Gamingnewslink.com’s self-help guide for bioshock 2 Errors, Freezing, Slowdown, Install and Crash to Desktop problems
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IMPORTANT NOTE : If you encounter errors or issues with Bioshock 2 that are not included in the list below, issues which the solutions listed does not resolve, Tell us about it by Posting it in the comment box at the bottom of this page (No registration required). Include details about the Bioshock 2 error and the specifications of the system you are running Bioshock 2 on. It doesn’t have to be a fullblown dxdiag log, just the Video Card, Processor and amout of RAM and of course the Operating System (and service pack versions) you are playing Bioshock 2 on. REMEMBER to check the comments at the bottom of this post.

First thing’s first, ensure that you’re PC can handle Bioshock 2. Here’s Bioshock 2′s minumum system requirements

List of Known Bioshock 2 errors and solutions/workarounds

Problem #1 : Bioshock 2 crashes to desktop when Games for windows(GFW) / Windows live tries to log on
Workaround :

Delete everything in here.
C:\Users\*Username*\Documents\Bioshock2
Then reload. (If you wish, backup the files).

credits: ColonelBlack in 2kgames forums

Problem #2 : Bioshock 2 crashes when attempting to load savegames
Solution #1 : Try deleting the following file
Users/*username*/App Data/Roaming/Bioshock2/Bioshock2SP.ini
credits: Tech Kris from 2kgames forums
Solution #2 Created a new windows profile and game runs without probs… does it have todo that my common profile called “#” ?
credits: Rehbock from 2kgames forums

Problem #3 : Bioshock 2 crashes during cutscenes
Solution #1 : No known solution at the moment

Problem #4 : Bioshock 2 crashes with this error message at startup : “BioShock 2 has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.”
Solution #1 : If you set your Windows Display to 16-bit, Change the background color setting from 16-bit to 32-bit and now it works! Hopefully this helps someone else. (“Right click on the desktop >Personalize > Display settings”)
credits: Sgt-Maestro from steam and Spenser in this article’s comments

Problem #5 : Bioshock 2 after the initial cutscene.
Solution #1 If you bought it via steam, try this fix

The crash is due to the game using DX10. Setting the game in DX9 fixes it (that is, as always as you have a savegame, because if you don’t, it shouldn’t crash).
Go to Games -> Bioshock 2 -> Right click -> Launch in DX9 mode.

credits: Gattsu from steam forums

Problem #6 : Bioshock 2 crashes when killing NPCs.
Solution #1 No known fix at the moment

Problem #7 : Bioshock 2 crashes randomly
Solution #1 Switching to DirectX 9 totally fixes this problem but I would much rather play with 10 since my PC is more than capable.
credits: foo from gamingnewslink comments

Problem #1 : Post Your Bioshock 2 error at the comment box below if you are experiencing errors that are not listed here
Solution : Help out and post solutions to Bioshock 2 errors at the comment box below if you know one
credits: YOU!

Problem #1 : Bioshock 2 screen is flickering with blue shade/tint on textures
Solution #1 : Disable SLI if you have it enabled.
credits: AdamLazaruso
Solution #2 :Enabling Vsync might fix the flickering

Problem #1 : Bioshock 2 sound skips / stutters
Solution :

1. Go to: Control Panel > Sound and Audio Devices
2. Go to: Audio > Advance > Performance
3. Change the ‘Hardware Acceleration’ setting from ‘Full Acceleration’
to ‘Standard Acceleration’
4. Click ‘Apply’, then ‘Ok’

credits: Tech Kris from 2kgames forums

Problem #2 : Bioshock 2 cinematics skips / low framerate during cinematics
Solution : No known solutions at the moment

Problem #3 : Bioshock 2 crashes during cutscenes
Solution #1 : Reference Section I (CRASHES), Problem #3 of this guide

Problem #4 : No sound in Bioshock 2 Multiplayer mode
Solution #1 : No known fix at the moment

Problem #5 : Bioshock 2 Random Crashes with error message “Bioshock 2 has stopped working”
Solution #1 : Go to Steamapps/Common/Bioshock 2/SP/Builds/Binaries Run Bioshock2.EXE (Run as admin on Windows 7)
credits: Greasemunky from steam

Problem #6 : Bioshock 2 crashes, and this error message appears :

BioShock2.exe – Entry Point Not Found
The procedure entry point _except_handler4_common could not be located in the dynamic link library msvcrt.dll.

Solution #1 : Update your video card drivers
credits: slato from bioshock2forums

Problem #1 : Post Your Bioshock 2 error at the comment box below if you are experiencing errors that are not listed here
Solution : Help out and post solutions to Bioshock 2 errors at the comment box below if you know one
credits: YOU!

Problem #1 : Bioshock 2 startup error “Faulting Application Path: X:\Program Files (x86)\2K Games\BioShock 2\SP\Builds\Binaries\BioShock2.exe”
Solution : No known solutions at the moment

Problem #2 : Bioshock 2 crashes with this error message at startup : “BioShock 2 has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.” or “Bioshock 2 has stopped working”
Solution #1 : Check Section I (BIOSHOCK 2 CRASHES), Problem #4 and #5 of this guide

Problem #1 : Bioshock 2 Hacking problem : keys dont respond during “hack mode”
Solution : If you changed your control settings in Bioshock 2, particularly the one you use to activate “hack mode”, revert it back to default
credits: Tech Kris from 2kgames forums

Question #2 : Why does Bioshock 2 look ugly even when settings are set to the highest.
Answer : Bioshock 2 uses lower resolution textures compared to other games of it’s age sad to say that it’s working as intended
Answer : bad texture popping, taking 30 seconds and longer for textures in an area to load. sometimes the textures in that area do not load at all
credits: eclipse via gamingnewslink comments

Problem #3 : Can’t load Bioshock 2 save games. Error message “Failed to load saved game” appears
Solution : No known fix at the moment

Problem #4 : Bioshock 2′s framerate slows down to a crawl on specific areas (ex. First fight with the Big Sister)
Solution : No known fix at the moment

Problem #5 : Cant use the “perform” action to loot bodies or pick up items in Bioshock 2
Solution : Set your config to default, looks like there’s a hotkey glitch in Bioshock 2
credits: Cakey

Problem #6 : Bioshock 2 framerate drops when accessing menus (pause menu and map menu)
Solution :

Only solution to problem(see post above) is to remove “waterfall.bik” and “map.bik” from the BinkMovies folder in the Bioshock2 folder (Steamapps/bioshock2/SP/content/binkmovies/)You won’t see the pretty graphics when u open these menus, but they will work!
If you have any problems with any videos causeing lag, check in this folder! here is a link to the codec to view .bik files so you can locate which one causes you lag and remove it (but make sure you back up these files b4 u go deleting them!)

credits: Issue reported and fixed by Rayjingstorm in this article’s comment #24 and #25

Important!: If you are experiencing errors with Bioshock 2 that are not listed above or is not solved by the specified fixes, Tell us about it by posting in the comment box below (include system specs, OS, and description of the error you encounter in Bioshock 2, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO POST/ASK QUESTIONS/POST SOLUTIONS

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