Fallout 3 is an old but classic game. Although Fallout 3 can be installed and played on Windows 10 (read this article to learn how), you may meet crashing problem now and then at any moment.
Here are a few solutions that can help you get rid of this crashing problem.

Try these fixes:

There’re 5 fixes that have helped many gamers solve their crash problem. You don’t have to try them all; just work your way down the list until you find the one that works for you.

  1. Play in Windowed mode
  2. Edit your configuration file
  3. Change compatibility and run Fallout 3 as administrator
  4. Update your graphics card drivers
  5. Reinstall Fallout 3

Fix 1: Play in Windowed mode

Sometimes, game crashing can be easily solved by changing the game’s display options. Play the game in Windowed mode when you meet crashes. This method can let you play without crashes for hours.

  1. Run Steam.
  2. Launch the game and click Option.
  3. Tick the Windowed box under Mode.
  4. Relaunch the game and check the crash will appear or not.
Note: If using dual monitors, disable your second one from your Windows display settings.
Ensure that the resolution of the game matches that of your display monitors.

Fix 2: Edit your configuration file

If you follow the guide to install the game correctly, you can edit the configuration file to solve the crashing problem.

  1. Run Steam. Right-click on Fallout 3 in the Library and click Properties.
    Steam - how to verify integrity of game files
  2. Click Local Files, then click Browse… to locate the game files.
  3. Open Fallout_default. Search “Busethread” in the notepad.
  4. Change the bUseThreadedAI=0 into bUseThreadedAI=1.
  5. Add iNumHWThreads=2 beneath it, then Save the change.
  6. Relaunch the game and check whether it solves the problem.

Fix 3: Change compatibility and run Fallout 3 as administrator

The privilege issue might be the reason for crashing. With high-integrity access, Fallout 3 can make full use of its features, so run it as an administrator to see if this fixes your crashing.

  1. Run Steam. Right-click on Fallout 3 and choose Properties.
    Steam - how to verify integrity of game files
  2. In the Local Files tab, click Browse….
  3. Right-click on Fallout 3.exe and click Properties.
  4. In the Compatibility tab, tick Run this program in compatibility mode for.
  5. Open the dropdown menu and choose Windows XP (Service Pack 3).
  6. Tick Run this program as an administrator
  7. Click Apply > OK.
  8. Run Fallout 3 to check whether the game is running properly.

Fix 4: Update your graphics card drivers

It is very important to update your graphics card drivers. Windows 10 doesn’t always give you the latest version. But with outdated or wrong drivers, your game may encounter a crash. So it’s really important to keep your drivers updating to get a good gaming experience.

There are two ways you can update your driver: manually and automatically.

Option 1 – Manually– You’ll need some computer skills and patience to update your drivers this way, because you need to find exactly the right the driver online, download it and install it step by step.

OR

Option 2 – Automatically (Recommended)– This is the quickest and easiest option. It’s all done with just a couple of mouse clicks – easy even if you’re a computer newbie.

Option 1 – Download and install the driver manually 

You can download graphics drivers the manufacturer official website. Search for the model you have and find the correct driver that suits your specific operating system. Then download the driver manually.

Option 2 – Automatically update drivers

If you don’t have time or patience to manually update your graphics drivers, you can do it automatically with Driver Easy.

Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing.

  1. Download and install Driver Easy.
  2. Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
  3. Click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system.

    (This requires the Pro version which comes with full support and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All. If you’re not ready to buy the Pro version, Driver Easy offers a 7-day free trial which includes access to all the Pro features such as high-speed download and one-click install. You won’t be charged anything until your 7-day trial has ended.)

  4. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
The Pro version of Driver Easy comes with full technical support.
If you need assistance, please contact Driver Easy’s support team at support@drivereasy.com.

Fix 5: Reinstall Fallout 3

If none of the fixes above works, it’s time to uninstall Fallout 3 and reinstall it. The broken system file may the reason for the crash. Do a clean uninstall, then download the game and follow the guide to set up the game.


That’s it! We hope you find the above information helpful. And if you have any ideas, suggestions, or questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

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Celio Azevedo
Celio Azevedo
3 years ago

It doesn’t works.

Celio Azevedo
Celio Azevedo
3 years ago

It’s crashing when I load a game and when I start a new one. Someone can help me?

