Fix: Modern Warfare 2 Keeps Crashing on Startup on PC

Are you a fan of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, but facing issues with the game crashing on startup or not launching on your PC? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many players have encountered these problems, which can be frustrating and affect your overall gaming experience. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the most common causes of these issues and provide you with step-by-step solutions to troubleshoot and fix them. By following these methods, you should be able to get your game up and running smoothly in no time.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a popular first-person shooter game that offers an immersive gaming experience. However, some players have reported issues with the game crashing on startup or not launching at all on their PCs. This can be due to various factors, including outdated graphics card drivers, corrupt game files, conflicts with antivirus software, compatibility issues, and hardware problems. Fortunately, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to fix these issues and get your game running smoothly again.

Common Causes of Modern Warfare 2 Crashing on Startup

Before diving into the solutions, let’s explore the common causes of Modern Warfare 2 crashing on startup. Understanding these causes will help us identify the appropriate solutions to fix the problem.

Outdated Graphics Card Drivers

One of the most common causes of game crashes is outdated graphics card drivers. Graphics drivers play a crucial role in facilitating communication between the game and your graphics card. Using outdated drivers can lead to compatibility issues and performance problems, resulting in crashes.

Corrupt Game Files

Corrupt game files can also cause Modern Warfare 2 to crash on startup. These files can get corrupted due to various reasons, such as incomplete downloads, interrupted installations, or system errors. When the game tries to load these corrupted files, it may result in crashes or the game not launching.

Conflicts with Antivirus Software

Sometimes, your antivirus software can interfere with the game’s processes and cause it to crash on startup. Antivirus programs often have built-in security features that can conflict with certain game files or settings, leading to crashes. Temporarily disabling your antivirus software or adding exceptions for the game can help resolve this issue.

Compatibility Issues

Compatibility issues between the game and your PC’s hardware or software can also result in crashes. Modern Warfare 2 may not be fully compatible with certain system configurations, causing instability and crashes. In such cases, adjusting the game’s settings or updating your system’s software can help resolve the compatibility issues.

Hardware Problems

Hardware problems, such as overheating or insufficient system resources, can also cause the game to crash on startup. When your PC’s hardware is not able to handle the game’s requirements, it can lead to performance issues and crashes. Checking your PC’s temperature, ensuring proper ventilation, and optimizing your system resources can help prevent these hardware-related crashes.

Now that we have a better understanding of the common causes of Modern Warfare 2 crashing on startup, let’s move on to the step-by-step guide to fix these issues.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fix Modern Warfare 2 Crashing on Startup

In this section, we will provide you with a detailed guide to troubleshoot and fix Modern Warfare 2 crashing on startup. Follow these steps in order to effectively resolve the issue and get your game running smoothly.

Update Graphics Card Drivers

Outdated graphics card drivers can often cause crashes in Modern Warfare 2. It’s essential to keep your graphics card drivers up to date to ensure compatibility and optimal performance. Here’s how you can update your graphics card drivers:

1. Identify your graphics card manufacturer (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
2. Visit the manufacturer’s website and navigate to the support or drivers section.
3. Locate the latest drivers for your specific graphics card model and operating system.
4. Download the drivers and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install them.
5. Restart your computer after the installation is complete.

Updating your graphics card drivers should resolve any compatibility issues and improve the stability of Modern Warfare 2.

Verify Game Files

Corrupt game files can often cause crashes or prevent the game from launching. Verifying the integrity of the game files through the game platform (e.g., Steam) can help identify and fix any corrupted files. Here’s how you can verify the game files:

For Steam:

1. Open the Steam client on your computer.
2. Navigate to your game library and right-click on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
3. Select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
4. Go to the “Local Files” tab and click on “Verify Integrity of Game Files.”
5. Steam will check for any corrupted files and automatically replace them if necessary.

For other game platforms, such as Epic Games or Battle.net, refer to their respective support documentation for instructions on verifying game files.

