Steam crashes on boot, throws a bus error

Support Software & Applications
1

Hello everyone. First time asking for help. Sorry for the bother.

I suspect the latest round of updates altered something. Things were running fine three days ago.

Terminal throws this upon trying to start:

steam.sh[40109]: Running Steam on manjarolinux 23.1.0 64-bit
steam.sh[40109]: STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically
setup.sh[40182]: Steam runtime environment up-to-date!
steam.sh[40109]: Steam client's requirements are satisfied
[2023-11-15 19:07:22] Startup - updater built Oct 31 2023 02:08:17
[2023-11-15 19:07:22] Startup - Steam Client launched with: '/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam'
11/15 19:07:22 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1698777785)/tid(40245)
Looks like steam didn't shutdown cleanly, scheduling immediate update check
[2023-11-15 19:07:23] Loading cached metrics from disk (/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/package/steam_client_metrics.bin)
[2023-11-15 19:07:23] Failed to load cached hosts file (File 'update_hosts_cached.vdf' not found), using defaults
[2023-11-15 19:07:23] Using the following download hosts for Public, Realm steamglobal
[2023-11-15 19:07:23] 1. https://cdn.steamstatic.com, /client/, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1, source = 'baked in'
[2023-11-15 19:07:23] Checking for update on startup
[2023-11-15 19:07:23] Checking for available updates...
[2023-11-15 19:07:23] Downloading manifest: https://cdn.steamstatic.com/client/steam_client_ubuntu12
[2023-11-15 19:07:24] Manifest download: send request
[2023-11-15 19:07:24] Manifest download: waiting for download to finish
[2023-11-15 19:07:24] Manifest download: finished
[2023-11-15 19:07:24] Download skipped: /client/steam_client_ubuntu12 version 1698777785, installed version 1698777785, existing pending version 0
[2023-11-15 19:07:24] Nothing to do
[2023-11-15 19:07:24] Verifying installation...
[2023-11-15 19:07:24] Performing checksum verification of executable files
[2023-11-15 19:07:28] Verification complete

Steam logging initialized: directory: /home/samio/.local/share/Steam/logs

/usr/share/themes/Breeze/gtk-2.0/widgets/entry:70: error: unexpected identifier 'direction', expected character '}'
/usr/share/themes/Breeze/gtk-2.0/widgets/styles:36: error: invalid string constant "combobox_entry", expected valid string constant
XRRGetOutputInfo Workaround: initialized with override: 0 real: 0xf3e29dc0
XRRGetCrtcInfo Workaround: initialized with override: 0 real: 0xf3e28500
steamwebhelper.sh[40254]: Runtime for steamwebhelper: defaulting to /home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steam-runtime-heavy
steamwebhelper.sh[40254]: glibc >= 2.34, partially disabling sandbox until CEF supports clone3()
crash_20231115190733_6.dmp[40277]: Uploading dump (out-of-process)
/tmp/dumps/crash_20231115190733_6.dmp
crash_20231115190733_6.dmp[40277]: Finished uploading minidump (out-of-process): success = yes
crash_20231115190733_6.dmp[40277]: response: CrashID=bp-c513c98c-4554-4287-9520-ce9132231115
crash_20231115190733_6.dmp[40277]: file ''/tmp/dumps/crash_20231115190733_6.dmp'', upload yes: ''CrashID=bp-c513c98c-4554-4287-9520-ce9132231115''
/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/steam.sh: line 798: 40245 Bus error               (core dumped) "$STEAMROOT/$STEAMEXEPATH" "$@"

Methods already tried:

Making sure I have lib32-libnm installed.
Executing a > steam --reset
Removing Steam, clearing local files (/home/user/.steam/ directories), rebooting and reinstalling.

Thanks in advance.

2

Hullo,
How was steam installed? Is it a flatpak?

3

It originally came native when I installed Manjaro. I tend to use the Add/Remove Software GUI application (sorry, relatively new linux user here). I could try to do this through terminal and pacman if it would be better.

4

That actually not the real Steam bootstrap, it is here:

Delete that also and start Steam again.

5

Done as requested, even uninstalled and reinstalled through pacman. Same result. Thanks for the reply.