Aidan Acebo
Aidan Acebo
3 years ago

I don’t get this currently. these fixes have been the go-to for years. I’ve had it working on 5 different systems in the last 5 years, one of which had windows 10. it will not work with my new rig whatever I do. serves me right for buying from steam, I should have just pirated the effing thing again.

Iammad
Iammad
3 years ago

To help if any one needs it this is how to fix it you find a dll file d3d9.dll and put that in your games installed folder and presto it is fixed.

Liam Johnson
Liam Johnson
3 years ago
Reply to  Iammad

nope

Valentin Tudor
Valentin Tudor
4 years ago

On windows 10 after running though so many problems with games for windows live because it does not exist and it is a requirement I started dealing with all the other problems: game crashes on launcher, game crashes after only a few minutes of playing. I have tried every imaginable guide: run as admin, compatibility mode (no other windows will be accepted writing on launcher is not even visible) multicore fix, large address fix, unofficial patch, latest nvidia drivers, tick fix, stutter removal, new vegas anti-crash, no mods, and it does not work (just as prusinsky and surg23 says).

Joel Kenway
Joel Kenway
4 years ago

So another so called solved bs thing with fo3 that doesn’t actually solve anything, i guess im not all that surprised considering the only feedback options are positive and doesn’t give any option for people to down vote this.

Natsume Ashikaga
Natsume Ashikaga
4 years ago
Reply to  Joel Kenway

This and the install guide for Fallout 3 generally actually do work. Still on the install guide they suggest installing Live, when it’s far better practice to just mod Games for Windows Live’s module out of Fallout 3. To go along with that Fallout 3 generally crash happy. It takes a lot of stability mods to get FO3 and New Vegas to run decently and they’ll still likely crash left and right. Still this page is good for fixing the issue with crashing immediately on startup. I think they avoid mentioning mod fixes, because the place to get them is the Nexus. Several people have written in depth guides to mod FO3 for improved stability on Windows 10.

Chase
Chase
4 years ago

I tried the compatibility edit for the fallout3.exe but i go into the properties and the compatibility tab doesn’t show up the others do but only that tab doesn’t show up.

Ootengu
Ootengu
4 years ago
Reply to  Chase

Same here ☝

TaruPotat
TaruPotat
3 years ago
Reply to  Ootengu

Its not the fallout3.exe file, I’m guessing they meant the fallout3 file above the marked one.

Ben Prusinski
Ben Prusinski
4 years ago

Did not work in 2020 on Windows 10 Home PC. I tried all settings. My other Fallout games like FO4 and Las Vegas work fine. WTF?

surg23 .
surg23 .
4 years ago
Reply to  Ben Prusinski

Same here. Sometimes it runs for 2 minutes, other times it runs for an hour before crashing. I feel I’ve tried everything. Never had any problems on xp and win 7. I think I’m just going to buy the GoG version, apparently it’s more stable than the Steam version.

surg23 .
surg23 .
4 years ago
Reply to  Ben Prusinski

Try Onetweak for fo3, it enables borderless windowed mode. I was using Tick-fix for stutter removal but removed it and went with FSR. That’s in addition to the other 20 steps I took to get the game running. Man I hate windows 10 lol.

PS. Since I did the former, it’s not 100% stable, but usually runs for 2 or so hours before a crash. Before that it was crashing randomly. Sounds silly I know but windowed mode actually helps- Either that or switching to FSR did the trick, or maybe it’s a combination of the two, who bloody knows lol.

Marcos Medeiros
Marcos Medeiros
4 years ago
Reply to  Ben Prusinski

It is beacause this game is not developed for the newer operational systems, that’s why. It maybe be fixed if you download a modification, only the community keeps the game alive, these fucking companies don’t fucking care about the community because they know that someone will fix for they. Ridiculous, I PAID for this game, the minimum I ask for is to not have a headache, and then they complain about people pirating their games…

Josh
Josh
4 years ago

Hello, when I select “Windowed” option, how can put the fullscreen? I just can see the game in a small window.
Thank you.

Ashley Luo
Ashley Luo
4 years ago
Reply to  Josh

Uncheck the Windowed option, click OK, and restart your game. Doesn’t that help?

torasilver
torasilver
3 years ago

I did everything you posted here and nothing worked, and I won’t be downloading it from steam a 3rd time – why can’t the developers who sell it on steam fix the game before selling it to people that use windows 10 etc.