How to Run Fallout 3 on Windows 10 Seamlessly?

Jack

By Jack

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Fallout 3 on Windows 10

To run Fallout 3 on Windows 10 is not a big challenge as the crazy lovers of this game have been trying hard to find ways of running it on the latest Windows.

It was not configured for the latest computers, and this is why it’s been a hot topic of search among the users to run the game on Windows 10 smoothly and error-free.

We are going to tell you methods that will help you to run the game with the Windows version that you have seamlessly.

Know more about Fallout 3

Fallout 3

This was an open-world action role-playing game founded by Bethesda. It was released on various platforms in 2008 and became the most popular game in its genre and of the time. Given the idolization of the Fallout series, its game of the year edition was rolled out later.

The game was designed to be compatible with old and clunky computers, and that is the reason why it fails to run properly on newer computers and their operating systems. Windows 10 is the latest OS in the line, and users have been trying to run the game on these systems.

The game can be easily installed and run over Windows 10, but the users complained about a lot of issues that they have to face in the process. The major problem is that the app crashes right before beginning a new game.

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Reasons behind the ‘Fallout 3 on Windows 10 not working’.

The game won’t run on the newer version of Windows, like Windows 10, for several reasons:

  • Incompatibility between the game and the Windows – When the game was released in the year 2008, it was compatible with the Vista version of Windows. So you can understand clearly why it suffers from compatibility issues with Windows 10.
  • Missing GFW live – The game Fallout 2 runs with an app called Windows Live that used to be an in-built part of the OS associated with the older Windows versions. This software is missing in Windows 10, and you will have to install it manually.
  • Faulty game configurations – If the game’s configuration is malfunctioning, then no updated Windows can make it run on the system. Faulty game settings make it run on the Intel Integrated Graphics, and this causes the errors.
  • Outdated system drivers – Inapt windows drivers also cause major glitches sometimes, hindering the game from being run smoothly on the system.

Let’s move on to the fixes now.

Run Fallout 3 on Windows 10 with Administrator permission

Giving the administration status to the game for running it can be one possible way of making Fallout 3 on Windows 10 possible. The method to do this is pretty easy, and you can also ensure that the game runs with all the administrative privileges upon being launched on the PC anytime.

Now follow the steps that we give below to do so:

1. Open the Steam folder on the PC. Find the folder of the Fallout 3 game here. You can find this folder at either of these locations possibly –

X:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 3 goty

Or

X:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 3

Here, X denotes the letter that represents the separation of the hard drive of the PC that is running the particular Windows.

2. Find the .exe file of the Fallout 3 folder and hit a right-click over it.

3. In the context menu that opens up next, select the option of Properties.

4. Scroll down to the tab Compatibility.

5. Find the option ‘Run this program as an administrator‘ and enable it by ticking the box located next to the option.

Run the game with Administrator permission

6. Hit the tab Apply.

7. Click the option Apply to save the changes.

8. Hit OK now.

Go back and try running the game.

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Run the Fallout 3 on Windows 10 in the Compatibility Mode

Compatibility issues are the prime factors that users of Windows 10 face while trying to operate the game on their PC. Such compatibility issues lead to the crash of the game, and it won’t work at all.

The good news is that this issue is solvable as all you need to do is run the game in the compatibility mode of the system.

You will need to follow the steps that we give below to do so:

1. Open the Steam folder on the PC. Find the folder of the Fallout 3 game here. You can find this folder at either of these locations possibly –

X:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 3 goty

Or

X:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 3

Here, X denotes the letter that represents the separation of the hard drive of the PC that is running the particular Windows.

2. Find the .exe file of the Fallout 3 folder and hit a right-click over it.

3. In the context menu that opens up next, select the option of Properties.

4. Scroll down to the tab Compatibility.

5. Find the option ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for‘ and enable it by ticking the box located next to the option.

6. Next, you will find a menu dropping down when you will click the above-mentioned option. Here, select the option of Windows XP (Service Pack 3).

Run the game in the Compatibility Mode

7. Click the option Apply to save the changes. Hit OK, lastly.

Go back and try to run Fallout 3 on Windows 10. See if the issue is resolved.

Note: If the game doesn’t run well even in the compatibility mode for the Windows XP (Service Pack 3), the other options that you can try selecting are Windows XP (Service Pack 2), Windows XP (Service Pack 1), or Windows 7 lastly. Choose any of these models for running the game in compatibility mode.

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Try running Fallout 3 on Windows 10 with a third-party app.

