Same for me, but I run Win 10 64 bit

go through the posts. how to fix this error has been posted before

Originally posted by Henry David Thoreau:

Hi,
I got a little problem. When I started the game for the first time it worked just fine. But now, for an unknown reason, whenever I try to start the game I get the following error message: "application error - failed to find steam". Other games work just fine. I run Win 7 64 bit. Any ideas anyone?

Finally, I solved the problem!
You should have your steam installed in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
And the game should be installed there also!
Game path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Runaway A Road Adventure

Well alwhiskey, I'm glad that this solution works for you. For me it doesn't, because that's exactly where the game is installed on my PC and yet it doesn't work.

Originally posted by Henry David Thoreau:

Well alwhiskey, I'm glad that this solution works for you. For me it doesn't, because that's exactly where the game is installed on my PC and yet it doesn't work.

try this https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/app/7210/discussions/0/3211505894149502327/?tscn=1595105014

Well Despiseusername, there is no file called ClientRegistry.blob in my steam folder and, yes, I ticked the box "show hidden folders".
However, I found a workaround. I uninstalled and reinstalled the game. Thus I can start it once. Now I copy the save files to another folder and everytime I want to play the game I uninstall and reinstall it and copy the save files back into the game folder. Not very comfortable, but at least I can play the game that way.

Originally posted by Henry David Thoreau:

Well Despiseusername, there is no file called ClientRegistry.blob in my steam folder and, yes, I ticked the box "show hidden folders".
However, I found a workaround. I uninstalled and reinstalled the game. Thus I can start it once. Now I copy the save files to another folder and everytime I want to play the game I uninstall and reinstall it and copy the save files back into the game folder. Not very comfortable, but at least I can play the game that way.

apparently the wndmode.dll mentioned in this topic works to fix the not being able to play on windows 10. https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/app/217200/discussions/0/152393186484434259/

Originally posted by Despiseusername:

Originally posted by Henry David Thoreau:

Well Despiseusername, there is no file called ClientRegistry.blob in my steam folder and, yes, I ticked the box "show hidden folders".
However, I found a workaround. I uninstalled and reinstalled the game. Thus I can start it once. Now I copy the save files to another folder and everytime I want to play the game I uninstall and reinstall it and copy the save files back into the game folder. Not very comfortable, but at least I can play the game that way.

apparently the wndmode.dll mentioned in this topic works to fix the not being able to play on windows 10. https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/app/217200/discussions/0/152393186484434259/

Thanks for finding that out, I'm sure it will be helpful to a lot of people. I am using Win 7 though, but anyway after uninstalling the game and having it reinstalled, the problem no longer occurs and it works just fine. I have no idea why though, but who cares.

This game is a quest. But the real quest is to run this game.

Here is a solution that works for me. Just make sure you exit Steam before starting the game. I have a desktop shortcut and it fails to find Steam if it is already running. However if I exit steam first, the shortcut has no problem finding and loading Steam!! See if that works for you.

Make sure the Runaway.exe doesn't have any compatibility option checked. That was the reason I got that message, and unchecking "Run this program in compatibility mode..." made the game work again.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Deusex/comments/g1lmkm/how_to_fix_failed_to_find_steam_issue_on_steam/

This fix worked for me. You need to change DeusEx to the name of this game and it will work.