I'm also seeing this.

In addition, I'm also getting a terminal pop up asking to install steam-launcher.

Steam needs to install these additional packages:
steam-launcher
[sudo] password for toby:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package steam-launcher
Press return to continue:

Same here on Debian. Getting console window with:

Steam needs to install these additional packages: 
    steam-launcher

Additionally, the mentioned package IS NOT part of official repository (not even saying that update for steam package hasn't been released).

I should add system info:
Ubuntu 12.10 64bit
Geforce GTX 660Ti, nvidia 304 drivers
16Gb RAM, AMD FX 8350 CPU

I'm experiencing the same error as Toby-Haynes above.

Is there a repo I am missing that I need to add to grab this package?

Where does steam-launcher come from?

Who approved this update?

Update broken. Can't start Steam anymore. It always asks for steam-launcher to be installed.

E: Unable to locate package steam-launcher

Please add steam-launcher to your repository.

Same problem here.

After update have the same error with missing steam-launcher.
System: Ubuntu 12.04 64bit.

Same problem on Kubuntu 12.10 64bit. I tried uninstalling & reinstalling, and deleting everything in ~/.steam, but still get the same prompt asking to install steam-launcher.

I get the same thing. I was in the middle of a game and the weekend is here. I need a fix.

I too am getting the steam-launcher not being found in the repositories.

Who approved this update?

Good question. Hope that person will be penalized. :)

I haven't seen any so serious problems like this on Windows. Maybe Valve is doing it wrong. :)

the same on Ubntu RR 13.04 x64 :

Steam needs to install these additional packages:
steam-launcher
[sudo] password for valve:
Lecture des listes de paquets... Fait
Construction de l'arbre des dépendances
Lecture des informations d'état... Fait
E: Impossible de trouver le paquet steam-launcher
Press return to continue:

Same here. I think somebody forgot to upload the steam-launcher package to steam repository.

Same here as well. The package can't be located.

Hmm..same issue for me. Can't find steam-launcher package after asking for sudo password. Update fails.

Just +1ing this in order to get notifications. Me too!

Next time, you can just toggle the watch option under comment form. :)

Same, same, same, same...

Same issue here.

Same here, even with a reinstall.

They would roll out a break on a weekend. I'll see what sort of bells I can ring to get this resolved.

As the OP's problem is different from the one we are experiencing, I created issue #1978 for the "missing package" problem.

I was able to get steam running by deleting ~/.steam and everything in ~/.local/share/steam except for the steam apps folder then reinstalling steam from the deb file.In the about menu, it says the version im running now was built on Feb 15th and there are no new updates.
edit: I realized this works because I'm no longer opted into the steam client beta. I'm guessing the beta still has this problem.

@melonstorm: It's probably the same issue; OP's just on an RPM os, not a .deb OS. It generates different errors.

Same here
steam.sh: line 695: 4335 Segmentation fault

Intel core i3
AMD radeon HD 5400 with fglrx driver
Arch x64

@MrSchism: It's not. In my issue, the bootstrapper never starts the actual Steam executable.

Aren't these two different issues, why are you talking about the missing package here? :)
OP reported a segmentation fault on line 695 in steam.sh, there is no missing package?

I am digging in the files.
Apparently /usr/bin/steamdeps is requesting the file ~/.local/share/Steam/steamdeps.txt that contains as dependency the steam-launcher

# This is a package dependency manifest used by steamdeps

# This should be set to the version of the Steam runtime that this program
# is built with.
# 
# Available values are:
#   1   - Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
#
STEAM_RUNTIME=1

# This should be set to the version of the dependency file format
#
# The file can contain lines starting with #, blank lines and dependencies
# A dependency line consists of a package name for the current runtime,
# along with optional architecture or version requirements using the 
# Debian package syntax:
#   http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-relationships.html
#
STEAM_DEPENDENCY_VERSION=1

# This pulls in the new steam multi-arch package, which replaces the old
# steam:i386 package.  The Debian package system can't currently migrate
# a 32-bit package to a native 64-bit package, so we tickle it here.
steam-launcher

