be my answer.

03-26-2009, 04:07 PM	#4
emarshallp Guest Posts: n/a	Is steam support existent yet slow or what?

03-26-2009, 05:22 PM	#5
cryptodan Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Reputation: 405 Posts: 7,625	Check your firewalls and the permissions on the folder your Steam is installed in.

03-26-2009, 07:42 PM	#6
emarshallp Guest Posts: n/a	I've done that already, both Windows and my other app. Antivir also. Spyware tools also. All non windows apps also. Ugh. What would change folder permissions? I have run steam on this machine for 2 years.

03-27-2009, 07:07 AM	#8
emarshallp Guest Posts: n/a	I've done that also, with no luck. This is a very frustrating problem. I've posted a question at the support site, and have gotten very little feedback. I explored the full install download for this file (steamTmp.exe) and did not find it. Does anyone know where it is written to?

03-27-2009, 11:05 AM	#9
cryptodan Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Reputation: 405 Posts: 7,625	It is written in the root of the steam installation location. What security programs do you use?

03-27-2009, 11:30 AM	#10
emarshallp Guest Posts: n/a	xp's built in and Comodo firewalls. Windows Defender, Ad Aware, Spybot w/tea timer enabled, spyware blaster. AVG for antivirus.

03-27-2009, 11:31 AM	#11
emarshallp Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks for your help / interest btw.

03-27-2009, 11:34 AM	#12
cryptodan Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Reputation: 405 Posts: 7,625	Okay You need to pick a firewall to use and disable the other one, you need to remove spyware blaster, and adaware, and keep spybot, and dont use Windows Defender. Using multiple security products at once can cause a lot of issues such as yours. I would disable Windows Firewall, remove Defender, Adaware, and Spyware Blaster, and I would keep the following: Comodo, Spybot, and AVG. Those should be all you need.

03-27-2009, 01:02 PM	#13
emarshallp Guest Posts: n/a	I understand that similar apps. running at the same time can cause problems. I did not mean to imply that I do run these apps at the same time. Your advice is sound, but unfortunately does not help w/ my problem. I thought I had made some headway earlier today. I was in safe mode, and attempted to start steam several times (each ending at 26% and closing the update process) when finally after a short pause at 26% it proceeded normally to 100%. I thought "GREAT!!", but afterwards Steam did not start. After waiting for it to do so for a couple of minuets, I tried to start it manually w/ no luck. I turned off all MS services, reboot in norm. mode, still wouldn't start. ARGH!!. Clicking the executable in the root folder did nothing. Does not show up in the process tree.

03-27-2009, 02:12 PM	#14
cryptodan Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Reputation: 405 Posts: 7,625	Then you have a permissions issue.