6

Well at least Steam works for me so that I assume it is an issue only on your device.

The terminal output gives no real clue why it crashed. There are several logs to look into:

Just check the logs which are modified recently. I would suspect a connection problem. :man_shrugging:

7

There’s four files there. Should I put the content of them here?

bootstrap_log.txt:

[2023-11-15 21:32:50] Startup - updater built Oct 31 2023 02:08:17
[2023-11-15 21:32:50] Startup - Steam Client launched with: '/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam'
[2023-11-15 21:32:51] Loading cached metrics from disk (/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/package/steam_client_metrics.bin)
[2023-11-15 21:32:51] Failed to load cached hosts file (File 'update_hosts_cached.vdf' not found), using defaults
[2023-11-15 21:32:51] Using the following download hosts for Public, Realm steamglobal
[2023-11-15 21:32:51] 1. https://cdn.steamstatic.com, /client/, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1, source = 'baked in'
[2023-11-15 21:32:51] Checking for update on startup
[2023-11-15 21:32:51] Checking for available updates...
[2023-11-15 21:32:51] Downloading manifest: https://cdn.steamstatic.com/client/steam_client_ubuntu12
[2023-11-15 21:32:51] Manifest download: send request
[2023-11-15 21:32:51] Manifest download: waiting for download to finish
[2023-11-15 21:32:51] Manifest download: finished
[2023-11-15 21:32:51] Download skipped: /client/steam_client_ubuntu12 version 1698777785, installed version 1698777785, existing pending version 0
[2023-11-15 21:32:51] Nothing to do
[2023-11-15 21:32:51] Verifying installation...
[2023-11-15 21:32:51] Performing checksum verification of executable files
[2023-11-15 21:32:52] Verification complete

cef_log.txt:

[1115/213253.774292:INFO:crash_reporting.cc(248)] Crash reporting enabled for process: browser
[1115/213253.875088:INFO:crash_reporting.cc(271)] Crash reporting enabled for process: gpu-process
[1115/213254.012022:INFO:crash_reporting.cc(248)] Crash reporting enabled for process: utility

steamwebhelper.txt:

setup.sh[17559]: Steam runtime environment up-to-date!
[1115/213253.774292:INFO:crash_reporting.cc(248)] Crash reporting enabled for process: browser
[1115/213253.839626:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: UserID with value: 0
[1115/213253.839754:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: BuildID with value: 1698777785
[1115/213253.839767:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: SteamUniverse with value: Public
[1115/213253.839779:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: Vendor with value: Valve
[1115/213253.839790:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: Platform with value: Linux
[1115/213253.845707:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: UserID with value: 0
[1115/213253.845832:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: BuildID with value: 1698777785
[1115/213253.845846:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: SteamUniverse with value: Public
[1115/213253.845860:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: Vendor with value: Valve
[1115/213253.845873:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: Platform with value: Linux
[1115/213253.875088:INFO:crash_reporting.cc(271)] Crash reporting enabled for process: gpu-process
[1115/213254.010728:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: UserID with value: 0
[1115/213254.010845:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: BuildID with value: 1698777785
[1115/213254.010861:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: SteamUniverse with value: Public
[1115/213254.010879:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: Vendor with value: Valve
[1115/213254.010893:WARNING:crash_reporting.cc(287)] Failed to set crash key: Platform with value: Linux
[1115/213254.012022:INFO:crash_reporting.cc(248)] Crash reporting enabled for process: utility

webhelper.txt:

