Steam Overlay reboots the pc :: Hardware and Operating Systems

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Bardiele 6 Jun, 2019 @ 7:45am

Steam Overlay reboots the pc

I have this issue for some time now.

Initially I thought it was a Warframe problem since it started with one of the game's update on early december...then it spread on almost all my other games.

Whenever I press "Shift+Tab" to bring up the steam overlay thare is a 30% chance that the pc reboots itself like nothing happened.

I press the buttons, the pc shuts down, black screen, the pc restarts and I'm asked to reenter windows tiping the password... and on the desktop no popups, no nothing...just a Kernel-Power issue on the computer's memory.

I did TONS of searching and such, played different games and all. I even passed 3 minutes on the desktop pressing only "shift+tab" and nothing...
The pc reboots itself randomly ONLY if i open up the steam overlay.

Before you ask, I already disinstalled every game, steam and reinstalled ALL and no...I only lost 2 days.

Do you guys know any way to solve a problem like this apart disabling the overlay completely?
Since...you know...it's pretty useful :x

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Showing 1-11 of 11 comments

OLDMAN🎅 6 Jun, 2019 @ 8:04am

windows error, check windows event log

Bad 💀 Motha 6 Jun, 2019 @ 10:45am

Yes even if pc reboots or app gets force closed without onscreen error messages, it should still provide an occurance and some sort of reason, within Event Viewer > Windows > Applications

Also to help avoid crashes from overlays when using multiples, try to only ever have one at any given time displayed. For example if playing a game purchased on Steam that requires Uplay, both overlays should function without problems, however do not display both overlays at the same time. Make sure both have their own defined hotkey, so no two overlays have the same hotkeys

Last edited by Bad 💀 Motha; 6 Jun, 2019 @ 10:47am

Bardiele 6 Jun, 2019 @ 1:21pm

I use only steam and don't even have installed any other game platform.

Also, I didn't express myself whell there, but the "Kernel power issue" I mentioned is that from the Event Viewer.

Level - Critical
ORIGIN - Kernel-Power
EVENT ID - 41
Sistem reboot with no regular arrest. This error might be caused from an interruption, an abnormal arrest or an alimentation interruption unforseen of the system.

(Sorry if the error message is not written as it should but I roughly translated it from Italian.)

And it happens randomly ONLY when I try to use the steam overlay.
So...all I've read about it say that this kind of error is caused from the hardware Power Unit of the pc but I doublechecked all cables to see if they are in good shape, in place and tight. Also, I built this pc a year and a half ago (January 2018) and has an EVGA 650 G3 power unit...it would be really bad luck to have it malfunction in so little time...
On top of that...HOW can the opening of Steam Overlay AND ONLY THAT cause this kind of erorr?

Sunhawk 1 Jan, 2020 @ 4:13am

Bardiele, did you ever solve your issue?

Bardiele 1 Jan, 2020 @ 6:06am

I just disable the Overlay and it still happens sometimes...like once or twice a month absolutely random. I'm playing and boom, black screen, the pc turns off and restarts like nothing happened.
So no, I didn't solve it.

Sunhawk 1 Jan, 2020 @ 6:13am

Thanks for the update dude. I have this happen in DayZ Standalone, it's completley random like you said. Would you guess it was just a steam related issue?

Bardiele 1 Jan, 2020 @ 6:43am

As I disabled the steam overlay it drastically diminished. Can't remember if I already write it but when I sent the Kernel error log (thing that I cannot read) at the Digital Extremes 'cause it was happening mostly with Warframe, they said it was a Graphic card/power issue... So basically it would be hardware problem, not software. I checked everything, almost dismantling the pc again and it's all ok. Cables are fine and well connected, parts are clean...and it still happens sometimes anyway. I'm just ignoring the problem since it's no big deal by now.
If you find something I'd be happy to know though
Good luck :D