# These are non-arch specific dependencies
jockey-common
python-apt
zenity
xterm | gnome-terminal

# These are i386 dependencies for Steam itself
libgl1-mesa-dri:i386
libgl1-mesa-glx:i386
libc6:i38

Changing with sed and commenting that line doesn't help, because steamdeps binary still regenerate the file steamdeps.txt. I am looking for avoid this (Note: I am a simple community user trying to help, no dev)

It is the same issue. If you launch via command line, you'll see the contents of the original post in the terminal. It will also spawn new terminals for the package installation, which will show the contents from the second post. There are 3 instances where the terminal spawns, as each one fails more info will be dumped into the original terminal window, eventually culminating with the line 695 segfault.

If you try to launch via an icon, you won't see the stuff from the first post, only the spawned terminal windows, and you won't see the segfault, only errors pertaining to the missing package.

The core of the OP's issue:

then it tries to install upgrade
[2013-02-23 20:57:51] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file
[2013-02-23 20:57:51] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file
[2013-02-23 20:57:51] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file
[2013-02-23 20:57:51] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file
[2013-02-23 20:57:51] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file

Guys, steam and steam-launcher 1.0.0.30 just arrived to repository! (Not available through package manager yet as .deb, though.) See my next comment below.

I see what's going on here, and we're working on a fix. Thanks everyone!

OK, deleting everything except steamapps worked. One problem, it kicked me back to an old build, Feb. 15th.
I will keep steam offline for the weekend. I have single player games to play and I don't want steam to try and
update itself.

You can go online with the feb 15th build as long as you dont opt in to the client beta.

The answer is pretty simple (from looking at the repo):

Update from 23rd of Feb is to version
steam_1.0.0.30 (for the launcher)
but the deb packages available for steam 32 and 64 bit are still 1.0.0.29

So you can either downgrade or wait until tomorrow... I think the packages should be there soon!

How could we opt out from the client beta?

Same log for mine

Lubuntu 12.10 64

Hi, im OP and my problem is not sleam launcher but this:
/home/yuri/.local/share/Steam/steam.sh: line 695: 5524 Segmentation fault
$STEAM_DEBUGGER "$STEAMROOT/$PLATFORM/$STEAMEXE" "$@"

How could we opt out from the client beta?

Roll back to the Feb 15 version (as explained above) then go to settings and opt out.

I see what they did there. They REPLACED "steam" (<<1.0.0.30) package by "steam-launcher".
I installed steam-launcher and removed steam, which seems to be correct according to control file. Sadly, steam is still segfaulting on start.

Here is gdb backtrace:

#0  0x08126772 in _SpewMessageType ()
#1  0x080becbe in ?? ()
#2  0x080bef41 in EmitSpewMessagePrim(char const*, int, ESpewGroup, SpewType_t, int, int, CSteamID const&, netadr_t const&, unsigned long long const&, char const*, char*) ()
#3  0x08066433 in EmitSpewMessageHelper(char const*, int, ESpewGroup, SpewType_t, int, int, char const*, ...) ()
#4  0x080697fd in CBootstrapLogFile::LogLine(char const*) ()
#5  0x0806a135 in CSteamUpdater::LoadBetaSettingsFromDisk() ()
#6  0x0806a67a in CSteamUpdater::CSteamUpdater() ()
#7  0x080665d4 in GetEUniverse ()
#8  0x080661bf in GetBaseUserDir ()
#9  0x080698ba in CBootstrapLogFile::LogLine(char const*) ()
[#10](/issue/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/10) 0x0806a135 in CSteamUpdater::LoadBetaSettingsFromDisk() ()
[#11](/issue/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/11) 0x0806a67a in CSteamUpdater::CSteamUpdater() ()
[#12](/issue/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/12) 0x080665d4 in GetEUniverse ()
[#13](/issue/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/13) 0x080661bf in GetBaseUserDir ()
<lines #9 to [#13](/issue/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/13) repeat like milion times>
[#1983](/issue/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/1983) 0x080d50a8 in PosixRegistryManager() ()
[#1984](/issue/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/1984) 0x080d5d80 in BGetRegistryValueStr(ERegKeyRoot, char const*, char const*, char*, int) ()
[#1985](/issue/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/1985) 0x08064ee8 in CLocalizedStringTable::GetLanguage() ()
[#1986](/issue/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/1986) 0x08064a89 in CLocalizedStringTable::AddFile(IFileSystem*, char const*) ()
[#1987](/issue/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/1987) 0x08066302 in BootstrapLocalize(char const*, KeyValues*, char const*) ()
[#1988](/issue/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/1988) 0x08073a73 in GetPUpdateStatusUI() ()
[#1989](/issue/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/1989) 0x0804f868 in main ()