[1969-12-31 18:00:00] Client version: no bootstrapper found
[1969-12-31 18:00:00] Startup - webhelper launched with: /home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steamwebhelper --disable-seccomp-filter-sandbox -lang=en_US -cachedir=/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/config/htmlcache -steampid=17543 -buildid=1698777785 -steamid=0 -logdir=/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/logs -uimode=7 -startcount=0 -steamuniverse=Public -realm=Global -clientui=/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/clientui -steampath=/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam -launcher=0 -use_safe_shutdown_workaround -use_xcomposite_workaround -no-restart-on-ui-mode-change --enable-media-stream --enable-smooth-scrolling --disable-gpu-compositing --disable-gpu --password-store=basic --log-file=/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/logs/cef_log.txt --disable-quick-menu --disable-features=SameSiteByDefaultCookies --enable-blink-features=ResizeObserver,Worklet,AudioWorklet --disable-blink-features=Badging
[1969-12-31 18:00:00] Disabling GPU acceleration due to --disable-gpu-compositing (browser)
[1969-12-31 18:00:00] Browser - launching child process with: /home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steamwebhelper --type=zygote --no-zygote-sandbox --disable-seccomp-filter-sandbox --log-file=/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/logs/cef_log.txt --product-version=Valve Steam Client --lang=en_US.UTF-8 --buildid=1698777785 --steamid=0
[1969-12-31 18:00:00] Browser - launching child process with: /home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steamwebhelper --type=zygote --disable-seccomp-filter-sandbox --log-file=/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/logs/cef_log.txt --product-version=Valve Steam Client --lang=en_US.UTF-8 --buildid=1698777785 --steamid=0
[1969-12-31 18:00:00] Browser - launching child process with: /home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steamwebhelper --type=gpu-process --field-trial-handle=7164764051116857048,11380026932184902872,131072 --enable-features=CastMediaRouteProvider --disable-features=SameSiteByDefaultCookies --disable-seccomp-filter-sandbox --log-file=/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/logs/cef_log.txt --product-version=Valve Steam Client --lang=en_US.UTF-8 --buildid=1698777785 --steamid=0
[2023-11-15 21:32:53] Browser - launching child process with: /home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steamwebhelper --type=utility --utility-sub-type=network.mojom.NetworkService --field-trial-handle=7164764051116857048,11380026932184902872,131072 --enable-features=CastMediaRouteProvider --disable-features=SameSiteByDefaultCookies --lang=en-US --service-sandbox-type=network --log-file=/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/logs/cef_log.txt --product-version=Valve Steam Client --lang=en_US.UTF-8 --buildid=1698777785 --steamid=0

I have no idea how to interpret this. I am going to start preparing the reformat of shame :frowning: .

8

Nothing what could be seen as an error. It should work. Probably the Window is somehow hidden or not visible?

Checkout the coredumps:

coredumpctl list
# choose one of them by PID
coredumpctl dump PID
9

Latest steam attempt PID dumps this:

coredumpctl dump 17543                                                                                                  INT ✘  1m 38s  
           PID: 17543 (steam)
           UID: 1000 (samio)
           GID: 1000 (samio)
        Signal: 7 (BUS)
     Timestamp: Wed 2023-11-15 21:33:00 CST (45min ago)
  Command Line: /home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam
    Executable: /home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam
 Control Group: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/app-org.kde.konsole-61c732431ef5400c86249c13a69bcda4.scope
          Unit: user@1000.service
     User Unit: app-org.kde.konsole-61c732431ef5400c86249c13a69bcda4.scope
         Slice: user-1000.slice
     Owner UID: 1000 (samio)
       Boot ID: 5eabed7dc6874b4cb01759afe6aff32e
    Machine ID: b0bdadda5eef48f7a19b05a073204ca1
      Hostname: SamioPC
       Storage: /var/lib/systemd/coredump/core.steam.1000.5eabed7dc6874b4cb01759afe6aff32e.17543.1700105580000000.zst (present)
  Size on Disk: 18.2M
       Message: Process 17543 (steam) of user 1000 dumped core.
                
                Stack trace of thread 17543:
                #0  0x00000000f3e5a382 n/a (libfontconfig.so.1 + 0x10382)
                #1  0x00000000f3e5a447 n/a (libfontconfig.so.1 + 0x10447)
                #2  0x00000000f3e58fe3 n/a (libfontconfig.so.1 + 0xefe3)
                #3  0x00000000f3e59416 n/a (libfontconfig.so.1 + 0xf416)
                #4  0x00000000f3e56ea8 FcConfigBuildFonts (libfontconfig.so.1 + 0xcea8)
                #5  0x00000000f3e58971 n/a (libfontconfig.so.1 + 0xe971)
                #6  0x00000000f3e5ddcc FcInit (libfontconfig.so.1 + 0x13dcc)
                #7  0x00000000ed0079f9 n/a (/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/vgui2_s.so + 0x559f9)
                #8  0x00000000f20b657b n/a (/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steamui.so + 0x41457b)
                #9  0x00000000565ffbe9 n/a (/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam + 0x4abe9)
                #10 0x0000000056600afe n/a (/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam + 0x4bafe)
                #11 0x00000000565eabb0 n/a (/home/samio/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam + 0x35bb0)
                ELF object binary architecture: Intel 80386
10

Looks like it has to do with the fontconfig… probably delete the cache, which produce a problem here:

rm -Rf ~/.cache/fontconfig

Edit: Probably create a new account, login and try it there.

