Fix: Steam Disk Write Error | How to Guide that Explains 10 Methods

by Adeel Younas
Published: Last Updated on
Fix: Steam Disk Write Error | How to Guide that Explains 10 Methods Image Name

So you are a regular steam user, and it occurs to you that all of a sudden, Steam is displaying disk write error. Don’t worry because I am here to resolve your issue, and we together are going to fix this particular error. Before we proceed to confirm the error you are getting in the steam client:

  • An error has occurred while installing [game name].
  • An error has occurred while updating [game name]

This error commonly occurs when Steam is not able to complete the installation or updating process. There may be many different reasons behind this, depending on the problem your PC encountered. The most commonly suggested solution is to delete Steam and download the entire content (including games) again. Although this method should work just fine, it is quite a hard measure and takes a lot of time. There is no need to resort to this solution if a simpler one works for you. If you are facing Route Error on Discord our guide to fixing that will surely help you resolve your problem.

The reason behind this problem is the incomplete installation of the game or updating process issues, and there could be other reasons as well, so its a guesswork. A common method to fix the disk write error in Steam is deleting steam client and downloading all of your games again, but that’s a lot of hassle. In this guide, I am going to list solutions that can potentially save your time, and you don’t have to download all of your games again.

Fix 1: Try Changing Steam Region

Before advancing to advanced troubleshooting, we will change Steam’s settings to see if the problem gets fixed. One of the basic things you can do is change the download region.

It’s a common fix by changing a few settings of the Steam client. You might be able to get your problem fixed. Steam has multiple regions, and for every region, there are particular changes and settings, they detect users region and provide content according to that. It occurs to me that if the Steam server is overloaded or has technical fault user can face problems like disk write failed error. In such a case, changing the downloading region is an excellent option to go for.

  1. Open Steam then clicks on “Settings.”
  2. Once in Settings, click on “Downloads” and navigate to the “Download Region.”
  3. Select any other regions than yours and restart Steam.

Fix 2: Try Deleting the 0 KB Game File

A software glitch can cause a 0KB file; it is usually a blank white file with the name of your game having a problem. It is located in a common folder inside steamapps folder, which resides in the Steam installation directory.

  1. There should be no running processes in Task Manager related to Steam (it is a crucial requirement)
  2. Then Open File Explorer and move to the following path:
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common
  3. Once inside a common folder Scroll to the bottom and find a file with your game name that has 0KB of size; if it is there, then delete the file. For example, in the case of Dota 2 having an issue, the file name would be Dota 2.txt.
  4. Once the file launch Steam and check if it is clear of the disk write error.

Fix 3: Run the flushconfig Command

  1. Press the Windows + R key to open the Run window.
  2. In the dialogue bar type steam://flushconfig.
  3. Then a confirmation dialogue will appear on your screen Click on OK to confirm.
    Fix: Steam Disk Write Error | How to Guide that Explains 10 Methods Image Name
  4. Steam will restart, and hopefully, disk write error will be fixed. This process clears all settings of Steam, which has the potential to save you from the trouble of downloading the client and all of your games.

SEE ALSO: How to Calculate Keystrokes Per Hour and Convert to WPM

Fix 4: Check for Corrupt Files and Fix Them

If these two methods don’t work for you, we can troubleshoot which file went corrupt/missing and try to re-download the entire file again.

If the above four methods didn’t somehow work, you could always try checking for Corrupt Files. Here’s how you can find the missing or corrupt files of Steam:

  1. Close Steam and then navigate to your Steam directory.
  2. Open the “logs” folder and then open the “workshop_log.txt” file.
  3. At the bottom of the workshop_log.txt file search for recent errors.

An example of an error is this:

[2020-02-25 12:47:31] [AppID 346110] Update canceled: File commit failed: failed to move unchanged file “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\346110\570371714\LinuxNoEditor\NPC\Female\Assets\Nude\Nude_Human_Female_Body_D.uasset.z.uncompressed_size” (Disk write failure)

The first number written in the URL is the APPID, in this case, the AppID (346110) for ARK Survival Evolved.

