Steam.exe(main exception): deleted Steam.exe but the file is still there?

When I tried reinstalling steam, I kept getting the following error: Steam.exe(main exception): ERROR: deted Steam.exe but the file is still there? The problem is that you won’t get elevated rights without the steamservice.exe being installed. I fixed it by extracting the files from SteamInstall.msi with 7zip.

  • Right Click then choose extract to steaminstall\.
  • Rename steam1.exe to steam.exe.
  • Right Click steam.exe and choose properties. Click the compatability tab and check ‘run as administrator’.
  • NDouble click steam.exe and it will try to update and fail.
  • Exit the update and double click steamservice.exe.

Now it will install normally when you run steam.exe


15 Responses to Steam.exe(main exception): deleted Steam.exe but the file is still there?

    • aa said ago:
      Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0

      nope

        • sam said ago:
          Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

          pb steam message d erreur steam.exe(main exeption) error: deleted steam.exe but the files is still there.

        • Nick said ago:
          Thumb up 23 Thumb down 4

          I had this same problem and I finally figured it out. Completely uninstall steam. Then re-install with the installer as normal. Once it says it has completed, DO NOT press finish. Leave that window open and navigate to the steam folder where it was installed to i.e. C:\programfiles\steam. Right click on the steam application and go to properties. Under the security tab, select advanced. Go to the Owner tab and you will see that the SYSTEM is the current owner. Select edit… Select your logon and apply then ok. Just in case, I selected to run as administrator as well. It will give you a window about reopening properties to see the changes. Press ok. Back in the steam directory in the bin folder, there is another application named SteamService. Do the same thing for that file to take ownership of both the Steam and the SteamService applications. Once you’ve done that, select finsh on the installer and it will finish. A window will open saying it is not recommended to run in compatibility mode. I selected cancel and so far, so good. Good luck!

            • Vision said ago:
              Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

              +1 Nick it worked great for me , except that i had to copy myself the SteamService , once extracted using 1st method .
              Gj anyway :)

                • slava said ago:
                  Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

                  dont work for me :(
                  same error like at beginning

                • Dylan said ago:
                  Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

                  DUDE I FUCKING LOVE U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                  • Rubicon Vale said ago:
                    Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

                    Worked like a charm. Make sure you do the Run as Admin as well.

                    • m4 said ago:
                      Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

                      gracias Nick!!!! perfecty function steam now!!!

                      • Dantes said ago:
                        Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

                        Totally worked for me, thanks.

                      • Yo said ago:
                        Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

                        I Did what Nick said exactly, but this didn’t work for me :( Same idiotic message. This is so bad programmed… They only want the money as fast as possible, proggraming a good installer was not in their priorities, just making money.

                        • Ben said ago:
                          Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

                          THANKS A LOT IT FINALI WORKED!!!! Why can’t steam fiy ths Problems??????

                          • Raymond said ago:
                            Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

                            Give that guy a medal

                            • John said ago:
                              Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

                              Nick you just did something countless emails to Steam support have not done. I owe you one. A big one.

                              • OzanErdem said ago:
                                Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0

                                Got the same problem. Mine is solved by enabling the “Application Experience Service” (AeLookupSvc) from the windows services (Windows 7).

                                  • mrschmiggles said ago:
                                    Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

                                    Ozan you’re a lifesaver. Finally got it working after re-enabling the Application Experience Service. Awesome!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Diablo® and Blizzard Entertainment® are all trademarks or registered trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment in the United States and/or other countries. These terms and all related materials, logos, and images are copyright © Blizzard Entertainment. This site is in no way associated with or endorsed by Blizzard Entertainment®.