Steam users are continuously rising. With more than 100 million active users using Steam, many of them who are using the service simultaneously might face some errors and glitches. This is one of the most common occurrences faced by the users of Steam which is also the biggest gaming platform in the world.
If you are also one of those who are facing trouble updating or installing a game on Steam, you might have gotten the message saying, “Steam disk write error.” If this is something bothering you, you can be rest assured that you’re not alone. It has been reported that multiple users face similar problems while using the Steam disk.
Fortunately, troubleshooting this Steam disk write error issue is very easy. There are many quick fixes that can get rid of this unpleasant issue. If you want to know in detail why and when this error shows and how to fix it, then make sure you keep reading. We have included the cause and fix of the Steam disk write error issue.
What Are The Causes Of Steam Disk Write Error?
While the error is pretty common, there can be multiple causes for Steam disk write errors. It has been observed that this particular error is witnessed when Steam is incapable of completing its updating or installation procedure as Steam is not able to write on the disk. There can be multiple reasons behind it based on the problems encountered by your PC.
- Interference of the underlying antivirus: As per some documentation made by users, it has been observed that active antivirus in your computer might sometimes block the download of games happening from Steam. This is mostly a common occurrence with the inbuilt antivirus available on Windows 10. If you want to get rid of this issue, you will first need to whitelist the game and then Stream.
- Game Installation Files are corrupted: Users can commonly observe the Steam disk write error code showing up on the screen due to a corrupted file. It can directly affect the game installation from Steam. If this is the primary cause for the message, you can easily troubleshoot the error by starting Steam integrity checks.
- Disk problems or failing disk: If you’re getting the same error message with different other games from Steam, then there are chances that the occurrence of the problem is due to sector defects on your computer disk. Since it is failing, it will show different disk problems.
These are the most common causes of getting Steam disk write error issues. So now that you know the fundamental reason for such an error message, we will find out how to get rid of the problems in all Windows OSes, especially Windows 10. While it is most commonly recommended to delete Steam and then again download everything, we will also find other troubleshooting steps which can be easier for you.
How To Resolve The Steam Disk Write Error?
While it can be really frustrating for people who are facing Steam disk write error issues continuously, it is a common occurrence among most users. Now seeking professional help might not be required if you have knowledge about the causes. In the following section, we will find the quick fixes you can try to eliminate the Steam disk write error issues.
So without any further ado, let us find out the fixes for the Steam disk write error issue.
Fixes For The Steam Disk Write Error
1. Update The Drivers On Your PC:
This is a common problem faced by users who use outdated or wrong drivers on their devices. So, the first thing that you must do is update the driver to find out if it can resolve the error. However, if you don’t have the expertise, patience, or time to manually update your driver, you can use a software named Driver Easy to automatically update the driver.
Using these tools helps to check the system and look for the right drivers automatically. You don’t have to check the system that your computer is running as the software will automatically do it. So, you don’t have to think about downloading the wrong driver or making any mistakes while installing, as the tool can handle it on its own.
You need to perform the following steps to update drivers using Driver Easy automatically.
- Download Driver Easy and install it on your PC.
- Run the software.
- You can then find Scan Now. This software will scan your PC and find out the major issues in your drivers.
- After the scan is done, it will automatically show the versions of drivers on your system. If there are any outdated or missing drivers found, you will find them in the list. Just click Update All.
- Restart your computer to let the update work.
- Re-update or redownload games to find out if the error has been resolved.
2. Delete All The 0 KB Files:
Steam disk write error issues might sometimes happen due to 0 KB files on your computer. So, it is better to check the existence of 0KB files and then delete them. It can resolve the problem instantly.
Following are the steps to perform.
- Press the Windows key and R from the keyboard on your computer in tandem..
- Then write %ProgramFiles(x86)% on the run box and hit the enter button.
- Then find Steam followed by Steam app and Common by double clicking them.
- Go to the bottom of the screen and find out the files that are 0KB in size.
- Delete them from the list.
Once you have done these steps, it is time for you to repeat the updating and downloading process to find out if the Steam disc write error has been resolved.
3. Delete All The Corrupted Files In The Log
Sometimes the corrupted file is present in the Steam log, which is also responsible for getting Steam disk write error issues. So, it is a must for you to check if there are corrupted files and then permanently delete them from the system.