Disable Antivirus Software

As mentioned earlier, antivirus software can sometimes interfere with the game’s processes and cause crashes. Temporarily disabling your antivirus software while playing Modern Warfare 2 can help determine if it’s the cause of the crashes. Here’s how you can disable your antivirus software:

1. Locate the antivirus software icon in your system tray (usually located in the bottom right corner of the screen).
2. Right-click on the icon and look for an option to disable or turn off the antivirus software.
3. Follow the prompts to disable the software temporarily.
4. Launch Modern Warfare 2 and check if the crashes still occur.

Remember to re-enable your antivirus software once you’re done playing the game to maintain the security of your system.

Reset Computer or Reinstall the Game

If the previous steps didn’t resolve the crashing issue, you can try resetting your computer or reinstalling the game. Resetting your computer can help clear any temporary files or conflicting settings that may be causing the crashes. Reinstalling the game can ensure that all game files are properly installed and not corrupted. Here’s how you can reset your computer and reinstall the game:

Resetting your computer:

• On Windows, go to the Start menu, click on the Power icon, and select “Restart.”
• On macOS, click on the Apple menu, select “Restart,” and confirm.

Reinstalling the game:

• Uninstall Modern Warfare 2 from your computer through the game platform (e.g., Steam, Epic Games).
• Restart your computer.
• Reinstall Modern Warfare 2 by downloading it from the game platform and following the installation instructions.

Resetting your computer and reinstalling the game can help resolve any underlying issues that may be causing the crashes.

Advanced Troubleshooting Options

If the previous steps didn’t fix the crashing issue, you can explore more advanced troubleshooting options. These options may require technical knowledge and should be approached with caution. Here are a few advanced troubleshooting options you can try:

• Resetting your graphics card settings to default.
• Updating your operating system to the latest version.
• Checking for and installing any available game patches or updates.
• Running the game as an administrator.
• Adding exceptions for the game in your firewall and Windows Defender settings.
• Launching the game in windowed mode.
• Uninstalling any NVIDIA Broadcast software (if applicable).
• Changing the GUID Reg Key via the Registry Editor.

Please note that advanced troubleshooting options should only be attempted if you are comfortable with making changes to your system settings. If you’re unsure or uncomfortable, it’s recommended to seek assistance from a knowledgeable technician or contact the game’s support team for further guidance.

Additional Tips to Prevent Modern Warfare 2 Crashes

In addition to the troubleshooting steps mentioned above, here are some additional tips to help prevent Modern Warfare 2 crashes:

Disable In-Game Overlays

In-game overlays from programs like Discord or GeForce Experience can sometimes cause conflicts and crashes. Disabling these overlays can help prevent crashes in Modern Warfare 2. Here’s how you can disable in-game overlays:

For Discord:

1. Open the Discord client on your computer.
2. Click on the Settings icon next to your username.
3. Switch to the “Game Overlay” tab in the Settings menu.
4. Toggle off the “Enable in-game overlay” option.

For GeForce Experience:

1. Open the GeForce Experience application on your PC.
2. Click on the Settings icon in the top-right corner.
3. Use the In-game Overlay slider on the General tab to turn off the overlay.

Disable Xbox Game Bar

The Xbox Game Bar, a specialized app for Windows, can sometimes interfere with game performance and cause crashes. Disabling the Xbox Game Bar can help resolve these issues. Here’s how you can disable the Xbox Game Bar:

1. Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
2. In the Settings app, switch to the Gaming tab on the left-hand side.
3. Click on the Xbox Game Bar option.
4. Use the slider next to “Open Xbox Game Bar using this button on a controller” to turn it off.

Change MW2 Launch Options

Changing the launch options for Modern Warfare 2 can sometimes resolve crash-related problems. Adding the “-d3d11” command line argument can help with DirectX12-related issues. Here’s how you can change the launch options:

For Steam:

1. Open the Steam client on your computer and navigate to your Library.
2. Right-click on Call of Duty Modern Warfare II and choose Properties from the drop-down menu.
3. On the General tab, add “-d3d11” to the Launch Options area.