Fedora 18 same problem.
Demonstration: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0nwzlfiB4aQQU55blRzcjIyTkU/edit?usp=sharing

Installing bootstrap /home/mikhail/.local/share/Steam/bootstrap.tar.xz
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361644365_client)
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361644365_client)
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361644365_client)
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361644365_client)
Running Steam on fedora 18 32-bit
STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled by the user
[2013-02-24 01:06:18] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file
[2013-02-24 01:06:18] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file
[2013-02-24 01:06:18] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file

*** many many many this messages ***

[2013-02-24 01:06:18] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file
[2013-02-24 01:06:18] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file
[2013-02-24 01:06:18] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file
/home/mikhail/.local/share/Steam/steam.sh: line 695: 10038 Segmentation fault (core dumped) $STEAM_DEBUGGER "$STEAMROOT/$PLATFORM/$STEAMEXE" "$@"

How Roll back to the Feb 15 version???

Rollback to Feb 15th: https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/1977#issuecomment-13996377

How to backup settings?

I resolve the issue in Ubuntu Raring 13.04 with this commands:

sed -i 's/steam-launcher/#steam-launcher/g' ~/.local/share/Steam/steamdeps.txt
sudo chattr +i ~/.local/share/Steam/steamdeps.txt

This remove the steam-launcher from steamdeps file and avoid to overwrite for steam binary. I am running steam now and killing zombies :)

same problem here, waiting for solve :)

@Majkl578 I'm getting the same issue after installing that package. It just segfaults.

@shakaran I advise against doing this as this will probably break updating Steam completely. If you do this, then make sure to remember to revert this hack later on by running sudo chattr -i ~/.local/share/Steam/steamdeps.txt.

(edit: removed the old way of doing this)

@supasaru explains below how to fix this issue:

If you are having trouble starting the latest update, try removing yourself from "beta" status:

mv ~/.local/share/Steam/package/beta ~/steambetabackup

This will move you to the release version of Steam. You can opt back into beta by moving the file back.

@melonstorm I am aware of that. I will remove the chattr attribute when Steam update and roll a properly fix. But meanwhile I want kill zombies this weekend :)

If you are having trouble starting the latest update, try removing yourself from "beta" status:

mv ~/.local/share/Steam/package/beta ~/steambetabackup

This will move you to the release version of Steam. You can opt back into beta by moving the file back.

For now, I "downgraded" to the non-beta client by removing everything in .local/share/Steam (except for SteamApps). It then just downloads steam again and everything works.

I re-installed removed everything except the steam apps folder and user data. That way you keep your saves and stuff too. Seems to have worked out for me so far.

Well, I may have a different issue here. It appears that the recent beta update is coughing up a terminal error:
There was an error creating the child process for this terminal
Failed to execute child process "/tmp/tmpOs1WIg" (Permission denied)

1. Downgrading works

OR

1. Running
   sed -i 's/steam-launcher/#steam-launcher/g' ~/.local/share/Steam/steamdeps.txt
   sudo chattr +i ~/.local/share/Steam/steamdeps.txt
   And then opting out of beta after steam started works too

I'm going to uninstall, delete the configuration, and reinstall Steam. If that doesn't work, I'm opening a bug report.

@mpei 2) may break updating, it's much better to do 1).

