protonscr

[Arch Linux] Steam doesn't launch, no errors.

steamclosed reviewedDistro Family: Arch
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#3960 · opened 2015-08-12 by gunnar · updated 2022-07-11 · 11 comments · github
Ggunnar 2015-08-12 github

I have just installed again arch linux, and after installing the nvidia drivers (both 32 and 64 bit) and steam, I find that steam doesn't launch!

When I launch steam from a terminal, it simply opens up the license agreement, which I accept, and then... nothing. According to htop there was no steam process created at any point. The terminal only outputs one line: ***/.local/share/Steam/steam.sh: line 161: VERSION_ID: unbound variable. This for which I have found a fix involving editing steam.sh to something I can't remember, however it still changed nothing, except that line did not appear.

Here is a video showing what happens.

I have tried running in xfce4 and moving the steam folder and letting steam redownload itself (which it does just fine), but the problem persists.

Ggdrewb-valve maintainer 2015-08-12 github

This sounds like a duplicate of #3954, do you believe you have a separate problem?

Ggunnar 2015-08-12 github

I believe so, that post describes steam as hanging, however mine never starts and returns me directly to the prompt. I have solved the unbound variable error by adding an entry for VERSION_ID in /etc/os-release, so now their is no text outputted at all.

I tried running the steam binary in the ubuntu12_32 folder, and it ran the update however after trying to launch it immediately shutdown. Now whenever I try the binary again it gives me a steam popup with "Fatal Error: Failed to load steamui.so". I've also moved the installation folder and let it redownload, with no change.

https://gist.githubusercontent.com/bgiv/aa2ed1106359ff58d127/raw/d8806f8cead8fae67bf03cccb6846398831a7413/gistfile1.txt

EDIT: I should also add I tried the suggestion to roll back NVidia drivers in #3951, which did not fix any issues.

Ggdrewb-valve maintainer 2015-08-12 github

We'll leave this open separately just in case.

TTheBatman 2015-08-13 github

do you followed this? https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Steam, are you using the native enviroment? i'm a noob in Arch btw :wink:

Iinsunaa 2015-11-07 github

Maybe try this:
LD_PRELOAD='/usr/lib32/libstdc++.so.6 /usr/lib32/libgcc_s.so.1 /usr/lib32/libxcb.so.1' LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH=/usr/lib32/xorg/modules/dri steam
That's what worked for me

TTele42 2015-11-07 github

@d3rrial your workaround is specific to newer mesa, which should not apply to nvidia proprietary users.

Iinsunaa 2015-11-07 github

True. I should've mentioned that.

Kkisak-valve maintainer 2018-11-30 github

Hello @gunnar, are you still experiencing this issue on an up to date system?

Ddearlygparted 2018-12-17 github

@kisak-valve I'm not the OP but I am running Arch Linux and can confirm that Steam launches fine for me. Here are my System specs.

Ggunnar 2018-12-18 github

The issue seems to have been fixed quite a while ago (currently using steam in multilib. Apologies for not keeping up with the thread.

NNGStaph 2022-07-11 github

I've noticed that the error happens due to nvidia driver updates after changing your default GPU (envycontrol/optimus). if primary gpu = NVIDIA, change the steam.desktop file to PrefersNonDefaultGPU=false

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/8276