11

Tried both methods, same bus error, coredumpctl on recent crashes shows the same log as last post.

I really appreciate you taking all this time to help me, thanks a lot, truly.

12

The last thing I could consider is that your system is partially updated due an outdated mirror. Try:

sudo pacman-mirrors --country Global
sudo pacman -Syyuu
13

Done as instructed, same error. Guess it’s time for the reformat of shame. Thanks for all the help.

14

First try steam-runtime --reset. If that doesn’t help then try installing lib32-fontconfig if it isn’t already installed.

15

steam-runtime --reset did nothing. However, I tried to reinstall lib32-fontconfig and got another bus error:

resolving dependencies...
looking for conflicting packages...

Packages (1) lib32-fontconfig-2:2.14.2-1

Total Installed Size:  0.34 MiB
Net Upgrade Size:      0.00 MiB

:: Proceed with installation? [Y/n] y
(1/1) checking keys in keyring                                                             [####################################################] 100%
(1/1) checking package integrity                                                           [####################################################] 100%
(1/1) loading package files                                                                [####################################################] 100%
(1/1) checking for file conflicts                                                          [####################################################] 100%
(1/1) checking available disk space                                                        [####################################################] 100%
:: Running pre-transaction hooks...
(1/1) Creating Timeshift snapshot before upgrade...
==> skipping timeshift-autosnap due skipRsyncAutosnap in /etc/timeshift-autosnap.conf set to TRUE.
:: Processing package changes...
(1/1) reinstalling lib32-fontconfig                                                        [####################################################] 100%
Rebuilding 32-bit fontconfig cache...
/tmp/alpm_9PEXeJ/.INSTALL: line 1:  2455 Bus error               (core dumped) /usr/bin/fc-cache-32 -rs
error: command failed to execute correctly
:: Running post-transaction hooks...
(1/2) Arming ConditionNeedsUpdate...
(2/2) Refreshing PackageKit...

Using coredumpctl dump on that attempt shows this:

Thu 2023-11-16 12:42:38 CST 2455 0 0 SIGBUS none /usr/bin/fc-cache-32 -

           UID: 0 (root)
           GID: 0 (root)
        Signal: 7 (BUS)
     Timestamp: Thu 2023-11-16 12:42:38 CST (6min ago)
  Command Line: /usr/bin/fc-cache-32 -rs
    Executable: /usr/bin/fc-cache-32
 Control Group: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/app-org.kde.konsole-ffe99b59d547429b9688a41b52554c0a.scope
          Unit: user@1000.service
     User Unit: app-org.kde.konsole-ffe99b59d547429b9688a41b52554c0a.scope
         Slice: user-1000.slice
     Owner UID: 1000 (samio)
       Boot ID: b640ff1d1e7a46ccb7f70f5b12ab1337
    Machine ID: b0bdadda5eef48f7a19b05a073204ca1
      Hostname: SamioPC
       Storage: none
       Message: Process 2455 (fc-cache-32) of user 0 dumped core.
Coredump entry has no core attached (neither internally in the journal nor externally on disk).

So I’m guessing something is very wrong with fontconfig?

16

I guess so but I don’t really know how to troubleshoot that. There is a bit about fontconfig in the Steam/Troubleshooting wiki article but it’s about corrupt text not crashing - Steam/Troubleshooting - ArchWiki

17

Further messing around lead me to trying to reinstall noto fonts, fontconfig or lib32-fontconfig all throwing bus errors.

fc-cache-32 fails in this manner:

sudo fc-cache-32                                              BUS ✘  4s  
zsh: bus error  sudo fc-cache-32

So at least we have localized the issue to this being a problem with the 32-bit fontconfig cache, not Steam.