For Battle.net:

1. Open the Battle.net client on your system.
2. Once Battle.net is running, click on Call of Duty Modern Warfare II.
3. Click on the gear icon next to the Play button and choose Game Settings from the menu that appears.
4. Tick the Additional command line arguments checkbox.
5. Add the “-d3d11” command line argument.

Update BIOS

Updating your BIOS firmware can help resolve game crashes, especially if you’re overclocking components on your motherboard. Outdated BIOS versions can cause instability and crashes, so keeping your BIOS up to date is important. Here’s how you can update your BIOS:

1. Identify your motherboard’s model.
2. Visit the manufacturer’s website and navigate to the support or drivers section.
3. Look for the latest BIOS firmware available for your motherboard model.
4. Download the BIOS update utility provided by the manufacturer.
5. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to update your BIOS firmware.

It’s crucial to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully when updating your BIOS, as an incorrect update can cause serious issues with your system.

Disable XMP Profile

If you’re experiencing crashes after overclocking your components or enabling XMP profiles, disabling the XMP profile in your BIOS configuration can help resolve the issue. Disabling the XMP profile will restore the default clock speeds for your RAM. Here’s how you can disable the XMP profile:

1. Restart your computer and access the BIOS settings by pressing a specific key during the boot process (usually Del, F2, or F12).
2. Navigate to the section related to your RAM settings.
3. Look for an option related to XMP profiles or overclocking.
4. Select the option to disable the XMP profile or restore default settings.
5. Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings.

Disabling the XMP profile should prevent crashes caused by unstable RAM overclocking.

Uninstall Conflicting Apps

Certain apps, such as EVGA Precision or monitoring software, can interfere with game processes and cause crashes. If you have installed any such tools, consider uninstalling them to see if it resolves the crashing issue. Here’s how you can uninstall conflicting apps:

1. Open the Control Panel on your computer.
2. Navigate to the “Programs” or “Programs and Features” section.
3. Locate the conflicting app in the list of installed programs.
4. Right-click on the app and select “Uninstall” or “Remove.”
5. Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation process.

Removing conflicting apps can help eliminate potential sources of crashes and improve game stability.

Perform a Clean Boot

If you’re unsure which specific app is causing the crashing issues, performing a clean boot can help identify the culprit. During a clean boot, all non-Microsoft services and startup programs are disabled, allowing you to determine if a third-party app is causing the crashes. Here’s how you can perform a clean boot:

1. Press the Windows logo key + R on your keyboard to open the Run tool.
2. Type “msconfig” in the Run box and click OK.
3. In the System Configuration window, switch to the Services tab.
4. Check the box that says “Hide all Microsoft services.”
5. Click on the “Disable all” button to disable all non-Microsoft services.
6. Switch to the Startup tab and click on “Open Task Manager.”
7. In Task Manager, disable all startup programs by right-clicking on each item and selecting “Disable.”
8. Close Task Manager and go back to the System Configuration window.
9. Click on Apply and then OK.
10. Restart your computer.

After performing a clean boot, launch Modern Warfare 2 and check if the crashes still occur. If the crashes are resolved, you can gradually enable the disabled services and startup programs to identify the specific app causing the issue.

FAQs

How to fix the game_ship.exe crashing error in COD MW 2?

If you’re experiencing the game_ship.exe crashing error in Modern Warfare 2, the issue may be related to your GPU driver. Try removing your GPU drivers and installing an older version compatible with your Windows PC.

Conclusion

Modern Warfare 2 crashing on startup or not launching on your PC can be frustrating, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can resolve these issues and get back to enjoying the game. In this guide, we have explored the common causes of Modern Warfare 2 crashes and provided you with a step-by-step guide to fix them. Remember to keep your graphics card drivers up to date, verify game files, and disable any conflicting software or overlays. If the issue persists, consider more advanced troubleshooting options or seek assistance from a technical expert. By following these solutions, you should be able to enjoy a smooth and uninterrupted gaming experience in Modern Warfare 2.