@melonstorm : Thanks, I tried 1 on my desktop and 2 on my laptop. Both work now. I hope that updating on my laptop will still work, but as far as I can see for now it does :-)

@mcl21014 Your issue seems unrelated to Steam. I googled around a bit and found a possible solution for your problem here. It's been referred to by a few threads on the Ubuntu forums.

I found a workaround:

If you download this archive from repository:

repo.steampowered.com/steam/pool/steam/s/steam/steam_1.0.0.30.tar.gz

and extract it to ~/.steam/steam folder (notice that you have a ~/.steam/steam/steam folder and in the tar you have a steam binary, so do not overwrite it, just rename the folder e.g. steam_), and install

steam-launcher_1.0.0.30_all.deb

steam will launch without segfault.
Run ~/.steam/steam/steam binary and the login window will appear,
before you login you need to rename the ~/.steam/steam/steam binary, and need to rename steam_ folder to steam.
Now if you type your password and click login, you will be logged in. :)
I think this isn't the best solution, but it works for me.

Does opting out beta and installing .30 helps to avoid this problems?

@melonstorm Thanks. I will figure this out.

Easiest solution is to opt out of the beta by renaming the beta file.

gdb bt:

[2013-02-23 16:38:11] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file

Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
0xf7d0aca6 in pthread_setspecific () from /lib32/libpthread.so.0
(gdb) bt
#0 0xf7d0aca6 in pthread_setspecific () from /lib32/libpthread.so.0
#1 0x0812e93d in SteamThreadTools::CThreadLocalBase::Set(void_) ()
#2 0x080e0704 in GetPchTempTextBuffer_Harmful() ()
#3 0x08076b0f in CRTime::RTime32ToString(unsigned int, bool, bool) ()
#4 0x0806978f in CBootstrapLogFile::LogLine(char const_) ()
#5 0x0806a135 in CSteamUpdater::LoadBetaSettingsFromDisk() ()
#6 0x0806a67a in CSteamUpdater::CSteamUpdater() ()
#7 0x080665d4 in GetEUniverse ()
#8 0x080661bf in GetBaseUserDir ()

Now it segfaults:
/home/mike/.local/share/Steam/steam.sh: line 695: 1725 Segmentation fault (core dumped) $STEAM_DEBUGGER "$STEAMROOT/$PLATFORM/$STEAMEXE" "$@"

I'm experiencing the same error as Toby-Haynes above!

I'm experiencing the same error as Toby-Haynes above!

We all are.

Yep. Darn error. Hopefully Valve can put out a quick fix soon.

i hope they fix it soon! :)

Joins party.
opensuse 64 bit

Simple solution if you need steam to work right now:

1. Install .28 version of steam
2. Rename Steam into Steam.old and create Steam folder
3. Launch steam
4. Symlink SteamApps folder from Steam.old to Steam
   When update came just delete Steam and rename Steam.old back and let steam will apply it.

thanks supasaru, disabling the beta like this works great

Oh hai mxttie, fancy seeing you here.

Yay! Assigned and being fixed already! Great job!

Same problem here, but I renamed the .Steam and .local/share/Steam folders in my /home and launched once more steam and now the client is working fine. TF2 and CS are also working.

the same problem on os x...

Well i had the same errors, i just clicked close on the terminal windows since it wouldn't install and after 2 attempts to then loaded Steam fine.

The terminal loads up each time i load steam now asking for steam-launcher but steam still runs if i close the terminal, so hopefully that will be sorted by an update soon.

steam-launcher now installs, and the beta works.

I can confirm @srikad8 it works for me now too. I am guessing a propagation issue with the package not being 100% up yet.

With the latest update errors were resolved

Okay, fix is up!
If you're still seeing this, try running this command to reset your installation and opt out of the beta:
steam --reset

store.steampowered.com offline?

--reset not working on os x, only linux

Confirmed working when opting in back to beta tier. Next time, please, test before release.

@slouken Thanks for the rapid fix! http://www.tf2sounds.com/1476
I agree with @Majkl578, though, check your build before releasing it.

@qRoC: You'll need to reinstall the Steam application bundle from steam.dmg on OS X.

yea, i'm reinstall, and now all ok. Just steampowered.com was disabled.

