Solved Games for Windows Live "Can't Start Program"

Mechhead

New Member
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2
Hi,

I need some help getting my Games for Windows Live to work. When I try to open the GFWL client I get the error:

"Connection error-Can't start the program. There may be a problem with your internet connection or the LIVE service."

In my journey to fix this, I've tried a whole bunch of things ranging from uninstalling GFWL and re-installing it, firewall settings, port forwarding, compatibility modes, etc. Does anyone know of a fix for this issue?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro (x64)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Sony VAIO VPCF136FM
    CPU
    Intel i7 Q 740 Quad @ 1.73 GHz (Boast to 2.83 GHz)
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M
    Sound Card
    Sound System: Intel® High Definition Audio w/ Dolby® Home Theater® v3
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop Screen Size: 16.4"
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB Solid State Hybrid Drive SATA 6Gbps 64MB Cache 2.5-Inch ST1000LM014; Type: Serial ATA-600; Speed: 5400 rpm
    Keyboard
    QWERTY, 103 keys with 2.0mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch; Backlit; 10 Key Numeric Pad
    Mouse
    Electro-static touchpad (Multi-Finger); Microsoft Sculpt Comfort Mouse
    Internet Speed
    105 Mbs Down/ 10 Mbs Up
    Browser
    Edge; Firefox; Chrome
    Antivirus
    Norton Security
    Other Info
    Sony Support Page:
    http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=VPCF136FM
    Specs Doc:
    http://www.docs.sony.com/release/specs/VPCF136FMB_mksp.pdf
I am having the same problem. Except I cannot uninstall it. The program doesn't even show up in the control panel. Trying to play GTA IV online.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 3770
    Memory
    8 GB 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT 640
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    BitDefender
Haha, ya. I knew that the GFWL marketplace and such is shutting down but that wasn't going to be until next July so the game should still be playable now.

Anyways, I managed to get it working now by uninstalling GFWL Marketplace as well as its redistributable for the nth time. I don't know why it worked this time but didn't work the other times.

@MattB3692 That's weird that it isn't even showing up in the control panel considering it should be on the list unless you were possibly looking at the wrong area of the list. On mine it displays as "Microsoft Games for Windows Live Marketplace". If you can't find it or it really doesn't exist on the list, I'd probably install a third party uninstaller like Revo uninstaller and see if you can't uninstall it that way.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Yeah, it doesn't show up. I tried Revo, doesn't show up there either. I see it in my program files. but can't uninstall it. This is irritating. I'm seriously regretting updating to 8.1, I've had several issues after the update.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 3770
    Memory
    8 GB 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT 640
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    BitDefender

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
The problem I'm having is that it tells me that GFWL is already installed, and only gives me the option to launch the apparently corrupt program that gives me the connection error message.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 3770
    Memory
    8 GB 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT 640
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    BitDefender
The problem I'm having is that it tells me that GFWL is already installed, and only gives me the option to launch the apparently corrupt program that gives me the connection error message.

Im having the same exact issue, just with dark souls. Nothing i do works. uninstall, restore, re install before and after the restore to the day prior, i've run out of ideas
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
This is what I did originally back when I had Windows 8. When I updated to 8.1, the program disappeared from the Uninstall programs in control panel, making it impossible for me to uninstall even with 3rd party software. I am stumped. I made a whole new thread about this, and haven't found any solution that works for me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 3770
    Memory
    8 GB 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT 640
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    BitDefender
ahhh Windows 8.1 yes that's a issue, GWL is being deprecated.
Try this
1. set the following file to run in windows 7 compatabilty mode GFWLive.exe
If that does not work then
2. Do you still have the files - xlive.dll, xlive.dll (Security Catalogue), xlivefnt.dll, xliveinstall.dll, xliveinstallhost.exe on the PC? copy them to the Windows\System32 dir
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 and Linux (MINT)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Win 8 & Toshiba Linux
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster
No, the only one of those I have is xlive.dll. None of them are in system32. Do you know of a site where I can safely download them? Also, I tried running the program in compatibility mode, still ran into the problem. These missing files may be the issue.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 3770
    Memory
    8 GB 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT 640
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    BitDefender
Are you hiding any files from view?

I do not know anywhere to get them other than the installation of GFWL.

When you run the installation of GFWL it completes with no issues? if so the files should be on the PC.

Is the BITS service started and running on the PC?

You could try to run the installation of GFWL from the command line, with various switches to see if you can get a more information or a command line removal.

You can find more on command line switches here Unattended, A Windows deployment system: Unattended/Silent Installation Switches for Windows Apps and here Standard Installer Command-Line Options (Windows) and here Command-Line Options (Windows)
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 and Linux (MINT)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Win 8 & Toshiba Linux
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster
Thanks for the links. I'll check them out and see what happens. Also, when I run the installer for GFWL, it tells me that the program is already installed and only gives me the option to launch it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 3770
    Memory
    8 GB 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT 640
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    BitDefender
if you are still having issues try uninstalling the game and games for windows then go here Download the Games for Windows Client | PC Games Client - Xbox.com install the PC client and then install the game... This worked for my Fallout 3

Hey if anyone would like to know, this information worked for me playing StreetFighter X Tekken a GFWL edition, just download it and install it. Would remove any previous versions of GFWL you had.

Well for now it will work till July 2014 when it shuts down and i believe Steam will take over the Games.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme 1502 (GX1502)
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 5820K 3.30 GHZ 64 bit 6-Core Processor
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-X99-UD3
    Memory
    G.Skill 16GB Quad Channel DDR4-2400MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0+ DDR5 4GB
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster ZxR 5.1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS PA24Q 24" Pro Art IPS LCD/LED Backlit 1920x1200
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200 16:10
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG 850 EVO 250GB SATA 6Gb/s 2.5" Internal SSD,
    Crucial MX100 512GB SATA 6Gb/s 2.5" Internal SSD,
    WD WD10EZEX-00RKKA0 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 3.5 Internal HDD
    PSU
    EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G2 750W 80 Plus Gold Full Modular
    Case
    AZZA Cosmas Black Gaming Case
    Cooling
    Cool Master Hyper 212 Evo Dual 120mm, ( 2) Noctua PWM 120mm Case Fans (1) Gelid PWM 120mm Blue LED
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800 Illumiated Wireless Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball
    Internet Speed
    84mbps /94mbps
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox 41.0.1 / Microsoft Edge/ IE 11
    Antivirus
    Norton Security 2015
    Other Info
    Pioneer BDR-209DBK 16x Blu-Ray Burner, LG 24x Dual Layer DVD Burner,
    StarTech Front Bay 22-in-1 USB 2.0 Internal Multi Media Memory Card Reader,Logitech Z906 5.1 Speaker system
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