Steam is a powerful PC gaming method for when you play video game using computer and not a video game system. Using Steam and a PC gives you the ability to upgrade your system whenever you like, which makes it possible to not only update as you go, but to maintain the same system for longer than a single video game configuration will last. While using the hardware, you might run into an error code from time to time. One such code is Steam error code 80. Should you run into this problem you need to know how to correct it.
Table of Contents
Verify the Integrity of Your Steam Cache
Problems with Data Execution Prevention
What Is Steam Error Code 80?
Typically, since the Steam error code 80 is due to a cache file system error, there are only a few potential culprits behind the error. When your computer shuts down, the system will remove cache files that built up while it was running previously. This may occasionally clear out some cache files within Steam. Should certain files be removed when the computer restarts, you will run into this Steam error code 80. It’s basically an accident on the part of the operating system.
Another issue that can cause the Steam error code 80 is if a file is moved. If you’re attempting to make room on the hard drive or are shifting files around, it might lead to the Steam error code 80. Even if you did accidentally move the file to a different location and can’t remember where you placed it, chances are there is a solution to the problem without completely deleting and installing the software again (which you know can take hours for a large game).
Outside of these two common causes, the Steam error code 80 won’t typically pop up, although sometimes just a file is deleted or moved and you’re not sure why. Really, it doesn’t matter what caused Steam error code 80: what matters is that you know how to fix it. There are a few different solutions available, but each of these can be done in a matter of minutes.
What Causes It?
Typically, since the Steam error code 80 is due to a cache file system error, there are only a few potential culprits behind the error. When your computer shuts down, the system will remove cache files that built up while it was running previously. This may occasionally clear out some cache files within Steam. Should certain files be removed when the computer restarts, you will run into this Steam error code 80. It’s basically an accident on the part of the operating system.
Another issue that can cause the Steam error code 80 is if a file is moved. If you’re attempting to make room on the hard drive or are shifting files around, it might lead to the Steam error code 80. Even if you did accidentally move the file to a different location and can’t remember where you placed it, chances are there is a solution to the problem without completely deleting and installing the software again (which you know can take hours for a large game).
Outside of these two common causes, the Steam error code 80 won’t typically pop up, although sometimes just a file is deleted or moved and you’re not sure why. Really, it doesn’t matter what caused Steam error code 80: what matters is that you know how to fix it. There are a few different solutions available, but each of these can be done in a matter of minutes.
Solutions
There are several potential solutions for the Steam error code 80 problem. It is difficult to know which will work specifically for your issue, so it’s best to just work through these different solutions for the problem one by one.
Verify the Integrity of Your Steam Cache
To verify your Steam cache’s integrity you must open the Steam account with admin privileges (if you have multiple users on your Steam system, log in with your creator/admin account). Once in, you want to right-click on the launcher screen and choose “Run as administrator.” When you are in the new window choose “Library” from the top tab, then right-click on the game that is causing the Steam error code 80. You can now choose “Properties.”
Choose the “Local Files” tab at the top of the window and then open the “Verify Integrity of Game Files.” The Steam system will now scan through the entire game and all of its associated files one by one. This can take a few minutes, especially for longer, larger games As the system is scanning open your Windows Task Manager (you can press the Win and the R button at the same time to do this). You should now choose the “Steam Client BootStrapper” from the list of tasks and choose to end it. Now, relaunch your System and make sure to do so as an Adin again. Now, open the game. It should run fine now with no Steam error code 80 issues. If you’re still running into problems, you will need to continue on with the next corrective method.
Check Folder Security
It is possible a folder that contains gaming files has had its security measures changed recently. This might be preventing Steam from accessing files stored in the folder. If you recently made changes to your anti-virus software, installed a new anti-virus software, or have been adjusting the system firewall, this may have caused the problem.
You will need to end all of your Steam processes running on the computer (use the method detailed in the previous corrective method to do this).
Now, open the “Run” option on your Windows computer, then type:
C:Program Files (x86)Steam
When the window for the system opens right-click on the Steam folder and choose “Properties.” Within the new pop-up window select “General” at the top and uncheck “Read Only.”
Now, open Steam again and make sure to run it as the Admin. This should correct the issue as it has removed any security locks on folders that was preventing Steam from accessing the gaming details.
Region Change
Sometimes there can be problems when you move. You might have moved out of the previous time zone. This might not sound like a big deal, but if part of your system automatically changed its time zone and another part (or different programs) did not, you will have varying times running on the system, which can cause many run-time problems, including the Steam error code 80.
To check the changing of regional settings, you want to bring up the Control Panel on your windows computer. Now choose “Date and Time” from the list of options here. Now select “Internet Time” and then choose “Change Settings.”
Once in the new window you want to check off the box that says “Synchronize with Internet Time Server.” Now choose “Update Now” and click “OK.” This will align the computer and the Internet time together. This way, you won’t have the combating time zones causing problems on your Steam system.
Open up your Steam and run the game in question. It should correct any of the problems you were running into.
Problems with Data Execution Prevention
There are times where you might run into problems with the Data Execution Prevention. There can be conflicts here that prevent Steam from running correctly. Data Execution Prevention is a security feature built into Windows that will block and shut down all software it believes is a potential threat to your system. Basically it is a built-in anti-virus/malware/firewall. Steam is not going to harm your system, so you need to correct this. Sometimes this problem can pop up after a system update.
To begin the correction, open the Control Panel. Now choose “System.” Within the System window choose “Advanced System Settings,” then click the “Advanced” tab and select “Performance.” Once in here you will want to choose “Settings,” which will bring up a new system window.
From the new system window make sure to choose “Data Execution Prevention” in the tab. This will convert everything to run as its default. You will now need to choose the “Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select.”
Click on the “Add” button to bring up a search window. You will need to head over to the Steam directory and choose your Steam folder.” You can find your Steam folder by clicking “C”, followed by “Program Files (x86)” followed by Steam.”
Choose all the Steam folders and then click “OK” to add and save the safe files on your system. You can now restart and relaunch Steam. You shouldn’t have any problems running Steam on your computer now and you won’t have the Steam error code 80 popping up.
Conclusion
When you run into Steam error code 80, it may prevent you from playing your favorite game. In order to get back to gaming you will need to correct the error. While there are only a handful of errors that might have caused this problem, there are also several solutions to fix it. It’s best to start with the first solution and work your way down, as it does become more complex the further you go.
Thankfully, none of the Steam error code 80 corrective methods are difficult to follow and each should only take you a few minutes to perform. Which ever form works it’s a good idea to save this page, just in case the system runs into the error code again.