The application named Games for Windows Live is facilitator software that will help you run Fallout 3 on Windows 10 easily on your PC. Downloading this app is not a big task, and you can do it very easily by following the steps that we give below:

  1. There comes a particular installer for the app Games for Windows Live. You need to download that first and then install it properly on the PC.
  2. Once you are done with procuring the installer, find the directory where it got saved. Hit double-click over it to launch the app.
  3. Follow the set of instructions as they appear on the screen and be there till the installation wizard does all the necessary settings. By the completion of all of it, the Games for Windows Live app will get successfully installed on the PC that you are using.
  4. Once installed, open the app.
  5. Now Games for Windows Live will download every relevant file automatically for Fallout 3 on Windows 10 required for running it on the PC.

Once all this gets done, close the Games for Windows Live app. Now go back and try running the Fallout 3 game and see if it’s opening up without any issues.

Editing the Falloutprefs.ini file of the game

Editing the Falloutprefs.ini file of the game

There are many cases of Fallout 3 on Windows 10 not being able to run properly, and many issues can be the cause of it, as we have already seen. You may try to edit the falloutprefs.ini file, which is a configuration file associated with the game Fallout 3.

To use this method, you will need to follow the steps that we give below carefully:

1. Open My Documents. Go to the folder named My Games and find the game Fallout 3. Launch it open.

2. Find the file with the name falloutprefs.ini.

3. Open this file falloutprefs.ini. Hit double-click over it, and this will open it over a new program that is Notepad.

4. Find the following command

bUseThreadAI=0

This will be present somewhere between the content that is there in the file. Now you need to change the value of 0 into 1. In case you could not find the command stated above throughout the content present in the file; then you must add it to the content by simply entering it like

bUseThreadAI=1

Enter this command in a different life within the content of the file.

5. In another dedicated line that you will add to the content of the file, enter the following command

iNumHWThread=2

6. Press the keys Ctrl and S together or save the changes that you made in the file of falloutprefs.ini. Now exit the Notepad instance that you were operating by now.

Now launch and run the game Fallout 3 on Windows 10 and see if the changes that you made have served the purpose or not. We recommend that if you are using this solution to troubleshoot the game, then after making all the necessary changes as suggested, give the game Fallout 3 the administrator status and run it into compatibility mode.

Note: At this stage, let us tell you that there are still some chances that Fallout 3 on Windows 10 might still fail to work smoothly. What you will do here is that stick to this method only.

Now go back to open the falloutprefs.ini file once again. Look for the command iNumHWThreads=2 that we entered previously. You have to make a simple change here.

Change the command iNumHWThreads=2 into iNumHWThreads=1. That’s all. Now save this change and then go back to running the Fallout 3 game once again.

Updating the Graphics Card driver

Sometimes faulty or outdated drivers on the system also become the reason behind many applications not working properly on the PC. The logical solution that follows is to update such drivers.

The method is simple, and you need just to follow the steps that we give below:

1. Press the keys Windows + X together.

2. Out of the options that emerge in the resulting pop-up menu, select Device Manager. Open it.

3. Find the option of Display adapters and launch open its directory. Hit a right-click over the option of graphics card driver. Select the first option Update driver.

Updating the Graphics Card driver

4. In the resulting tab, select the option Search automatically for updated driver software.

5. It’s done. The driver will be updated now with the latest version available.

See if you can run the game now.

FAQs

1. Can I play Fallout 3 on Windows 10 without any compatibility issues? While some players may encounter compatibility issues, the steps provided in this guide should help you resolve them and run Fallout 3 smoothly on Windows 10.

2. Do I need to install any mods to run Fallout 3 on Windows 10? While it is not necessary to install mods, using certain mods like the Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch can address bugs and improve performance.

3. Can I run Fallout 3 on Windows 10 if my PC doesn’t meet the recommended system requirements? Although it’s possible to run Fallout 3 on lower-spec systems, meeting the recommended system requirements will ensure a smoother gameplay experience.

4. Why does Fallout 3 have compatibility issues with Windows 10? Fallout 3 was originally developed for older Windows operating systems, and changes in Windows 10 can cause compatibility issues. However, the solutions provided in this guide can help overcome those problems.

5. Can I run Fallout 3 on Windows 10 if I purchased it through Steam? Yes, the solutions mentioned in this guide apply to both the Steam version and the retail version of Fallout 3.

Conclusion

So this was all about the possible ways to run Fallout 3 on Windows 10. Just make sure that you do not miss out on any step given in the methods below, and we assure you that your target will be accomplished. So go ahead with any solution and enjoy your favorite game!

Jack
Jack

Ten years of experience in information and computer technology. Passionate about electronic devices, smartphones, computers, and modern technology.

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