  1. Navigate to the root folder of the mod, in this case, and it is 570371714. It has no specific file size as the root folders of different games may vary and delete that file noted above.
  2. Restart Steam and move to Downloads. Here you will notice that Steam will be asking for an update for the game. Update the necessary files, and you’ll be good to go.

Fix 5: Check Directory Permissions

It is always worth checking your Folder or Directory Permission. Here’s how you can do it.

  1. Exit steam client then opens your Steam directory by default it is:
    C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam

    If you have chosen a custom location during Client installation, open that specific directory.

  2. Once the directory is open Confirm it is not “Read-only” by checking its properties.
  3. If the directory is “Read-only” Right-click on the Steam launcher and clicks on “Run as administrator.”

Doing This will ensure that the steam directory is not marked as Read-only because of steam issues. Running the application as administrator will give it privileges to write to the disk again, ultimately resolving the problem.

Fix 6: Remove Write Protection of The Steam Folder/Drive

If you have enabled or any of the applications you have installed has write-protection, then Steam will give you the disk write error. Write protection is very common in a lot of different games/applications for enhanced security. In that case, removing write protection of the Steam folder/drive may solve the problem.

If you have enabled applications you have installed write-protection, it might cause the write error of Steam. Write protection is common if many games and applications to enhance their security. By Removing write protection of the steam folder, you’ll increase the possibility of fixing your problem.

  1. First, remove the write protection.
  2. Now Launch Steam to check if all of its functions are working normally.

Fix 7: Temporarily Disable Antivirus/Firewall

Another cause of such a problem in Steam could be the presence of Antivirus software or a firewall. To rule that out, you can always try disabling antivirus to resolve the issue. However, by changing your Firewall settings, your computer could be at risk. Here’s what you can do:

  1. Try to Turn off your Anti-virus.
  2. Try to Turn off your Firewall.
  3. Once both off confirm if Steam is working fine, add an exception for the Steam folder in your antivirus and Firewall.

Fix 8: Change Game Installation Folder

It is a good idea to move your game folder to an alternate folder location or hard drive. If any local files are present in the location of the game that is causing conflict, the issue will be resolved as the entire application will have local space. Do move your game folder here is what you will have to do:

  1. Open Steam, then click on Settings.
  2. Now click on Downloads, then Steam Library Folders, and then click on Add new Library folder.
  3. Now choose the new location where you want to store the games.
  4. Once the above process is complete, check if Steam is working correctly.

I hope this process has resolved your disk write error in Steam.

Fix 9: Make Sure Hard Drive is OK

Yet another simple and a common solution when it comes to the computer. The hard drive is mechanical equipment and often suffer issues bad sectors and corruption. Try checking your hard drive health and fixing it with SFC utility. The system file scanner will be downloaded from the internet cross-compare it with the local version and fix discrepancies. Here’s what you’ll have to do to check and fix hard drive:

  1. Run the SFC command entirely and make sure not to cancel at any point.
  2. Wait till the process finishes.
  3. Now open Steam and check if it is functioning normally.

Fix 10: Try reinstalling Steam Client

It would be your hard luck if none of the methods mentioned above worked for you. The final solutions that come in my mind are reinstalling the Steam client. Keep in mind if you want to proceed with reinstalling, all of your data will be erased entirely.

  1. Make a backup of the library folder.
  2. Access Programs and Features in Control Panel.
  3. Now select Steam and then click on Uninstall a Program.
  4. Locate and select the Steam then click on the Uninstall button. Follow the instructions displayed on the steam screen to complete the uninstallation.
  5. Now please restart the system.
  6. Download the Steam client and then launch it.

Hopefully, your issue of steam disk writes error is resolved, and you have a steam client in working condition. Now enjoy playing your games without further hassle. If you have anything to say, do mention it in the comments below.

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