# When a game will not start

> One command checks everything Steam and Windows games need on this computer and prints the exact fix for each missing piece.

Source: https://wolos.org/manual/game-fixes

## What it is

The check-up for games is one line, `wol games doctor`, that you type in the terminal. It looks at everything a game needs on this computer: Steam itself, the graphics driver, the 32-bit graphics files Steam still uses, the graphics driver games talk to (Vulkan, the modern way games reach the graphics card) and, on NVIDIA cards, files that must match the driver's version. Each check prints one line. A check that fails prints the line that fixes it right under it. Think of it as the warning lights on a car's dashboard, each with the name of the part.

## Why

When a game does not start on most computers, you get a black window or nothing, and then an evening of forum threads. Almost every one of those cases is a missing piece in the list above. Checking for them is cheap, so WolOS does it in one place and says the fix in a sentence. The same checks run when you open Steam: if one fails, a notification tells you instead of Steam crashing silently.

## How

1. **Open Terminal.** Press **Super+Space**, type `te` and press Return.

   ![Search with "te" typed: Terminal is the first result, an Application; Notes and several System Settings pages follow.](/img/manual/searchbar.png)
2. **Run the check.** Type this and press Return:

   ```sh
   wol games doctor
   ```

   You see one line per check: `ok`, `info`, `warn` or `FAIL`, the check's name, and what it found. It ends with *Ready: Steam and Windows games can run.* or with the number of problems.

   ![Terminal after wol games doctor on WolOS 0.12.0 in a virtual machine: ok for base, multilib, steam, drm, lib32-gl, vulkan-icd and futex-waitv; a warn for vulkan with its fix; info for ntsync and wine; and Ready: Steam and Windows games can run.](/img/manual/vm-games-doctor.png)

   A failed check looks like this (the names after `fix:` depend on your graphics card):

   ```text
   FAIL  lib32-gl             32-bit OpenGL or Vulkan missing (the Steam client is 32-bit)
                              fix: sudo pacman -S --needed vulkan-icd-loader lib32-vulkan-icd-loader vulkan-radeon lib32-vulkan-radeon lib32-mesa
   Not ready: 1 problem(s). Run the fix lines above, then check again.
   ```
3. **Copy the fix line and run it.** Select the text after `fix:` with the mouse, copy it, paste it into Terminal with **Super+V** and press Return.
   Terminal asks for your password, because the fix installs for every account. Nothing shows while you type, not even dots; press Return when done.
4. **Check again** with the same line, then start the game.
   You see *Ready: Steam and Windows games can run.*

### What each check means

| Check | It looks at | When it fails |
|---|---|---|
| `multilib` | The source of 32-bit software | Steam and the 32-bit drivers come from there. The fix turns it on. |
| `steam` | Steam itself | The fix line puts it back. |
| `drm` | A loaded graphics driver | Nothing can draw. Open Settings > Hardware: a device that needs attention has a **Fix** button. |
| `lib32-gl` | 32-bit graphics files | The Steam window itself is a 32-bit program and cannot start. |
| `vulkan-icd`, `vulkan` | A Vulkan driver for your card | Windows games need one. If Vulkan sees only the processor, games would crawl. |
| `nvidia` | NVIDIA's 32-bit files, same version as the driver | Steam cannot use the card. |
| `futex-waitv`, `ntsync` | Two features of the kernel that make Windows games smoother | Only a warning: games still run, a little less smoothly. WolKernel has both. |
| `wine` | The runner for Windows programs outside Steam | Only information: Steam games do not need it. The Gaming module adds it. |

## A worked example

A game Alice just bought shows a black window and closes. She opens Terminal, types the check-up line and sees `FAIL lib32-gl` with a fix line under it. She copies the fix line, pastes it, types her password and waits. The second check-up ends with "Ready: Steam and Windows games can run." and the game starts.

## If something goes wrong

| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Every check says `ok` and the game still does not start | Open the game's properties in Steam and choose another version of the compatibility tool, then try again. The game's page on community sites often names the version that works. |
| `drm` fails after an update | Restart once. If it stays, open Settings > Hardware and click **Fix** on the device that needs attention. |
| The fix line says a package was not found | The list of available software is out of date. Open Settings > Software Update, let it check for updates, then run the fix line again. |
| A Windows program outside Steam does not open | Install the Gaming module in Settings > Modules: it adds the runner for such programs. |
| The game starts but stutters | Check that the game runs full screen ([Playing full screen](/manual/full-screen-games)), and that a laptop is plugged in: with Energy Mode on *Automatic* (Settings > Battery), WolOS saves energy on battery and runs at full speed when plugged in. |

## Related

[Steam and your game library](/manual/steam) · [Playing full screen](/manual/full-screen-games) · [Games (reference)](/manual/games) · [Hardware and drivers](/reference/hardware)