Steam blacked out on startup

steamopen Distro Family: ArchWeb Component

ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#10543 · opened 2024-02-28 by holy-elbow · updated 2024-06-01 · 9 comments · github

Hholy-elbow 2024-02-28 github

Your system information

Steam client version (build number or date): 1708985249
Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): EndeavourOS
Opted into Steam client beta?: Yes
Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
Steam Logs: steam-logs.tar.gz
GPU: Nvidia RTX 3060

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

When opening steam it is completely black but drop down menus and things that open in separate windows are fine.
Example: Example Screenshot

Closest thing to an error:

XRRGetOutputInfo Workaround: initialized with override: 0 real: 0xe81cfdc0
XRRGetCrtcInfo Workaround: initialized with override: 0 real: 0xe81ce500
/usr/share/themes/Arc-Dark/gtk-2.0/main.rc:1090: error: unexpected identifier 'direction', expected character '}'
/usr/share/themes/Arc-Dark/gtk-2.0/apps.rc:91: error: unexpected identifier 'direction', expected character '}'
steamwebhelper.sh[38630]: === Tue Feb 27 08:55:44 PM MST 2024 ===
steamwebhelper.sh[38630]: Starting steamwebhelper under bootstrap sniper steam runtime at /home/user/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steam-runtime-sniper
CAppInfoCacheReadFromDiskThread took 56 milliseconds to initialize
Steam Runtime Launch Service: starting steam-runtime-launcher-service
Steam Runtime Launch Service: steam-runtime-launcher-service is running pid 38771
bus_name=com.steampowered.PressureVessel.LaunchAlongsideSteam

I have tried reinstalling steam, the beta branch, clearing the download cache, and logging in and out. I do not know what caused it, but my guess is the latest nvidia drivers. However I did downgrade the the previous driver version with no luck. steam --reset also did not work.

Steps for reproducing this issue:

Client Startup

Hholy-elbow 2024-02-28 github

edit. Steam Files were corrupted had to fully delete my .steam files

Mmiketo09 2024-03-02 github

Nearly identical setup, same results here. EndeavourOS, NVIDIA RTX 2060.

Even running 'steam -cef-disable-gpu', htop shows memory usage at 47.3GB for steamwebhelper.exe, and another 24.2GB requested by X11. Attaching the usual files plus ~/.steam/root/logs/steamwebhelper.log.
system-info.txt
system-runtime-info.txt
steamwebhelper.log

Hholy-elbow 2024-03-02 github

@miketo09 try deleting .steam and .local/share/Steam fixed it for me, at worst you will have to reinstall some games so make sure you back up saves.

Mmiketo09 2024-03-02 github

Sadly, tried that already and reinstalled twice. Even rebuilt the OS. Happy to provide anything else I can toss your way.

From: holy-elbow @.>
Sent: Saturday, March 2, 2024 11:27
To: ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux @.>
Cc: Michael Toot @.>; Mention @.>
Subject: Re: [ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux] Steam blacked out on startup (Issue #10543)

@miketo09https://github.com/miketo09 try deleting .steam and .local/share/Steam fixed it for me, at worst you will have to reinstall some games so make sure you back up saves.

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TTTimo 2024-03-04 github

If -cef-disable-gpu is not effective at fixing the black screen problem, try -system-composer. Please report which of either (or both needed) fixes the issue for you.

Mmiketo09 2024-03-05 github

steam -cef-disable-cpu resets the acceleration option and the Steam client is visible. Very slow load time, about ten seconds on an SSD. White flashing still occurs on menu items.

steam -system-composer resets the acceleration option and the Steam client is visible. BUT it loads quite quickly; without actually timing, it feels like the load time prior to the latest update. Say, < 5 sec? Also the white flashing effect no longer appears on menu items. It's frickin' wonderful again! Looks like I'll be starting Steam from the console for a while. Don't care though – as an Arch user I like the command line. 🙂

Still enrolled in Steam Beta:

Steam Beta Branch: Steam Beta Update
Steam Version: 1709168962
Steam Client Build Date: Wed, Feb 28 16:39 UTC -08:00
Steam Web Build Date: Mon, Feb 26 12:21 UTC -08:00
Steam API Version: SteamClient021

Thank you for your looking into this issue, and tracking down a workaround. I know that hunting bugs is often a thankless task and want to let you know that I appreciate your hard work.

--Mike

From: TTimo @.>
Sent: Monday, March 4, 2024 11:10
To: ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux @.>
Cc: Michael Toot @.>; Mention @.>
Subject: Re: [ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux] Steam blacked out on startup (Issue #10543)

If -cef-disable-gpu is not effective at fixing the black screen problem, try -system-composer. Please report which of either (or both needed) fixes the issue for you.

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Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHubhttps://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/10543#issuecomment-1977277362, or unsubscribehttps://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AVR7DGH4ZVXFAL7B4BN55ALYWTBLRAVCNFSM6AAAAABD5IWXWSVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMYTSNZXGI3TOMZWGI.
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Mmustafa-git 2024-03-29 github

Using -system-composer alone seems to resolve the issue for me.

Mmiketo09 2024-03-29 github

It's a workaround, definitely. Problem still exists but I don't mind starting Steam from the command line with the option.

From: mustafa-git @.>
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2024 00:34
To: ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux @.>
Cc: Michael Toot @.>; Mention @.>
Subject: Re: [ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux] Steam blacked out on startup (Issue #10543)

Using -system-composer seems to resolve the issue for me.

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TTheUtopian 2024-04-18 github

I use Arch (bspwm) with 1660 Ti and have the same issue, hope they will fix it, until then I'll use -system-composer

Upstream links

ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/10543x3 2024-03