For what it's worth, Gentoo Linux was not affected by this version bump.

steam --reset worked for me. ( before got segm etc message)
Steam updated, I had got the log in screen.
Then confirmation email
Logged in, and steam started.

openSUSE 64 bit 12.2 very happy again.

I have a similar/new problem on Linux Mint 64 Cinnamon. I have packages steam:i386 and steam-launcher both on version 1.0.0.35. I type in my password and it crashes. From a terminal it says:

bont@edoras:~$ steam
Running Steam on linuxmint 14 64-bit
STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
unlinked 0 orphaned pipes
removing stale semaphore last operated on by process 711 with name 0eBlobRegistryMutex_E6D9D34B75D651EEF5D826665E523FD9
removing stale semaphore last operated on by process 711 with name 0eBlobRegistrySignal_E6D9D34B75D651EEF5D826665E523FD9
removing stale semaphore last operated on by process 711 with name 0emSteamEngineInstance
removing stale semaphore last operated on by process 711 with name 0eSteamEngineLock
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
[0302/211406:WARNING:proxy_service.cc(646)] PAC support disabled because there is no system implementation
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
Generating new string page texture 7: 128x256, total string texture memory is 131.07 KB
Generating new string page texture 8: 48x256, total string texture memory is 180.22 KB
Generating new string page texture 9: 256x256, total string texture memory is 442.37 KB
Generating new string page texture 10: 64x256, total string texture memory is 507.90 KB
Generating new string page texture 11: 16x256, total string texture memory is 524.29 KB
Generating new string page texture 12: 24x256, total string texture memory is 548.86 KB
Generating new string page texture 13: 32x256, total string texture memory is 581.63 KB
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
Generating new string page texture 21: 384x256, total string texture memory is 974.85 KB
/home/bont/.local/share/Steam/steam.sh: line 700: 996 Segmentation fault $STEAM_DEBUGGER "$STEAMROOT/$PLATFORM/$STEAMEXE" "$@"
bont@edoras:~$

This is another bug.

I have the exact same issue as bonta768 on my arch install. It happened earlier this evening:

[britt@BrittArchPC ~]$ steam
Running Steam on arch rolling 64-bit
STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
Looks like steam didn't shutdown cleanly, scheduling immediate update check
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
[2013-03-02 02:39:42] Checking for update on startup
[2013-03-02 02:39:42] Checking for available updates...
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
[2013-03-02 02:39:42] Download complete.
[2013-03-02 02:39:42] Verifying installation...
unlinked 0 orphaned pipes
removing stale semaphore last operated on by process 7670 with name 0eBlobRegistryMutex_1C921C0FBC6C50F24AD711C8EFBFB84D
removing stale semaphore last operated on by process 7670 with name 0eBlobRegistrySignal_1C921C0FBC6C50F24AD711C8EFBFB84D
removing stale semaphore last operated on by process 7670 with name 0emSteamEngineInstance
removing stale semaphore last operated on by process 7670 with name 0eSteamEngineLock

(steam:7782): Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "adwaita",

(steam:7782): Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "adwaita",
/usr/share/themes/Adwaita/gtk-2.0/gtkrc:1137: error: unexpected identifier direction', expected character}'
Gtk-Message: Failed to load module "gail"
Gtk-Message: Failed to load module "atk-bridge"
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
[0302/023943:WARNING:proxy_service.cc(646)] PAC support disabled because there is no system implementation
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1361807486_client)
/home/britt/.local/share/Steam/steam.sh: line 700: 7782 Segmentation fault (core dumped) $STEAM_DEBUGGER "$STEAMROOT/$PLATFORM/$STEAMEXE" "$@"
[britt@BrittArchPC ~]$

There is a segfault at line 700 of steam.sh according to both of our files.

@bonta768 @brittyazel if running steam --reset doesn’t cure this problem, would you make a new issue for your problems as this is closed.

This is what I did when I got the Press Return to Continue in terminal.
Right after it says that copy and paste this and there is a 191,479 kb
update that will next take place.

apt-get update && apt-get upgrade