Follow the steps to find corrupted files and delete them.
- You have to press the windows key and R simultaneously on your keyboard.
- Now just copy %ProgramFiles(x86)% into the run box and then hit the Ok
- Now you need to find Steam from the list and then Logs and Content_log.
- Go to the bottom of the screen and check for failed to write
- If you find any error, then you need to follow the path and name of the error and then delete corrupted files.
- Once you have completed the step, you need to repeat the download and update process to find out if the problem has been resolved.
4. Verify The Integrity Of The Game Files
You can also encounter the Steam disk write error issue when some of the Installation files have been deleted or corrupted by the antivirus program in your system. So, it is a must for you to check the game files’ integrity and then find out if it resolves the issues.
- Go to the Library section in Steam.
- Find out the game where you generally get the Steam disk write error issue and then right-click on it.
- Click on Properties from the drop-down menu.
- Find out the Local files from the options mentioned above.
- Click on Verify integrity of game files from the menu.
- You must wait for the completion of game cache verification.
- Close and Exit Steam.
- Once you have properly followed the steps, it is time to relaunch Steam and update or download the game to check if the problem is resolved.
5. Run Flush config:
Another most common way that can solve the Steam disk write error issue is by running the flushconfig. Follow the steps correctly.
- You need to make sure of exiting Steam
- Tap Windows key and R button from your keyboard simultaneously.
- Now, you need to copy and paste Steam://flushconfig into the run box and then hit Ok.
- You have to again click on the Ok button to confirm your action.
- Now it is time to restart your computer.
- Again you have to Tap windows key and R button from your keyboard.
- Copy %Program Files(x86)% and paste it into the run box, and then click on Ok.
- Look for the Steam folder and double-click on it.
- Find out Steam or exe for launching Steam.
- Lastly, update or download the game once again to find out if this has resolved the Steam disk write error issue.
6. Set Permissions For The Steam Folder Security
Many times the Steam disk write error issue occurs when you don’t have permission to run Steam. So, you need to make sure that you have full control. In order to do it, you need to follow these steps.
- Make sure to exit Steam
- Tap Windows key and R from your keyboard.
- Copy %ProgramFiles(x86)% and paste it into the run box and then hit the Ok button.
- Look for the options Team and then right-click on it.
- Choose Properties from the drop-down menu.
- Make sure that the box is unchecked for read-only (only applies to files and folders).
- Find out the Security tab from the option mentioned above and then click on the Edit
- You can find Group or user names on the box from where you need to choose a user account and then check all the boxes under allow getting full control.
- Once you have done it, click on Apply and Ok.
- Tap Windows key and write Steam from your keyboard.
- Now right-click on it and then choose Run as administrator.
Hopefully, the steps will resolve the Steam disk write error. If it still does not resolve the error, check out the next fix.
7. Remove Disk Write Protection
The next possible reason for the Steam disk write error is your disk has been configured as write protected. So, you have to remove the write protection in order to resolve the issue.
- Tap Windows key and write CMD from your keyboard.
- Right-click on the command prompt that appears in a box and then hit the option saying Run as administrator.
- Make sure that you type the commands and then hit the Enter
diskpart
list disk
select disk # (# hard drive number receiving the error)
attributes disk clear readonly
- Now you need to close the window of the Command prompt.
- Now again, plug in the hard drive and update or install to check if it has resolved the disk right error issue.
8. Disable The Antivirus Program In Your System
One of the most common culprits that can result in the occurrence of the Steam disk write error is the antivirus program. So, there are times when you might require temporary disabling to check if the antivirus is the leading cause of the problem. So, you might sometimes need to add an exception for Steam to make sure of not getting such errors.
9. Check Your Firewall
Many times firewalls might prevent Steam from working with the servers. In such times, you need to get in touch with the tech support team to make sure that there is no interference with the firewall. Based on the result, you might require adding an exception in the Steam firewall. Hopefully, this will work and resolve the error.
Conclusion
Most commonly, updating games or downloading games on Steam is an easy and manageable experience. However, there are times when the Steam disk write error appears and can make you frustrated. Even when it can be challenging to get rid of the issue, all the fixes mentioned above will be enough to get the error fixed. Hopefully, you will be able to resolve the problem from the information discussed above.
